Originally Posted by
PanicCured
Anxiety disorder is in fact a Dis-Ease of the body, maybe more correctly termed "disorder". It occurs when one is so sensitive that anxiety is triggered at incorrect times. That is the disorder. Simply doping someone up or telling them just to relax will not get to the underlying issue. I realize some people need medication so I am not against anxiety medication as a whole. What I am against is complete lack of any long term cure from medication. We can debate the term "cure" if you want. but it simply means one is debilitated from an anxiety disorder and then overcomes it and lives a normal life. That is cured in my book. This idea that one should only seek to learn to maintain their anxiety is also misguided information. I do not have to do anything anymore to keep my anxiety under control. It is simply non existent.
Yes, I realize the fight or flight response can occur in times of danger, but that is not a disorder. No more a disorder than if one's family member dies and they get depressed. That is a normal reaction, not a depression disorder. The disorder is what many people here experience, is they are sitting on the couch watching TV and all of a sudden out of nowhere the walls start caving in and then their heart goes to 160 BPM and they feel their head will explode and pace around the home running for a safe place in full on freak out mode. That is the fight or flight response triggered in the wrong way. THAT IS THE DISORDER! That improper trigger is what can be cured. There is no medication for a long term benefit for this. Only by natural means, not only supplements and herbs, but by certain lifestyle changes and certain behavior modifications will get one past anxiety. This is something doctors can not do. Besides CBT or other qualified anxiety therapists which can be a great help.
So call it what it is. Benzos offer temporary benefit for a few hours which can easily turn sour after a few months, and offer zero in the long term benefit. If one gets addicted than they will have a whole new set of problems to deal with. Again, I would never say nobody needs meds as I assume there is a time and place for them, but call it what it is. It is not a long term treatment. They are temporary band aids. I detailed my healing path in the stickies above how I went from anxiety/agoraphobic to what I consider normal, if you care to read.