Are You Worrying Yourself Sick?

Stopping the Cycle
Once you've established that the emotion is getting the best of you, it's time to start reining in those thoughts. "The way to do that is by reprogramming your habits," says Michael McKee, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of medical psychology in psychiatry at Columbia University. In a Purdue University study of adults with a tendency to fret, researchers found that people who don't allow their anxiety to escalate lived longer those who do.

Begin by making a few lifestyle changes, such as the ones in "7 Therapy-Free Ways to Ease Anxiety," on page 79. You also may want to talk to a therapist about cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches coping techniques that help change the thinking and behavioral patterns leading to excessive fear.
"If you have overwhelming anxiety or symptoms that persist for more than six months, prescription medication may be in order," says McKee. Antianxiety agents, such as Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, enhance the action of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which has a calming effect. (Since people can develop a tolerance to these drugs, they are generally prescribed for only a few months at a time, says McKee.) Another option is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, such as Lexapro, Paxil, or Prozac, which boosts levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin in the brain.

For Lori, a combination of weekly therapy sessions and an antidepressant helped diffuse her anxiety and panic. "Looking back I realize I had been suppressing my emotions all of my adult life," she says. "But now I've learned how to deal with my worry in a healthy way: by talking dirough my issues with friends and using deep breathing to calm down quickly." The result, says Lori? "My panic attacks are less frequent -- and much more manageable -- than they once were."