Anxiety Disorders - Anxiety Medications

Anxiety and fear are often used to describe the same thing. When the word “anxiety” is used to describe mental illness it’s typically referred to as an anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety. In this context it refers to an overriding emotional tension or feeling of fear and dread that has no apparent identifiable cause. Anxiety disorders include phobias, panic attacks, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), social anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety disorders often are accompanied by depression and can be severe enough to interfere with social interaction or can affect job performance. Physical symptoms can include racing or hard beating heart, perspiration, shakiness, feeling hyper or jittery similar to a caffeine rush. Emotionally, anxiety can make you feel scared, immobilized, stuck and make it difficult to concentrate, like your brain chemicals are going haywire. In a sense they are. That’s what anxiety does it causes your brain chemicals to be imbalanced and unstable.

Common anxiety medications a Dr. may prescribe include Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, Klonopin, Zoloft, Prozac, Valium and Zanax. Behavorial therapy and psychotherapy are often advised. There are also some natural remedies such as homeopathics and herbal supplements that some people say can give some relief.