3 types of anxiety medication and what they actually do to your brain and body
Deciding whether or not to take anxiety medication is -- ironically -- a huge source of anxiety for so many women that I talk to
Anxiety meds are a coin toss — they can temporarily relieve symptoms for some people, but many people experience significant side effects or symptom worsening
It’s vital to be educated so you can advocate for yourself. Here’s what you need to know
There is a LOT o misinformation out there about anxiety and anxiety meds, and unfortunately much it comes from medical prodivers themselves
The first line of defense against anxiety is good information and solid science. Scientists and researchers in the field of mental health don’t agree with what many clinicians (doctors, psychiatrists and therapists) are taught as part of their medical or counseling degrees -- but unfortunately most of us never hear from scientists and researchers directly
Pharmaceutical companies also advertise heavily both to doctors and individuals, and their claims are frequently not backed up by science and not regulated for accuracy
This puts the burden on us to make sure we are seeking out the most accurate information to protect ourselves and our mental health
Don’t take my word for it — Nassir Ghaemi, M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University and a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
He explained in a 2022 Psychology Today article that while many clinicians were taught that depression and anxiety are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain scientists and researchers have known this to be false for decades
So what does anxiety medication actually do?
SSRI’s
Increase availability of serotonin in the brain. Researchers hypothesize that SSRI’s work similar to alcohol. They appear to create an altered brain state that may temporarily suppress symptoms for some people but does not address the root cause of anxiety or depression
2. Benzodiazapenes
Benzo’s like Xanax, Valium, Klenopin etc. are central nervous system (CNS) inhibitors. They depress brain activity overall and thus may help to temporarily suppress symptoms. However, they also commonly lead to feelings of numbness and are highly addictive
3. Beta blockers
Chronic fight - flight puts us on a constant adrenaline drip that can cause racing heart or heart palpitations.
Beta blockers block the effects of adrenaline on the heart. They may help short-term but long-term they interfere with our ability to regulate our heart rate naturally.
Bottom live: Anxiety is not caused by a chemical imbalance. The root cause of anxiety is being stuck in chronic survival mode.
If medication is helping you function temporarily, that’s awesome. But if you want to beat anxiety permanently, you need to shift your brainn out of chronic survival mode.
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to go on meds, or if you’re troubleshooting problems with your current medication, here are some helpful things to consider:
1. Make sure you know which type of anxiety medication your psychiatrist has prescribed and why (check out the slides above for the 3 most common types)
2. Ask them what the purpose of the medication is. Is this medication targeting specific symptoms, or are they expecting that it will resolve the anxiety at the root, and why?
3. Ask them to explain the root causes of anxiety in the brain and nervous system
4. If they can’t answer these basic questions, consider seeking out another psychiatrist who is fully up to date on the science behind anxiety medication and who understands the root causes of anxiety in the nervous system
I hope this guide is helpful for you in educating and advocating for yourself!
In resilience
Caitlin