You may have heard that Xanax is a good drug for managing anxiety and other ailments. In general this statement is true; however, many doctors do not prescribe it too easily due to the side effects. Therefore you need to convince your doctor that you need it, especially by showing him that you have anxiety disorders.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Talk to the Doctor or Psychiatrist
Step 1. Talk to your GP about your anxiety problems
Sometimes this is simply a symptom of another underlying problem, so your doctor will likely want to see you first. For example, psychological symptoms may indicate the presence of a neurological problem or may result from drug therapy.
Step 2. Describe your symptoms in detail
While it can be a little embarrassing to tell how bad this condition is for you, your doctor needs to understand the extent of the problem. For this reason, it can be helpful to keep a journal in which to write down when you have negative thoughts and the consequences that come with them - for example, when you stopped having fun and quitting going out.
Step 3. Find out about the advisability of seeing a psychiatrist
Once your doctor has seen you, they will most likely recommend that you see a psychiatrist, as they are the most qualified doctor to prescribe anxiolytic medications. For this reason, if your doctor does not recommend it, ask him to be referred to a mental health specialist yourself.
Step 4. Describe your symptoms to the psychiatrist
Just like with the family doctor, you will need to describe them in detail and emphasize how much they affect your life.
You need to feel comfortable to be able to talk freely to him about how you feel. If you can't feel "in tune" with the first specialist you go to, don't be afraid to look for another one
Step 5. Ask him to prescribe medications
You will have to approach this subject in a gentle way, as the doctor may suspect that you only went to him to get the medicines; as is known, Xanax is often abused. However, it is not wrong to express your wishes.
- For example, you might say, "I have heard that Xanax and other similar drugs are indicated for anxiety problems. Could they be good solutions for my specific case?"
- Never start a conversation with a doctor with this sentence. Talk about your problems first to help your doctor understand what you really need.
Step 6. Apply for Xanax to manage insomnia
Another technique for getting a prescription for this drug is to ask for it to solve the anxiety-related insomnia problem. Some people take a very small dose before going to bed to try and sleep better. Again, avoid addressing the subject with the clear intent of getting a prescription. First you have to describe your sleep disturbances due to frantic thoughts or anxiety and only then consider asking if Xanax can be a good solution for you.
Part 2 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Anxiety
Step 1. Recognize the feelings triggered by anxiety
You may feel like everything is going wrong or is about to go downhill without you being able to do anything to avoid it. Or you may feel panic over the events of life.
- Some people always feel "on the brink" or like life holds only horrible things.
- Some individuals experience panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of fear that can be overwhelming.
Step 2. Pay attention to feelings of nervousness or helplessness
Everyone experiences anxiety states from time to time, but if these are persistent and intense, the problem is a little more serious. If you have been experiencing severe anxiety for six months or more within a year, you should speak to a doctor.
Step 3. Pay attention to physical symptoms
Anxiety does not manifest itself only with symptoms that involve the psyche, but also with signals of a physical nature. For example, you may start fidgeting, sweating, or breathing faster; you may also have a very fast heartbeat, feel very tired, or be unable to focus on the things you need to do.
You may also experience symptoms such as stomach problems, dizziness, headaches, or even chest pain
Step 4. Notice how anxiety affects your life
If you only experience sporadic moments of anxiety with few side effects, you are hardly suffering from any serious ailment. If, on the other hand, your discomfort conditions and greatly affects your daily life by absorbing all thoughts and preventing you from carrying out your normal activities, then you suffer from some anxiety disorder.
Step 5. Know that anxiety can manifest itself in different ways
Depending on the specific type of disorder you are dealing with, anxiety can take on different aspects. Furthermore, there may be various factors that induce seizures and which are different from person to person; in some people the triggering causes are not even recognizable.
- Generalized anxiety disorder results in an exaggerated feeling of fear towards everyday life, although there is no particularly bad event at that time.
- Panic disorders occur when you suddenly have a fear or anxiety attack that may only last a few minutes, but which in some cases continues for longer.
- Social phobia basically consists of the fear of being in an embarrassing situation. This discomfort can prevent you from doing certain things or going to certain places that you would like, precisely because of the fear of doing something inappropriate.
- Specific phobias consist of the fear of one or several well-defined things; in other words, when you are faced with the object of your phobia, you are afraid or feel anxious.
Part 3 of 3: Getting to know Xanax
Step 1. Learn about the drug
Xanax is a type of sedative that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which, in turn, are part of the group of central nervous system suppressants.
Basically, it slows down the nervous system and is therefore considered a tranquilizer; in fact it works by binding to the receptors of the brain and slowing down the neurons
Step 2. Find out what it is prescribed for
In most cases, it is given for anxiety problems, but it can also be prescribed for panic disorders, although doctors are reluctant to give it for these reasons, as panic attacks may trigger even while in a relaxed state.. Other times it is recommended in small doses to help those suffering from insomnia.
- Xanax can stop or relieve panic attacks
- It can help you get through a crisis, such as a particularly stressful exam or a very difficult encounter. The correct dose will help you overcome anxiety so that you can concentrate properly.
- This drug treats the symptoms, not the cause. Xanax is not a cure for anxiety. Check with your doctor to find out which treatments can help you in the long term.
Step 3. Know why your doctor may be hesitant about prescribing Xanax
The main reason is because this drug is addictive over time; it is easy to misuse or abuse and many cases of overdose have been reported.
