The anxiety epidemic: Are we overmedicating for normal angst?

The ads seem to be everywhere, on TV, in magazines, doctors' offices, the Internet: Are you feeling tense? Having difficulty sleeping? Scared of criticism?

The drugs that revolutionized the treatment of depression a decade ago now are increasingly used to treat anxiety disorders - mental illnesses that can cause paralyzing worry or intense fear of social situations.

Drug companies commonly seek new uses for their drugs; it's a way of expanding their market and getting a greater return on the money spent doing research.

Caused by a deficiency in brain chemistry, the disorders can, indeed, be remedied by potent mood-altering medications such as Paxil and Effexor.

But now it appears they could be capturing a new segment of patients - those with less-serious disorders, such as occasional anxiety.

Seeking Medication For Panic Attacks

Those who don't seek medication or another form of treatment for panic attacks are facing serious repercussions. Those who experience repeated panic attacks have a tendency to try to completely avoid situations that cause them to have panic attacks, like riding in elevators or operating a vehicle. This can lead to a series of mental complications, like depression, that require further treatment and medication. If panic attacks and panic disorders are effectively treated, longer-term problems can be prevented.

Among different types of medication used to ease the anxiety of panic attacks are certain types of anti depressants, benzodiazepines, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, (MAOIs) Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Depending on the frequency of the panic attacks a patient experiences and the particular symptoms that they have been experiencing, a medical professional may prescribe any combination of medication to ease the symptoms, although the benzodiazepine-based medications are usually prescribed more commonly.

What Is Anxiety And Do I Have It?

Of course, everyone has anxiety. Anxiety is a vague word meaning any one of several unpleasant emotions, usually involving the anticipation of some misfortune to come. Stress, as well legitimate worries about every day live, bring about anxiety.

However, there is a difference between regular anxiety and an anxiety disorder. Whereas anxiety is simply a negative emotion, an anxiety disorder involves chronic anxiety, usually approaching extreme levels. Such extreme levels might see an otherwise healthy and normal person become suddenly and irrationally afraid of something, or nervous and irritable, or may cause mild to severe panic attacks. Panic attacks are simply a peak of anxiety and do not necessarily mean a person is developing a panic disorder, though it is a probability.

A person may also develop an unnatural fear of public places, other people or of specific phobias. They may constantly feel the need to escape, and feel quite agitated if they feel they are trapped in a situation. This is linked to agoraphobia, once of many types of anxiety related phobias that can develop.

Anxiety disorders can easily lead to physical symptoms as well as mental and emotional ones. People suffering from chronic and intense anxiety may also experience nausea, trembling, chills, and lightheadness. In addition, severe symptoms like chest pains, numbness and a shortness of breath might appear, thus scaring someone into believing they are having a heart attack or even dying.

What causes an anxiety disorder to develop? Anxiety, of course-but from what source? It could due to external surroundings; stress and difficult living situations can be traumatic and can cause a person to feel very anxious throughout the day for a long period of time. There is also evidence that genetics can cause anxiety disorder to be inherited.

If you feel that you may have an anxiety disorder then there is cause for concern-the fact that you feel anxious enough to question your wellbeing, means either you are under a lot of stress or feel you may be developing an unnatural fear or reluctance in every day life. The best thing to do is to consult a family physician. He or she will give you a physical examination and rule out any physical factors that might be bringing on your symptoms. If there's no problem there then the doctor could refer you to a mental health specialist who will conduct a further evaluation.

Traditional medication may be recommended, or psychotherapy could be suggested as an alternative. One mistake people make is to put off going for an examination because they don't want to be put on medication. Understandably, since there are many risks involved in potentially addictive antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills, not to mention the rising cost of pharmaceutical drugs. However, the doctor will work with you and may be willing to treat the problem without medication. Aside from herbal remedies or self-help techniques psychotherapy has proven successful in many cases.

Avoidance is another symptom of anxiety disorder. But avoiding a professional examination may be too much of a risk to take, considering that your mental and physical health could be at stake.