Family member needs help with stress/ anxiety issue, re: benzodiazepines

[lottamoxie]

There are SSRI's (anti-depressant) drugs that can be very effective for anxiety and don't have the same dependency issues as the benzos. Generally though, if there is a chemical imbalance, your loved one needs to have it treated as if they had a long-term health issue (like diabetes). Meaning: get on the appropriate medication to help the chemical imbalance and stay on it. The point is to stabilize the brain chemistry.

Then, at the same time, make lifestyle changes that will help the brain chemistry: moderate exercise daily, cut out sugar and anything with high fructose corn syrup or white flour, eat more veggies and whole grains, eat more protein, eat on a regular schedule, and get therapy to learn techniques to combat the anxious feelings.

For panic attacks (which I have suffered from), tell your loved one to carry a small paper bag so that if one starts, your loved one can breathe into and out of it. Excess intake of O2 is from hyperventilation and that's what makes the panic worse. Just knowing that tip can help--I never had to use mine.

As for benzo dependency only a qualified doctor can assist with that.

[ducter]

I have to say that I strongly recommend to stay away from SSRI type drugs. They are brain altering and can be very dangerous. There are other ways to cope and or solve this without them (how did people do it before ssri was made?).


I know that in some extreme cases they are needed but I think they are way over prescibed. Do some research into them before taking them.

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by ducter

I have to say that I strongly recommend to stay away from SSRI type drugs. They are brain altering and can be very dangerous. There are other ways to cope and or solve this without them (how did people do it before ssri was made?).


I know that in some extreme cases they are needed but I think they are way over prescibed. Do some research into them before taking them.

I agree completely. There are known issues with SSRIs that can make a person quite miserable. They have their place, to be sure, but I'd hardly call them more desirable than a low dose of benzo to aid in the relief of anxiety, particularly if there is no underlying endogenous depression to treat.