Medical Questions » Emotions Questions » Question No. 308
| Question: | What can I do to help a good friend of mine cope with her stress and anxiety problem? |
| Answer: | A sympathetic and helpful friend is the greatest aid anyone can ask for in helping with this problem. Anxiety is subtly different to stress, in that stress may cause anxiety, or it may develop for no apparent reason at all. The patient can become fearful, have feelings of unease and dread, and may develop physical symptoms such as a tremor, difficulty in swallowing or hot flushes.
Tranquillisers can play a part in controlling these symptoms on an as-required basis. When the patient feels anxious, they use a tranquilliser to control their feelings. Sometimes they may need them several times a day, at other times they may go for weeks without needing any help. The tablet is a crutch to help their fractured psyche through the day.
Anxiety affects a third of the Australian population, but nowhere near all of them will require medication to cope with this anxiety. If you feel that further help is required for your friend, convince her to see her family doctor, who can assess her, advise her, and if necessary, prescribe for her.
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