Anxiety

[Owmyback]

First time posting. I was just wondering if any of you suffer with anxiety and if so what techniques you use to deal with it. I don't want to take medication and I'm trying to handle it but it's getting worse. I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you

I handle it by taking medication. Have you contacted your GP to find out what support is available in your area? Lots of places have weekly meet ups.

I have seen my GP who only offered medication and I would ideally like to try not going down that route. I honestly didn't know that there was meetings for people with anxiety. I will look into that, thank you for replying x

Also can I ask if medication is my last resort, how does it make you feel?

I hate taking it but it, and a good multivitamin, is the difference between abject misery and fear and being able to function somewhere approaching normality, whatever that is.

It's getting to the point that it's affecting my job and family now. I'm going to look into meetings tomorrow. Does the medication make you feel spaced out? If that makes sense. That's what I've heard and it scares me a little.

Not at all.

Yoga and meditation help if you can practice both regularly. Cutting down on screentime and doing things like reading, crocheting or colouring before bed or a nice bath can help too.

Sometimes though it’s gone beyond that and you need medication to reset. I only took it once, short term. It worked instantly.

@owmyback It’s made me feel normal. Before I felt like some huge, ugly creature that people would stare at because I was so strange. I used to struggle with supermarket shopping because I’d feel so on edge and the tiniest thing used to make me cry for hours. Now I feel normal and like I can cope with things. I’ve been very lucky rhe only aide effect I have is a dry mouth

Sorry not an expert, but I worked with someone who had anxiety. The things that she did, which made it worse and she was trying to work on; drinking 6-8 mugs of tea a day with sugar. No exercise (her anxiety made her want to go everywhere by car, never walk or face public transport), she went out with a much younger man and he was in a different phase of life (she was 40 he was 26), she smoked roll ups. Having to stay at her desk to finish a deadline and not be able to get outside to smoke every hour or so made her worse. Her diet was poor - lots of crisps and dinner could be just ice-cream.
She tried to hang on to a job which required fast responses and attention to detail. Something less pressurised would have been better.
She did get medication and go to her GP regularly. She was also a people-pleaser in her family and could never say no to any request.
She may be an extreme example of someone who needed to mske lifestyle changes in order to manage her anxiety better.

Sorry, meant to finish but pressed send too soon - she did make improvements to these and there was a difference. She felt more resilient. The break up of her relationship (she was devastated at the time) was a good thing in that she got more sleep, as there were less arguments and her home became a peaceful sanctuary.

Thank you. You've all mentioned things I can relate to. I'm going to be proactive today and make some appointments and try alternatives like meditation. Thank you for your help xx

Best of luck @Owmyback hope you find some solutions that work for you

In the past lots of exercise (swimming) and relaxation (self hypnosis / meditation though I didn't call it that at the time) and diary writing / self help books helped me struggle through for about 3 years but eventually I had a bad relapse & started on ADs and they made the biggest difference of anything else. They worked best in combination with therapy, mindfulness, yoga, hiking & cardio exercise. My best therapy so far was some NHS CBT therapy ('step 2' if you're googling) with an exceptionally good therapist. Over the years I have seen many other therapists of varying effectiveness but all of which I have felt some benefit from.

I think if you're really struggling medication can be good. If you want to avoid the antidepressant route, mention it to your Gp and they might put you on something like propranolol. I've been on it for two months now for anxiety and it does allow me to function. But as someone previously mentioned, a combination of things is good. I usually try the headspace app, rain music and sitting in front of a heater. The latter sounds stupid but heat makes me and gives me a better chance of falling asleep for a bit. Cutting out fizzy drinks also works; as painful as it is not being able to drink cupious amounts of Lucozade and binge on chocolate, it won't help you stay calm unfortunately, something I've learnt the hard one. You might one to look up CBT or compassionate focussed therapy as well. I read a meme yesterday which basically just said just sign up to therapy because it will help you!! I have my first session tomorrow, so hoping it works. You could also make a list of twenty things that you enjoy doing- sounds really childish but my therapist got me to do this, with the positive being it can be sustainable and twenty things will keep your mind occupied.

I hope you get some relief soon

The headspace app is extremely good (IMO)

Thank you. I've got an appointment tonight with my gp and I'm seriously considering medication and I've looked up cbt so I will be mentioning that as well. I'm starting a new more responsible job in February and I need this under control.

Hi
Can anyone recommend vitamins to take for anxiety please and what ones help.
Owmyback glad you have an appointment today
X

Good luck for your appointment! Just had my first CBT session and going for more. You'll get in under control, you're taking the right steps! Not sure about vitamins but chamomile and lavender can be helpful bath oils