Doctors use the term “self medicate” to refer to alcohol and drugs used to treat anxiety or other issues like depression. The problem is doctors want to prescribe a pill to do the same thing the failure of people to stop alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication’s stems from, their need to fill some deeper psychic void or control unwanted thoughts often the result of trauma or abuse. In order to truly help someone remove the need for the pills, the source and reason for the anxiety must be addressed. This is the hard work, and it starts with your friend learning to accept and love themselves. Xanax is symptom management and with a physical addiction component.