I really can’t believe what I am reading. From my experience of recreational drug use, ecstacy and MDMA have caused more anxiety attacks, agoraphobia, night terrors and depression than any other drug I have come across. The negative after effects of use are widely documented. And while I know that this article is by no means encouraging people with anxiety disorders to pop illegal pills, it’s very irresponsible to suggest these links to vulnerable people. Real science only please.

Real science starts with modest ideas. We are reporting on a few isolated studies. These were experiments conducted under medical care reported in scientific journals. We post them because they are interesting and may lead to greater understanding about the relationship between neurotransmitters or hormones and anxiety. This is not to be tried with “street drugs!”

I find social situations so anxiety provoking that I can’t even enjoy major milestones in my kids’ lives because those events generally involve interacting with or at least being around lots of people. Even small group gatherings are difficult for me but if the benefits outweigh the discomfort I can tolerate and sometimes find something positive in the experience. But most of the time I prefer being alone because I’m so anxious and uncomfortable with other people. Sure would be nice if relief were just a sniff or two away.

Several months ago I read about one of the studies that linked oxytocin to trust. I don’t recall the details, but apparently subjects who received oxytocin through a nasal spray were more likely to give money to strangers even though they knew they might not get it back.
I’m not sure that means oxytocin makes people more trusting. Maybe oxytocin just makes people stupid.

You’re right oxytocin has been called the “trust” hormone. Not surprising since it seems to have a positive effect on maternal bonding. By the way, exposure is the best cure for most social anxiety. So making yourself go to events even when uncomfortable is the best treatment for social anxiety.

Well… these days I go only when I really have to. Before I had kids I was extremely anxious, but then after my kids were born the anxiety gradually diminished when I needed to attend school, church and community events regularly. During those years I was actually far less anxious than I am now, so I would say that does support exposure as the best treatment. But is my experience unusual in that the severe anxiety returned when my exposure to social situations eventually decreased? Are people ever really cured by exposure in the sense that they can eventually have longer and longer periods of time between social events without becoming anxious? Or does a successful outcome depend upon regularly maintaining exposure over the course of one’s lifetime?

@Bonnie: It varies somewhat from person to person. I will say that if exposure has helped, but not enough, sometimes that’s a signal that one needs to really “up” or intensify exposure for a while. If it is really done thoroughly for long enough, quite often it isn’t necessary to keep it gong for a lifetime. But that’s not always true.

Thanks… it makes sense that it would vary from person to person, just like other treatments for various disorders. At this time in my life the idea of intensifying exposure in preparation for the few major events I’m likely to attend is not very appealing to me. I suppose if I felt that I were missing out on a lot of things, or if I really had a very strong desire to socialize and I felt frustrated by my inability due to the anxiety, then intensifying exposure would probably be very helpful. But since it’s not particularly distressing to me right now, I’m not in any hurry to do anything about it.
I did, however, find that my own somewhat crude but effective form of exposure therapy was very necessary when I struggled with some moderately severe PTSD reactions several years ago during a very contentious custody battle. I had become so easily triggered by my husband’s unpredictability and mind games that I began experiencing intense PTSD reactions whenever I saw him, and it was particularly bad if I ran into him unexpectedly. Trying to avoid seeing him was impossible and hardly practical because we have four kids, so I began combining exposure with reminders that I was safe, and that he didn’t really have as much power as I was attributing to him, and that just because we ran into each other sometimes it didn’t necessarily mean he was doing it intentionally to frighten me. It took awhile, but it worked well enough to keep me from going into a full-blown panic every time I saw him, and eventually I found that I could be in the same building and even in the same room without feeling frightened. Now I can see him, talk to him, and even allow him into my apartment without feeling anything worse than slight discomfort. However, an intense reaction can still be triggered if he says or does something reminiscent of that period in my life. But the reaction doesn’t destabilize or overwhelm me anymore and it doesn’t take much re-exposure to feel safe again.
Ironically, it was my husband who first “exposed” me to the concept of exposure therapy more than twenty years ago when he was an undergrad student assisting with research on agoraphobia. Little did he know how helpful it would be for me in the future!

@Bonnie how interesting and ironic about your x husband. I’m sure the spike in anxiety among unexpected encounters with x’s is pretty typical. Remember, not every situation needs to be “cured” with exposure. Take care

i have found more exposure has made me much more anxious, no matter what i try. I have depression too, and am taking Trazodone (which has helped both, but im v sensitive to drug side effects so i have to increase them very slowly). it would be awfully nice if there was a miracle aid to help the path feel a bit more realistic!

@Terry: Yes, a miracle would be great. Unforunately, we’re not quite there yet. In the meantime, everyone just has to keep slugging it out.

I am curious if there are any new meds coming out that show more promise than the current arsonal for anxiety, such as SSRIs and benzos? The SSRIs have so many side effects that are just horrible to go through, going on them AND coming off, and while the benzos help, they are just so addictive. I wish there was a pill out there like Xanax, to quell anxiety better, but that lasts longer and keeps a person more level like some SSRIs can be.

I am at a point where I am not sure what direction to go in, after trying some SSRIs and really not wanting to start again, and right now taking Xanax and Benedryl daily to keep anxiety lower…though I am on edge all the time and am constantly working inwardly to stay calm. Ocd too.

@ Jayme Although it would be nice to be able to get a “cure” for anxiety or OCD by taking medications, that doesn’t seem to happen for many people. I almost always suggest CBT (psychotherapy) and yoga, meditation, or another mind/body type of exercise in addition to or instead of medication. Don’t give up. Getting the right kind of treatment can really imrpvoe your life!! Take care.

My anxiety disorder went away completely while I was pregnant. I assume it was from the oxytocin. My son is now 3 months old and the anxiety is back as bad as it was before. It took a month for the symptoms to reemerge. Is there anyway to get oxytocin as a prescription? I am convinced its what kept the anxiety away.

Oxytocin levels are also higher in women who breastfeed. I don’t think it is ready to be prescribed for anxiety. You might think about getting a professional assessment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has helped many people with anxiety. Look at ABCT.org for possible referrals. Take care.

I found this article interesting in that I have an anxiety disorder and for years I suffered with just situational panic attacks. It grew until I am basically homebound. What always perplexed me is that when I’m pregnant, I can go and do just about anything with much anxiety. But as soon as I have my baby, within weeks, I’m back to being anxious again. Before every having pregnancies, I also noticed that the day before my period would begin and the first day of, I could also do just about anything. Would love to see more research on this. Thank you.

I mistyped/misspoke…”I can go and do just about anything WITHOUT much anxiety” and “beore EVEN having pregnancies…”

@ Andrea
Sounds like you have some significant symptoms of anxiety and they might be related to your pregnancies. Regardless of the cause, cognitive behavioral therapy can work to decrease your symtpms and get your life back. Be sure that your therapist has training and experience in CBT. Take care