Medical Treatments for Stress

Sometimes non-medical treatments for stress don’t work, or they just aren’t enough.  For chronic stress especially, medical help may be necessary.  If you’ve tried other forms of stress management and nothing has worked, medical treatment may be your only option.

There are many different types of medical treatments available for stress.  Some of these involve various forms of clinical behavioral therapy.  Others may involve the use of biofeedback or other forms of therapy.  But medication can also be successfully used in many instances.

Anxiety Drugs

Medication that is used for anxiety can be successfully used to treat stress in many cases.  Anxiety and stress are similar in many ways, and are closely related.  Medications like Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and other benzodiazapines are popular.  They can be highly addictive and have serious side effects, so these aren’t generally given except in extreme circumstances or for short-term stress management.

Other anxiety medications like Clonazepam (Klonopin) aren’t quite as addictive, but may take longer to work and might not have the same level of effectiveness as the benzos.

Antidepressants

These can be used in some cases, especially when stress coexists with depression.  Sometimes when depression is controlled, the stress is mitigated naturally.  Other times the stress will still be present, but it will be minimized as the patient’s depression lessens and other parts of their life improve.

Antidepressants can also have very serious side effects, so they should be used with caution.  Remember to discuss with your doctor the potential side effects of any medication, as well as any interactions with other medications you might be taking.

Taking medication is never an easy choice, but sometimes it’s necessary.  Stress can wreak havoc on your body and your mind, so don’t be afraid to seek medical treatment if you’ve tried other stress management methods and nothing else has worked.