My .25 (inflation you know).
Yep, anxiety is draining and can manifest in many different ways. Mariam, best advice I can give you is do not talk yourself into having anxiety. Anxiety, by itself, is completely psychological, but untreated it can be a leading symptom in many health issues. Advice: Keep a log- write down what you're doing, when, and any other salient facts when these symptoms occur. See if there's a pattern. If there is, break it if you can. If the symptoms persist, take your log and go to your primary healthcare provider. Make him/her listen to you.
Mild anxiety can usually be helped by a few simple non-medical ways. Step back from what you're doing a minute, take some good clensing breaths and concentrate for bit on something that brings you peace. Sounds new-agey, but it will demonstratedly lower your heart rate. If you have someone with you, talk about something other than the stress causing item. Try to laugh, a lot. Reader's Digest had it right, it really is the best medicine. I used these techniques daily in dealing with pre and post operative patients- it works amazingly well.
No offense to anyone who uses xanax, but I feel compelled to say this. In my experience as a nurse, xanax is one of, if not the, most overprescribed and abused drugs out there. It is highly psychologically addictive. You never seen angry til you get an 80 year old lady who didnt get her xanax when she thought she ought to have!
Docs, especially hospital docs, tend to prescribe it as a placebo. Ex: "Hey DR B, Ms S is having a hard time sleeping" "Xanax .5mg PO (by mouth) PRN q6h (as needed every 6 hours).
[As an aside to this aside, I'm convinced Latin and Greek are used in medicine just to try to keep the patients in awe of the providers-Oh wow look at all that fancy language- he/she must be smart!]
The docs rarely talk to the patient(s) to see what is wrong, and a lot of times actively avoid doing so. This is especially prevelant on hospital night shifts.
Most of us older folks were raised not to really question docs, which is as wrong as wrong can get. Always question the meds prescribed to you and your family. Buy a Nursing drug guide- it'll tell you what a drug does, how its supposed to be taken, what its contraindications are (i.e. when not to take it), allergic reactions and possible life threatening consequences.
Back to xanax. Does xanax work? Yes, most of times quite well. Is it something that should be avoided if possible? From my experience yes. If a true SHTF situation arises, you wont have it, so its better to try alternatives while you can and hoard it for mid to major level panic attacks
