Anxiety

[Charlene8888]

So, i would like some suggestions as to how i can deal with this...

I have had anxiety and panic for over a year now, been seeing a psychiatrist and taking anti-depressants as well as clonazepam when needed.

I find that when i go out (since i developed a case of agoraphobia to restaurants, anything public really) when im with friends, family etc.. not so much when im alone, but when im far from home.

I always take the clonazepam so that i dont feel anxiety of a panic attack coming on. Im so scared to have another one... but i want to start to not take the medication and use it as a "safety precaution"...

How do i change my way of thinking and distract myself in a healthy manner, without taking that pill?

Ideas, completely open for them...

[Charlene8888]

i am also on Setraline (SSRI anti depressant)

i do try to stay distracted and live my everyday life, i have improved and seeked the help as needed. i just cant handle a big dose of the setraline, i have been diagnosed and medicated for over a year now...

[optimus22mac]

What other medication are you on? Sometimes anti-depressants are taken for anxiety also--like the SSRI's.  I take Paxil for my anxiety...and when I was getting used to it (usually takes about a month) I took clonazepam, so I have some experience with it.  I originally went on medication after the birth of my 3rd child.  I was having some severe post-partum anxiety with panic attacks.  First we tried cipralex, and it never actually started working for me...6 weeks into it, so we switched to paxil.  I have had some weight gain that I wish never happened, but even when I tried to switch to something else because of it (prozac), nothing worked the same for me.  Paxil is a wonder drug for me, and though I began taking it after a pregnancy, I believe I've always had anxiety issues.  My quality of life is much better on the paxil.  I was having very irrational thoughts before taking it....panicking that the baby was going to die while I was at work, or that she would fall down the stairs when she was far from the stairs, and couldn't even crawl or roll yet.  I would actually picture it vividly in my mind and freak out.  
The clonazepam was to help me ease onto the medication, and let my body get used to it, and then I stopped taking it....and it wasn't even necessary anymore...because the paxil keeps me so even-keeled from day to day.  Sure I have some minor anxiety issues or flare-ups here and there....that I wish I had a fast acting med for like the clonazepam or valium for, but overall, the paxil is very effective.  

So....without knowing your other medication, I can't completely answer your question....I do not think you should go with nothing for your anxiety....you need to have something for it.  You may want to find an everyday med to take so that you have fewer panic episodes.  

I also feel a little anxious now and then about going to new places (like restaurants), rather would stay home, and I get a little obsessive compulsive about things, which really affects my level of anxiety----like dirty silverware at restaurants makes me not want to eat there at all, and I feel really upset about it....or staying at hotels---wondering how clean they really are....if I think about it too much, I could go crazy:(

As for how to distract yourself, avoiding any anxiety-provoking situations would be good, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercise, etc...
Reading, painting, gardening...

I really want to stress that you should not discontinue any medication without the direction from your doctor, and no matter what I've written, your doctor should be involved in all decisions when it comes to your anxiety, since you are currently under the care of one and they are prescribing medications for you.  I would ask your doctor though about different options for medications...perhaps a daily SSRI for anxiety instead of the "take as you need" clonazepam.  This way, you are sort of wiping out the possibility of panic attacks, instead of anticipating that they'd happen and medicating.

I hope I helped you a little bit....wasn't quite sure what you were looking for...and I'll definitely respond if you need me to explain anything or be more specific:)