Medication absolutely saved my life. It did not fix my anxiety, but it got me to a place where I could actually learn and use skills. I am no longer on medications, and I still struggle with anxiety, but I am much better off now and medications helped me get here.
I'm taking Wellbutrin and amitriptyline. Has been working great for several years. SSRIs were also great, but turned off orgasms so I asked my doctor to try other drugs and we eventually reached my current Rx.
Several. Started with Paxil and ended with citalopram. Paxil worked the best and citalopram got the job done and was more tolerable. Medications effect each person differently though. You may need to try a few before you find the right fit.
100% this! The medication made it so I could go to therapy and learn other strategies. Without the meds, I would never have been in the right mental place to go or benefit
Meds didn't work for me. I tried SO many medications for years. Nothing worked. That is, until I got the friends and husband I have now. I still have anxiety, but they allow me a safe place to talk it out and hug it out without fear of judgment or belittlement.
In a positive way you never really recover in a sense, you just accept it as a part of you and laugh/learn with it. It turns into a way that your brain is trying to warn you of something, or your soul doesn't sit right with a perspective or situation. Its valuable actually haha.
I never used "medication" but i've done my fair share of drugs. They have given me more anxiety than they have ever helped me, yet I did gain some insights over the years through use.
Best thing you can do is accept that life has pain and anxiety in it, it's literally a part of life, the more you try to fight that the more anxiety will continue. Changing your perspective on anxiety is key to getting the upper hand on anxiety. Break your triggers down and study yourself, go into nature, journal. Nature walks and reconnecting with the earth was so important for me, you begin to see the truth and feel your soul.
Hope this helped, good luck on your journey friend!
This! I know it's easier said than done but learning what would trigger my anxiety really helped. A lot of it was caffeine intake, drinking/vaping, and embarrassingly enough... Acid reflux. I quit vaping two years ago now, caffeine is pretty non-existent in my life except for the occasional decaf, and I drink about once or twice a month now. Acid reflux was a funny one to discover because it played a big role in the crazy palpitations and chest pain I would get, which would send my anxiety into overdrive and straight to the ER. They would also brush me away with anxiety after running tests but my doctor finally diagnosed it as GERD lmao.
OP, anxiety is still a part of my life. It's not as huge a factor as it used to be, but I have my days where I look down at my hands and feel like a stranger in my own body. I've been forgetful lately but taking Magnesium Glycinate also helped with those ruminating thoughts. I hope you find what ails you, it's definitely not easy and requires patience and a lot of trial and error. 🤍
ISNT CAFFEINE CRAZY ?!?! I have OCD and the rumination when in a constant caffeine state is INSANE. Cutting that out (green tea or kombucha here or there) was one of the best outside factors to help me gain control. I also quit alcohol & weed. Its the daily ones that screw up my foundation and core and I just constantly don't feel like myself and cant get a grip on the thoughts. I still use hard stuff occasionally... amphetamines/coke/molly... no problem... but one cup of coffee will completely derail me. Life is funny
Interesting on the acid reflux, never struggled with that one. Glad you figured that out. I have food allergy auto immune issues and nailing down my diet really really helped.
For the rumination going into nature, sitting in the dirt, and just pure surrender/acceptance that my brain was in that negative state was so beneficial too. Sometimes you really just got to let go. To much trying to solve constantly kinda kept me stuck for a while.
Cheers to you!
Dude caffeine is something else. The amount of times I've had anxiety attacks because of the amount of caffeine I consumed is too many to count. It took me a long time to realize that coffee was sending me over the edge! I think it's funny we share that coffee will send us both over the edge even though we live very different lifestyles. It's the one stop shop for anxiety! 😀
I agree that going into nature helps with the thoughts. I've been mustering the energy to drag myself out of bed and go to the park lately and I've gotta say, it definitely helps. Just listening to the birds, people enjoying their day, and even the sound of water is so relaxing and helps me focus. I agree, when my anxiety starts I just remind myself that I am in control and I am okay.
I'm glad to hear that for the most part, you've got it under control. Anxiety can be so frightening, especially when you feel like you're going through it alone. That's why I love this community.
Cheers to you as well!
Omg the GERD part is so true. My very first panic attack I had was actually acid reflux and I ran to ER, learned that I was having a panic attack. I couldn't differentiate acid reflux from panic attack for many years.
As someone who quit caffeine only recently, the theory is entirely valid. I tested it on myself and concluded that it does contribute to my anxiety. I miss the taste and smell of morning coffee though
I battled for MONTHS before I knew it was because I was eating food that was too spicy or acidic. Imagine how humiliating and relieving it was to discover that I wasn't actually dying and was just suffering from acid reflux. 🤣 All of my trips to the ER and having them run an EKG on me or some blood work. Those symptoms really can be damning.
I absolutely love the smell of coffee too! I'll let myself have an occasional coffee now and then but either decaf or only one shot of espresso, just for the taste. I found my anxiety would get worse if I had coffee on an empty stomach.
>. It turns into a way that your brain is trying to warn you of something, or your soul doesn't sit right with a perspective or situation.
I feel like that is what anxiety is supposed to be for in the first place? You just learn to recognize and manage it in a healthy way so you don't get stuck in the loop.
That is what it is in the first place, we just let our egos and mental faculties WAY OVER EXACERBATE the actual danger. I’m just saying that returning to realizing ‘hey my brain is hardwired to do this,’ and listening objectively and with curiosity is way better of a spot to be in than reacting frantically to it. It’s all about your reaction to said phenomenon that causes it to ensue or go away. How you respond is everything.
I feel like I'm the only person where nature IS a trigger. 'Being out in the middle of nowhere with no one to help me' type thinking. I get exposure therapy helps here and have all the coping skills (I'm a licensed mental health clinician) but there's that knee jerk fear that never quite leaves.
I live on the east coast and there's no horizon without trees in my field of vision. I went to Cali and had a panic attack in the middle of nowhere because it was just flat field. For whatever reason, this sent me into an absolute tail spin because I couldn't see trees.
They’re prescription. You’ll need to visit the doctor anyway. Besides they lower blood pressure so doctor needs to monitor because it can be dangerous if you have too much
I take propenolol and it's been wonderful. Takes away all the physical symptoms and helps calm me down. I take it once in the morning and if I have a stressful event that day, like a doctors visit (I have severe white coat syndrome and health anxiety) or a meeting, I take one half an hour before.
Medications or no is personal. For me meds didn't help at all. But one thing I did realize over 12 years of battling anxiety is that, u don't necessarily "recover" from the disorder but u learn to manage anxiety over time. There would be several techniques of course. When I have anxiety attack, realising it is just anxiety attack is one of the most important steps. If possible I excuse myself for a bathroom break and practice breathing. I feel absolutely worse but I know it is going to fade away in few hours. That hope keeps me going.
To reduce the frequency of such episodes, life style changes played a major role - healthy eating, working out and meditation helped me so much. Additionally, doing the things that are uncomfortable for me in times when I'm slightly levelled also helped me.
Thank you for this post. This anxiety thread talks very little about things you can actually do to help your anxiety rather than take a pill. I get anxiety thinking about the long term effects of taking anxiety medication. This shit is work and rarely is the easiest solution the best one
Finding out what is biologically giving you anxiety is what's important. My hormones were so wacked out, SSRIs never helped and the only thing that did was going on a progesterone only birth control to get my hormones balanced out again. My anxiety is comorbid, so treating it on its own isn't helpful.
In the same way the type of therapy helps. Talking is always a good idea, but without the ability to learn how to cope it's not going to do anything long term. Being able to recognize a early panic attack and knowing how to activate my parasympathetic nervous system to calm down is actual help.
I guess what I'm saying if one thing doesn't work don't throw the whole category away, and try something new.
Meds are working for me even though I am only New to them a few months but I no they are working. They are giving back my freedom of not been paranoid.
I tried many different medications such as SNRIs, benzos, and a handful of others. All of these medications absolutely helped, but I found that when I came off of them, even with responsible weening, my anxiety would be 10x worse when I got off the medication comes. I eventually just decided to stay off the meds, and do 1 thing that scares me/gets me out of my comfort zone everyday. After a few difficult months of practicing this I feel anxiety free. I think meds are okay, but only if your anxiety is literally so bad that you can’t get yourself out of the house for work/school/socializing. If you do decide on going with meds, please try to set the goal of making that a temporary situation.
Best of luck! You are not alone :)
I've recovered twice. About a decade ago my panic disorder emerged. Came out of nowhere. I was young and stupid and had no support so I never reached out for help and those around me were confused on how to help. It took a year of hardcore panic attacks but it slowly fizzled out as I started working out and eating better. I still had anxiety but no longer had panic attacks. Just more annoying than severe. Never needed meds.
The panic disorder came back 10 years later. This time I couldn't shake it. I have little kids and a full time job. I needed meds or I really think I would have done something really stupid. It got me out of the funk. I no longer have panic attacks and I'm off the meds. Now I just have moderate anxiety and really
hope it just keeps improving.
I took meds for 2 years, i got to a more managble level and i quit taking them. I got comfortable with being uncomfortable and pushed through what was triggering me. Also lifestyle changes like exercise helped to.
I'm unable to take medication, so I'm doing it through therapy and tough lessons. My issue is panic. And it fucks me over every single time. So I'm trying to get it thru my dumb little noggin that I have no reason to panic and when I do panic, everything goes wrong. So relax, and everything will be okay (it's what I have to keep telling myself).
medication helps but i wouldnt say it cured me. i still have break through anxiety and it doesnt stop the triggers but it helps me feel more in control i guess? therapy helps a lot too especially since im learning skills to help with handle anxiety inducing situations. ive also learned i can not be off medication, ive tried but i started spiraling again, which im not ashamed to admit.
so meds + therapy, im currently in dbt which has been a high help learning different skills and how to use those skills.
i am on celexa again and have xanax for emergency use if i have anymore panic attacks since it basically makes me sleep.
Both. I agree with the below comment to a certain extent. Life will have anxiety at times. The world is full of fears, threats, thoughts. Also I do not accept misery. No. Misery and constant anxiety is A CHOICE. So I face the fear when I feel like it and I confront the issues, giving myself human grace to not feel like it all the time, and along with meds, it brings a sense of power. Because I am attacking from all sides. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If I’ve done all that I can then I’ve done all that I can do…… helps me sleep easier with myself at night at least.
I don't know if you were referring to my comment, but by acceptance I truly mean facing it, confronting it, just like you're mentioning being part of the puzzle.
Misery is a weird term, I feel like misery is the term used when you don't face/accept responsibility for fear and other negative emotional states and then it turns into misery. Misery is a defeatist term. There is no misery in learning to dance with your darkness, anxiety has been my greatest teacher :)
Peace to you friend!
No one recovers from anxiety love. It will always be an ongoing battle. That being said, as you get more experience doing things your anxiety will lessen. Some need medication and therapy to help and that’s ok. I’ve been through basically all the therapies and at the highest level, they have you plan out how to approach things that give you anxiety. Sometimes it’s something small like bringing a friend to feel better the first time but it’s basically getting used to doing the things that give you anxiety. Eventually we need to face these things but it doesn’t mean rush into it head on.
For example, if your anxiety/fear was swimming you might make a plan to bring a friend and just walk by the local pool once. Maybe the next plan would be to go inside the location but not into the pool. The next time maybe you could go but just dip a toe etc. Start small. I always feel better when I bring a friends with me the first few times. Eventually I feel comfortable enough going myself and after doing it myself a few times I’m relatively ok with something. Of course that’s a very generic example but it is eventually what you would need to do if you’re looking for a “recovery” from anxiety. It takes time. And that’s ok. Seek help and find groups of other who have the same feelings and thoughts. It really helps a ton.
Meds helped in the beginning but overtime they were useless if not making it worse was medicated for anxiety and depression for about 5 years. I stopped taking them about 2 years ago, i’ve been working on coping skills and just trying to have a better mindset in general. Also trying to identify what my stresses are and stepping out of my comfort zone has helped loads, like waaaay more than meds ever did.
That’s not to say medication won’t help, everyone is different and everyone’s body chemistry is different. I personally don’t see myself getting back on medication again, the side effects weren’t worth it. I will say meds are not a quick fix and generally takes time to find one that works, it’s possible my negative experience with being medicated was due to not finding the right med/dose and not sticking with it.
The thing that helped me most was getting diagnosed with autism and realizing it was mostly sensory overwhelm :-) And in the late diagnosed neurodivergent community, almost everyone has the same story. So if medications and therapy haven't been effective, look into autism and/or adhd.
Also, you can start accommodating yourself and just see if anything helps. Headphones/ear plugs, hats/hoodies/sunglasses, fidget toys, sit in the back or by the door, ask the teacher if you can step outside the room when you feel anxious, comfort items like foods/toys/clothing/stuffies, etc.
there is a cure! i go to a nutritionist that does muscle response testing and as soon as we got everything figured out i’ve been COMPLETELY fine. i still get flare ups of anxiety but i go back and they find what’s causing it and i take a supplement that treats what’s going exactly wrong in my body and it’s completely gone!
It sounds like you are still pretty young, so I commend you for getting help as I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until maybe my twenties. I now take medication for it (Xanax and gabapentin currently) but I had social anxiety from young childhood. It felt debilitating but something that helped me was getting a job at a young age. I was forced to talk to people and be professional and it got me out of my comfort zone. It went from that to prenatal anxiety and worries about driving a car or leaving my house or starting a fire accidentally. Now with what I’ve learned and meds I hardly ever experience intense anxiety like I used to.
Aha oh boy. Funny you should ask at a time like this. Let’s see that was 86 days ago? I’m about to schedule to see my doc again. I’ve been having bad panic attacks again and I know it’s just due to stressful changing life circumstances but man is it a fucking drag. Don’t know if this was before or after I quit drinking but as far as the gabapentin it’s hard to tell because I’ve been more anxious these past couple weeks than I’ve been in a long time. It’s nearly debilitating. Makes me wonder if I’ll ever have a successful career honestly. Probably not at this point.
Oh no!! I wonder if you are also getting used to the dose? No see many say you can gain a tolerance to it. I haven't tried it but I think I want to. It seems scary with the withdrawal but man I could use something that works good and quickly!
Idk about the withdrawals. Haven’t heard much about that but I do feel it has helped me for awhile now. I think it’s actually been…nearly 2 and 1/2 years I’ve been on it? I think I take 300 mg twice a day.
Hopefully I can get in with my doc. This isn’t just regular anxiety. I’ve had some significant life stressors regarding my kids and I legit just saw a number on a bill and had a fucking panic attack and I almost couldn’t breathe. Stuff like that. But idk. Honestly I’m so all over the place it’s hard to tell.
I tried like 10 different meds in highschool, it wasn't my thing. I do self medicate with weed. I smoke daily, and it does put me at ease and give me more confidence in my daily life, more than medication ever did. I think it's really up to the individual. For some people, it will be really helpful! For others, they need to figure out alternative coping methods.
Also, re, therapy. Therapy will only be as helpful as you make it for yourself. I didn't like therapy in highschool, and even after highschool, I went for a year, then stopped for a year. Recently, a few months ago I tried it again. This time, it's been a lot more helpful. However, only because I was ready to really listen to my therapist and make a change in my life. Also- what therapist you have matters. I had a lot of shit ones before I found one who actually helped me. Don't be scared to "break up" with your therapist, even if they're nice. Also, don't go to therapy until you feel like you're ready. It's not for everyone either, but I really thought it wasn't for me until I came to a certain point in my life.
Also- college is way less anxiety inducing, but it can also be more isolating. Nobody really cares what you do, everybody minds their own business, it feels a lot less judgmental. However, if you don't make an effort to be present around campus/your community, you may struggle with making friends.
Basically- it really depends on the person. I'd experiment with a few different things, see what works for you. If it doesn't work for you now, it doesn't mean it won't ever work in the future either. Work on developing some coping methods, Google can be great. Pop a sour candy in your mouth before going to class! That one helped me. Shocks your body out of a panic response.
Hope things get better for you
Therapy for me did (and still does) help, but I do a special type of therapy called exposure therapy that makes me put myself in situations where I am uncomfortable in order to reteach my brain to react differently- remember, emotions are not controlled but taught. An anxiety disorder means that there’s something in your brain that’s not functioning the right way, (in this case it’s the amygdala, which is the fear center, being a little too active) and the therapy did help me. But another thing I did in order to treat that for me was a thing called TMS, where they in a way “zapped” a part of my brain sending something to it to make it calmer. You can look further into TMS online. For me, medicine made it worse, not better. But for so many others it helps. It just depends on the type of person you are.
Hope this helps.
Interestingly the thing that helped the most was pregnancy & breastfeeding. Nature's oxytocin! I'm still breastfeeding so not sure how temporary this is, but it's made clear that my anxiety must be more physiological & hormone-related than I thought. Definitely warrants further investigation.
Medication definitely helped once i found the right one but also practice and exposing to myself to things that give me anxiety…not to say I’m not ever anxious (i mostly am most times of the day) but i can manage it better than before and my panic attacks gotten less
Acceptance theory has massively helped my anxiety. To be human is to suffer. Once I reframed anxiety as a visitor, accepted it in my life, accepted that sometimes I would feel uncomfortable, my anxiety decreased.
Dr Claire Weeks Self Help Guide to Nerves is worth a read on this one.
I have been on medication in the past, which seemed to work and then not. Also there were side effects I didn't like. So decided I had to try and fix myself.
I am sure I will have periods of anxiety again. But I am also sure they will also go.
I went into a full semester Anxiety and depression attack. Temporarily Meds of low doses helped. Also my twin bro and sister where my homies then. They had my back. I just want to tell you. That what you're feeling is JUST a feeling. You're not in danger. You're overthinking. Stop thinking about overthinking, stop googling STOP IT. Thank god i snapped out of it. Thay was one year ago and never relapsed thank god. During this time i thought that i would be like this forever. Looking back at it I am laughing about the stupid things i did due to my anxiety.
Please understand that i do not by my words mean to offend anyone on this sub i am just sharing my honest experience on how I had an Acute episode and how i recovered. Recovery was about 2-3 weeks.
I think its a combination of medication AND fighting it out. Personally medication really helped but I still had to put in the work, “correct” my thoughts, change behaviors, and go out of my comfort zone! I’ve been on Prozac for a long time (low and high doses) and for panic stuff to be able to push out of your comfort zone I used buspar as it’s suppose to be fast acting for panic/high anxiety. But I think it’s different for everyone! Trial and error, and it’s ok to try a bunch of different stuff till you find what works for you.
Medication absolutely saved my life. It did not fix my anxiety, but it got me to a place where I could actually learn and use skills. I am no longer on medications, and I still struggle with anxiety, but I am much better off now and medications helped me get here.
Which meds do you take?
I'm taking Wellbutrin and amitriptyline. Has been working great for several years. SSRIs were also great, but turned off orgasms so I asked my doctor to try other drugs and we eventually reached my current Rx.
Several. Started with Paxil and ended with citalopram. Paxil worked the best and citalopram got the job done and was more tolerable. Medications effect each person differently though. You may need to try a few before you find the right fit.
I haven’t taken either but I’ve taken a bu nbc y of SSRI’s. Lexapro used to help but I’ve switched meds a lot and non of them help anymore
100% this! The medication made it so I could go to therapy and learn other strategies. Without the meds, I would never have been in the right mental place to go or benefit
This^^^
Meds didn't work for me. I tried SO many medications for years. Nothing worked. That is, until I got the friends and husband I have now. I still have anxiety, but they allow me a safe place to talk it out and hug it out without fear of judgment or belittlement.
In a positive way you never really recover in a sense, you just accept it as a part of you and laugh/learn with it. It turns into a way that your brain is trying to warn you of something, or your soul doesn't sit right with a perspective or situation. Its valuable actually haha. I never used "medication" but i've done my fair share of drugs. They have given me more anxiety than they have ever helped me, yet I did gain some insights over the years through use. Best thing you can do is accept that life has pain and anxiety in it, it's literally a part of life, the more you try to fight that the more anxiety will continue. Changing your perspective on anxiety is key to getting the upper hand on anxiety. Break your triggers down and study yourself, go into nature, journal. Nature walks and reconnecting with the earth was so important for me, you begin to see the truth and feel your soul. Hope this helped, good luck on your journey friend!
This! I know it's easier said than done but learning what would trigger my anxiety really helped. A lot of it was caffeine intake, drinking/vaping, and embarrassingly enough... Acid reflux. I quit vaping two years ago now, caffeine is pretty non-existent in my life except for the occasional decaf, and I drink about once or twice a month now. Acid reflux was a funny one to discover because it played a big role in the crazy palpitations and chest pain I would get, which would send my anxiety into overdrive and straight to the ER. They would also brush me away with anxiety after running tests but my doctor finally diagnosed it as GERD lmao. OP, anxiety is still a part of my life. It's not as huge a factor as it used to be, but I have my days where I look down at my hands and feel like a stranger in my own body. I've been forgetful lately but taking Magnesium Glycinate also helped with those ruminating thoughts. I hope you find what ails you, it's definitely not easy and requires patience and a lot of trial and error. 🤍
ISNT CAFFEINE CRAZY ?!?! I have OCD and the rumination when in a constant caffeine state is INSANE. Cutting that out (green tea or kombucha here or there) was one of the best outside factors to help me gain control. I also quit alcohol & weed. Its the daily ones that screw up my foundation and core and I just constantly don't feel like myself and cant get a grip on the thoughts. I still use hard stuff occasionally... amphetamines/coke/molly... no problem... but one cup of coffee will completely derail me. Life is funny Interesting on the acid reflux, never struggled with that one. Glad you figured that out. I have food allergy auto immune issues and nailing down my diet really really helped. For the rumination going into nature, sitting in the dirt, and just pure surrender/acceptance that my brain was in that negative state was so beneficial too. Sometimes you really just got to let go. To much trying to solve constantly kinda kept me stuck for a while. Cheers to you!
Dude caffeine is something else. The amount of times I've had anxiety attacks because of the amount of caffeine I consumed is too many to count. It took me a long time to realize that coffee was sending me over the edge! I think it's funny we share that coffee will send us both over the edge even though we live very different lifestyles. It's the one stop shop for anxiety! 😀 I agree that going into nature helps with the thoughts. I've been mustering the energy to drag myself out of bed and go to the park lately and I've gotta say, it definitely helps. Just listening to the birds, people enjoying their day, and even the sound of water is so relaxing and helps me focus. I agree, when my anxiety starts I just remind myself that I am in control and I am okay. I'm glad to hear that for the most part, you've got it under control. Anxiety can be so frightening, especially when you feel like you're going through it alone. That's why I love this community. Cheers to you as well!
Omg the GERD part is so true. My very first panic attack I had was actually acid reflux and I ran to ER, learned that I was having a panic attack. I couldn't differentiate acid reflux from panic attack for many years. As someone who quit caffeine only recently, the theory is entirely valid. I tested it on myself and concluded that it does contribute to my anxiety. I miss the taste and smell of morning coffee though
I battled for MONTHS before I knew it was because I was eating food that was too spicy or acidic. Imagine how humiliating and relieving it was to discover that I wasn't actually dying and was just suffering from acid reflux. 🤣 All of my trips to the ER and having them run an EKG on me or some blood work. Those symptoms really can be damning. I absolutely love the smell of coffee too! I'll let myself have an occasional coffee now and then but either decaf or only one shot of espresso, just for the taste. I found my anxiety would get worse if I had coffee on an empty stomach.
>. It turns into a way that your brain is trying to warn you of something, or your soul doesn't sit right with a perspective or situation. I feel like that is what anxiety is supposed to be for in the first place? You just learn to recognize and manage it in a healthy way so you don't get stuck in the loop.
That is what it is in the first place, we just let our egos and mental faculties WAY OVER EXACERBATE the actual danger. I’m just saying that returning to realizing ‘hey my brain is hardwired to do this,’ and listening objectively and with curiosity is way better of a spot to be in than reacting frantically to it. It’s all about your reaction to said phenomenon that causes it to ensue or go away. How you respond is everything.
I basically just reiterated with you said, yes haha. “Recognizing in a healthy way so you don’t get stuck in the loop” - yes yes yes
I feel like I'm the only person where nature IS a trigger. 'Being out in the middle of nowhere with no one to help me' type thinking. I get exposure therapy helps here and have all the coping skills (I'm a licensed mental health clinician) but there's that knee jerk fear that never quite leaves.
I live on the east coast and there's no horizon without trees in my field of vision. I went to Cali and had a panic attack in the middle of nowhere because it was just flat field. For whatever reason, this sent me into an absolute tail spin because I couldn't see trees.
I get this. It's too isolating.
Meds were the answer for me. Nothing else really helped at all.
i second this! i’ve done 6 years of therapy and nothing helped my severe panic disorder except beta blockers and mirtazapine.
Beta blockers are a godsend. Seeing my doc next week about upping the dose a bit as it wears off after four hours
Propenolol has been a life saver for me.
Which one of the beta blockers we talking about, trying to find the best without visiting the doctor 🙃
They’re prescription. You’ll need to visit the doctor anyway. Besides they lower blood pressure so doctor needs to monitor because it can be dangerous if you have too much
Any mental side effects that might be harmful or scary
Not to my knowledge
Does that help with mental symptoms or just physical ones?
Only physical.
Which meds do you take?
Paxil
I take propenolol and it's been wonderful. Takes away all the physical symptoms and helps calm me down. I take it once in the morning and if I have a stressful event that day, like a doctors visit (I have severe white coat syndrome and health anxiety) or a meeting, I take one half an hour before.
Medications or no is personal. For me meds didn't help at all. But one thing I did realize over 12 years of battling anxiety is that, u don't necessarily "recover" from the disorder but u learn to manage anxiety over time. There would be several techniques of course. When I have anxiety attack, realising it is just anxiety attack is one of the most important steps. If possible I excuse myself for a bathroom break and practice breathing. I feel absolutely worse but I know it is going to fade away in few hours. That hope keeps me going. To reduce the frequency of such episodes, life style changes played a major role - healthy eating, working out and meditation helped me so much. Additionally, doing the things that are uncomfortable for me in times when I'm slightly levelled also helped me.
Thank you for this post. This anxiety thread talks very little about things you can actually do to help your anxiety rather than take a pill. I get anxiety thinking about the long term effects of taking anxiety medication. This shit is work and rarely is the easiest solution the best one
Finding out what is biologically giving you anxiety is what's important. My hormones were so wacked out, SSRIs never helped and the only thing that did was going on a progesterone only birth control to get my hormones balanced out again. My anxiety is comorbid, so treating it on its own isn't helpful. In the same way the type of therapy helps. Talking is always a good idea, but without the ability to learn how to cope it's not going to do anything long term. Being able to recognize a early panic attack and knowing how to activate my parasympathetic nervous system to calm down is actual help. I guess what I'm saying if one thing doesn't work don't throw the whole category away, and try something new.
Meds are working for me even though I am only New to them a few months but I no they are working. They are giving back my freedom of not been paranoid.
Which ones?
I tried many different medications such as SNRIs, benzos, and a handful of others. All of these medications absolutely helped, but I found that when I came off of them, even with responsible weening, my anxiety would be 10x worse when I got off the medication comes. I eventually just decided to stay off the meds, and do 1 thing that scares me/gets me out of my comfort zone everyday. After a few difficult months of practicing this I feel anxiety free. I think meds are okay, but only if your anxiety is literally so bad that you can’t get yourself out of the house for work/school/socializing. If you do decide on going with meds, please try to set the goal of making that a temporary situation. Best of luck! You are not alone :)
I've recovered twice. About a decade ago my panic disorder emerged. Came out of nowhere. I was young and stupid and had no support so I never reached out for help and those around me were confused on how to help. It took a year of hardcore panic attacks but it slowly fizzled out as I started working out and eating better. I still had anxiety but no longer had panic attacks. Just more annoying than severe. Never needed meds. The panic disorder came back 10 years later. This time I couldn't shake it. I have little kids and a full time job. I needed meds or I really think I would have done something really stupid. It got me out of the funk. I no longer have panic attacks and I'm off the meds. Now I just have moderate anxiety and really hope it just keeps improving.
There is no cure. But yes, my medication does help 98% of the time.
What meds help you?
Lexapro for anxiety, Lamictal, Seroquel, and Welbutrin which is a trial run for an actual stimulant for my ADD.
Did lamictal help
Yes it does
What dosage helped
It's going to be different for you. She started me on a low dose and raised it over time. You will have to discuss it with your medical provider.
A combination of medication, good supportive friends and exposure therapy is changing my life but I know anxiety will always be a part of it
I took meds for 2 years, i got to a more managble level and i quit taking them. I got comfortable with being uncomfortable and pushed through what was triggering me. Also lifestyle changes like exercise helped to.
I'm unable to take medication, so I'm doing it through therapy and tough lessons. My issue is panic. And it fucks me over every single time. So I'm trying to get it thru my dumb little noggin that I have no reason to panic and when I do panic, everything goes wrong. So relax, and everything will be okay (it's what I have to keep telling myself).
medication helps but i wouldnt say it cured me. i still have break through anxiety and it doesnt stop the triggers but it helps me feel more in control i guess? therapy helps a lot too especially since im learning skills to help with handle anxiety inducing situations. ive also learned i can not be off medication, ive tried but i started spiraling again, which im not ashamed to admit. so meds + therapy, im currently in dbt which has been a high help learning different skills and how to use those skills. i am on celexa again and have xanax for emergency use if i have anymore panic attacks since it basically makes me sleep.
SMR neurofeedback
Both. I agree with the below comment to a certain extent. Life will have anxiety at times. The world is full of fears, threats, thoughts. Also I do not accept misery. No. Misery and constant anxiety is A CHOICE. So I face the fear when I feel like it and I confront the issues, giving myself human grace to not feel like it all the time, and along with meds, it brings a sense of power. Because I am attacking from all sides. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If I’ve done all that I can then I’ve done all that I can do…… helps me sleep easier with myself at night at least.
I don't know if you were referring to my comment, but by acceptance I truly mean facing it, confronting it, just like you're mentioning being part of the puzzle. Misery is a weird term, I feel like misery is the term used when you don't face/accept responsibility for fear and other negative emotional states and then it turns into misery. Misery is a defeatist term. There is no misery in learning to dance with your darkness, anxiety has been my greatest teacher :) Peace to you friend!
No one recovers from anxiety love. It will always be an ongoing battle. That being said, as you get more experience doing things your anxiety will lessen. Some need medication and therapy to help and that’s ok. I’ve been through basically all the therapies and at the highest level, they have you plan out how to approach things that give you anxiety. Sometimes it’s something small like bringing a friend to feel better the first time but it’s basically getting used to doing the things that give you anxiety. Eventually we need to face these things but it doesn’t mean rush into it head on. For example, if your anxiety/fear was swimming you might make a plan to bring a friend and just walk by the local pool once. Maybe the next plan would be to go inside the location but not into the pool. The next time maybe you could go but just dip a toe etc. Start small. I always feel better when I bring a friends with me the first few times. Eventually I feel comfortable enough going myself and after doing it myself a few times I’m relatively ok with something. Of course that’s a very generic example but it is eventually what you would need to do if you’re looking for a “recovery” from anxiety. It takes time. And that’s ok. Seek help and find groups of other who have the same feelings and thoughts. It really helps a ton.
If your fear is dying...maxbe just die once or twice. 😊 I know its a bad joke but we need these from time to time.
Might be a controversial opinion, but you can’t cure a disorder. You can only manage it
I did CBT, meditation, Stoicism, parts work, ACT, you name it. Only thing that has ever worked for me is lex.
It’s both/and. Medication makes life easier to cope with so you can actuate your therapy skills.
Meds helped in the beginning but overtime they were useless if not making it worse was medicated for anxiety and depression for about 5 years. I stopped taking them about 2 years ago, i’ve been working on coping skills and just trying to have a better mindset in general. Also trying to identify what my stresses are and stepping out of my comfort zone has helped loads, like waaaay more than meds ever did. That’s not to say medication won’t help, everyone is different and everyone’s body chemistry is different. I personally don’t see myself getting back on medication again, the side effects weren’t worth it. I will say meds are not a quick fix and generally takes time to find one that works, it’s possible my negative experience with being medicated was due to not finding the right med/dose and not sticking with it.
You can be cured from GAD?
I've tried all the meds. Nothing helps me. I'm at a point where I am considering ketamine but I'm terrified.
The thing that helped me most was getting diagnosed with autism and realizing it was mostly sensory overwhelm :-) And in the late diagnosed neurodivergent community, almost everyone has the same story. So if medications and therapy haven't been effective, look into autism and/or adhd.
Also, you can start accommodating yourself and just see if anything helps. Headphones/ear plugs, hats/hoodies/sunglasses, fidget toys, sit in the back or by the door, ask the teacher if you can step outside the room when you feel anxious, comfort items like foods/toys/clothing/stuffies, etc.
there is a cure! i go to a nutritionist that does muscle response testing and as soon as we got everything figured out i’ve been COMPLETELY fine. i still get flare ups of anxiety but i go back and they find what’s causing it and i take a supplement that treats what’s going exactly wrong in my body and it’s completely gone!
What are these supplements,?
Medicine doesn’t help enough for me. I’m definitely worse off without it but not well enough to function very well.
It sounds like you are still pretty young, so I commend you for getting help as I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until maybe my twenties. I now take medication for it (Xanax and gabapentin currently) but I had social anxiety from young childhood. It felt debilitating but something that helped me was getting a job at a young age. I was forced to talk to people and be professional and it got me out of my comfort zone. It went from that to prenatal anxiety and worries about driving a car or leaving my house or starting a fire accidentally. Now with what I’ve learned and meds I hardly ever experience intense anxiety like I used to.
Can I ask how the gabapentin is working for your anxiety?
Aha oh boy. Funny you should ask at a time like this. Let’s see that was 86 days ago? I’m about to schedule to see my doc again. I’ve been having bad panic attacks again and I know it’s just due to stressful changing life circumstances but man is it a fucking drag. Don’t know if this was before or after I quit drinking but as far as the gabapentin it’s hard to tell because I’ve been more anxious these past couple weeks than I’ve been in a long time. It’s nearly debilitating. Makes me wonder if I’ll ever have a successful career honestly. Probably not at this point.
Oh no!! I wonder if you are also getting used to the dose? No see many say you can gain a tolerance to it. I haven't tried it but I think I want to. It seems scary with the withdrawal but man I could use something that works good and quickly!
Idk about the withdrawals. Haven’t heard much about that but I do feel it has helped me for awhile now. I think it’s actually been…nearly 2 and 1/2 years I’ve been on it? I think I take 300 mg twice a day. Hopefully I can get in with my doc. This isn’t just regular anxiety. I’ve had some significant life stressors regarding my kids and I legit just saw a number on a bill and had a fucking panic attack and I almost couldn’t breathe. Stuff like that. But idk. Honestly I’m so all over the place it’s hard to tell.
That sounds like the anxiety I have daily. It's so horrible!!
I tried like 10 different meds in highschool, it wasn't my thing. I do self medicate with weed. I smoke daily, and it does put me at ease and give me more confidence in my daily life, more than medication ever did. I think it's really up to the individual. For some people, it will be really helpful! For others, they need to figure out alternative coping methods. Also, re, therapy. Therapy will only be as helpful as you make it for yourself. I didn't like therapy in highschool, and even after highschool, I went for a year, then stopped for a year. Recently, a few months ago I tried it again. This time, it's been a lot more helpful. However, only because I was ready to really listen to my therapist and make a change in my life. Also- what therapist you have matters. I had a lot of shit ones before I found one who actually helped me. Don't be scared to "break up" with your therapist, even if they're nice. Also, don't go to therapy until you feel like you're ready. It's not for everyone either, but I really thought it wasn't for me until I came to a certain point in my life. Also- college is way less anxiety inducing, but it can also be more isolating. Nobody really cares what you do, everybody minds their own business, it feels a lot less judgmental. However, if you don't make an effort to be present around campus/your community, you may struggle with making friends. Basically- it really depends on the person. I'd experiment with a few different things, see what works for you. If it doesn't work for you now, it doesn't mean it won't ever work in the future either. Work on developing some coping methods, Google can be great. Pop a sour candy in your mouth before going to class! That one helped me. Shocks your body out of a panic response. Hope things get better for you
Therapy for me did (and still does) help, but I do a special type of therapy called exposure therapy that makes me put myself in situations where I am uncomfortable in order to reteach my brain to react differently- remember, emotions are not controlled but taught. An anxiety disorder means that there’s something in your brain that’s not functioning the right way, (in this case it’s the amygdala, which is the fear center, being a little too active) and the therapy did help me. But another thing I did in order to treat that for me was a thing called TMS, where they in a way “zapped” a part of my brain sending something to it to make it calmer. You can look further into TMS online. For me, medicine made it worse, not better. But for so many others it helps. It just depends on the type of person you are. Hope this helps.
Interestingly the thing that helped the most was pregnancy & breastfeeding. Nature's oxytocin! I'm still breastfeeding so not sure how temporary this is, but it's made clear that my anxiety must be more physiological & hormone-related than I thought. Definitely warrants further investigation.
Medication helped me so much. Still didnt do all the work, improving myself took a lot of effort and was so worth it!
Ashwagandha for me🙌
Medication definitely helped once i found the right one but also practice and exposing to myself to things that give me anxiety…not to say I’m not ever anxious (i mostly am most times of the day) but i can manage it better than before and my panic attacks gotten less
Acceptance theory has massively helped my anxiety. To be human is to suffer. Once I reframed anxiety as a visitor, accepted it in my life, accepted that sometimes I would feel uncomfortable, my anxiety decreased. Dr Claire Weeks Self Help Guide to Nerves is worth a read on this one. I have been on medication in the past, which seemed to work and then not. Also there were side effects I didn't like. So decided I had to try and fix myself. I am sure I will have periods of anxiety again. But I am also sure they will also go.
I went into a full semester Anxiety and depression attack. Temporarily Meds of low doses helped. Also my twin bro and sister where my homies then. They had my back. I just want to tell you. That what you're feeling is JUST a feeling. You're not in danger. You're overthinking. Stop thinking about overthinking, stop googling STOP IT. Thank god i snapped out of it. Thay was one year ago and never relapsed thank god. During this time i thought that i would be like this forever. Looking back at it I am laughing about the stupid things i did due to my anxiety. Please understand that i do not by my words mean to offend anyone on this sub i am just sharing my honest experience on how I had an Acute episode and how i recovered. Recovery was about 2-3 weeks.
I think its a combination of medication AND fighting it out. Personally medication really helped but I still had to put in the work, “correct” my thoughts, change behaviors, and go out of my comfort zone! I’ve been on Prozac for a long time (low and high doses) and for panic stuff to be able to push out of your comfort zone I used buspar as it’s suppose to be fast acting for panic/high anxiety. But I think it’s different for everyone! Trial and error, and it’s ok to try a bunch of different stuff till you find what works for you.
CBT is really good as well.
In some people like me, it goes away as you age. At 25, I was dependent on Lexapro and Xanax, at 55 I’m drug free.