Among other things medication for anxiety is formulated to alleviate anxious feelings, to reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks and replace agitation with calm.
Medications for anxiety are prescription medications that can also reduce symptoms of PTSD, OCD and various phobias.
Millions of people worldwide depend on anti-anxiety medications to produce an array of emotional and physical benefits.
17 Benefits Of Medication For Anxiety
Medications for anxiety help countless people live a more normal life. Here are the most important benefits of anti-anxiety medications as determined by our health and wellness panel.
1: Medication for anxiety can provide effective short term relief.
Anxiety medication provides temporary relief from the worst symptoms of anxiety. In some cases, that relief will arrive within a half-hour or so and last most of the day. In the case of SSRIs like Prozac, you will need to wait a few weeks before enough accumulates in your system to provide relief. Then, it is a matter of maintaining the proper level. If you do not, the symptoms will slowly return.
2: Medication for anxiety can reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Oftentimes, anxiety is accompanied by distressing physical symptoms, including sweating and shaking, shortness of breath, muscle tension, dizziness, and more (1). The right anxiety medication can bring an end to these physical manifestations and allow you to feel more like your normal self.
3: Most medication for anxiety is non-addictive.
With a few exceptions, most of today’s best anxiety medications are safe and non-addictive. They are a far cry from anxiety treatments of the past that often included morphine (2) and other opioids. Still, safety is not a green light for abuse. Virtually any medication can become a problem if not taken as directed. And anxiety medications are no different.
4: Medication for anxiety does not pose a threat to other bodily functions.
The notion that anxiety medications can harm various organs is just not true. When taken as directed, anxiety medications do not pose a direct threat to vital organs. Nor do they compromise essential bodily functions. In fact, antibiotics pose a greater danger to your liver and kidneys than anxiety medications (3). So do NSAIDs like Advil and Motrin.
5: Medication for anxiety can reduce negative thoughts.
Many of those who suffer from anxiety are also beset by bouts of negative thinking (4). These unwanted negative thoughts often seem to come out of nowhere. They can be very disturbing both in nature and in the degree to which they disrupt normal thought patterns. Many of today’s best anxiety medications reduce or eliminate these negative thoughts.
6: Medication for anxiety is often covered by Medicare.
Many individuals, especially older ones, worry about how they will pay for anxiety medication. The good news is that if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, as well as a prescription for the anxiety medication, it will likely be covered by Medicare Part D (5).
7: Medication for anxiety can help you recover.
Not everyone will completely recover from their anxiety disorder, but in many cases, it is possible. It usually takes a multi-pronged approach that includes medication, therapy, and exercise. And, of course, it will take time. As long as you are patient and persistent, there is a decent chance you can emerge on the other side of an anxiety disorder.
8: Medication for anxiety can open up possibilities in your life.
Anxiety often causes people to circle the wagons and withdraw from life (6). They begin to make excuses for avoiding get-togethers such as; “I never liked going there” or “I just don’t feel like going out”. When in reality, they are giving in to their anxiety. The right anxiety medication can remove the walls of fear and open up new horizons.
9: Medication for anxiety can also relieve some symptoms of depression.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have shown quite a bit of promise in the treatment of depression symptoms, as well as symptoms of anxiety. So much so that they are often prescribed as the sole medication for patients who suffer from both conditions (7).
10: Medication for anxiety can make you a better worker.
Anxiety can be a major obstacle to workplace productivity (8). Among other things, it can cause procrastination. It can interfere with a person’s ability to make a clear and informative presentation. And it can cause people to avoid or cancel important meetings. The right anxiety medication can remove anxiety-driven obstacles and let you get back to the business of business.
11: Medication for anxiety is covered by most insurance plans.
As long as your health insurance has a prescription drug coverage component, it will likely cover the cost of anxiety medication (9). But even if you do not have insurance, the cost of many anxiety medications is very reasonable.
12: Medication for anxiety can help prevent migraines.
The relationship between migraines and anxiety is complex. In some cases, it is very much a matter of which came first, the chicken (anxiety) or the egg (migraine). But regardless of whether your anxiety is triggering migraines or your migraines are triggering anxiety, there are anxiety medications that can help put an end to the cycle.
13: Medication for anxiety can help improve your relationships.
Anxiety disorders can be disruptive to normal relationships (10), especially when they are left untreated. Those with anxiety may become defensive or decline to participate in family events. Trust suffers. They may even snap at loved ones for no apparent reason. Anxiety medications can help turn things around and restore healthy family interactions.
14: Medication for anxiety can let you sleep easier.
Insomnia and anxiety have an unfortunate tendency to go hand in hand (11). Whether a person suffers from a General Anxiety Disorder or something more specific, sleep is often one of the first and more persistent casualties. The right anxiety medication can help reverse this disturbing trend and allow you to get the restful sleep you need.
15: Medication for anxiety can get you through trying times.
To say things have been ‘trying’ as of late would be an understatement. As a result, just about everyone’s anxiety levels have risen (12). But recent events aside, life in general has a way of trying our patience and fraying our nerves. For some people, it can be overwhelming. The right anxiety medication can help you get through trying times so that when the good times return, you can enjoy them.
16: Medication for anxiety can prevent panic attacks.
Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin are effective at preventing panic attacks (13) in many individuals. Panic attacks can be frightening, overwhelming experiences that take hold of a person’s consciousness for 10 or 15 minutes. Being free of them can be a very liberating experience. Keep in mind, however, that medication alone will not help you get to the root cause of your panic attacks.
17: Medication for anxiety can treat phobias too.
Many people think phobias are a world unto themselves. But they are actually classified as a type of anxiety disorder and will often respond well to the right kind of anxiety medication. Whether you suffer ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), monophobia (fear of being alone), acrophobia (fear of heights), or aerophobia (fear of flying), there is likely an anxiety medication that can provide some measure of relief.
Conclusion
Medication for anxiety can relieve many of the worst anxiety symptoms related to stress, PTSD, panic attacks, phobias and more. If you experience a troublesome level of anxiety consider asking your doctor if medication for anxiety might be right for you.