Coping with anxiety disorders

Use of this response constitutes agreement with the following disclaimer. I do not provide counseling or consultation via the Internet. I do, however, address issues such as anxiety disorders in general. For anyone with symptoms of anxiety, I suggest, first, to be sure to have a thorough medical work up to determine if there are any medical factors contributing to and/or causing the anxiety symptoms. If this has been ruled out, then it might be preferable to seek out a licensed psychiatrist to evaluate the need for medication and monitor one closely if taking medication. If one is unable to see a licensed psychiatrist, then it would be preferable to at least be monitored closely by a licensed physician in this area. Ativan (the brand name for Lorazepam)is a benzodiazepine. See http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-a04.html for more information. At this site, it states "Lorazepam should not be administered to individuals prone to drug abuse. Observe caution in patients who are considered to have potential for psychological dependence. Lorazepam should be withdrawn gradually if it has been used in high dosage." Finally, from my experience, a combination of both psychiatry and psychotherapy is often most effective with anxiety disorders.

[ Previous | Next ]