What works best for physical symptoms of anxiety?

[Teatimes2]

I've suffered with chest tightness, racing heart, can't relax, etc, for about 10 years now. The thing is I've nothing to be anxious about now, although I did for the first year or so, and I just can't stop feeling anxious. I went on Sertraline for a year about 2 years ago but stopped as the side effects were too much and anyway they didn't make me feel hugely better. It's really affecting my quality of life now and I'm exhausted in the early evening. Any advice much appreciated.

I would like to know this too,

For me - running. Avoided it for years as I didn't see myself as a runner (still don't!) but it really does help.

Any form of exercise, and being outside. Long walks, and yoga. Gardening.
And medication. Once you find the right one, it's blissful to be relieved of anxiety. It no longer dominates your life.

I'd also like to know this. I have the mental symptoms of anxiety too. Like you though I find the side effects of anti depressants hard to deal with.

I've heard good things about a medication called propranolol. It's not an antidepressant.

A small dose of a beta blocker will stop the racing heart rate, palpitations, chest tightness, feelings of sweaty dread etc that are all adrenaline mediated effects of anxiety.
Ask your GP if you could have a trial of it.
It is not addictive and has no psychological effects. You might notice cold hands/feet as beta blockers can cause a bit of peripheral vasoconstriction, but there are far fewer side effects than with SSRIs like Sertraline.

I have the beta blockers they are better than the anti deps for me but I second running. Running has helped me regulate my breathing and when I am so tired on a run that's all you can think about.

Beta blockers like propanalol. I don’t know how commonly they are prescribed for anxiety though. It wouldn’t be possible if you tend towards having a fairly low blood pressure or resting heart rate. It might be worth discussing with your doctor though.

Do you find your symptoms are worsened or improved in any particular situations? Like do you feel better if you have a lie down? Is it worse if you have to stand around for a long time? Is your heart rate actually high or does it just feel high? If you’re having physical symptoms and don’t feel like there’s any mental/emotional component it might be worth thinking about whether there’s a physical problem there too. Have you ever had a 24 hour ECG to see if your heart rate is unusually high or irregular?

I only ask because I am having some tests to see if I might have POTS which causes heart rate to be unusually high with standing/physical exertion. I have been started on a beta blocker and it’s lovely being free of symptoms that were basically very anxiety like just without being especially worried about anything.

Beta blockers. Those are for physical symptoms. And can be taken as and when rather than needing to be taken daily etc. They won't work if the underlying problem is too big and not addressed. But for mild anxiety I would think they are useful. But you must talk to your GP, not us.

I tried betablockers and tbh they made me feel worse.

Beta blockers work well for me...and I have low blood pressure and testing pulse rate so what a pp said above is the necessarily always the case.
Running is also great.

Propranolol is great for physical symptoms if you're looking to go down the medication route. As others have said, exercise is important and healthy diet should never be underestimated.

CBD oil and meditation did it for me.

I have started on beta blockers, they are good for physical symptoms (adrenaline rush, palpitations etc) so worth trying.
I feel they do slow me down when running but maybe that is just general fatigue.

I really recommend magensium and epsom salt bath soaks.

Exercise really should be the first thing you try. Just exhaust your body.

AD didn't work for anxiety for me but they work for some people.

Beta blockers do work for physical symptoms but they also really slow you down so it's a trade off. I only made it like a week on them. But they're worth trying.

Benzos work but have horrible rebound anxiety which can be worse than the original anxiety so would not recommend.

How old are you OP?
I know you have heard it before but exercise really helps.
I also take vit b and Ashwaghanda and a herbal hormone balancer each morning.
Makes a big difference.
Could it be your hormones giving you anxiety? It’s definitely a thing.

I'm 45. I had such a bad experience with Sertraline that I'm reluctant to try medication again. I do walk and hike a lot, which helps somewhat. Am also trying breathing exercises to slow my breathing.

I have found CBD oil helps too. But it's expensive and unproven, of course.

i think being careful of what you eat -not too much salt- or drink - like not too much coffee- helps, too.

Pregabalin has worked very well for me.

I agree with running. Also some hiit sessions seem to work for me (Joe Wickes' kettlebell one particularly). I think any exercise which is really hard and requires full focus is helpful.

Watching with interest. Usually, on top of it but sometimes get sidelined by symptoms and all my good work becomes unraveled and I forget how to start again 🙄