If you experience situational anxiety, a type of unease that occurs during specific events or scenarios like exams, interviews, public speeches, or even conversations with your co-workers, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that about 36.4%–41.5% of adults in the U.S. have recently experienced some type of anxiety symptoms.
While occasional anxiousness is almost unavoidable and mostly tolerable, it can become overwhelming when it interferes with daily activities and affects your quality of life. The fantastic news is that there are numerous ways to overcome it, including using medications.
This article will explain how to buy situational anxiety treatment and why telemedicine is a convenient option if you prefer a private approach to managing unease.
How To Buy Situational Anxiety Medication
You can only get situational anxiety medication with your healthcare provider’s prescription. These drugs affect individuals in different ways and interact with specific conditions and substances, so a healthcare professional must review your health history to determine whether they’re safe for you.
Even though you can get medications for situational anxiety from your primary healthcare provider, most people find it challenging to discuss their needs in person because of the stigma associated with taking medicines for performance issues. The excellent news is that online clinics provide a viable workaround.
Consider Telemedicine Clinics for Convenient Consultations
With the emergence of telemedicine clinics, you can discuss your anxiety treatment needs in a private, comfortable setting. These platforms offer a convenient way to consult healthcare professionals and get anxiety medications prescribed if necessary.
Kick, an online performance medicine clinic, provides a safe and private platform where you can discuss your needs, explore treatment options, and even get prescriptions for situational anxiety medications.
Kick—Your Reliable Partner in Overcoming Situational Anxiety
Source: cottonbro studio
Kick’s performance anxiety program helps you overcome situational anxiety from the comfort of your home, eliminating long waits and excessive travel.
Once you join the program, Kick’s doctor will review your health status and prescribe propranolol or atenolol, two well-known beta-blockers that can be effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and enabling you to stay calm and focused on your tasks. Your doctor will also give specific instructions for using these drugs, helping you make the most of the treatment.
To ensure your privacy is respected, the medication will be delivered in packaging that keeps its contents confidential. You can schedule regular follow-ups to track your progress, modify your treatment plan if necessary, and get answers to questions you have about the program.
How To Join Kick
To get started with Kick, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the signup page to begin your 10-minute consultation
- Complete the questionnaire to inform us about your health status and specific anxiety issues
- Provide your payment and delivery details
Our doctor will evaluate your situation and respond within a day. You can get the drugs delivered to your home or local pharmacy. If you opt for the latter, you can benefit from the same-day pickup service.
If you’re not the best candidate for the program, you won’t pay for the initial consultation as per our Doctor Guarantee. Kick’s performance anxiety program has fantastic reviews on Trustpilot, demonstrating our commitment to helping the people we partner with cope with anxiety.
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Understanding Situational Anxiety
Understanding the specific factors contributing to anxiety can help you manage it more effectively. Two key aspects to consider are:
- Situational anxiety triggers
- Symptoms of situational anxiety
What Triggers Situational Anxiety?
Situational anxiety occurs as a response to specific situations or events. It’s characterized by intense fear or dread disproportionate to the situation at hand. This unease triggers a physiological reaction in the body, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body for a “fight or flight” response.
Some of the factors that can contribute to situational unease include:
- Past negative experiences—Past stressful experiences, such as poor performance, can trigger situational anxiety as the brain may associate certain situations with specific feelings
- Lack of preparation—Inadequate preparation for situations that require you to do your best, such as tests and on-stage performances, can lead to unease
- High-stakes situations—Events where a lot is at stake, such as job interviews or important meetings, can trigger discomfort
- Social interactions—For some people, social interactions, especially with unfamiliar people or in large groups, can cause tension
- Health concerns—Worries about health or fear of upcoming medical procedures can trigger situational anxiety
Symptoms of Situational Anxiety
Situational anxiety can entail physical and psychological symptoms. Check out the table below for more details:
Short-term methods of coping with occasional anxiety generally aim at reducing these symptoms, while long-term treatment addresses the underlying triggers contributing to the condition.
Source: Mikhail Nilov
Common Situational Anxiety Medications
Most drugs for anxiety fall into three categories:
- Beta-blockers
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers are typically taken for situational anxiety. They block the effects of adrenaline, a hormone that your body produces in response to stress, reducing physical symptoms of anxiety like rapid heart rate, shaking, and sweating. Still, they’re typically meant for occasional use and should be avoided for chronic anxiety issues.
Check out the table below for more details:
These drugs are typically taken two hours before the stressful event, allowing enough time for them to kick in.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are fast-acting medications that can help reduce symptoms of situational anxiety. They enhance the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain that reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Still, these drugs can be habit-forming and should be used with caution.
Check out the table below for more details on the benzodiazepines typically taken for anxiety issues:
Antidepressants
Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can also be used to treat occasional anxiety, especially if it stems from chronic social or generalized anxiety disorders.
These medications increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which are neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. Antidepressants are typically used for the long-term management of anxiety disorders.
The table below lists commonly prescribed antidepressants and their properties:
The effectiveness of different medications varies among individuals. Discuss your anxiety issues with your doctor so they can determine the best treatment and dose for you.
Side Effects of Anxiety Medications
While anxiety medications are generally safe, they carry the risk of side effects, which may occur if you don’t adhere to your doctor’s instructions. Common adverse reactions include:
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Decreased sex drive/libido
- Difficulty thinking
- Decreased IQ
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss/gain
Rare side effects may include:
- Heart problems
- Pulmonary hypertension (possibly due to lung disease)
- Increased bleeding risk
- Interactions with other medications
- Withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped abruptly
If you experience any unusual changes while on anxiety medications, inform your healthcare provider so they can adjust the dosage or recommend a different treatment if necessary. Side effects of beta-blockers are extremely rare because these drugs are taken only as needed before stressful events.
Source: Yaroslav Shuraev
Alternatives to Medications for Situational Anxiety
If your doctor decides that you need more encompassing treatment or you’re not the perfect candidate for medications, they may suggest non-pharmaceutical methods of coping with anxiety. These include:
- Meaningful lifestyle changes
- Therapy or counseling
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can play a significant role in managing situational anxiety. Some strategies that can help are:
- Structured physical activity—Regular exercise, such as a brisk morning walk, mid-day yoga, or evening cycling, can alleviate feelings of unease by releasing mood-lifting endorphins
- Mindfulness practices—Daily practices like meditation or deep-breathing exercises can help cope with anxiety
- Balanced nutrition—Consuming foods like salmon, flaxseeds, leafy greens, nuts, avocados, and bananas while avoiding processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol can help maintain physical and mental balance
- Quality sleep—Establishing a consistent sleep schedule, creating a restful environment, and engaging in relaxing pre-bed activities like reading can improve sleep quality and reduce tension
- Social connections—Regular interaction with friends and family, participating in clubs or groups, and volunteering can boost your confidence and give you a sense of purpose, helping you feel more at ease around people
Therapy and Counseling
Therapy and counseling can be highly effective in managing situational anxiety. Specific techniques include:
- Exposure therapy—If you’re afraid of public speaking, you might start by speaking in front of a small group and gradually increase the audience, reducing fear through repeated but not overwhelming exposure to the source of anxiety
- Mindfulness-based therapy—It can teach you to focus on your breath instead of worrying about an upcoming presentation, helping you stay present and engaged in the current moment
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)—DBT teaches skills like mindfulness (being present and accepting of your current state), distress tolerance (managing negative emotions without being overwhelmed), emotion regulation (understanding and managing strong emotional reactions), and interpersonal effectiveness (navigating conflict and effectively requesting what you need)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—ACT can help you see that feeling anxious before a big meeting is a normal reaction and not something to be feared or avoided. This can help you accept your anxiety without judgment. It uses strategies of acceptance and mindfulness, along with commitment and behavior-change strategies
Featured image source: Pavel Danilyuk
