There are in fact various lifestyle practices and strategies that can help individuals to manage the anxiety and stress that usually accompany specific phobias. These same practices and strategies are also used by people to manage work-related stress and engage in developing healthy lifestyles and become more effective practitioners in both their work and home life.
Unfortunately, there is a larger segment of the population that turns to "self-medication" by turning to alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Some of these are prescription drugs that are not taken in the prescribed dosages, or by obtaining classified drugs illicitly that were prescribed to someone else. Sadly, there continues to be a growing market for these pharmaceuticals, as well as for drugs that are purchased from dealers who obtain them from backyard chemists that concoct these in less than desirable conditions and private laboratories. The abuse of both prescribed and drug trafficked opiates and methamphetamines has become a major problem in our country, particularly with the introduction of Fentanyl and other illegal designer drugs. It is terrifying to read of
the increasing death rate, particularly of young people from taking poorly made Fentanyl.
In many cases after taking a single dose from a bad batch.
Once someone starts down this particular road, it is difficult to "get clean," and there are usually side effects and other permanent damages that affect drug addicts and compulsive alcoholics.