Can beta blockers help anxiety?

[Septemberintherain]

I am 50 now but have suffered from anxiety since a small child.
No idea why it started so young as I had a good childhood but I was plagued with anxiety,panic disorder, ocd, health anxiety and strange thoughts and behaviours/routines etc. This has continued into my adult life.
The anxiety and ocd etc has never left me and depression now often tags along too.
To add to the shitshow, at 25 I developed IBS which has been so, so bad during the last 6 years that I now have daily (often all day) symptoms which just goes on to exacerbate the anxiety (I have tried absolutely EVERYTHING to ease the gut issues and break the cycle but nothing helps).
I have also tried everything to break this anxiety (I am sure the IBS may calm down too, if my anxiety was lower).
All of my time, effort and money goes onto trying to ease all of the above because I literally have no life anymore.
I initially attempted to tackle this with meditation, hypnotherapy, eating well, drinking water only, exercising every day, going to bed at a decent time etc but none of this has had a big enough impact to help control my issues. I still do these things every day though as they are obviously good for overall health.
So I then went down the medication route. I have tried various SSRI’s but they make my gut issues so much worse which then triggers more anxiety.
I am absolutely desperate to get my life back on track, I just can not live like this long term as it’s having a hugely negative impact on mine and my families lives.
So I am desperate to try something else, anything,
I see many people with anxiety mention beta blockers and how these have helped with their anxiety due to easing their physical symptoms (no GP has ever suggested this to me despite years of consulting them over this issue).
I am wondering if these could help me, if it could ease the physical issues which come from my over anxious brain then maybe all the other things that I already do may start to have more of a positive affect on everything? I can only but live in hope.

My GP has prescribed me propanalol for anxiety. My view on it is yes it does work but I think it's better taken as needed , for instance if you have a day that anxiety is bad or you know you are going somewhere that will cause you stress then take one . It does make me tired . I don't think it's a long term solution . I am still searching for something that works as my anxiety is really debilitating at times .

I sympathise fully as I have anxiety which manifests itself in IBS issues too. In fact I've just written my own thread about something similar. I'm very familiar with the feelings of panic and not wanting to go to certain places for fear of having an attack and not being able to access a loo quickly. It's incredibly debilitating and takes over your life.

Like you I've tried many different medications, lifestyle changes and therapy...I'm sorry to say nothing has fully broken the cycle.

I do have beta blockers at the moment and while they do curb the panic feelings I can't say they've done much for my tummy issues. Of course feeling calmer in general lessens the fight or flight response that leads to that feeling of urgency but it doesn't get rid of it altogether. And it certainly doesn't control the intrusive thoughts and 'what if' feelings everytime I go somewhere new.

So I'd say give them a try but don't expect miracles. I'm so sorry you're going through this too.

BellasMommy thanks, I may try them even if it just takes away the edge. I’m sorry you are suffering so much from anxiety too.
bobbyboo43 I’m am sorry you are experiencing this horrible vicious cycle too. I don’t think people truly understand how awful it can be.

Ask your GP to prescribe Propanalol. It's definitely worth a try. I was told I could take it 3 times a day .

Thanks BellasMommy I will do that.