how do you deal with high anxiety minus meds?
BandForAlyAnne
Posts: 321 Member
in Chit-Chat
pretty much the title.
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Replies
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Do a lot of exercise - get too knackered to care about anything else. Helps with sleep also.
That and breathe deeply a lot.0 -
Do a lot of exercise - get too knackered to care about anything else. Helps with sleep also.
^^^this. It makes a HUGE difference for me. Med free for a year now!!0 -
Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!0 -
Exercise and meditation.0
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There is a homeopathic product called Rescue Remedy that helps when you tip over. I don't have anxiety myself, but am close to someone who recently came off of anti-anxiety drugs after about 15 years of use.
Other than that I don't know what to tell you. If you go off of them and you are having constant problems, get back on them. Being on drugs sucks, but being ****ed in the head all the time is even worse. It's a sickness like any other, not a weakness.0 -
For everyday stress, exercise has greatly helped with my anxiety. For very stressful times, I take a little bit of Valerian root to calm me down. I just try to keep myself occupied when I'm in a stressful situation by chewing gum, knitting, reading, etc.0
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tension tamer tea or Valerian root tea (with honey)
meditation
exercise
dark chocolate0 -
Running has become my saving grace! It has positively affected everything especially my anxiety levels. I know it sounds corny, but it is completely true!0
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Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!
This. Why are you opposed to taking medication? There are things that will help, but medication is probably the best thing for it.0 -
Anxiety and the decision to come off my medication for it is why I started running.. and it works wonders for me... it gets easier with time since it's not always feasible to go for a run/walk when the anxiety hits but if you can deal with majority of your anxiety this way, you can also learn to take the rest of it in stride... no pun intended
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Rescue Remedy, Swimming, Rescue Remedy, Chamomile tea, Rescue Remedy
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I exercise and also busy myself in the kitchen. I've always loved baking, but now I have been tinkering with HEALTHY stuff, everything from granola and raw bars to vegan muffins - it helps to have a sort of tasking for my nights when my anxiety strikes. 0
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Antioxidants has made a huge difference.0
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Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!
This. Why are you opposed to taking medication? There are things that will help, but medication is probably the best thing for it.
because its a pain in the *kitten*. and its only sometimes. like i can manage 75% of the time and then out of nowhere i will get sick with it. for no reason. i just want something to get me through thouse times. and thx everyone for the ideas. i will try anything.0 -
Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!
This. Why are you opposed to taking medication? There are things that will help, but medication is probably the best thing for it.
ITA0 -
uiim curious about the rescue remedy. where can i buy it? and how is it to be taken? everyday, or only when needed?0
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Exercise; my therapist literally said that since I'm choosing not to medicate, I need to spend more time exercising because it releases the 'feel good' chemicals. Also...take a hot shower and just focus on the feel of the water, or go do something to distract yourself. I'm dealing with BPD (Borderline personality disorder), anxiety & depression...and when I have 'good' days, it's because I've spent an hour or more on 'me', wither it be at the gym, or just pampering myself.
Good luck! I stand very firm on the no-medication front!! It's hard, but you can do it! 0 -
Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!
This. Why are you opposed to taking medication? There are things that will help, but medication is probably the best thing for it.
because its a pain in the *kitten*. and its only sometimes. like i can manage 75% of the time and then out of nowhere i will get sick with it. for no reason. i just want something to get me through thouse times. and thx everyone for the ideas. i will try anything.
If you take your medication, you never have to feel that way. Even if you don't feel anxious all the time, if when you DO feel that way, it is "high anxiety", not having to experience it at all would be preferable to me to coping with it.
It's your decision, obviously, but if it were me, I would just take the tablets. There are some good suggestions that have been posted. Good luck!0 -
uiim curious about the rescue remedy. where can i buy it? and how is it to be taken? everyday, or only when needed?
Rescue Remedy is usually available at a natural grocer/health food store type of place. It comes in a small dropper bottle. As far as I know it's a take only when needed type of product. They have a few different versions of it, one for sleep and another for pets. At any rate, by all reports I have heard from people the stuff is amazing. It doesn't leave you doped up, just more easy going.0 -
Is there a reason you don't want to use meds? I've found that, once I found the right doseage/timing/balance, they did exactly what they were supposed to with no side effects!
I do still use exercise and other relaxation techniques to help!
This. Why are you opposed to taking medication? There are things that will help, but medication is probably the best thing for it.
because its a pain in the *kitten*. and its only sometimes. like i can manage 75% of the time and then out of nowhere i will get sick with it. for no reason. i just want something to get me through thouse times. and thx everyone for the ideas. i will try anything.
Have you talked to a doctor about spot anxiety medication? I used to only take a Xanax at a very lose does for when I needed. Not everyday, not often either. For other reasons I had to go on other meds and it quashed the anxiety...
ETA- I'm not for or against meds, but a doctor will be your best source of information.0 -
I stay away from caffeine and sugar as much as possible. I take flax seed oil capsules, I was amazed how much those helped me. I have gluten intolerance, it also will add to my anxiety if I have it. And then working out helps a lot too. I have to be consistent, and when I am it's amazing. I wish I had known that I could do these things a long time ago instead of meds or to help a lot more than high doses of meds. I also do all I can to better manage my life, if certain people cause me stress, then I stay away from them if need be. I pick my job wisely, I went to school part time instead of full time, ect.. Whatever is helpful, I will do.0
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I totally understand not wanting to be on the meds. I don't care what anyone says, they make me eat. But I keep a bottle of them on hand just in case. I've only needed one tablet in over two years. Sometimes I say "I'm just going to exercise/meditate/read for a while" and if it doesn't go away I'll take one. The one time I took one was because I had that painful stomach sinking for a couple of weeks and couldn't kick it no matter what I did. Just taking one tablet broke the cycle. See what your doc says. It's a miserable feeling anxiety, but we can do this! See if you can find some books by McKay or the one "feel the fear do it anyway." Cognitive approaches work really well for anxiety. There's an anxiety and phobia workbook too that has some helpful exercises. Good luck with it!0
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I suffer from pretty severe OCD, which is a pretty strong anxiety disorder, and will NOT take medication, as I had a bad reaction from it....I use a combination of making sure I have enough down time at the end of each day, I do not and will not spread myself too thin. Then yoga and cannibas take care of the rest.....0
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well theres another reason meds are a pain in the *kitten*. i have the lap band and cant take pills so i have to get it compounded. and i just dont like the ways meds make me feel. they change my personality. even lexapro makes me feel bad. and i havent found a doctor willing to prescribe me xanax anyways. i guess because im young and look kinda hippyish. idk. they always think im a druggie. so yea. i wanna try the rescue remedy. i found that its at gnc. gonna go pick some up. thx guys for telling me about it. 0
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I suffer from pretty severe OCD, which is a pretty strong anxiety disorder, and will NOT take medication, as I had a bad reaction from it....I use a combination of making sure I have enough down time at the end of each day, I do not and will not spread myself too thin. Then yoga and cannibas take care of the rest.....
i wish i lived somewhere where i could take it legally. im in texas so no luck.0 -
Know my triggers which means;
1. Get enough good sleep
2. Exercise regularly
3. Eat well (careful with sugar and flour. Too much gets me out of whack)
4. Be careful not to have too much caffeine.
5. No artificial sweeteners (even if I chew gum too many days in a row I'll feel my anxiety levels rising)
6. Manage my stress (exercise is my number one help with this one but other relaxation techniques are helpful too.)
Usually if I start feeling my anxiety levels rising I can *kitten* what I've been doing and see that I've messed up one or more of the above areas. I can usually talk myself through a panic attack if I can identify why I'm likely having one. I also let my husband know so he can help me too. Since figuring all this out I haven't had a major one. No more waking up in the middle of the night thinking I'm having a heart attack!0 -
mindful yoga, meditation, breathing & relaxation exercises
i went to a mindfulness group for 9 weeks, it was awesome!0 -
i googled "mindfulness therapy texas" and a bunch of stuff came up
if you can go to mindfulness therapy or a course, workshop or retreat, do it! it is the greatest thing i have ever done for my health0 -
I know it sounds rather lame but taking slow, deep breaths repeatedly for a minute of two mostly helps me get back on track... Focus on the feeling of air coming in and out, and imagine all other feelings as clouds passing by. Doesn't hurt trying!0
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Hey, I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this. I also have anxiety and have been off my medication for about four months now. Not gonna lie, sometimes I still find myself in really high anxiety situations. I just try to rationalize the situation in my head, take a breath, and do something else. Don't really have a lot of advice to offer, but wanted to at least offer my support. :flowerforyou:0
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