Anyone have severe anxiety?
Anyway to treat severe anxiety w/o medication, I have lorezpam but I am really get sick of taking medications and the cost of medications, my script will run out soon-only have like 8 left.
Are there any other techniques to getting rid of anxiety? I used to be able to will it all away by tricking my brain into thinking everything will be okay, but it doesn’t work anymore (not since my dad died about a year ago).
PS–background info: I was on paxil for 10 yrs, starting getting BAD anxiety, hyperness, sleeplessness–so they took me off & said I had bipolar depression and associated it with me taking SSRIs –basically I am only bipolar when taking SSRIs–so I went off of it, I tried different mood stabilizers & hated them- My mind felt muddled and I STILL had anxiety attacks.
Now, I am off of all of those drugs besides lorazepam. I get the tightening in my chest, feel like I can’t breathe, feel like im suffucating, & my stomach does cartwheels many times over.
PS, i stopped going to my psychiatrist(s). I got tired of "testing" drugs and I got tired of the side effects of the drugs–and they wouldnt relieve my major issue– ANXIETY. (I tried lamictal, depakote, seroquel)—and couldnt tolerate the side effects. My brain isnt foggy anymore, so i DO feel better drug-free but I do still get anxiety!!! Help! anyone have any tricks to do—or herbs u use to calm yourself down?
Veronica, I am sorry. I have never experienced what you are talking about– "I get some weird sensations around my mouth and cheeks. It feels like a numb/tingly/weak feeling"
I do get the tingly feeling sort of through my entire body but I don’t recall it ever being by my mouth. My arms and BODY get tingly, hairs standing straight up–type-thing.
I really only had a few mini-panic attacks before my dad passed away-and now i get these major attacks often. It is miserable when it happens. I had always heard of people getting this, but I had NO clue how terrible it is.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I guess I will just have to try and find something to work for me. I do have some lorezapam left, so that will help me for awhile. But after that I just really want to learn to deal w/it on my own. I don’t want to get addicted to any medications!
Take care everyone, thanks. Veronica, hope you can figure it out. Your doctor probably knows best, Id trust her/him.
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Filed under: anxiety attacks causes
I dont really have an answer for your question, I’m sorry, but I read your question. Seeing that you have anxiety, I have it too and get a lot of the same symptoms you get plus I get some weird sensations around my mouth and cheeks. It feels like a numb/tingly/weak feeling. I’m trying to find out if any one else w/ anxiety has this too. My doctor tells me it’s the anxiety that’s causing it but I’m scared it something worse. If you or anyone you know w/ anxiety has or has ever had this, I would appreciate if you would let me know. Thanks.
I have a lot of problems just like you and don’t like the side effects of the meds. Still have anxiety attacks at times. I take Diazepam also stay off anything with caffiene in it. Hope this helps you.
Yes, I suffer from severe anxiety, OCD, and panic attacks.
I’m sorry that you have to deal with all of that, and especially sorry to hear of your loss.
Like you, I’ve been to see sooo many doctors and been on so many drugs, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Right now I’m on Celexa and Xanax, which taken together really really help, so it is possible to finally find a combination that works for you. (I’ve previously been on Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, and a couple others I can’t think of right now).
Having said all of that, to answer your original question, I am going to see a therapist on a regular basis for "talk-therapy", where I just get to talk out all of my issues. Do you have insurance coverage for that? Many (but not all) employers do have some sort of mental health counseling provision. One thing that I learned from her is a sort of "stopping" technique that you might try:
1. set a timer for a short period of time (like 5 minutes or so)
2. let yourself go with the anxiety and feel nuts, JUST until the alarm goes off.
3. When the alarm goes off, SHOUT "STOP" or "ENOUGH" or whatever.
4. Whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to feel ANY anxiety, try to think of something immediately bland or comforting (I try to settle on a color and just visualize a color)
5. Do that for about a minute or so, just visualizing whatever, being at peace with yourself and not giving yourself over to anxiety
6. Go on with your life (if you can); if not, repeat as needed.
If you keep trying that and not getting anywhere, you might consider staying on the meds longer.
It sounds crazy but it does work for me. It also helps if you do it alone, like in your bedroom without any distractions.