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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
xanax dependency or just normal anxiety- help!!
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
xanax dependency or just normal anxiety- help!!
by overanxious, Feb 28, 2004 12:00AM
i have been diagnosed with GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and i am a true hypochondriac!
i have been on xanax and prozac now for a couple of months. my xanax dosage is low- its 0.5 mg however, i notice that one of my anxiety symptoms is tightness in my chest. i live with this every single day of my life- i wake up with it, and feel i need a xanax, then it goes away only to return later that day so i take another xanax. my question is- should i keep taking the xanax, and if so will i ever really learn how to deal with my symptoms? if i slowly take my self off the xanax under the help of a doctor- will my tightness in my chest ever go away. i have also been tested for many things, and all have come back negative. i am tired of having this everyday of my life- and it affects my daily living. is my body becomming dependent on this medication? if anyone has any insight i would love it! please help thanks!
i have been on xanax and prozac now for a couple of months. my xanax dosage is low- its 0.5 mg however, i notice that one of my anxiety symptoms is tightness in my chest. i live with this every single day of my life- i wake up with it, and feel i need a xanax, then it goes away only to return later that day so i take another xanax. my question is- should i keep taking the xanax, and if so will i ever really learn how to deal with my symptoms? if i slowly take my self off the xanax under the help of a doctor- will my tightness in my chest ever go away. i have also been tested for many things, and all have come back negative. i am tired of having this everyday of my life- and it affects my daily living. is my body becomming dependent on this medication? if anyone has any insight i would love it! please help thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 01, 2004 12:00AM
, Mar 01, 2004 12:00AM
Yes you can easily become dependent on xanax, and when you wean yourself, do it very slowly. Xanax is also depressing, so even though it helps with the anxiety symptom, it does have other undesirable effects.
Since tightness in your chest is an anxiety symptoms, you would be much better off learning how to quiet your mind through your own mental awareness and understanding than having to depend on drugs for the rest of your life. You can learn this by exploring meditation, cognitive therapy or visualization techniques.
Since tightness in your chest is an anxiety symptoms, you would be much better off learning how to quiet your mind through your own mental awareness and understanding than having to depend on drugs for the rest of your life. You can learn this by exploring meditation, cognitive therapy or visualization techniques.
I work with clients daily that are in trouble with benzodiazepine medications.
Raz