overcoming anxiety without meds

[lisac08]

is there a way to overcome anxiety without meds i can't tolerate them and i have severe anxiety ever since my daughter started having seizures in july i just can't stop thinking about bad stuff

[toejam_muncher]

there are ways...but the medicine isn't a bad idea to help get you out of the place you're at. my first experience with anxiety/ocd was when i was about 12. granted, i doubt you have ocd, but that doesn't really matter. i went a few months living in a personal hell woried about everything barely able to function or sleep before my parents finally got me to a doctor. he put me on meds and it took about a month or so and some adjusting before i was back to a reasonable level of sanity. over time and with continued therapy, i never really relapsed and so at about 14, the doctor took me off the meds but told me that one day in the future, something may trigger me into a relapse and if it does, i'd need to go back. he was right, but it didn't happen until about a  month ago....and i'm 23. i went back on meds immediately since i already recognized the symptoms...but my point is that the meds helped me get out of where i was at, and i don't think i could have done it on my own. then when the time was right...i was able to quit taking them and function on my own just fine for nearly 10 years.

when thinking about meds...think of them as something that will help you get out of the anxiety rut that you're in...not something that is going to water down your mind for the rest of your life. it may be that after a year of taking meds, you won't need them again...or maybe not. but along the way, you could explore alternative therapies that would help you keep from needing meds again.

it's a bad time to take up meditation or other cognative therapies when your anxiety is so bad you can't even function. it would be much easier, in my opinion, to take meds and then as you begin to feel better, take up whatever alternative therapies you wish. you would be in a better mind to do so. just my opinion, though.

[AnxiousGurl]

Have you tried therapy? Also, I would look into 5-HTP(which you should never exceed 300mg a day) it helps me a little bit, I would do the research FIRST. Also, L-theanine relaxation tea helps me a little bit too, you can find them at the health food stores and vitamin shops.
Im sorry to hear about your daughter I also hope things get better for the both of you. Your in my thoughts and prayers, I wish you the best.

Hang in there!

[crystalhanzelka]

I am sorry to hear about your daughter.  I hope everything gets better for her.  I am wondering the same thing.  I have been suffering for about 4 months now.  I am doung some cognative behavior therapy and some counseling.  I do not want to take the meds either.  If you look on ebay and search for Lucinda Bassett..you will find a do it yourself program and I own it.  It helps.  You can also come to www.anxietyzone.com  there are several message boards there that help.  I have health anxiety after coming home to find my partner had passed away on our couch.