
Are you in search of a Xanax substitute? If you are one of the millions of people dealing with an anxiety disorder, it is understandable to want to ease your symptoms.
Anxiety is a difficult mental illness to juggle, it can interfere with relationships, work, and even your health. In normal amounts, anxiety is a natural function but when it is to the point that you need a pill to cope, then that is a much more serious thing.
“Benzos” like Xanax were created to help manage symptoms of anxiety, but they can be dangerous. Today we will discuss the ins and outs of anxiety, how anxiety drugs work, and other ways you can cope. If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety and Xanax abuse, it is no light matter
Did you know anxiety isn’t always a harmful thing? Anxiety is the normal reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations It helps prepare you for unknown situations by staying alert and aware. A good way to think of it is normal anxiety helps regulate the body’s natural “flight or fight” response.
However, an anxiety disorder can be a different beast. People diagnosed with anxiety disorder experience higher levels than what is considered healthy. The level of anxiety experienced by people with this disorder is often debilitating and interferes with the person’s ability to lead a normal life.
Anxiety disorder can interfere with day-to-day activities and interpersonal relationships. Anxiety manifests as a constant but irrational worry or fear. Unfortunately, when substance abuse is added to the mix, it only elevates the detrimental physical and psychological effects of anxiety. Some of the key indicators of anxiety are:
Did you know there are also multiple types of anxiety? Anxiety encompasses four different categories including panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The most common anxiety disorder is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which impacts about 6% of the population. The name speaks for itself, people suffering from this form of anxiety experience chronic stress when dealing with day-to-day situations. Anxious people are often trapped in an invisible war that makes it easy to want to self-medicate with drugs like benzos.
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a form of anxiety treatment. Benzos are a class of prescriptions that help people with anxiety, calm their symptoms. Alprazolam commonly known as Xanax is one type of benzo that was created to manage anxiety.
Other popular benzos Valium, and Klonopin. According to DrugAbuse.gov, “between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults who filled a benzodiazepine prescription increased by 67%, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million.”
Why is this important? Well, prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Just because a drug is medically available does not mean it is not dangerous.
The reason benzos like Xanax may not always be the best method for coping with stress and anxiety is that you can form a dependence on them. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) some of the side effects of benzo misuse include:
When drugs like Xanax are misused, they can do more harm than good. Misusing Xanax may look like taking them when you don’t have a prescription, taking more than the listed serving size, or using them for recreational purposes.
If you are misusing substances, understand that there is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed. Far too often, the link between substance abuse and disorders like anxiety is not well known.
You may be using benzos as a form of escape from your symptoms, and if so it helps to understand why that is an urge in the first place.
Typically, substance abuse disorder and anxiety disorder happen independently of each other. The problem is juggling both can be tremendously difficult and dangerous.
A person with anxiety may use alcohol or drugs like Xanax to cope with their symptoms. This can lead to a variety of short and long-term consequences for the individual.
Once a dependence on benzos is formed, those suffering from anxiety may face withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop. This is because of the intense effects drug abuse has on the brain.
Over time, the brain requires more and more of the drug to get the original effect. If you abuse benzos these withdrawal symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, insomnia, muscle tension, weakness, aches and pains, blurred vision, and a racing heart.
Don’t these symptoms sound familiar? Withdrawal symptoms from benzos mimic a lot of the symptoms of anxiety. It is easy to see why this creates a dangerous cycle that makes coping with stress and anxiety solely through drugs a risky option.
Another shocking fact? People with an anxiety disorder are two to three times more likely to develop a substance disorder compared to the general population.
Many who fall victim to this occurrence also fail to realize that substance abuse can make their symptoms worse. Unfortunately, while looking for relief, many just end up being caught in a vicious cycle of using one bad habit to “fix” the other.
On a biochemical level, both anxiety and addiction are linked to low levels of serotonin. This is why finding a Xanax substitute is so important if you know your drug use is getting out of hand.
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John Doe
Our writers are experienced in everything related to addiction, mental health, rehab and recovery.
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