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should be tried first. It all depends on the specific child and
how bad the anxiety is. Some kids do well with therapy
alone. Others need to take medicine before therapy can
help them.
Another type of drug given to anxiety patients are
benzodiazepines. These drugs have names like Valium,
Ativan, and Xanax. The advantage of these types of drugs is
that they work very quickly—less than an hour in most cases.
For people with very intense anxiety, these drugs can help
them to take a first step toward getting better (like going to
therapy or a special program).
Unfortunately, benzodiazepines can be habit-forming.
They also stop working if used for long periods. In addition,
these types of drugs can make people feel “fuzzy.” They are
therefore generally not used for more than a few weeks at
a time.
Tips for Handling Anxiety
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a great resource. It provides lots
of tips of things you can try.
• Give yourself a “time out.”
Take a break and listen to music, meditate, or do
some other quiet activity to take your mind off your worries for a while.
• Remember that you can’t control everything.
You aren’t perfect and you don’t
need to be.
• Exercise regularly.
Some physical activity several times a week will help reduce
anxiety.
• Try to understand yourself.
When you feel calm, think about what kinds of
situations make you anxious. What might you do in those situations to feel better?