The article discusses the use of beta blockers as a solution for anxiety, especially in situations like public speaking, where individuals often face extreme stress. The writer recalls their own experience with beta blockers before giving a eulogy, highlighting the relief from anxiety symptoms that the medication offers. Beta blockers, while originally prescribed for heart conditions, are increasingly recognized for their effectiveness in treating specific anxiety issues. The article also notes the rising prescription rates, especially among women and young people, due to growing awareness and lower risks compared to traditional anxiety medications.
I first took beta blockers two years ago, when I was asked to give a eulogy. Terrible at public speaking on a good day, let alone at a funeral, my first instinct was to refuse to do it. I had made a speech at a friend's wedding 15 years before and my legs shook so violently throughout that I thought I would collapse.
Beta blockers are a prescription medication that blocks adrenaline and therefore temporarily reduces the body's reaction to stress. Routinely given to patients with heart and circulatory conditions, they are also prescribed for some kinds of anxiety.
Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication have soared in recent years driven mainly by increases among women and young people. According to a 2022 study...for every man prescribed beta blockers, there were 2.33 women.
Some doctors will suggest taking them regularly, at certain times of the day. Others will suggest taking a specified dose when you feel you need it. They work by reducing the effects of adrenaline on the heart.
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