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 Over
the last several decades, the notion that medication is the
best cure for anxiety has gradually been
losing ground. More and more, doctors and therapists are embracing
a more holistic view of anxiety problems and panic attacks,
and realizing that medication for anxiety is at best a temporary
"quick fix" that rarely produces long-term results.
Of course,
in certain cases medication can be necessary to stabilize
an individual in a time of crisis. But in general, attempting
to cure anxiety with medication contributes to a "victim"
mentality that suggests that individuals have neither the
resources nor ability to deal with anxiety problems on their
own.
Part of
the problem comes from classifying anxiety as a "disorder"
to begin with. A disorder is a medical condition which requires
medical assistance or drugs to treat. Anxiety, on the other
hand, does not fit any commonsense description of a medical
"disorder." It is a state of uneasiness and stress
which can manifest in any number of physical symptoms and
a chronic feeling of worry or stress.
Although
pharmaceutical corporations have produced many so-called anti-anxiety
drugs, university research confirms that the vast majority
of these medications have no greater effect on an individual's
experience of anxiety than natural herbs, visualization techniques
or breathing exercises.
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And to
make matters even worse, many of the SSRI-variety of anti-anxiety
drugs carry warnings of serious side effects and withdrawal
symptoms. Paxil, for example, was outlawed in Scandinavia
in 2005 because of severe withdrawal symptoms and neurological
side effects. Although the drug continues to these prescribed
by some physicians in the United States, pressure is mounting
on the medical establishment to discontinue the use of Paxil
and other similar drugs.
A recent
meta-study of anti-anxiety medications also suggested that
on average, these drugs had a bout the same success rate with
patients reporting severe anxiety as a placebo. Natural herbs
such as Valerian and St. John's Wort has shown an efficacy
equal to the most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications,
and without the side effects or potential for withdrawal symptoms.
All of
this research has been gradually influencing physicians, therapists
and patients to seek out alternative cures for anxiety. Determining
which approach might be best for a given individual is subjective,
and can vary according to the specific circumstances of the
anxiety problem and the severity of symptoms. Both cognitive
approaches and natural herb/supplement use have both been
found to be effective in controlling or eliminating chronic
anxiety.
Cognitive
approaches could include one-on-one therapy, group therapy,
visualization and relaxation techniques, Yoga and breathing
exercises. A holistic cure for anxiety might use several of
these techniques and exercises combined with the use of natural
herbs and supplements. Many individuals report the best results
from this type of multifaceted anxiety cure.
And because
all of these techniques, herbs and supplements are virtually
free of negative side effects, and possessed no addictive
properties, anxiety sufferers often find them easier to include
into their daily routines.
Although
some physicians continue to prescribe medications for anxiety
(despite the growing amount of evidence suggesting this is
not the best course of action), more and more anxiety sufferers
are taking matters into their own hands, and learning to control
anxiety with an all-inclusive holistic approach that involves
lifestyle changes, exercises and techniques, and possibly,
natural herbs or supplements.
This
all-natural approach also has the advantage of empowering
the individual to see themselves as a part of the solution,
not simply a "victim" of some poorly-defined "condition"
or other. Using a variety of helpful techniques and natural
cures simultaneously can often produce the best results. It
seems that for many people, the best cure for anxiety is not
medication, but information.
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