Anyone used beta blockers for nerves?

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Just wondered if anyone has ever tried beta blockers for excessive nerves?

Any other suggestions?

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Yes, me. They made me feeling very spaced out to the point I didn't realise how spaced out I appeared to my friends, however that was in extreme panic attack phase of my life. They do work to calm down but according to the Dr another thing would have been valium but is highly addictive. The beta blockers do work, probably a lower dose or less frequent dosage might have made me less 'spacey'. You can actually feel your body 'slow' down and it slows your heart rate down too. I did like them, but only when I wasn't taking 3 a day.

I eventually turned to Reiki after a long spell of panic/anxiety/depression, I found it helped me a great deal.

Hi Indigo -

Do you know anything about how they should be taken? E.G. if you have a particular nerve wracking event coming up do you take them just on that day or do they need to build up in your system, iykwim?

propanol?

They work within 20 minutes, so no need to build them up in your system, I would suggest you try them out to make sure they work for you before 'the day' as they can make you feel strange as IndigoBarbie pointed out.

Schnoogle - have you used them? What was the source of your anxiety? Hope I'm not being nosey!

Do you think they might work for things like speaking in front of a large crowd/playing piano? I have to do both of these things on a monthly basis in my new job - this week my hands were shaking so badly on the piano I was mortified. At home, I can play for hours, however I REALLY let myself down alot this week

HI sorry, Yes and Yes. I am a pianist and I believe they will work for that purpose too. I am sure lots of musicians have performance anxiety like us and that they are helpful for that too. HOwever - I'd try them out first before the real performance, you don't wanna be too chilled and miss your beats! Only kidding, but you could alsod try EFT which is a non medicinal 'overcoming your fears' therapy? I have tried that for fear of flying and public speaking and it did help - if you google emotional freedom technique. I'm only mentioning it as it would be great to feel you can do this all for yourself instead of relying on beta blockers, but I am sympathetic as I know exaclty how you feel xx HTH