Anxiety

Pecker31

Hi I suffer from Anxiety Attacks with years, they has eased a bit as I am getting older. I have tried lots of things like CBT, Self Harm, Counselling and the anxiety is there lingering.

I have sorted out by past issues but sometimes it does get the better of me

I would be very pro alternative therapies like yoga etc but don't have a clue where to start. Can anyone recommend a natural tablet, or exercise or something to that effect, if there was good reading material to make me understand it I would love to hear.

Thanks X

Brinimartini

Pecker31 wrote: »

Hi I suffer from Anxiety Attacks with years, they has eased a bit as I am getting older. I have tried lots of things like CBT, Self Harm, Counselling and the anxiety is there lingering.

I have sorted out by past issues but sometimes it does get the better of me

I would be very pro alternative therapies like yoga etc but don't have a clue where to start. Can anyone recommend a natural tablet, or exercise or something to that effect, if there was good reading material to make me understand it I would love to hear.

Thanks X

Very sorry you are suffering.
Your doctor might prescribe Xanax which are very good.

Pecker31

Brinimartini wrote: »

Very sorry you are suffering.
Your doctor might prescribe Xanax which are very good.

Thanks for that but I really don't want to go down that route of anti depressants and tablets. I would be scared I would become dependant. Would like to get control of it. Thank you. X

TheSegal

Hi Pecker31, this is a very touchy subject and something that I would recommend you speak to both a GP and counsellor over, especially since you mentioned self-harm. I suffer from depression and used to get regular anxiety attacks from stressing over things constantly, but I learned to manage it through a mixture of asking for help when needed, and regular exercise.

Use the counselor and GP to find the root cause of your anxiety and how to treat it, they might prescribe Xanax or other tablets so you will have to specify that you really don't want it and want to try alternative roots.

I find long walks do me the world of good if i'm feeling like crap. I start off with a few minutes of deep breathing exercises to help clear my mind and block out everything that happened that day, good and bad, the only thing I think about is my breathing and looking out at the fields (I live deep in the countryside) and stopping the dog from running off after a rabbit! It's difficult at first to clear your mind but with help you'll get there.

As I said, this is a very touchy subject and I would seriously go to a GP and counsellor before following any advice in this thread. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you snapped your leg tomorrow morning you wouldn't hesitate getting it looked at so your state of mind shouldn't be treated any differently

Best of luck OP

La Haine

Hi there.

Anxiety Attacks / Panic Attacks.

I have (had!) lived with anxiety for the best part of 20 years (41 now). For me, the highlight of my anxiety was suffering full-on panic attacks, you know; where you ring an ambulance?. They were that bad, and occurred so often. Didn't matter whether I was at home - in work - on holiday - nowhere or no time was exempt.

I really feel for you OP.

Now, I tried CBT, went to a Psychiatrist, tried anti-represents - the lot. And none of that worked.

But, can I ask you - do you drink? Even moderately? Do you smoke?
I also read in another of your posts that you have no energy and take no exercise?

Well, last July I stopped drinking altogether - up till that point I guess I would have been a binge drinker with 1, or maybe 2 nights a week.

Within 2 or 3 months my anxiety reduced to a very bearable amount.
Now, I haven't exercised in years, and to help my 'break' in anxiety I decided to re-join an old kick boxing club I was involved with 20 years previously. That helped reduce my anxiety to a barely recognisable feeling.
Then, in Febuary this year - I quit a 2o a day cigarette habit.
And that killed my anxiety altogether.

And I mean that - these actions/steps killed my anxiety altogether.

It wasn't without it's challenges, but the pay off is incredible.
I am still amazed that I am feeling 'normal' now.

Anyway, this was what I had to do and what seemed to work for me. Everybody is different and has different triggers and symptoms.

Hope there's something in here that I posted that can help you.

Chris.
:O)

Pecker31

Thanks everyone for the input. I haven't self harmed in about 10 years and never get the urge to anymore. There was a time where all I did was exercise and I loved it. I can relate to what your saying. I don't really drink that much but when I do my anxiety is really high and I'm so stressed for days. I'm starting a class Tuesday and me and my partner are going to take up the couch to 5k so hopefully that will keep it at bay for a while.

Alf Veedersane

Exercise works wonders for anxiety but it sounds like there's a big portion of your anxiety that could be attributed to your weight so working on your diet and the exercise should really help

Aiel

for the record:a combination of things helped me to manage my anxiety attacks(I had a full blown one in Dublin Airport once and didn't board my flight because of it), haven't had a full one for last 6 years thank God.
A combination of talking to someone(counsellor), prayer/meditation/relaxation with soft music and candles etc, running/walking/cycling, a book called When Panic Attacks is helpful too as is the cd that comes with it-all helped me to manage it.
I was on meds for awhile but they didn't always work and the side effects were bad. Xanex is good though.
Please do talk to your GP, see a counsellor and also do some exercise too.
Best of luck with it.

TheSegal

Pecker31 wrote: »

I'm starting a class Tuesday and me and my partner are going to take up the couch to 5k so hopefully that will keep it at bay for a while.

Doing the C25K program is a fantastic start! Just make sure to follow the program as much as possible. It can be tempting to add extra bits and pieces to it but you will get there. Once you get to 5K you can start setting extra goals and it can really help to take your mind off things.

Just remember that there is a community on boards that are always willing to help, a poster named DeVore has a thread in After Hours called 'Lets all laugh at people with depression'. People suffering from anxiety and/or depression post there about their experiences, it can be easier talking to strangers than family/friends at times. I post there when i'm feeling really bad and the support has really helped me through bad times in my life when I felt I couldn't talk to anyone.

Pecker31

I was recommended that book before, when panic attacks, I must look it up. That's everyone I finds boards brilliant for advise and just the comfort of knowing your not alone. X