Beating anxiety without meds

[Tea1Sugar]

Who's with me?

I had a god awful trial of Citalopram last week. Two words - never again. So I'm awaiting CBT, I'm now taking vitamins, I've bought self help guides and I'm going to (attempt) start running. Anyone fancy joining for moral support?

Sending good vibes to you Urchin. Can you go for a walk, do a meditation, listen to calming music to take your mind off things? Easier said than done when something huge is all encompassing. Hope you have a lovely evening Tea.

Slaggy, I'm interested you mentioned 5htp. I have a bottle waiting upstairs I've been a bit nervous to use. I'm a slight person and nor sure what dose to try. I have 50mg tabs & was thinking of halving them to begin with. I've read tonnes of reviews, most of them positive especially for sleep but then I read the odd review that makes me nervous again. Do you find they make you drowsy?

I too wonder if beta blockers would help me in stressful situations e.g. flying.

Slaggy - the doctor said she prescribed 10mg because I have low blood pressure, so didn't want to risk it dropping too much and me feeling dizzy because of that (dizziness is one thing that I get very anxious about). How long does it take for them to wear off? Or does that depend on dosage? I'm planning to take them tomorrow while DH is here so he can look after the DC if I feel unwell

girliefriend had to post as I've never spoken to anyone with similar anxieties to me!
I developed Ibs aged 17 when pregnant with dd1 and I had to get 2 buses to college. This caused me a. Lot of problems/near misses...
I'm now 35 and I've been on paroxatine for 8 years or so now. But I still struggle to go anywhere with no toilet, freak out stuck in traffic/long journeys. Being away from a loo makes me anxious which makes me need the loo! It's a stupid vicious cycle.

Hi Drunken I don't think we are alone at all in our toilet phobia!! I actually ordered a fact sheet about it from one of the anxiety help charities which was reassuring in that it confirmed it was an actual thing rather than me just being weird iyswim!

The book I recommended on page 2 (I think) has actually helped me a lot as I am now more determined than ever just to ignore the anxiety and not worry about the toilet situation. I am actually at the point where I am saying 'so what if I shit myself, it would be awful but living with the fear is worse!!' Easier said than done though of course

Anyway I had a hideous day ystd, nausea and vomiting all day to the point where I decided I must be dying my mum went on a mercy mission to the chemist and got me some tablets that I have to keep under my top gum and that actually seems to of helped a bit. I feel much less sick today and managed breakfast for the first time in a week.

Back to drs tomos though as obv not right to still be feeling this ill, have a feeling they will deny it was the ADs but I honestly don't know what else it could have been I was o.kay until I took them and done nothing but retch and throw up since. The chemist reckoned they should have been out of my system after 24 hours but I don't know what to think, I am worried I have altered my brain chemistry or something

Been back to the drs, he accepted this ongoing nausea and vomiting is due to the 2 antidepressants I took a week ago!! Feel reassured that he thinks it is this and that it should finally wear off in the next few days. Got some more anti sickness tablets to try as well.

Anyway hoping I haven't killed the thread

Hope you feel better soon, girlie!
I went back to GP this morning and sobbed for the whole appointment She recommended trying something herbal if I am too worried to take the beta blockers, glad she didn't just tell me I was being stupid (which I am). I've got another appointment next Monday Only 8 weeks to wait for CBT, I'm on countdown

Girliefriend the sickness must be horrible. Fwiw I took citalopram for 6 weeks a few years ago. It was the first AD I was offered. I couldn't get on with them either. I wasn't sick but had zero appetite so lost a lot of weight. Wouldn't have minded if I didn't need to lose any to start with. Also just felt wired all the time as if I'd overdone the caffeine and bizarrely kept yawning. I ended up going back to the docs and saw a different one who was shocked at my weight loss.

If things don't improve soon, maybe see if you can try a different AD. There may be something that suits you better.

PS sorry if I've already said this on another thread.

Just a warning about 5HTP.

If you take it whilst on
"When combined with antidepressants of the MAOI or SSRI class, high dose 5-HTP can cause acute serotonin syndrome in rats."

I took tryptophan whilst on citalopram and got serotonin syndrome, very unpleasant and potentially dangerous.

No i don't want to take anything else, tbh I don't think I need to! I am not depressed and my anxiety is something I have managed o.kay for the last 20 years so I think I am o.kay to find alternative ways of coping!!

The anti sickness tablets seem to be working, I have taken 2 so far today and have eaten pretty normally!!

girlie that's exactly how I think now (or try to). A 'what's the worst thing that could happen'. I'd shit myself and have to go home. I wouldn't die.
It definitely helps, and mostly I'm ok but I know the meds help.

Pleased you're feeling better. I've been off work with stomach problems for a few days, had my gall bladder out a year ago and now getting the same pains again! Clearly my gallbladder wasn't the culprit... Going to have to go back to work tomorrow but I'm scared to eat much in case I end up doubled over again - so embarrassing!

Oh no Drunken I also had my gallbladder out nearly 9 yrs ago now though, I don't think my digestion ever really recovered tbh!!

It is poss that some stones are left still swimming about so if you have the pain get yourself to the drs to get checked out.

Yes that is what I say to myself, I won't die - it might be messy but so what!! I am also now saying when I feel the fear creeping in 'that is just an inappropriate secretion of adrenaline, it is a harmless hormone that makes me feel uncomfortable but can't hurt me' it is really helping

Absolutely! Definitely helps to think about things biologically and clinically rather than emotionally.
Unsure about my stomach. I had a few tests and Labs all came back clear so next step will probably be a camera although I'm pretty sure it's just gastritis or reflux or annoying stomach syndrome....
Just sick of being ill. I have 5 dc so no time for it!

My mantra: anxiety is an emotion, not a medical condition.

Drunken - I have reflux and IBS and this week been suffering excruciating trapped wind

I am feeling shocking again today so annoying as ystd I had a good day

Does anyone else get this spaced out/not with it thing when you're anxious? Like you're in the room but not?!

HIya just wanted to jump on to update you with the news that the results from my biopsy are in - and the sample is non cancerous!!

Still not sure what it is - but whatever it is, its not cancer.

tea - yes I get that sometimes - its a rarity but yes, I know what you mean about feeling like you are sort of out of body? For me, its really really weird, like I am not in my body, but everything feels kind of sharp.

Urchin glad you've had some good news.

I get the spaced out feeling too. I think it's probably adrenaline. I feel on high alert. I had it in Tesco before Christmas whilst all the Christmas music was playing. It wasn't good and I also felt so silly and ridiculous. Like get a grip it's Tesco FFS I think that was when I knew I had to speak to someone about it.

Bellini I would start with half a tab then and see how you go. I just tend to sleep very well on them. You might be a wee bit groggy the next day but I found that passed after a couple of days.

Urchin glad it was good news

The 'detached' feeling is a symptom of anxiety and caused by adrenaline. the book I recommended on page 2 (I think) explains it really well. Infact it is the first symptom he explains, basically caused by too much adrenaline which temporarily alters your nervous system.

I am feeling a bit better but still nauseous at times and felt so sleepy today which I think is caused by the anti sickness tablets!!

I work in the library and we have some excellent books on mental health, anxiety etc. Many GPs now use books on prescription to help patients. Ask at your local library they are in the health section.
A too find exercise invaluable, when coming off anti depressants (prescribed for anxiety) i upped my exercise and successfully came off in winter which is not my best time of year. Drinking less also helps.
Good Luck, I do think our mental health like our physical health is something that has to be worked at.

I was recommended 'Sane New World' by Ruby Wax by my doctor. It's good as it deals with changing the way you think.

Definitely worth a look even if like me you can only read small bits at a time.

That ruby wax book has been recommended on here loads. Might have to purchase!

That book looks interesting, might have to purchase.
Having a crap week with dd aged 11 struggling with her own mental health. She's having counselling but it's tough for her (and me). She has a form of epilepsy and has always struggled with moods but I think the hormones are stepping up a gear and making life very difficult for us all.
It's heart breaking to see, she just says she feels empty inside. I've never had depression but that's what it sounds like. Cahms were useless and told her she could choose to be happy or choose to be sad and there was no such thing as depression in children her age.

Funnily enough I ordered the Sane New World book a few days ago and it arrived today, it does look good.

I am finally feeling better although am due on which always makes the anxiety worse! Got my first session with the counsellor tomos so hoping that goes o.kay.

drunken that sounds tough and at what cahms said - if only it were that easy!!