What to take and what not to take??

[panicgirl2]

Hello....I have had anxiety/panic attacks for a few years now however for the last 6 months since my father passed away they have gotten worse. I have felt the anxiety daily. I have seen a few doctors and they have prescribed me Ativan and now they have taken me off the Ativan and prescribed Xanax. Not sure why....I get scared to take these meds so I usually only take half of the dosage. I usually have to take it while im at work and I fear that I will pass out or feel wierd at work. I get really panic when I am around alot of people and pretty much have not been able to perform certain tasks at work because of this. I feel ashamed and embarresed :( I have also been prescribed prozac but I had side effects so they gave me Lexapro which I haven't taken yet....would love some suggestions on things I can do to rid the anxiety other than meds.

[j17c27]

Excersize and eating right are huge for helping anxiety. Stay away from caffiene and too much sugar, as they can be triggers.  Reading helps me a lot, becuase it helps me focus on someone else's world other than my own and just gets my mind off any of my issues.  Finding a hobby can also help.  For me, its photography.  When you accomplish little things it lifts your spirits and makes you feel good about yourself.  Thats why whenever im feeling down I go around and do a photoshoot...i feel i accomplished something and its something I enjoy doing for ME.  So do something for yourself, it can help bring your spirits up.
I wish you well

[mammo]

Hi. I'm so sorry about your dad.  This alone will raise your anxiety, and therapy can be a big help with this.  It teaches us how to cope and  think differently, and we learn a lot
about ourselves along the way.  Anxiety is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed by!  Anxiety is no different than any other medical condition requiring help, even medication to control the symptoms.  We often get caught up in thinking because it's a mental issue we should be able to handle it without help or meds, and often we can't. Anxiety can be a very complicated condition, and often we need a therapist to help us sort thru it all. Exercise helps a lot, and doing deep breathing exercises helps.  Doing things you are passionate about helps to keep your mind occupied, and getting out with friends.  If this doesn't help, you may need to take the medication so you can function and have a happy and fulfilling life.  None of us prefer to take medications, for many of us, it is the only choice. Know you're not alone, we understand and care.  I hope you can do this without the medications since this is your goal, but if not, it's not something to feel bad about.  When anxiety interferes with our daily life and our ability to function, we need to take action before it snowballs on us. I wish you all the best, and take care!