This is the major effect of the drug ativan. It helps those people who have the problem of getting to much excited in event of some tense situation. Sometimes, before a surgery certain people get highly scared. The fear of the surgery causes a great tension or excitement in the patient. This excite increases their blood flow and any cut done during the surgery may cause a lot of bleeding. In order to stop the excessive anxiety ativan is given to the patient. Ativan may also be used to reduce anxiety in all other sorts of situations.