Skip to main content

Medication For Anxiety And Depression For Cancer Survivors

While I am certainly not opposed to medication for anxiety and depression as a means of dealing with the problems they cause, I am strongly opposed to medication for anxiety and depression and the way that so many doctors and other medical practitioners prescribe them, often without a thorough analysis and, especially concerning the possible adverse side effects. Medication is not the answer in my mind. Anxiety and depression need to be treated as such. They are conditions that are often very treatable. However, medication does NOT have to be one of the methods used. In this article, I'll explain why.

medication for anxiety and depression








First of all, anxiety disorders and depressive disorders are often symptoms of other underlying problems. The root causes must be identified and dealt with in order to treat the symptoms. While medication for anxiety and depression can often relieve symptoms, that relief is temporary and usually only holds until the problems return again. And that's where the problems start.

It's very common for those with anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms to get into "relief" from the symptoms by engaging in anti-depressant or other psychological "cures." But what these "cures" often do is mask or suppress the symptoms rather than deal with the root causes. And that is the real problem. They don't cure. They provide a bit of temporary relief, but they don't deal with the underlying cause.

There are some herbal supplements that have been shown to help with anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are one example. Some studies show that SSRIs may be helpful for mood disorders such as depression and panic attacks. The problem is that there is much controversy over the true safety and effectiveness of SSRIs. They have been found to be ineffective or even harmful in some cases.

Other medications, such as Bupropion and Effexor, are also used to treat mental health disorders. Bupropion is an antipsychotic used to treat depression. It has been found to be effective in treating some types of anxiety disorders, but it has not been proven to be helpful in treating the more severe forms of depression. Effexor is a drug used for chronic pain and depression as well but has not been proven to be particularly helpful in treating the anxiety or the more severe depression related to those disorders.

Using prescription medication for anxiety and depression may help to alleviate those symptoms. However, those medications can become habit forming and you may find yourself having to take them for the rest of your life. That's not what you want. You may help control the anxiety or the depression but if you don't remove the habit-forming element from the equation, you may not be very effective.

It's important that when you start thinking about medication for anxiety and depression that you work with your health professional first. Your health professional may suggest alternative treatments or symptoms relief that can be achieved without the use of medications. Be sure to ask your health professional first!

The bottom line is that people experience anxiety and depression all of the time. For some it's mild and for others it's so severe that it disrupts their lives. Whatever your case, be sure to seek medical assistance if your symptoms make you feel low energy, don't sleep well, and have suicidal thoughts or other physical problems. You may be able to improve your condition before it gets out of hand. Remember, though, that there are other options for dealing with depression and anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the more common forms of depression and anxiety. This type is often referred to as GAD since it has symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, and other types of behavioral problems. Someone who has generalized anxiety disorder may feel constantly anxious or depressed, even if they aren't. If this sounds like you, it's important that you speak with a health care professional right away.

One type of anxiety and depression that many people don't think about is reactive depression. People who suffer from this experience symptoms such as feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness, or even fear when there is no real danger. Reactive depression can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, sweating, dizziness, nausea, or other physical discomforts. Again, speak with your health care professional if you suspect you're experiencing any of these symptoms because they can indicate the presence of another, more serious condition. If you're dealing with a loved one or a friend who is in the same situation, be sure to share your feelings with them as well.

Although medication for anxiety and depression is helpful for treating some symptoms of these conditions, cancer survivors should also report taking medication for their depression after they have been diagnosed with cancer. Chemotherapy causes extreme feelings of anxiety and depression during the treatment process, which can be very similar to the feelings many people experience prior to cancer diagnosis. Speak with your oncology team to find out if they recommend medication for your anxiety and depression after your cancer treatment.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Testing for Depression

  As a child of the eighties, I remember my parents' excitement over the idea of testing for depression in adults. The thought of taking a pill every day to "make me feel good," was a far more attractive option than the prescription drugs my parents were taking. I grew up with parents who could never imagine themselves as adults. In my mind, their adult emotions had to be somehow "determined" by some mental process that could never be completely understood by the average person. So they put aside their qualms about the use of psychiatric medications, and enjoyed the benefits of their choice. Today, I am an adult who have had "the experience" of having "depressed feelings," but not necessarily experienced the debilitating episodes of depression that my parents' generation did. Today, I have learned how to "cope." Through a course of prescribed medication and therapy, I have discovered how to treat depression, and I no longer take...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dealing With Panic Attacks in Dogs

Anxiety is often one of the most prevalent causes of panic attacks in dogs. In fact, it is the number one cause. Moreover, dog panic disorder generally occurs in nervous dogs. However, nervous dogs may not be able to convey with humans effectively or owners simply turn a deaf ear to this condition in pets. There are several possible causes of these anxiety disorders in pets. One of the primary causes is the fear of potentially suffering from a panic attack. Many anxious dogs may exhibit specific behavioral symptoms such as whimpering, barking, pacing, sniffling, and staring at things that may be potentially harmful. It's common that these types of behaviors are caused by the fear of experiencing a panic attack. The behaviors are typically abnormal, and owners may think their pets are suffering from some kind of phobia. In many cases, these symptoms are mistaken for the typical symptoms of anxiety. However, there is another potential cause. Some dogs who experience anxiety have a fo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Panic Attacks Symptoms - How to Recognize Them

  Panic attacks are very frightening and can even result in death if not properly treated. In this article we will look at the symptoms of panic attacks. Then, we will look at how you can begin to treat your panic attacks. Finally, we will look at some important tips that can help you get rid of your panic attacks. Most of the symptoms of panic attacks occur within ten minutes of beginning the panic episode. At first, the most severe parts of panic attacks usually last only for about ten minutes. But some individuals have longer attacks, lasting up to half an hour. During the initial part of a panic episode, a sufferer may not be capable to function normally in many situations. The letdown following a panic episode can be very exhausting. Some of the most common symptoms of panic attacks are palpitations, dizziness, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, shakiness, and a constant feeling of dread. These symptoms often occur along with other symptoms of anxiety, su...
Post a Comment
Read more

Depression Poetry - A Look At Two Transgressors Who Changed Their Paths

For many, depression poetry is a form of self-expression that challenges you to view yourself differently. The poems are often short and to the point. This is why they are often referred to as "dying" poems. They act as a guide for those who are feeling down and out to find the strength to continue on with their lives. What exactly is depression poetry? This type of poetry helps depression suffers discover the things that they love to do and have in their life. These can be things like music, art or exercise. Depression is often defined by a lack of interest in the things that once caused happiness. These poems challenge those who feel hopeless to keep going. They might have previously thought their life had no purpose but reading inspirational quotes and poems can help change that. Many forms of poetry are good for depression because they tend to be about something that everyone else either enjoys or is at least familiar with. By creating your own depression poetry, you can ...
Post a Comment
Read more