This question is for people who overcame social anxiety,depression and panic attacks?

Question

This question is for people who overcame social anxiety,depression and panic attacks? How did you do it?What have worked for you? I tried exercise,mediation,breathing techniques and nothing works.Is medication the only answer for me? What have worked you?

Answer 1

I started out my teen years with horrible social anxiety. It was so bad I couldn’t leave my house. Today I am in the US Marine Special Operations, I have traveled the world been on mission in Afghanistan, Iraq and a few other places.

I made a complete turn around, and ill tell you how. One of the few things I left the house for was to go to my mixed martial arts class were I would train in full contact fighting. One day my instructor told me I needed to get faster. But I was lost in how to go about it. I mean you can learn techniques do wait lifting to get stronger. But how do you get faster. I was told to pretend you are fast with each and every technique you do. Over time I got faster.

But I started to use that same technique for social anxiety. First off you need to act. Look at the people around you. Look at how calm they are in situations you would freak out in. Ant act like that. Imagine you are in a social environment, or picture yourself giving a speech, and imagine being calm, the calmest you have ever been.

But believe it is actually happening. When its actually happening take control of your thoughts and act. Like a shy actor taking the role of an out going character. The best time to imagine this is as often as possible, right before you go to bed and especially when your listing to music.

The other thing is DO NOT think. Your hole life you have been told think before you do. Well when it comes to this, don’t. Just do it. Like a robot, do it and don’t think about it.

There is an old saying that goes, be careful of your thoughts, they may become your actions, be carful of your actions they become your character, be carful of your character it might become you.

Imagine yourself scared you will be scared, Imagine yourself confident with no anxiety and you will be confident with no anxiety.

The last thing is to visualize. When you breath in imagine the air going into your lungs and being sucked into your blood when it goes threw your body its pushing out pain, negative thoughts and weakness. Imagine it getting replaced by good thoughts, power, and a can do anything sense of thought.

Or I guess you can try medication lol.

Good luck I hope this helps
p.s. it takes time, but be patient with it

Answer 2

When I was in high school I used to get panic attacks all the time. I couldn't sit through a day of classes without having to excuse myself at least once from a class because I thought I was going to implode. I attempted suicide twice, and I used to cut. Unfortunately, the only thing that helped was time. I'm lucky that I'm mostly free from all that now and I never took any medication. I did try breathing techniques and meditation, but only to help me sleep (I'm an insomniac as well). Sometimes straight up therapy can help people, it can serve as a way to help vent some frustrations with life that are causing you to feel that way. If you feel that you can't wait, you can't go on, seek out a therapist or get a doctor who will do something other than tell you to exercise more and meditate (that's all kaiser ever told me). Best of luck to you, I really do hope you find a way to get past this. I know how horrid panic attacks, social anxiety, and depression can be. And even though it's lonely and scary, it is possible to overcome it. Stay strong.

Answer 3

Medication is not the only factor that helps, for me,it's a whole bucket of worms because I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, Throughout all my tears and years of coping, and still do- Prozac has saved my life. I'd be dead without it and that's the truth. I have taken vicodin, and every other name in the book, there weren't strong enough- I even battled addiction for a 2 yr timeframe- it's hard, no getting around that and when you get so down where you just want to leave this world, you feel nothing will come your way. I have been blessed with a mom who has gone out of her way to assist me when I was lower than low. I still get panic attacks- the clinical depression that I have- this is gonna sound crazy, but I have taught myself to meditate, in tandem with the medication I now take- with my Levoxyl for my hypothyroidism. I don't go out much so I can't answer for the social anxiety, as I keep busy on my computer. I do apologize for this lengthy answer but I understand how frightening it is to those who suffer from depression. It may be easy for someone else to say, "Hang in there. "- it's not that easy. Being in touch with yourself, I read... a lot and study with has greatly reduced my heart palpitations. And for those who do this read and thinkof giving it a thumbs down, stop. Close your eyes and think about all the times you're down and out and you have no where to go. Depression hurts everyone, period. I do thank you for reading this and giving me an opportunity to do so. To everyone else who thinks I have given too much information, I'm sorry you feel that way. As to the person who asked this question, the first step to recovery is inside you- give yourself the chance to be who you are! blessings!

Answer 4

I have suffered from depression for years, and anxiety for a short while. I went through a period of about 6 months completely miserable, I really dreaded going on with my life if the depression and anxiety didn't go away. I honestly felt hopeless. I tend to be anti-drug, but there seemed to be no way out, so I saw a shrink, who gave me medication, which helped my anxiety almost immedietly. It took a lot of years reflecting on my life, and my depression did eventually go away. In the past I have tried several anti- depressants that never really worked. I currently take no medications, and haven't been depressed in years! The thing that I think has helped me the most, I think, is just taking care of myself. I try to be the best I can be. Be the person you want to be . I personally, felt alot of guilt for what I did or did not do. If I missed a damn boyscout meeting, I beat myself up, I was the worst mother, on and on. Then I didn't want to go the next week, because everyone knew what a loser I was, worst mother, on and on, it's a downword spiral. I think depression can be improved drastically by simply changing ones lifestyle. Do what makes you feel good, proud. Be good to yourself, and do what YOU know is the right thing. You know, there are plenty of days I don't feel like going to that darn scout meeting now, but I ask myself what is better, getting off your #$%^%& going and doing right by your family, or feeling like a piece of %$#5 for not going? So I make myself go, and I tell myself what a great mom I am taking care of my kids and being involed. Be the person you dream you can be!

Answer 5

I take Prozac (60mg), Concerta (36 mg) and valium (5 mg) 1/2 twice a day for really bad days and none the rest of the time. Have had social anxiety, depression, panic attacks, ocd, etc. since 14 years of age. Now 44 and this combination of medicine is working great for me. I don't feel or act drugged. Sometimes I still want to run and hide but most everything in my life has improved (except sex) due to these drugs.

Answer 6

Well... I have battled this since I was 16. ( I am 39 now ). Oddly, I went from age 17 to age 36 without having a panic attack. For some reason, they started again a few years ago. They put my on zoloft and xanax. I weened myself off the zoloft after 6 months, because I just felt I could do it on my own through yoga, breathing exercises & activly reducing the stress in my life. So far so good.

I would recommend lots of sleep, lots of exercise and yoga.

As for the xanax... I rarely take it anymore. So far it's been about 10 months without a panic attack.

Good luck to you.

email me if you want to discuss if further.

Answer 7

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 8

I don't know where to begin. I suffer from all the above. I take one episode at a time. I have been to a counselor. I have taken Lexapro and Paxil. They work to get me through the lows-when I want to slit my wrists. But, when the "episode"(sometimes they last for a couple of months) is over they make it to where I stop having any feelings, so I stop taking the med. I have been trying to keep busy: work, sports, and college classes. It's an ongoing struggle. But, the biggest thing is that I know things will get better after the episode is over. You may want to check your hormone levels too.

Answer 9

Yes. Medication is the only answer. Anti-depressants such as the peroxetine molecule are extremely effective. But they don't work alone: he also need therapy, exercise and a good diet. Also keep in mind that if you have othe problems, such as alcohol or drug abuse, anti-depressants will not work. This may not be relevant for you, but you definitely need to address any dependency issues you may have for anti-depressants to be effective.

Answer 10

Have you tried going to a hypnotist? I dont have the prob., but a friend of mine did & she was miserable! So, a friend in common took her to a local hypnotist & she's been a riot ever since! as a matter of fact,( don't tell HER).. but we're kinda getting tired of the new Shelly!..lol. She's wearin us out!! ;-)
Good luck hon, nobody deserves to be a prisoner these days ;-(