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 "What
can I do if my anxiety medications are not working?"
This is a common question posed by many anxiety sufferers
who have decided to try anxiety medications to control panic
and anxiety attacks. The truth is, anxiety medications do
not cure anxiety -- they merely dull the senses of the sufferer
in an attempt to mask the symptoms of the underlying problem.
Not
surprisingly, most people find their anxiety medications not
working on the root of the problem, and they continue to feel
stressed and panicky to some degree; and unfortunately, the
anxiety medications can actually make the problem worse in
some cases (according to recent studies, this is a common
occurrence).
If
you believe the anxiety medications you are taking are not
working, or are actually making your situation worse, it is
important that you first contact your doctor before taking
any action or discontinuing using the medication. It is well-known
that many anti-anxiety medications can have withdrawal symptoms
if the user attempts to stop "cold turkey." Don't
take any chances -- always talk your doctor before changing
the dosage you are taking, or discontinuing use of the medication
altogether.
Luckily,
even if the anxiety medications are not working, there are
plenty of alternative anxiety remedies you can use to restore
balance back into your life. Programs such as the EasyCalm
Anxiety Video Series are designed for exactly these types
of situations, and offer relief of anxiety symptoms by dealing
with the root cause of the issue, not simply trying to deaden
your senses (like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg).
Relaxation
exercises such as tai chi and yoga are also beneficial to
many people to reduce their overall level of anxiety and the
frequency of panic attacks. In addition, focused breathing
and meditation can also be very useful to reduce daily stress,
and have been shown to have positive effects on both our emotional
and physical health.
Is
also important to consider your diet when dealing with an
anxiety problem. Reducing caffeine intake is critical for
people who are prone to anxiety. Nicotine should also be avoided,
as it is a stimulant and can aggravate anxiety symptoms. The
simple act of reducing your daily intake of caffeine and nicotine
can make a dramatic difference in your overall level of stress
-- particularly over time.
Another
aspect of your diet that can contribute to anxiety is food
allergies. Undiagnosed food allergies can often cause mood
instability and emotional problems such as anxiety and panic
attacks. One of the most chronically undiagnosed food allergies
is dairy products, including milk. It is not unheard of for
an individual to dramatically improve their anxiety situation
simply by eliminating dairy products from their diet. Of course,
other foods can also cause the same types of problems -- but
dairy products are one of the most common, and it only takes
a week or so of excluding dairy from your diet to determine
if it is a problem for you.
Finally,
it is important to consider your "thought habits."
While some people think positive thinking is just a pleasant
but naïve concept, research has shown that our habitual
way of thinking can have real and verifiable effects on our
mood, emotional state, and even our physical health. If you
find your anxiety medications not working as well as you'd
hoped, adjusting your attitude and practicing positive affirmations
and visualization is a very effective place to start.
As
Abraham Lincoln once said, "most people are as happy
as they make up their mind to be." To paraphrase Lincoln,
most people are also as anxious as they make up their mind
to be. After all, anxiety is not a physical problem; it is
a "thinking problem." Accordingly, we should never
underestimate the power of our thoughts to produce a better
emotional state and a calmer life. If your anxiety medications
are not working, maybe now is the time to try a different,
and more natural approach?
For more information on controlling and eliminating symptoms
of anxiety, be sure to watch the free video session on EasyCalm.com
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