How to get off anxiety medications
Too many people still think about anxiety medications as a quick and effortless fix for anxiety. This is potentially a very dangerous reasoning because those pharmaceuticals can be very addictive and usually lead to many unwanted side effects. They should only be used in extreme cases and only as a complement to psychotherapy.
For this very reason, you should always suspect a doctor who wants to ONLY prescribes anxiety meds. Such a doctor most likely does not care much about you. Moreover, you should never take anxiety meds unless you have a prescription. Otherwise, you will more likely aggravate the problem rather than alleviate it.
There’s nothing wrong with taking anxiety medications, of course. And if they seem to be helping you, great! In all circumstance, you should look for ways to cope that don’t require pharmaceuticals because their potential harms vastly surpass the short term benefits.
Warning: read this before getting started
If you’re already taking anxiety meds, you can’t just stop taking them suddenly; otherwise you’ll most likely experience very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you have been prescribed these medications, then you should consult with your doctor or therapist and ask to initiate discontinuation from these substances.
If you’re taking anxiety medications even though you never got a prescription, then you need to speak with a doctor as soon as possible for a discontinuation plan. If for some reason you can’t see a doctor, you need to get by without those medications. But as we’ve mentioned, it’s not a good idea to just go cold turkey.
Substituting anxiety meds with natural alternatives
Have you read our article on anxiety herbal remedies? Believe it or not, there are some rather powerful natural remedies available that you can start relying on once you have stopped using pharmacological medications. Natural solutions can provide many of the benefits that medications do, with none of the adverse side effects. You should certainly learn how to take advantage of this kind of therapeutic solution, if you haven’t already.
Moreover, there are some herbal remedies that can make it easier to let go of anxiety meds. For example, if you’ve been trying to let go of sleeping pills and a reduced dose does not seem to do the trick, you can try complementing it with a good Chamomile tea a few hours before sleeping. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor though because certain herbs should not be combined with certain medications.
Planning ahead will make your life easier
When you see a doctor for help to get off anxiety medications, you should take interest in asking what exactly the plan is. It will probably take a few months, during which your dosage will be progressively lowered. The reason why you should take interest in the specifics is so you can adequately prepare yourself in advance.
For example, you can ask your doctor if there are any herbal remedies that you should avoid using in combination with your meds. In the same way, make sure to ask if it’s a good idea to use specific herbs (which you find most effective) as a complement to your medications once you start taking lower doses. More likely than not, your doctor will tell you that it won’t do harm, but it’s always good to ask for the specifics.
Another thing you should prepare to do is getting increased physical activity. Not only will that help reduce your medication withdrawal symptoms, but it will also be instrumental towards managing your anxiety disorder. However, it’s also a good idea to ask your doctor on what he thinks about you making drastic changes to your exercise habits. More than likely, your doctor will approve, but he may encourage you to take it slow or avoid certain exercises depending on your previous medical record.
Make sure you won’t need anxiety medications
If you’re planning to let go of anxiety medications, you are absolutely doing a good thing. Although sometimes, good isn’t the same thing as right. If you’re seeing a therapist who’s absolutely convinced that you must take medications as part of your treatment, adhering could be the wisest choice. It could be that you’re not prepared yet to stop using medications and discontinuing them could lead to setbacks in your recovery.
As such, you should make sure you really don’t need anxiety medications before committing to letting go of them. While letting go of medications is always a good idea in the long run, it may not be the appropriate time yet and it may be better to wait. Just remember, going on and off medications are decisions you should not make on your own.
Most importantly, never take anxiety medications (or any medication for that matter) without your doctor knowing about it. It can be a rather destructive decision if you are taking medications without your doctor/therapist knowing or if you are not taking your prescribed medications.
