Suggest Treatment For Severe Anxiety

Posted on Thu, 2 Jun 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 2 Jun 2016 Answered on

Sat, 2 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : How to come out of anxiety and stop worrying and concentrate on the task at hand.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
with relaxation exercise and if needed medicines are used

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

Anxiety is a human response. Some anxiety is necessary for living and progress. Anxiety beyond optimum level is damaging. It is then converted in to anxiety disorder. Lack of concentration is one of the symptoms of anxiety disorder or depression.

General approach to manage anxiety is relaxation therapy and deep breathing. Take deep slow breathing. Inhale for 3 seconds, keep breath in for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds. Do it for 0-5 minutes. You will feel relax. You can learn some meditation and yoga for relaxation though online videos.

Apart from this you need to maintain healthy lifestyle. This includes regular daily exercise (walking or running), hygienic food habits ( no junk food, no fatty food, preferably only home-made food with law salt and fat with more fruits and vegetables) and timely scheduled sleep.

There are medicines to stop and treat anxiety if it is in excess and affecting life.

To help you further I need more information.

- Since when do you have such problem?

- What kind of anxiety do you feel?

- What are the physical symptoms?

- Is there any stress (social, occupational, emotional, economical etc.) in your life?

- How much your social/personal/occupational life is affected due to this?

I will be happy to help further after your response.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (23 minutes later)

I have had anxiety issues,since 1 year,it goes on and off, I have had staying asleep issues,digestion issues, difficult focusing and remaining calm sometimes is difficult. What kind of medicines ? Prescribed medicines ? I do not want to take prescribed medicines. I have heard its not good.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
medicines are safe

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Sorry for delayed response.

I want to clarify about the medicines for your problem. They are safe and not bad as you think. One can stop the medicines after complete improvement under doctor's guidance.

Your problem is since long and symptoms suggest some kind of psychological problem.

To evaluate and confirm diagnosis detail history should be evaluated and mental status examination should be done by a psychiatrist in person.

Best treatment of any anxiety disorder includes both medicines and psychotherapy. .

In psychotherapy I recommend cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In mild cases only CBT is sufficient. In moderate to severe cases initially medicines and then CBT is added. And later on medicines stopped gradually.

In medicines SSRI group of drugs (fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram) are main stay of the treatment. I prefer paroxetine when anxiety is more. Benzodiazepines group of drugs (clonazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam or etizolam) are used initially for short duration for fast symptomatic relief.
Yes these medicines have side effects but not all persons suffer from the same. Any medicine in allopathy(like paracetamol) has side effects but it does not mean that we should avoid its use.

You may go ahead without medicines. But for that evaluation by a professional is needed.

All the best take care.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar