Medication for anxiety? Not antidepressants

[Lovemusic33]

Really struggling with anxiety at the moment due to a lot of things going on in my life, I really don't want to go to my GP as I know he will put me on antidepressants and I don't want that as they just don't agree with me and the side effects effect my fitness ( I like to work out and run ). At the moment I am struggling with panic attacks, more so in the mornings. Are there other options other than antidepressants?

[SpeakNoWords]

I have no direct experience of this but my understanding is that beta blockers can be used to treat anxiety. Might be worth asking about?

[Lovemusic33]

I have used beta blockers in the past but only the emergency doc will give them to me until I can see my GP who refuses to give me more and prescribes antidepressants. I have taken beta blockers this morning as I had a couple left over from last time.

[PenguinPoser]

Beta blockers can help the physical symptoms of anxiety like palpitations etc. It won't help the underlying problem - and they aren't a great idea if you're exercising as they stop your heart rate going high enough for cardio exercise.
Sorry you're struggling :( have you thought about talking therapy/CBT?

[Peabody25]

I've had similar in the past, and also didn't want to going onto anti depressants. A couple of things I used to take (at different times) were lemon balm, and saffron extract. LB was from Holland and Barrett and SE I got from Victoria healrh online.

Both took a while to look, probably longer than ADs would, but definitely helped.

Have you looked at non-medication options like CBT, mindfulness CDs or anything like that?

[MrSlant]

Banana's, dark chocolate, those lovely relaxing teas? Try a mindfulness app on your phone as well they work wonders. If you like exercise do lots and try and do 30 mins outside every day (scientifically proven to be good for your mental health). Also yoga (nice meditative not lycra clad poses to pumpy music) it's a lot harder than you think and really helps with your breathing. If you feel worst in the morning it might be a good idea to get a mat and start the day 15 minutes early with a string of warrior poses and a "fuck you, you won't win" sort of mantra. I am the least yoga person on this planet but you really cannot underestimate the amount it has helped me over the last couple of years. It's been a revelation.

Most importantly the phrase "This too shall pass", it's horrible having panic attacks and anxiety is a bastard but every day it will get a tiny bit easier until one day you realise it has gone.

[Lovemusic33]

The waiting list for therapy is quite long, I know it will pass eventually, I know what's causing it, I have friends I can talk too. I guess I feel out of control because the cause of the problem is out of my control. The palpitations is the main problem at the moment, when I keep busy ( exercise) I am ok, it seems to be at night and when I wake up, I'm waking up and finding it hard to breathe . I seem to have short spells of anxiety, sometimes a few days or a few weeks, I can go from being really happy and relaxed to being a total mess writh in a few hours.

[Lovemusic33]

Thank you Mr slant, I will try mindfulness, it has helped in the past and will do some yoga x

[Misnomer]

I've been given beta blockers for anxiety. I also didn't want to go back on antidepressants when I know that eventually the anxiety will pass (I have generalised anxiety disorder, apparently) - it's just to help me get through the physical symptoms stage. With mine, the mental stress/anxiety can be resolved but the physical symptoms continue for weeks afterwards, which is awful as I constantly have a racing heart, feel sick etc. Anyway, the GP was fine with that. The good thing about beta blockers is that I can take them when I need them and stop when I feel fine, which is exactly what I wanted and what I wouldn't have got from ADs. He also suggested CBT - it is apparently by effective for helping to deal with the triggers.

[Lovemusic33]

Thank you Misnomer, I have had CBT in the past ( a long time ago ) but haven't found it very effective. The thing with the antidepressants is the fact they take so long to work and with the side effects I get whilst waiting for them to work it just not worth it, I know that it won't last long so I think beta blockers will work better.