Anyone know if it is more harmful to take anti-anxiety meds or sleep aids than to deal with stress naturally?

Question

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and also have great difficulty sleeping ... do you think the meds cause more damage to your body, or do you think by not taking the meds to reduce anxiety and help your body sleep, that the stress would cause more harm to the body in the long run?

Does it make more sense to get a good night's sleep and feel healthy, rather than irritable and unable to concentrate?

Aside from the dangers of addiction to meds of course, what do you think is more healthy? With or without meds?

Answer 1

Benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Xanax, etc) are among the least toxic medications out there, so unless you're allergic to them, there's almost no chance they'll directly hurt your body.

With all medications, there's a question of whether the benefits outweigh the risks. The only major risk with benzos is addiction. But it's statistically impossible to get addicted if you're only using them as needed. Bottom line: if taking them twice a week or so improves the quality of a person's life, there should be no problems with it.

However, most doctors don't understand this. It's really unfair that some doctors out there will readily prescribe dangerous drugs like antipsychotics and mood stabilizers to people who need those, but refuse to give benzos to people with anxiety. There's nothing wrong with needing to take anxiety meds, so don't ever let anyone make you feel guilty over it and find a doctor who will prescribe them.

Answer 2

I think people turn to meds when their anxiety or stress begins to interfere with their lives and cause physiological problems. If you feel stress or some amount of anxiety but its not at the point of directly causing other medical problems, then you can try natural remedies like finding things to do that relax you or speaking with a therapist to get to the root of your anxiety. However, this doesn't work for everyone simply because these issues make them so frantic and grief stricken that they cannot function. Others may not want to put in the work or find alternatives and see popping a pill as a simple solution. It completely depends on how much sleep you're loosing and if its affecting your productivity and normal activities and whether your anxiety prevents you from being out in social settings or modifies your life.

There will absolutely always be stresses in life and they vary. There is no stress free situation, however there are some things that weigh so heavily on you in your requirement to deal with them that they cause you physical pain and suffering. No one should take medications for general stresses simply to numb themselves to life nor should you take sleeping pills when your reasons for not getting sleep is because you like to watch t.v. all night. So you have to consider the circumstances.

Answer 3

Laying awake not sleeping all night can cause you stress & anxiety. I have had all the problems you are talking about. You have to get sleep at night or your tires body & brain don't function right. As long as you are seeing a good Dr. that keeps up on your meds, you shouldbe fine. Myself I also see a counsler too, and believe me what a difference talking to someone who doesn't make judgement on you! And should never stop anti anxiety drugs on your own. You didn't say but I hope you are on a good anti-depressant, I take Effexor. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

I'm sure your like what your shirt says Fed Up.If your over stressed then naturally you deal with it so take your meds and sleep aids to help you cope. If you could cope with out the meds then you wouldn't take pills. I really hate to say it, but I think you have a long road to go.

Answer 5

It is more harmful to lay in bed looking at the ceiling worrying about everything than to be able to sleep with the help of valium or some tylenol pm. unless you're pregnant or could be pregnant because these meds can harm the baby.

Answer 6

Just DO NOT start taking EFFEXOR. It has side effects that are the worst.