How to Get Medication for Anxiety

Treatment for anxiety disorders includes 2 steps, namely through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. However, before we discuss further about How to Get Medication for Anxiety, and the steps in curing anxiety disorders, let's first understand the symptoms and causes of anxiety disorders and when to go to the doctor.

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders can happen to anyone, but they are most common in adults over the age of 30. When experiencing this condition, sufferers generally cannot explain why he feels anxious or excessively worried.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is normal, especially if there are certain pressures or conditions. However, if anxiety and worry become uncontrollable, excessive, even to the point of interfering with daily activities, then this could be a sign that you are experiencing generalized anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder that can be recognized include:

• The emergence of excessive anxiety and worry about various conditions that are not typical.
• The emergence of excessive thoughts about plans and solutions for every worst possibility that does not necessarily arise.
• Easily irritated, restless, nervous, and cornered.
• Indecisive, afraid, and difficult to make a decision.
• It's hard to concentrate.

Generalized anxiety disorder can also cause physical symptoms, such as feeling tired all the time, having trouble sleeping, headaches, shaking, excessive sweating, and nausea, abdominal pain, and recurrent diarrhea.

When to Go to the Doctor

Check with your doctor if the anxiety and worry you experience is excessive, uncontrollable, and interferes with daily activities, or when you experience the complaints and symptoms listed above.

You are also advised to consult a doctor if you have a history of other mental disorders, such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or depression.

If you have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, it is also necessary to have regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor the progress of the condition.

Common Anxiety Disorder Causes

Until now, the exact cause of generalized anxiety disorder is not known. However, a combination of various factors is thought to contribute to triggering the emergence of generalized anxiety disorder.

These factors are:

• Have a history of trauma or have experienced a stressful event, such as bullying or bullying.
• Have a family history of generalized anxiety disorder.
• Have a disease that requires long-term treatment, such as arthritis.
• Have a history of drug use or alcohol addiction.
• Have a history of disorders of the nervous system.

General Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis

To diagnose generalized anxiety disorder, the doctor will ask questions about the complaints experienced, and medical history, drug use, and diseases in the family. The doctor will also ask about daily life, activities, and the state of the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, doctors use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria to diagnose generalized anxiety disorder.

Some of the criteria that indicate a patient has generalized anxiety disorder are:

• Excessive anxiety and worry that usually persists for at least 6 months.
• Anxiety that is difficult to control.
• These complaints and symptoms cause disturbances in activities.
• Complaints are not based on illness or special health conditions.

In addition, generalized anxiety disorder is also characterized by anxiety and fear followed by at least 3 of the following symptoms:

• Feeling restless, uninspired, and cornered.
• Feel tired.
• It's hard to concentrate.
• Easily offended.
• Increased muscle tension.
• Having trouble sleeping (including having trouble falling asleep or wanting to sleep all the time).

If it is suspected that there are other conditions or diseases that underlie the complaints, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo supporting tests, such as urine tests or blood tests.

So, How to Get Medication for Anxiety?

As I mentioned above, there are 2 steps to treatment for anxiety disorders, namely cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. These two steps will usually be combined according to the patient's needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is done so that sufferers recognize and change patterns of thinking and behavior that make them feel anxious. This therapy helps the patient not to turn an ordinary thought into a negative thought and be able to see it more realistically.

Patients need to allocate 1 hour each week for one CBT therapy for 3-4 months. During the CBT therapy session, the psychiatrist or psychologist will also teach relaxation techniques so that the patient is able to calm down when facing situations that can trigger anxiety.

Proper use of Medication

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, the doctor will give several types of drugs to reduce complaints. Some types of drugs that are usually given to treat generalized anxiety disorder include:

• Antidepressants
  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are used to increase serotonin in the brain, while serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) are used to increase serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain.
• Pregabalin
  Although better known as a drug to treat seizures in epilepsy and neuropathic pain, pregabalin can also be used to treat anxiety disorders.
• Benzodiazepines
  Benzodiazepines are a class of sedative drugs that are given to people with severe generalized anxiety disorder. The purpose of giving this drug is to relieve symptoms and complaints of generalized anxiety disorder in a short time.

Please note, patients need to regularly check with a doctor when undergoing treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. The goal is for doctors to know the progress of the patient's condition.

Routine checks can be done every 2-4 weeks in the first 3 months since the use of drugs.

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, people with generalized anxiety disorder can do the following to relieve their symptoms:

• Exercise regularly.
• Practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga.
• Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol consumption.

Complications of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

If generalized anxiety disorder is not treated immediately, excessive anxiety and worry will make the sufferer unable to carry out daily activities. Generalized anxiety disorder can also cause sleep disturbances. If allowed to drag on this sleep disturbance will interfere with health.

In addition, generalized anxiety disorder can make sufferers of depression more susceptible to abusing drugs or alcohol.

Prevention of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

There are several things you can do to prevent generalized anxiety disorder, including:

• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Follow exercises to manage stress, such as meditation, yoga, and keeping a daily journal.
• Stay away from alcohol, illegal drugs, and cigarettes.
• Reduce consumption of foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as chocolate, coffee, and tea.
• Check with a psychiatrist if you experience traumatic things that interfere with your thoughts and activities.

Reference :
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American Family Physician (2015). Diagnosis and Management of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder in Adults.
National Health Service (2018). Health A to Z. Generalised Anxiety Disorder in Adults.
Berger, F.K. National Institute of Health (2018). Medline Plus. Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Mayo Clinic (2017). Diseases & Conditions. Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Carey, E. Healthline (2017). Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Verywell Mind (2019). An Overview of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Web MD (2018). Generalized Anxiety Disorder.