What can I do other than take meds to calm my anxiety?

Question

I have panic attacks n such. My heart races, hands shake, feel sick, its dreadful. Over the simpliest things to, such irrational fear. What can I do other than take meds to calm my anxiety?

Answer 1

Try meditating for at least 10 minutes EVERY DAY. Controlled breathing exercises will help as well. If you have someone to talk to about your fears, that's probably one of the best things you can do. Tryt o find a counselor or someone who can help walk you through these things. And please keep in mind, sometimes this is a chemical disorder. You may HAVE to take some sort of medication (try as low a dose as possible) for a short (or long) period of time. I do agree with you, try to find alternative methods first.

Answer 2

I understand I actually had these before there was a label for this and I am not a big meds type person.

Regular exercise and eating three balanced meals a day and drinking lots of water. I can usually do this for about 8 weeks and then I fall off the wagon, get panic attacks become a recluse, realize I need to be exercising, eating three meals a day (hate that one) but I then realize I hate meds more and then precede to get back on the wagon and doing things right. Additionally I had more panic attacks in my 20's then I do now and some of that was doing the wrong thing instead of the right thing. Using rent money to go on vacation and then trying to enjoy the vacation but I was still anxious about paying rent late.

Each person is an individual though, you have to do what is right for you this is just my experience.

Answer 3

I'm not entirely sure the people that have answered this question have had panic attacks, because it's takes more than meditation and aromatherepy to help with most people.
When I got them, I found something that comforted my body quickly -- I took showers, drank something hot.... but mostly I did anything I could to get whatever was stuck in my head out of my head.
In the end, these things helped me, but it was drugs that eventually made the panic attacks dissapate. I took an anti-depressant and a sleeping pill, and after about 8 months, I didn't have the panic attacks anymore ((stopped drinking caffeine, went on a diet, as well)). But this worked for me, it may not be effective for everyone.

Answer 4

You would possibly not like this reply, however you would desire to restrict your caffeine consumption. In a pinch, Valerian root works to swiftly calm you. You can take a small quantity with out fairly sedating you or a higher dose to sleep. Passion flower could also be well to assuage anxiousness. I was once fortunate ample to discover a complement with each at my grocery store. :zero) Perhaps you might as good. A optimistic detail of natural treatments is that you do not have got to wait weeks for the meds to arrive a healing degree.

Answer 5

I suffered 4 years in a row with a full blown panic disorder. The best decision I ever made was when the panic would first begin - heart racing, dread, dizziness - I said to myself (and the panic) "C'mon! gimme all you got! If you can kill me, KILL ME!"

It sounds silly, but after doing this on many, many occassions, my brain slowly began to understand that I was not going to die, I was not going insane. This helped me in understanding the normal processes of panic and anxiety when they occured in my body. Sort of like mind conditioning. I haven't had a full blown panic attack now in about 7 years. I do have the odd anxiety attacks, but nothing like those first four years.

Zoloft was also a great assistance. It helped to treat the obsessive thinking that I had, which left room to recover from panic. I was on it for two years, and it stopped the symptoms long enough for me to learn how to live again.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Meds are an excellent temporary treatment. If you make a team with a psychologist he/she is supposed to help you to find the root of your problem and, if he is good, eventually you won't need medication anymore. If you are only taking medication I see very difficult that medication, exercise and other things listed above really solve your problem.... they will help you feel better, yes, but won't make you stop needing the medication,

Therapy takes a bit long, depending on what the reason who took you to that state is, how open are you with your therapist and how good your therapist is. Work hard, be patient and meds, one day, will be part of your past.

Answer 7

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 8

I've never been convinced that meds are the right approach for anxiety.

You could try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or there are lots of self help techniques.

This leaflet might be of some help...

http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/patient_information/pils/anxiety_a_self_help_guide.htm

Answer 9

Meditation.
There are different approaches, you may find one works better than another. Some use tapes you listen to, others you repeat a mantra. Find what works. You can google for Yoga sites and check out Yahoo groups for others. I like this group, it gives free lessons and you can stop at any stage. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdvancedYogaPractices/

Answer 10

running and yoga (stretching), don't eat or drink anything with too much sugar, caffeine, salt, fat, or frozen/canned for a long time.

try herbal teas before bedtime like hops and chamomile.

you medication may be helping you feel more anxious, some have the side effect of making you nervous even if it is for anxiety.