Anxiety Relief Found in Unexpected Medication, says Woman Redundant at 50
LONDON – A growing number of women are turning to beta blockers for anxiety relief, according to a personal account published today by Polly Hudson. Hudson, who was made redundant at the age of 50, details how the medication restored her ability to function after paralyzing anxiety took hold.
Hudson describes beta blockers as offering relief without inducing numbness or sleepiness, allowing her to “go about my day rather than be paralysed with fear.” She highlights the medication’s flexibility - usable both regularly adn “as and when you need one.”
Her experience reflects a wider trend. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication have risen in recent years, with a 2022 University of Bristol study revealing that for every man prescribed beta blockers, 2.33 women received a prescription.
Hudson notes the discreet nature of the medication, with friends admitting to carrying them “in every handbag, just in case,” and appreciating their rapid action – “They work in ten minutes – and just knowing that makes you relax a bit.”
Many women she knows rely on beta blockers for issues ranging from perimenopause symptoms to general life overwhelm.
While acknowledging potential risks and side effects – notably for individuals with asthma, diabetes, or certain heart conditions – Hudson points out beta blockers are often considered less effective than antidepressants for long-standing or severe anxiety. She previously tried the antidepressant Citalopram following her father’s death in 2012, but discontinued it, feeling it “anesthetised” her emotions and hindered the grieving process.
Hudson reports a noticeable positive impact on her life since starting beta blockers, with improved patience towards her son and a calmer approach to navigating a new work life. Her husband has also appeared less worried, though he hasn’t explicitly stated it.
Currently taking beta blockers three times a day, Hudson anticipates eventually weaning off the medication but believes she will likely continue to rely on them as a “just in case” measure.
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