Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, as it occurs due to fear or worry. It can be mild or severe and is an everyday experience of our daily lives. It is actually a body’s natural response to daily stresses in life. This is because we are unsure how to adjust to two new situations and our new experience’s possible outcome. Anxiety helps us face such new challenges and motivates us to find strategies to overcome such situations. If one is unable to cope with such changing or demanding situations for a long time, it becomes a disorder. It usually takes 6 months to develop an anxiety disorder.
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY:
The symptoms vary from person to person and are usually associated with difficulty in concentrating, difficulty in falling asleep, restlessness, or it may be associated with episodes of rapid breathing or feeling of palpitations, etc. It may progress in severity to panic attacks.
ANXIETY CENTRE:
Our anxiety is controlled by an almond-shaped structure known as Amygdala, which lies deep in the brain which works as a communication Centre between incoming sensory signals and the part that interprets these signals.
TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS:
Some of the common anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and phobias. Other anxiety disorders are Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Separation anxiety disorder.
HOW TO COPE WITH ANXIETY:
To cope with anxiety, we can take general measures such a taking time out, get enough sleep, eat balanced meals, exercise daily, and avoid caffeinated drinks. Still, if it fails, we can either go to a psychotherapist or go for some Anti Anxiety Meds.
MEDICATIONS:
The medications used for anxiety are known as tranquilizers. These include benzodiazepines (diazepam, clonazepam and lorazepam etc. They act totally within 30 minutes to an hour, but they are effective for a short period of time, such as 4 to 6 months. After the benzodiazepines become ineffective, another group of drugs known as SSRIs (selective serotonin receptor inhibitors) may be used, but its efficacy is as yet questionable. Once stabilized on this drug, it becomes difficult to stop it as it may lead to withdrawal or rebound effects. Therefore, this should be tapered off gradually.
DIAZEPAM:
Diazepam is a drug to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. It belongs to a group of drugs knows and Benzodiazepines UK. It has other uses, including control of muscle spasms, alcohol with drawl symptoms and conversions, etc. It can be given either orally or parentally (intramuscular/intravenous). But its oral absorption is quite good and effective.
MODE OF ACTION:
Diazepam acts by slowing down the nervous system, relaxing a person both physically and mentally. But as with any other drug, there are some unwanted effects such as difficulty in concentrating, confusion and memory problems, poor balance, etc.
OVERDOSING OF DIAZEPAM:
Diazepam excess can be deadly. In general, overdose symptoms reflect focal sensory system weaknesses brought about by the depressant and narcotic impacts of Valium. It also causes respiratory depression so that the patient may become hypoxic, leading to brain insult.
SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSING:
Some of the symptoms of overdose are:
- Decrease in breathing
- Decrease in heart rate (patient may go into the semiconscious or unconscious state)
- It can cause a decrease in blood pressure.
- Impaired vision.
- Hallucinations
Especially if co-administered with other anxiolytics or sedatives.
As such, Diazepam is an effective and safe drug for problems like anxiety, sleep disorders, alcohol withdrawal, etc. But one should be conscious of its overuse or misuse, especially in those patients who are already debilitated or if used in combinations with other similar drugs.
