Meds not needed: For anxiety sufferers, exercise proves to be a powerfully effective

[Adelaide]

The problem is the numbers of people that are suddenly being prescribed anti-anxiety meds rather than learning to get over it.

It reminds me of Ritalin abuse by "doctors" that is now 1/4 of what it was in 2001.

The doctors that sell abuse of these drugs are causing long term damage to kids.

Before blaming the physicians and therapists, consider how many people expect antibiotics for a sore throat when it is likely not bacterial, and the amount of people who attempt to find short cuts in solutions to health-related problems.

Medications serve an important role, especially for very severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, etc.), or very complex cases (e.g., dual diagnosis, complex trauma, etc.). However, if you tell someone their anxiety disorder could be 70% better in 12 weeks if they spend 1 hr twice a week with a therapist, they often balk at it. If you offer them a pill that requires zero work/effort, well that's a lot more tempting (and often more financially feasible). To be fair, it's also not even that it's laziness but a fear of having to face anxiety that can lead people to the short cut.

Then, of course, there are the physicians who are actually practicing medicine in a wildly inappropriate way who throw benzos and stimulants at people like it is $#@!ing candy.

But it is a problem that has more than one source.

[The Booman]

Anti anxiety meds do more damage than good. Often the side effects induce terrible panic attacks.

[Peter1469]

Anti anxiety meds do more damage than good. Often the side effects induce terrible panic attacks.

That is funny that many prescription meds side effects are what they are supposed to mask. And I used the term mask purposely.

[carolina73]

Anti anxiety meds do more damage than good. Often the side effects induce terrible panic attacks.

I know people on them and they panic when they don't have the pills nearby.

[donttread]

Exercise appears to help anxiety as much as prescription medication. And without the side effects.

Studies previously showed that exercise helps depression.


Meds not needed: For anxiety sufferers, exercise proves to be a powerfully effective

Exercise is as important to mental health as it is to physical health. Not body building or marathon level, just movement and sweat. However some lack the ability or time to do so regualrly. Most of us have both but still don't exercise enough because tv and doughnuts