Drug dependence and withdrawal If you abruptly stop taking your medication, you may experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as: Increased anxiety, restlessness, shaking. Insomnia, confusion, stomach pain. Depression, confusion, panic attacks.
Don't stop suddenly
It's not possible to tell who will be affected, so it's always advised that you slowly reduce your medication very slowly over a period of time. This is sometimes called tapering. Going slowly down to the dose you want to get to will give your mind and your body time to adjust to being without it.
Like many people, you've probably taken your antidepressant late a few times, or even forgotten to take it altogether for a day or two. If you sometimes feel like you have the flu with an upset stomach, achiness, and dizziness when this happens, you may be experiencing what's known as discontinuation syndrome.
It's recommended to keep taking your medication for at least 12 months if you're benefiting from it. This is meant to help prevent symptoms from getting worse again. After 12 months or so, you and your healthcare provider may decide to continue the medication or to gradually stop taking it.
People with anxiety often experience a relapse of their symptoms even after reaching remission – when their symptoms reach a manageable or sub-clinical level. Over half of people with anxiety disorders are treated using antidepressants, but – like all drugs – people taking them may experience side effects.
These medications take effect almost immediately and usually start to wear off within a few hours. They should not be taken daily unless your doctor explicitly recommends it.
In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state. If depressive symptoms do arise and gradually worsen, it's best to consult a psychiatrist or doctor, if they don't improve within a few weeks or if they become severe.
Although benzodiazepines are very effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety, they can't be used for long periods. This is because they can become addictive if used for longer than 4 weeks. Benzodiazepines also start to lose their effectiveness after this time.
feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax. having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst. feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down. feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you.
The majority of patients that take anti-anxiety medications will experience weight gain partially and fully due to side effects. An individual administering this medication could encounter constipation, bloating, fatigue, and as a result, weight gain.
If you have anxiety, medication can help because the medications used for anxiety alter the chemicals in your body and brain, reducing symptoms, and often helping you calm down and focus on other things.
About half of users who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) report a sense of emotional blunting, a psychic flatness that limits their emotional range, particularly their ability to experience positive feelings like pleasure and joy.
The most prominent of anti-anxiety drugs for the purpose of immediate relief are those known as benzodiazepines; among them are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
Side effects that you may experience with anxiety medication include: Fatigue, tiredness, or drowsiness. Restlessness or agitation. Insomnia or difficulty sleeping.
One potential cause of getting anxious about having anxiety is called anticipatory anxiety. This is the overwhelming fear that something may go wrong. “It's very common to be anxious about being anxious. It's part of the anxiety cycle,” says Katherine M.
Sleep disorders
“If you wake up and begin to experience worry, anxiety or frustration, you likely have activated your sympathetic nervous system, your 'fight-or-flight' system,” explains Dr. Kane. “When this happens, your brain switches from sleep mode to wake mode.
Serotonin really changes your chemistry for the better. In fact, some of the most prescribed drugs for treating anxiety and depression like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil work by modulating levels of serotonin in the brain. When serotonin is higher you: Feel confident.
When you start an antidepressant medicine, you may feel worse before you feel better. This is because the side effects often happen before your symptoms improve. Remember: Over time, many of the side effects of the medicine go down and the benefits increase.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. But anxiety disorders are treatable and a number of effective treatments are available. Treatment helps most people lead normal productive lives.
Is overthinking a mental illness? No, overthinking isn't a recognized mental health condition, but it can be a symptom of depression or anxiety. Overthinking is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Duke. GAD is characterized by the tendency to worry excessively about several things.
Increasing both aerobic exercise and strength training, ideally four times a week for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes, can increase muscle tone and metabolism and reduce fat stores. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce risk for depression relapse when combined with a stable medication regimen.