Is it sometimes not possible to overcome anxiety without medication?

[Petals23]

I've been trying to hold off asking the gp for something to help my anxiety - racing heart, feeling tense and constantly on edge - but I'm not able to relax myself. I'm going to make an appointment as it's really starting to affect me, really had hoped not to have to go on medication. Has anyone been in similar situation and found meds helped? Thank you

As per above, I had a week's course of diazepam 15 years ago and no medication since. My GP gave me antidepressants before the diazepam but they worsened my symptoms dramatically.

In the last few years I have had some external, objective stressors in my life and I manage fine with just exercise which for me really is a miracle cure.

Have you had tests to rule out any physical causes? A friend with anxiety was diagnosed with a serious vitamin D deficiency and has noticed an improvement since she started taking vitamin D tablets.

chocolateworshipper, yes, I actually had bloods done nearly three months ago now. It showed up my vitamin d levels were 23, gp said this was very low, even though I do hill walk and spend a lot of time outdoors. She put me on 50,000 iu for 8 weeks and this has now finished but if anything my anxiety is worse.

So I went to GP this morning and she's put me on Sertraline 50mg for 6 months, to review after a month. I'm hoping this may settle me down!

Good luck Petals - I hope things improve soon

I used to be able to, but then the peri-menopause kicked in alongside some other health issues and it became unmanageable.

Propranolol was an absolute miracle for me.

Discuss all the options with your GP, but don't disregard the possibility of medication completely.