Xanax is a prescription drug used to manage anxiety. It’s also one of the top ten abused prescription drugs on the market. Categorized as a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen), it’s estimated that some 61,000 people sought treatment for benzodiazepine abuse in 2011. It isn’t uncommon for the body to grow tolerant and dependent on the drug after misuse or a long period of continuous exposure. For those taking the drug as an anxiety solution, coping with anxiety after a Xanax addiction is a major challenge.
Anxiety is a very real mental health illness that affects more than 40 million adults over the age of 18. It’s also one of the most undertreated conditions in the country. Only one-third of anxiety sufferers get help, and for those who do, the prescribing of addictive drugs designed to help them cope is as common as breathing. The result can sometimes be a substance use problem.
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Xanax Withdrawal and Anxiety
Xanax is a downer. It’s designed to sedate or induce calm, thus allowing the user to gain traction and overcome the sense of anxiety that hinders or stops them from completing normal daily tasks. For people who suffer from generalized or social anxiety, a task as simple as going to the grocery store to buy food becomes a monumental challenge that raises blood pressure and heart rate, sometimes to dangerously high levels. Xanax acts to prevent or stop anxiety episodes by chemically maintaining or inducing calm.
When someone abuses the drug, the physical symptoms can include drowsiness, sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. For people who suffered from anxiety before developing an addiction to Xanax, withdrawal can bring on intense anxiety. But it’s learning to cope with chronic anxiety without the use of Xanax or a similar drug that proves the most challenging.
Tip #1: Manage Anxiety with Physical Activities
Diet and exercise can make a major impact. Physical activities like walking, jogging and hitting the gym to workout help the mind and body release tension and stress. Numerous studies have shown that getting moving is a great way to combat anxiety and depression. Read more in this write-up by The Atlantic.
Tip #2: Tap into the Power of a Pet
A pet is a great way to focus on something other than you, which can help alleviate stress. Did you know that petting a dog or cat can ease stress and release oxytocin to cause positive feelings and a mood boost? Walking the dog can help establish a positive exercise routine, and caring for a cat provides a solid distraction from your troubles; all good things!
Tip #3: Spend Time with Friends and Family
Relationships help. Spend fun time with friends and family. It’s a great way to shift your brain’s focus from the anxiety to things that are light and fun. Spend the time with the people you’re most comfortable with, doing something you enjoy.
Tip #4: Join or Start a Support Group
Did you know extroverts are just as vulnerable to anxiety as introverts? People often associate social anxiety with shy and withdrawn people, but the loud extrovert at the party who interacts with everyone can be just as plagued. Anxiety isn’t a predictable mental illness. It’s not just worry, and it’s not something a person can just get over.
Joining or starting a support group of people who cope with anxiety can be a great way to master yours. Talking through anxiety episodes or sharing your experiences can be therapeutic.
Tip #5: Research Natural Supplements
Diet and exercise can have a huge impact on your ability to manage anxiety, and so can supplements. For some, vitamin and mineral deficits can amplify anxiety or contribute to their inability to overcome or manage it. Here are some of the best safe over-the-counter supplements that can assist with mastering anxiety after Xanax:
- Magnesium: Anxiety is notorious for interrupting a normal sleep schedule, and when you don’t get enough sleep, you’re primed for an anxiety episode. Magnesium has multiple benefits for anxiety suffers. When taken roughly one hour before bed, it can assist with achieving a better night of rest. Magnesium deficiencies have been linked to the onset of anxiety, and correcting the deficiency can provide relief. The recommended daily dose is 200mg. WebMD has a great resource covering the supplement’s side effects and safety information.
- Theanine: Found naturally in black and green teas, theanine is an amino acid proven to provide mood support. It has a calming effect and can potentially help with bouts of anxiety. Evidence regarding the severity of anxiety it can assist with are currently inconclusive due to insufficient research and evidence. But one thing is certain: the L-Theanine supplement can be taken at the time of an anxiety episode or preventatively. Why not just drink tea? Most teas have caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety. The supplement offers a safe way to reap theanine’s benefits without mixing it with caffeine. Learn more about the pros and cons of theanine on the CalmClinic’s website.
- Vitamin B: Mental fog aggravates anxiety. When you can’t concentrate, it’s easier for anxiety’s inner voice to seep in and trigger an episode. Some have found that taking a Vitamin B complex assists with improving mental sharpness and thus contributes to overcoming anxiety.
- Valerian Root: This herbal supplement is much like taking both magnesium and theanine. It promotes sleep and relaxation, but it also acts as a sedative on the nervous system. Unlike theanine, is can cause drowsiness. Valerian Root could potentially be used as a Valium replacement. According to WebMD, it isn’t meant for long-term use. Talk to your doctor before using Valerian Root.
You Can Overcome Anxiety
It’s not easy, but it’s possible; you can master anxiety after a Xanax addiction. You can cope without the use of prescription drugs. And you don’t have to use alcohol as a medication replacement. In fact, research shows alcohol can amplify anxiety, and that’s the last thing you want to do.
What do you do to manage your anxiety? Share your tips with us and others who struggle. Leave a reply below!