Other Than meds

[oa21]

I have had anxiety for almost 4 years now. Took xanax for a while and when it ran out i just didnt take it anymore. i was ok for a while, almost a years of no savere anxiety. Than i had a big panic attack which lasted about two days and ended at the emergency room where they gave me ativan. I took ativan for a couple of days than decided to get back on the xanax which helped the last time. This time it wasnt so..So i decided to get off of the pills all together and see what natural ways i had to battle this..So other than drugs..WHAT OTHERS THINGS DID YOU GUYS DO WHICH HELPED YOU DECREASE ANXIETY AND GET BACK TO NORMAL LIFE?

[Mark TX]

I just posted a similar comment in another thread... but you may want to watch your caffeine intake.  I know caffeine can set off my panic symptoms (yet I still drink it.)  I gave up alcohol and cigarettes.  That helped to a large extent.  As the previous poster noted... exercise can help too.  I haven't had much luck with the cognitive techniques... but I've got a new talk therapist who's going to have me try out some things.  Fortunately, my anxiety has dissipated to the point that I'm not rushing to test these out.

BTW, klonopin and other benzodiapenes can reduce the anxiety symptoms tremendously.  But they can be psychologically and physically addictive.  I'm tapering off the klonopin after 10+ years.  In my case, at least, I believe my anxiety will be perfectly controllable by watching what I put into my body... and understanding what's going on.  It's been well over a year since I've had a full-blown panic attack.

Good luck!

mark

[debaser23]

Well, I've been using Klonopin, which is a longer acting benzo.  However, it's not for everyone.

Other than that, I write a lot.  Read a lot.  Try to be physically active.  More than anything else, though, I've rediscovered my creativity and have been making photographs and writing songs again.  

Other than that, there's CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).  You should look into that.