Sounds like your friend was taking a benzodiazepine such as Xanax, Valium, etc. It apparently significantly reduces anxiety with a very fast on set of action. Sounds great huh? Unfortunately they can cause extreme psychological and physical addition. I have never taken them, but it is worth researching with some skepticism. I do not plan on taking any any time soon. If you do choose that path, perhaps it's best to have a "plan" -- you will use such drug only at THIS junction and ONLY so many times a day, etc.