How do I deal with this anxiety I am having?!? It is driving me crazy!!!!?

Question

I have had problems with anxiety ever since I was 19(I am 24 now). I have been on all kinds of medication, and nothing works in the long run. Now I just take a Xanax from time to time when I have a panic attack. I do not have anymore medicine and am having anxiety and panic reaaaallly bad tonight. The stress from it makes me feel horrible from head to toe and makes my chest hurt from it and my stomach hurts from it too. What can I do to eleviate this anxiety/panic attack I am having tonight..with NO medication(cause I do not have any).

Ive been on Paxil, Lexapro, and Effexor. They all work at first, but after a few monthes they do not work as well, and they all make me gain weight, and due to my blood pressure I am trying to lose weight so its just a hard situation :(

Answer 1

First of all, don't fight it. The more you try to make your anxiety go away, the worse it will get. Plop down in a comfy chair or your couch and let your arms just drop to your sides. Starting with your toes, clench every muscle you can and relax them and work your way up to the top of your head-clenching and relaxing every single muscle you can feel-then start back down to your toes and imaging them relaxing and work your way back up to your head again, imaging all your muscles relaxing. Breathe in deeply and slowing through your nose, counting to 8, then out through your mouth, counting to 10 letting out a little more air on the out breath. Keep this exercise going until you feel more relaxed. If you start to feel anxious, don't fight it, just let the feeling come and then let it pass knowing that it's just a natural part of the anxiety. It's your body releasing adrenaline and it will soon absorb it again and you'll feel better. Remember that NO ONE has ever died from an anxiety attack. You'll be ok! I hope this helps :-)

Answer 2

Drink something with no caffeine
Try warm milk
Take a warm bath
Easy-listening music--or turn on the TV and get involved in the show/movie
Go outdoors and get some air (if that's safe where you live)
Walk (again, if you live in a very safe area)
Do some exercises
Eat something (might help--at least some soup or something)

Be sure to call your doctor tomorrow morning (or asap). If necessary, go to the emergency room. You could be having withdrawal from one or more medications--which is dangerous.

When you can, use lavender aromatherapy (comes in form of soaps, candles, air freshener etc.). Get some chamomile tea. If your doctor does not get you back on meds, try Valerian supplements or Melatonin supplements (they may put you to sleep--but on a night like this one, that would be good).
Try to eat as healthy a diet as you can, to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, and to see a doctor/therapist/counselor as often as necessary. Try to stay away from stressful situations, and take some self-help books out of the library.

Feel better--this too shall pass (as they say).

Answer 3

Feels terrible, I know. Try to be outside of your body, experience the weird feelings like they belong to someone else. Doesn't really work, but it is a weird experiment. I have had some luck on a mixture of Effexor and Welbutrin, talk to your doc when you can. For tonight, check out this Emotional Freedom Therapy. It can be a self help thing, good luck. I will try some remote EFT for you. www.emofree.com Check out the free manual to down load.

Answer 4

Try to relax and learn to float through it. Some woman doctor wrote several books on this and she did not give her patients meds, they learned to let go and float pass or over it, and then they found when they could learn to let it go this way that they quit having any attacks at all. My books got burned up in a fire, and so i do not have the name of his docotor or the name of the books, but it was self help books on how to deal and get over anziety and panic attacks, so you could check in on that , for now, just take a big breath and tell yourself it will pass, and try to lean back and relax and just try to let it go, and not get to you. And see if that don't help.

Answer 5

try excersizing or at least getting outside for some fresh air. Do you have any tylenol PM's? Try taking something to help you sleep. You might want to look into taking yoga - Anxiety attacks are painful, I was lucky and only had them for a while.

Answer 6

You need to work on some relaxtion , and not focus on it. Do other stuff you enjoy to get your mind off it. Listening to music, exercising,or any other stuff you enjoy doing that keeps you busy.Breathing exercising would be good also. If that doesn't work call a friend or a hospital and talk to a professional in that area. Good luck .Getting spiritual will also help, and tell God to help you

Answer 7

start by dimming the lights or light a candle and turn out the lights. find music that will help your brain calm down. nature sounds like water, ocean, flute music, harp anything new age or soft classical. all of these have clinically shown to help. lie down with ur head supported, focus on ur breathing, breathe in a full 5 seconds and out for 5, do this til u can add on up to 10 seconds in and out.then focus on ur toes and feet. tighten then relax them continue this til u reach ur head. it works wonders. i will send reiki energy to u with my blessing. find ur center this way each nite.also try essential oil of lavendar,real essential oil. i have successfully created essential oil synergies for this very reason. seek an aromatherapist. peace.

Answer 8

i can't tell you a lot here. writing helps me. it might be worthwhile to see another doctor. i'm bipolar and have a lot of anxiety. just try to keep going the best you can. stress is everywhere. GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

xanax is not the best choice.. itis habit forming.... has your MD tried SSRI's?
RN

Answer 10

smoke some wacky tobacky :)
good luck