non med help?

[tschock]

Anyone know of any non medicinal ways to relieve anxiety?
Xanax, paxil, effexor, ativan, etc all make things worse. The first three on the list made me walk around like a zombie...I looked stoned/drunk and my mom had taken my children away from me because of that. As soon as I threw all my pills away she gave the children back. I hated her at the time, but as soon as I realized how I had been on those pills I was thankful that she did.
The Ativan kept me in the hospital for a full summer a few years back...the panic attacks were so bad that I became suicidal on them.
I have IBS which causes anxiety...anxiety also causes IBS...double whammy.
I also have ADD/ADHD which causes anxiety.
They doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, etc all want me to be medicated...but because I've had nothing but bad reactions to all meds that they've tried me on...well...I've developed a phobia to all meds.  Ok wait, not totally true...I can take Advil/Tylenol/SERC...that's it.
The only thing that seems to help is gardening...however, I live in the land of 9 months of snow...so pretty hard to do that. I have found some gardening games that I enjoy in the winter months ( September - May ) but then because of the ADD/ADHD thing, I tend to "zone out" and not get a lot done.
Back in November ( a few days before my dad died) the doctor gave me a "magic number " to call. A woman diagnosed me over the phone and gave me another "magic number" to call...this brought me to a lady that was supposed to e-mail me a link to a "magic site" where I would get a "magic password" so that I could log into a "magic anxiety course".
I waited...and waited...and waited. Nothing ever came...I called back several times...nothing.
I went back to the doctor and asked him how I was supposed to get help when no one wanted to help me.
I have been "begging" for help for many years. Panic attacks scare the bleep out of me...I don't want them...and I can't help myself.
I saw a site once advertising that all I had to do was send them my firstborn and tons of money and they would teach me how to get rid of anxiety/panic in one easy step. The same company also said that they had a "magic secret" that would cure my IBS, ADD/ADHD, heartburn, etc.
Kinda figured it was a scam...turns out that if you buy a book on old fashioned home remedies that the answers are in that book too. So I looked some of the things up...for heartburn just drink apple cider vinegar or eat a certain variety of apple every day.
Great! You pay them a fortune to read a passage out of a home remedy book...nice.
I have tried selfhelp relaxation tapes, subliminal tapes, hypnosis tapes, etc.
Every book that I have read thus far on anxiety says that same thing...control your stress, be stress free...easy for them to say...so how do I do that?
I didn't find much help in any of the books.
One book said that you need to set a time to worry and stress. It says that you should pick a time, such as 5:00 p.m...and then every time a bad thought pops into your head you have to tell yourself that now isn't the time...you have to try and convince yourself to wait until your set time...good luck with that one. I tired that method for 3 weeks with no results...I found that I was starting to make huge lists so that I wouldn't forget what I ought to be worrying about. lol
The psychiatrist said that I shouldn't have written notes because it defeats the purpose. I told her that because of the ADD I have to do that...because most of my "worries" are about remembering to pay bills and stuff like that...so if I don't write it down I'll forget...hence one of the reasons they want to fill me full of pills. UGH!!

So...anyone out there have any luck with non-medicinal treatments? Care to share?

[lilymoon]

Try reading up on mindfullness.

[AnnieBrooke]

Exercise tests better for reducing a lot of depression and anxiety than a lot of drugs do.

[nursegirl6572]

Hello and welcome!  You've sure been through the ringer with your anxiety!  You've come to the right place.  We won't ask you for your first born...maybe your SECOND born and a sacrificial lamb, but nothing more.  ;0)

Seriously though, you're among friends here and we all understand how awful anxiety and panic can be.  Most of us have had similar experiences and we're here to share and support one another.

It sounds like you've tried a whole bunch of things, which is good.  Sometimes anxiety treatment is largely a trial and error process.  Many times, we have to keep trying things until we find something that works for us...and that varies greatly from person to person.  Some people have great success with meds, some with meditation, biofeedback, natural remedies...the list is long.  The good news is there are so many treatments out there for anxiety that you are bound to find something that will work for for you...it just may take some time and work.

Have you tried therapy?  Specifically, CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy?  Many people with panic disorder find it to be very successful.  A therapist can offer you support and help teach you real life coping mechanisms to assist you in dealing with panic and anxiety.  That would be my recommendation.  Even if you HAVE tried therapy, sometimes it takes trying a few therapists until you find one you really start having progress with.  

The key to treating anxiety is to try to remain open minded about your options, be patient (I know, easier said than done) and continue to work at it.  A forum like this is very helpful as we've all been through the same things and can help you through the process.

A lot of people choose to tackle anxiety without medications for various reasons.  We have several forum members that have great suggestions of things to try.

Please stick around and let us know how you're doing!