Working to reduce, calm, or prevent feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear.
From Greek 'anti-' (against) + 'anxiety' (from Latin 'anxietas', from 'angere' meaning to choke or squeeze). The term emerged in the 1950s with the development of tranquilizers like Valium.
Anxiety drugs can be lifesaving for people with panic disorders, but they're also one of the most abused medications because our brains can become dependent on them, which doctors didn't fully understand when they were first invented.
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