Anxiety
In the past few years, people across the world have spent more time on video chat programs like Zoom and FaceTime than ever before. These applications mimic in-person encounters by allowing users to see the people they are communicating with. But unlike in-person communications, these programs often also show users…
In 2018, two young men were found dead in their respective bathrooms in Texas after using a concentrated powder form of tianeptine. Tianeptine is an antidepressant prescribed in Europe, Asia and South America. It’s banned in the US, but it’s found its way here. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
In August 2021, Emilie Skoog lay on the couch in her parents’ living room, thinking that not a single thing in the world sparked joy. For weeks, the 25-year-old MIT graduate student had been unable to muster enough appetite to eat properly. Instead, she’d spend full days lying in bed,…
With the flurry of shopping, spending money and traveling to see family, stress can feel inevitable during the holidays. You might already know stress can affect your own health, but what you may not realize is that your stress – and how you manage it – is catching. Your stress…
In the last week of September 2021, a group of more than 90 doctors and researchers published a call to action, cautioning against the liberal use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. The studies suggested that exposure to the drug could increase the risk of a baby having neurodevelopmental, reproductive and…
A few years ago, framed by the skyline of Detroit, a group of about 15 children resettled as refugees from the Middle East and Africa leapt and twirled around, waving blue, pink and white streamers through the air. The captivating scene was powerfully symbolic. Each streamer held a negative thought,…
October 25, 2021 update: The CDC found a deadly bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes the disease melioidosis in a lavender essential oil spray called “Better Homes & Gardens Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones.” Read more here. The pandemic has only enhanced an already surging…
The incidence of depression and anxiety has surged among adults in the United States over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC survey suggested that from 2019 to 2020, symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression have tripled and quadrupled,…
If you’ve recently started experiencing anxiety that’s disrupting your life, it could also be a side effect of a medicine you take.
Physician’s assistant Ben Tanner lives alone. During the pandemic, he’s spent much of the time at home, working online. Because he was unable to get away from work, he soon found himself fixating on insignificant details. Little by little, his anxiety increased and he began struggling to sleep at night….
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but for some people, it can become overwhelming and debilitating. People with types of anxiety disorder feel apprehensive and uneasy, and it’s common for them to experience negative thoughts that make them more fearful. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):…
If there’s been one positive to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that more pets have found loving homes. The website Petfinder saw a 116 percent increase in traffic in March, the LA Times reported on an uptick in pet adoptions, and the New York-based nonprofit Foster Dogs Inc. revealed that…
Researchers have discovered that oral corticosteroids, in both the long and short term, may cause serious adverse effects. And for those who suffer from anxiety and depression, new, albeit inconclusive research suggests that probiotics and prebiotics may help relieve symptoms. Oral Steroid Linked to Serious Side Effects Corticosteroids are a…
If you suffer from anxiety, panic disorder, or insomnia, your doctor may have prescribed you what’s known as benzodiazepines (or benzos). This class of drugs contains popular brands such as Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam). They essentially act as a tranquilizer, relaxing, and sedating the user. …
What to do if you take anti-anxiety medicine and want to get pregnant? For pregnant women, using benzodiazepines might be OK. Also, a meta-analysis (which is a study of studies) compared behavioral therapy alone to pairing it with anti-abuse drugs to find the most effective way to treat substance and…
You don’t have to reach for medication to find relief from anxiety. Find out what natural remedies relieve anxiety and can help you, without the side effects of drugs. It’s human nature to feel anxious at certain times, like on the first day of a new job or while giving a…
Pot, marijuana, reefer — whatever you call it, cannabis is the hot, new cure (some say) for everything from PTSD to cancer. It’s quickly being legalized in countries worldwide and, so far, in 33 US states. Yet there are still major gaps in our knowledge and evidence about its medicinal…
Anxiety can be debilitating. Anxiety meds might help, but learn about the possible side effects and consider the options of alternative medicines.
Microdosing psychedelics is a growing trend that involves ingesting very small sub-hallucinogenic amounts of substances like LSD or dried psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
As stressed-out Americans look for ways to relax, some are heading to kava bars that are popping up around the country, while others are using kava supplements as a means to reduce anxiety.
If you find yourself feeling on edge for no apparent reason while taking a cold medicine or diuretic, you most likely wouldn’t connect the two. However, anxiety happens to be just one of many mood-altering symptoms that can be brought on by certain meds. “Many medications, whether prescribed or found…
Researchers in Finland analyzed data on the impact that prescription drug use had on 959 convicted murderers, prior to them committing murder. One such drug, benzodiazepines, used to treat anxietyand insomnia, increased the likelihood by 45% that a person would commit a homicide. The greatest increase was associated with opiate painkillers, which…
A new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, found that in 2008, 12% of women over 80 were taking benzodiazepines. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of both falls and dementia and, according to the American Geriatrics Society, should be avoided in…
Anti-anxiety and bi-polar meds can be hard to handle, but also can be an important part of living healthfully. Here is how Elaina manages.
Scott Stossel knows about prescription drugs and their side effects. Since the age of 10, he has been treated with a cornucopia of medicines to address severe anxiety caused by a long list of phobias, including separation anxiety, fear of vomiting, flying, and vomiting while flying and, less common, cheese….
