Sharing Parental Experiences

There are many types of anti anxiety medicaltion since drugs are usually the first to use when suffering from an intense and unexpected panic attack. However, tranquilizers represent just a temporary relief method that can only be used in perfect safety for a very short period of time, due to the high risk of side effects. Here are some of the paradoxical and troublesome adverse reactions related with the administration of anti-anxiety medication in general. While the major benefit from their use is the state of calm and relaxation, sometimes drugs can relax you to the extent that you feel drowsy all the time.

Since anti-anxiety medication blocks the secretion or the release of certain chemicals at the level of the central nervous system, this may often result in a poor coordination, lack of energy and slow reflexes. Some people also complain about impaired thinking, confusion, dizziness and disorientation, not to mention the impossibility to drive or operate machines. The long-term use of anti-anxiety medication can also cause depression with or without suicidal feelings. The problem is that such drugs not only eliminate anxiety but also make it impossible for one to feel pleasure or even pain, which can often go hand in hand with depression.

There are also some unexplained paradoxes in some people’s reactions after the administration of anti-anxiety medication. For instance, the use of tranquilizers aims at inducing relaxation and calm, but an increase of the irritability and agitation level has sometimes been signaled out. Plus, rage, hostility and mania have been noticed in some cases. Although very rare and equally dangerous, aggressive behaviors and hallucinations are also possible as a result of anti-anxiety medication use. The majority of paradoxical reactions to anti-anxiety medications has been reported with children or the elderly, as well as with patients with developmental disabilities.

Consequently, choosing the treatment to stop anxiety attacks well and complementing it with some other form of therapy represent essential stages for the patient’s full recovery, and thus should be considered as priorities for any treatment program or approach. Anti-anxiety medication only reduces or stops the symptoms without improving the health condition in any way. The problem or the trigger that generates the panic attacks remains lurking at the back of the mind, somehow kept under control, and once you cease taking the medication, anxiety will be back all over again. Therefore, all the treatment efforts should be directed towards attacking anxiety and depression by proper diagnosis and identification of the causes behind the disorder.