Are you stressed out? Feeling anxious for no reason? You may be suffering from panic attacks, a very real disease that if not under control can leave you in a constant state of stress.
There are many prescription medications on the market that are prescribed to deal with anxiety and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines, a class of anti- anxiety medications, are often used when a patient is not able to sleep or feels out of control.
When taken, it produces a sedative effect, allowing the patient to sleep or calm down. Such medications include Valium, Xanax, and Ativan. They work by depressing the central nervous system, but the side effects can include severe drowsiness and lethargy.
These medications do not promote a sense of well-being so when the sedative effects wear off, the anxiety tends to start all over again, causing a need for further medication. This is a downward spiral that leads to addiction, or dependence on anti-anxiety medication. Acupuncture, a natural, non-addictive alternative to prescription medications, is used to treat anxiety and panic attacks with marked success. Acupuncture is an eastern medicine that originated from China, but is now widely practiced in the United States by licensed acupuncturists.
A report on the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks was filed in June by the University of Westminster in London, England. Anxiety and panic attacks can be debilitating to the sufferer. Yet, acupuncture can reduce the severity of symptoms almost immediately. Sterile, tiny, surgical steel needles are inserted into points in the body which significantly calm the nervous system and quiet the mind. Patients have reported less intense feelings of anxiety or panic after only one session, and after more sessions reduced to a minimum altogether.
