“Anti-anxiety medicine?”

You did not indicate who gave you that medication neither the dose. Was it a psychiatrist or a general M.D.? No medication is offered without a plan or assessment (S.O.A..P.) .You will need a follow up to SEE if that medication fits your need. The best results in literature investigations belong to those patients who received a process of counseling or psychotherapy with the medication. In that way, all your questions about your emotional reactions and side effects can be share, with a mental health professional chosen by you. Graduate Studies will take you probably years to be completed. It is your goal. You have to enjoy your trip, but you also have to take excellent care of yourself. Relax. There are lots of good mental counseling services that will be glad to offer you their services. Probably you can chose one in your medical plan.
Good luck. Remember, you need help and you will not be alone. You deserve it!

If the meds are in the benzo class, it could affect your studying. May want to talk to your doctors about an antidepressant which also targets anxiety. I would also suggest psychotherapy.

Anxiety has a cause, usually in early childhood and triggered by immediate circumstances. Often the same sort of event, with a slight variation, can make the difference between an adult who has anxiety or an adult who has depression. They may go together. So, you have to take a look at your childhood. First find out how old you were when you primary caregiver returned to work. Evolution had us gradually leaving our parents in stages from the time we walk until kindergarten age. When it's rushed, the first year is the worst, the second year, the second worst, and so on. If you had multiple caregivers, you were not able to form a secure attachment, which leaves us as insecure adults. Add to that, high demands, a critical parent, and you are guaranteed anxiety/depression as an adult. So, your job, to avoid medication, and heal up to half of what you suffered very young, is to find a safe place with a pillow and cry hard and scream into the pillow on behalf of the baby you were. (Mothers have not been informed of the critically important role they provide an infant of security and self-worth. It's a failing of the psychology industry.) The number of times needed to release depends upon the depth of your injury and the degree of release. When you are finished, rest and contemplate the truth, that there is nothing wrong with you if you don't depend upon the opinions of others and, instead, choose to look at life as an adventure enjoy this rare opportunity, called life, to discover this amazing place. Contemplate the difference of a life of discovery over a life of self-consciousness. Give up a need for identity in anyone else's eyes. Go for true living. Gabor Mate once said, "We are born with two needs. One is to be loved and the other is to be authentic. Unfortunately, too many of us give up our need to live an authentic life in order to be loved."
Good luck.

Dr. Faye

Legally, I cannot advise on medication usage as I am a psychologist and not a medical provider. The prescribing provider should answer all questions about potential side effects from your medication. You can also look at the side effect list from the pharmacist or online for any medication to find out whether it has been found to cause any confusion or lack of concentration or memory. I have worked with many people on benzodiazepines which are controlled substances and have never heard of major cognitive problems if taken as ordered. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are often used as well for anxiety as a more long term assist and I haven't heard of such problems with them either. However, everyone is different and every body breaks down medication and processes it differently so you need to do your homework and get advice from the person who prescribed it. Often when there are problems, they can adjust dosage and solve them quickly. And don't forget to get a therapist to help you work on calming techniques, methods of coping with anxiety and managing stress. Best of luck

See this link...
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/anxiety/anxiety-medications-types-effects-and-precautions/?utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Search_PPC_c&utm_term=_b&utm_content=77548444015&network=g&placement=&target=&matchtype=b&utm_campaign=6459244691&ad_type=text&adposition=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrJOMBhCZARIsAGEd4VF7KO2_poPCjmgMS4WzWmT9B7xPSL_WvjG4kLsi3CfTQHTp91l3MjkaAtbyEALw_wcB
and
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323666

I would suggest you develop lifestyle changes (e.g., exercise, good nutrition, good sleep hygiene) to mitigate effects of stress on learning and only use medications as an adjunct to control for severe anxiety symptoms. Stress, when severe, prolonged, and poorly managed interferes with attention, concentration, memory, and ultimately learning efficiently. Many anxiolytics have some form of mild to moderate sedation action so they can affect alertness, focus, and energy levels (particularly benzodiazepines). Some people, depending upon the type of anxiety medication, will dose in the evening near bedtime which helps with calm and readiness with sleep.