Question: I have a lot of anxiety. When I had to give a speech last week that I was very worried about my doctor gave me a short prescription for beta blockers and it really helped me a lot. Could I just use beta blockers all the time? I know that it is silly but the physical signs of anxiety always make me feel worse and then it is just a downward spiral to anxiety, even when I am just breathing fast from chasing after the bus or something.

Katie Brooks Says...:

It sounds as if your
anxiety is very uncomfortable and I am sorry that you have that experience. Medication can help with anxiety, but it has short-term and long-term
side effects that you might want to educate yourself about.  Go to this
webpage and scroll down to read the adverse effects of Beta Blockers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker

Remember that we all
experience a range of positive and negative emotions.  Without sadness we
would not appreciate joy.  Without anger we would not understand our
boundaries.  Lastly, without anxiety we would not experience the fear that
keeps us out of harms way.  Anxiety can also serve the purpose of
motivating us to push harder when times are tough.  It is important to
keep a realistic prospective on your negative emotions.  For example, it is very normal to experience
some form of anxiety before a big presentation.  On the other hand, if the
emotions you experience are so uncomfortable that they keep you from
functioning normally (avoiding an important presentation) then it may be time
to see a therapist.

Taking medication relieves
the immediate symptoms, but does not offer you a chance to eradicate the
underlying cause of the anxiety.  Therefore, your anxiety will remain a
chronic problem.  If you take the step to see a therapist, you would work
towards identifying triggers and coping skills in order to manage the anxiety.
 This treatment method will teach you the skills in order to gain relief
that will be long-lasting.  Sometimes it is also helpful to take
medication while receiving treatment from a therapist.  The medication can
help relieve the immediate symptoms in order to work on your skills with
the therapist.  Once you have learned
effective anxeity management skills you can then proceed to wean off of the
medication.  I hope this
information was helpful.  There are many forms of effective therapy for anxiety, but I find mindfulness and CBT to be the most effective.  Please visit my website for further information or schedule to schedule a phone consultation:  GoodTherapySanDiego.Com

Warmest Wishes,

Katie Brooks, LCSW