Can I beat anxiety and low mood without AD

[Londonbroken]

Hi all
New to these forums
Have a long history of anxiety but recently signed off work with burnout. Had severe anxiety and awful few weeks over Christmas. I improved, started cbt, and then bam back to square one and now with low mood.

I obsessed with symptoms and the thought that I’ll need to take AD makes me sob. No judgement to anyone that does, I know loads of people that do. I’m just petrified of them.

Has anyone beaten anxiety (to its normal levels) with perseverance, cbt ? Can it be done when I’m starting from a shitty place to begin with ?

Thank you x

Hi @Londonbroken

I suffered terribly with anxiety for years and was on AD for a while. I came off them 3 years ago and have felt fine, controlling my anxiety with breathing exercises (look up the anxiety triangle on youtube, helps a lot).

However for the last week it has come back with a bang and is making me feel low.

Exercise certainly helps at the moment and deep breathing. I have had a few health problems lately which are increasing my anxiety so it's hard to switch off.

You have my sympathy, its so debilitating isn't it? Mine seems ok in work then when I get home and I dont have any distractions it hits me, even when lying in bed!

Hi londonbroken,
I don't really have anything helpful to add as I'm feeling exactly the same. But you're definitely not alone. I also suffer from anxiety and low mood but am very nervous about taking ADs. I'm doing a CBT course and have just joined a gym. I finished up a contract job before Christmas - was offered a permanent role there but turned it down as I was miserable and felt burnt out. The time away certainly helped a bit but of course the worry is finding something else.

Do try to make the best of your time off. Breathing exercises are good and also try to get out for a walk every day - listen to music or a podcast as you go.

ADs don't really work for me at all.
Possibly because my anxiety relates to autism.

Exercise is the best thing.
Swimming / walking / cycling - getting your heart rate up.
Being in green spaces.
Yoga.

I find aromatherapy helpful.

I've had a lot of psychotherapy and some CBT.
Mindfulness can help or yoga nidra.

If your anxiety relates to a trauma or to negative self-talk, therapy can be really good.

Binge watching harmless comedy like Parks and Recreation while playing candy crush is also OK to keep my brain busy when I can't concentrate on worthier things - like self-induced dissociation.

Thank you for the replies. It’s sad so many people suffer with this . It’s good to know People manage without AD. Im going round in circles debating if it’s the only way to get out of this.

Hi

I am in the same boat just now.

I have tried ads with some success. I debating for months about going on them and when I thought I was better I weaned off.
My anxiety is back and am contemplating going back on them. The trouble is getting on them. It’s not an instant fix. There are side effects and I don’t like the idea of being on them. But I know I’m not in a good place
I have started back with my cbt counselling
I’m sorry that you are going through this too

Yes definitely, I used this book & do the exercises daily:

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0380810336/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_arWuCbBZ91T49?tag=mumsnetforum-21

And he has another book specifically for anxiety, called 'When Panic Attacks'.

What the author says about anxiety being caused by hidden 'unacceptable' emotions we don't realise are there, is really interesting! When we are 'too nice' to express those emotions.