How Do I Know if I’m Dependent on My Anxiety Meds?

The line between using and abusing anxiety medication is difficult to identify, especially if you have not learned about the stages of drug use. If you use anxiety medication, you should know the warning signs of drug abuse, dependence and addiction, because this will train you to notice problematic drug habits. Also, if you believe you are developing a problem with your prescription medication, you are more likely to get help right away if you know what problems to look for. Anxiety medications can be addictive, so seek treatment if you abuse the drugs that should control devastating psychological conditions.

What Happens When I’m Dependent on Anxiety Meds?

Dependency upon anxiety medication begins when users become tolerant to the drug through chronic use. This means that they need more of the drug to feel the same effects, and they may also have physical withdrawal symptoms that create cravings. The problem is that users can become physically dependent upon anxiety medications without ever abusing them. Anxiety medications are highly addictive, so users may quickly build a tolerance to them. Signs of physical dependence to anxiety medication include the following issues:

• Confusion
• Dysphoria
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Agitation
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Mood swings

If you take an anxiety medication and experience any of these problems, then seek help immediately.

What Is Anxiety Medication Abuse?

If you use an anxiety medication properly, you are unlikely to build a tolerance to it or to become physically dependent upon it. Abusing your anxiety medication makes it more likely that you will become dependent and addicted to it, but many people do not know what drug abuse means. Any time you take anxiety medication without following a doctor’s prescription, you are engaging in drug abuse. This means you abuse a drug if you take anxiety medication without a prescription, taking your dose more often than prescribed or taking a larger dose than you are prescribed. Never take anxiety medication without obtaining a prescription from a medical professional, and never take more than prescribed.

Treatment for Anxiety Medication Addicts

Addictions to anxiety meds are powerful, and they threaten thousands of people just like you. If you abuse anxiety medication, call our toll-free helpline right now to learn about how professional treatment can help you. Our admissions coordinators are standing by 24 hours a day to give you information on the latest treatment techniques and to answer any questions you have about addiction treatment. They can direct you to effective treatment centers and let you know if your health insurance will help pay for rehab treatment, so call now for instant, confidential support.