Is there an occasion am drug to take to calm anxiety?

[fartooanxiousfortoday]

I have suffered with anxiety and OCD for last couple of years which generally I try to manage via cbt and counselling and exercise supplements and breathing but sometimes I just can’t calm down, my mind won’t switch off, I over think get irrational and I can’t bear it I just wish I could take something at that point to calm me down and take me away from the situation . Is there such a thing ? Anyone in similar situation ?

I like Bachs Rescue Remedy. Seems to calm me down.

Beta blockers

I take propranolol for exactly this, my GP prescribed it, and it does work.

I'm on anti depressants but I was given diazepam for a specific event that was giving me bad anxiety.

@TheLeadbetterLife do you mind me asking how you feel when you take it - does it wipe you out ? Are there side effects - I’m scared but it sounds like it’s the right thing for me

No it doesn’t wipe me out at all, I only take 10mg. It just stops the rising panic feeling. There’s no drowsiness or side effects for me.

I only take it as and when I feel panic rising. I’m on no other medication.

Propranolol (a beta blocker) blocks the effects of the excess adrenaline you're feeling and will calm a racing heart etc. Can use as and when needed in a small dose, not addictive etc.

Diazepam and other similar drugs are sedative and all of them will calm you down in the moment but are not to be taken regularly at all as they stop working so well quick quickly and you can easily become dependent on them.

Have a chat with your GP, they have been happy to prescribe both to me in different situations.

Exercise.
Preferably with favourite songs on.

People under rate it but it resets the body and mind. Get out the house and go for a walk.
Don’t write it off unless you are unable to do some sue to a disability or whatever. Being overweight or lazy doesn’t count as I can be both and still manage it!

I’ve tried battering the living shit out of a cushion when I’ve been unable to control a situation and I’m spiralling and stressed out if my head because if it, raised heart rate, can’t breath right etc .
But exercise works better than hitting cushions!
With the same result : knackeredness and sitting down exhausted. Mind calm and not racing. Reset. Relaxed.

It’s totally worth trying if you haven’t done any for a while. Only wear headphones outside if it’s safe to do so though.

@TheLeadbetterLife@Techno56 thank you so much - it’s reassuring
Think I’ll make an appointment with Gp as make myself and those around me miserable when I feel like this as need constant reassurance

My D takes promethazine for agitation as and when needed. Prescribed by a psychiatrist but you can buy it over the counter.

I take a slow release propranolol every day, its worked wonders on the physical anxiety symptoms.

Thank you everyone/ the fact I’ve been isolating hasn’t helped mental health and has meant no outdoor exercise which I do daily with my dog usually
But sadly once I stop that exercise I go over and Over everything again. Today I realised when I saw my cleaner that she had been in my house the day before I tested positive last week . We hadn’t had close contact and had generally been in different bits of the house but to me I could have killed 100s by me not telling her. She’s just done a test now and is negative so probably has been since she saw me last week. But it’s a big Fail from me because I missed her off the people I contacted. Mainly a genuine mistake but also because I thought we hadn’t had face to face contact which is true but still lapse I blame myself for everything - so scared of life almost !

For medications promethazine, Beta Blockers and last resort benzos

Alcohol Just a bit, eg 1/2 units.

Not joking! The problem is it’s great at the time, but obviously not a good ‘prop’ to use often, and can make things much worse the next day.

Also, with exercise I find challenging cardio, eg fitness class, jogging, much more effective than, say, walking. Although any is helpful.

Propranolol was brilliant for me. It stops that rising feeling of panic that you just can't fight otherwise.

I was walking 10k a day when I went on propranolol, to try to 'walk off' anxiety. Sometimes you need proper drugs to get better.

I know someone who swears by betablockers.

Promethazine is an antihistamine to make you drowsy rather than combat anxiety

I would say propranolol or diazepam but good luck getting that off your GP

Propranolol is good but I find it slows me down and I can't run so I only take it for a flight or when anxiety is really bad

You people are so helpful
It’s that fear that gets me that I’ve harmed someone with my actions - my ocd
Everyone makes mistakes but most can move on !

I also take Propanolol 10mg.

I take it morning and evening as a standard regime but if I ever feel a sense of panic starting to rise I can take another one when needed.

No side effects at all and it works well.

My doctor prescribed me Xanax for my intense anxiety over flights. I don't know how practical that would be to get in the UK but where I am it seems to be easy to access by prescription. I only ever use it the day before a flight and just before boarding and it works brilliantly. I feel very calm and often drift off while flying, so if you only want something for occasional use then I'd recommend that. I don't think it's advisable at all to use xanax frequently.

I was (long ago) prescribed beta blockers for my grade 8 piano exam. No idea if they helped but I passed it.

I also have diazepam (Valium) for the rare occasion (a couple of times a year) I start to get uncontrollable anxiety.

Half a tablet usually works - it calms me down in about 20 minutes with no side effects and doesn't affect my ability to drive. Absolutely brilliant.

Whisky.