Anxietyr

High consumption of Omega 3 and elimination of grains from diet--especially wheat. Look into the Paleo diet and also Wheat Belly. Hope you feel better!!

Medication has a job. It makes things easier while you get to the root of the anxiety and deal with the reasons you are having it. It is often a long deep soul searching process but the meds will not be a lifetime medication. They are for short term use, maybe a year at most, then you go off them because you aren't having the attacks anymore, or if you are you sort of ignore them.

I took several meds and had some major side effects. I turned red and itched but it was not an "allergy" with one, another one I got totally nuts, some didn't do anything. Once I found "my" med that worked for me life was livable again. I could sit in traffic at a stop light, I could sit in church and not frantically worry about how far away the door/exit was, I could go to any activity I wanted to go to and I was functioning again.

After going through therapy for a while I was learning techniques for relaxation and meditation. Those don't work for everyone, often it's because they are trying to get you to visualize places you would never go.....like a grassy meadow. The first time I tried to do relaxation and meditate they tried to get me to imagine a grassy meadow and walking through it. I was in the wilderness, there were bugs, snakes, weeds that I was allergic to, and all sorts of issues. I tensed up and was way more stressed out than before I started. So we had to write in to my visualization that there were no bugs flying around, nothing was going to sting me and cause anaphalaxis, the snakes were gone, the grass was short and nicely taken care of, etc.....goofy...I know but it made it a place I might chose to go to.

If they wanted me to go to the ocean, which is my place now, I would have to have lots of shade, no creepy crawly critters, a huge resort just steps away so I was not on a deserted island and there were other people close by but not intruding, and there was the beautiful sound of the ocean and birds.

Once I found my "happy place" I could practice relaxation and learn how to recognize how stressed I was and how I was storing it up to explode. Dealing with all the stuff that caused the anxiety and panic attacks took a while, it hides so you can't find it but on that "wow, that's where this is coming from?" day you only move forward and life gets better quickly.

I think that meds are the way to go because they help you keep an even anxiety level and you don't go full out panic. That makes you feel more in control and helps you to get strong enough to face the issues and go deep to work them out. Then once you get there it is pretty easy to finish up and get off the medications.

I haven't had an anxiety med in over 12 years. I was in the hospital at first because I was totally not able to function and my avoidance behaviors were sort of nuts. Life can be so fun when the world has fallen away and there is nothing but anxiety and panic.

I suggest you try visiting with a psychiatrist about medication options and go to therapy with someone who is an expert on panic and anxiety attacks. That way you will get over this within a year and be done with it.

If it's debilitating, I wouldn't fuss about not wanting to take medications. Therapy helps, yoga, social interactions, positive self-talk(mantra's) , hobbies.

I suffered from social anxiety ever since I was little. The only thing that helped me, ironically was working at my local movie theater. You are forced to deal with the general public, and be friendly. I worked there for 3 years.

Now, obviously that may not work for everyone. However, I would suggest attending a social group, or a mother's group that meets in your area. Having other people to engage with who have similar situations can help tremendously.

Spending a lot of time by yourself is a no-no. Trust me. Once I had my son, I became a hypochondriac. I would obsess about my health and my sons on a daily basis. It got worse when I stopped working full time.

I had to give my husband my laptop, and my Complete Family Physician medical guide so I could not look up things.

Therapy helped with that, a long with a strong will to break myself out of it. I cannot say enough about hypnosis, though. That, for me has helped more then anything else. I have used it to quit smoking, anxiety/hypochondriac thoughts, self esteem, etc. I would highly suggest it.

Therapy helps you change your thinking. Medication can help pull your anxiety level down if it's to a point where it is interfering with daily life. Try therapy first to help derail the anxiety train. Don't be afraid to take medication if the anxiety becomes crippling.

Morning
In my case, hormonal changes (I am 48) contributed to my anxiety/Claustrophobia.

That said, you mention you have had anxiety since having given birth to your daughter. I do wonder IF perhaps you could have your hormones checked? I say this because often times when a woman is younger (I assume you might be younger than me) doctors disregard a woman's hormones.. The thinking is that they are too young to have such a dilemma.

Maybe ask your OB/GYN to do a blood work up for you.. Could be something as simple as LOW serotonin levels. which will definitely add or create some depression/anxiety..

Now, as for what I do for anxiety.. It's been hard, I was getting anxiety from driving, riding public transportation (when crowded) tunnels and many other crowded or closed in spaces.

I tried EFT (see online Eftuniverse.com << it's free) traditional talk therapy (it worked to some degree) Hypnosis (calming yes, but looking back... not worth the money for me)

The best approach for me... ONE: eliminating or reducing foods that automatically cause me to become nervous: caffeine, alcohol, sugar, processed flours.. By reducing the above, at least I give myself a better chance.

Two: Exercise.. this definitely changes my body chemistry and helps me release those feel good hormones..

Three: I keep a food and "thought/feelings" journal and log my food intake every day.. This way, I have a better idea of what foods negatively affect me..

Lastly, although I didn't join a 12 step to eliminate anxiety (I thought I was joining OA to lose more weight) I realize now that anxiety has played a HUGE role in my life.

I've only been working a 12 step for going on 7 weeks, but since following the steps.. WOW... my anxiety level has dropped, I am so much more calm... can focus better and don't feel like I have that "monkey on my back"... It's a lot of work to work a 12 step and will be a life long process for me.. but so far, the rewards have been HUGE.. if you don't see yourself in any kind of 12 step (as they aren't for everyone) then aspects of the program might be useful... like journaling your feelings, "talking and sharing" with others how you feel... meditating (many groups offer this) and learning your triggers... in other words, do certain things trigger your anxiety more than other things. once you can identify your triggers, this tends to help a person cope better..

all the above things/tools have added up and help ME cope better and quite frankly, just feel better about everything in general...

I hope you find what works for you....

My best to you

Prayer and meditation help. I pray for my family, friends, those who are suffering in the world and our world leaders.

I have also come up with my own "head clearing" exercise to clear my mind. I visualize a trash can and a cloths hamper next to my bed. I go through everything that's bothering me or needs to be done no matter what it is. (worries, kids, family, bills, friends, to do lists, etc.) For each one it either goes in the hamper or the trash can. What I put in the trash can I will throw away. What goes in the hamper I will wash (i.e. deal with the next day). When I go to bed the next night, there still might be some things that need to go back in the hamper and new things for the trash.

Then I say all I want in my head is thanks for the good things in my life and mentally go through a list. For me I give thanks to God for what he has done, what he is doing and what he is going to do,

You may have to do this exercise a few times each night, but it has worked for me. Having said that, I don't like to take meds either, but your anxiety/depression has lasted a long time and if prayer, meditation and/or exercise does not work for you, please don't hesitate to seek further medical attention for your sake and the sake of your family.

Blessings......

I can understand your not being a fan but if you are exercising, eating right then it maybe a chemical imbalance that may need to be treated with medication. You may also want to try talk therapy.

If you choose not to use medication, my suggestion would be to go see a naturopath. They can suggest herbs and supplements which will help. I am wary of suggesting any, as I don't know exactly what your situation/anxiety stems from,nor the appropriate dosage. However, I did have good results with this method when I was seeing a naturopathic doctor regularly.

I would also suggest looking into biofeedback techniques to calm yourself and meditation. Counseling and cognitive behavioral therapies (which do not require meds) may also help.

I do the best I can with natural methods. Exercise like walking or swimming make me feel great. However, I don't do cold water so I prefer a heated pool or a hot tub for relaxation.

I try to meditate, I try to pray and have a talk with myself in my mind about being calm.

That said, I do take anxiety medication because anxiety and stress can cause shingles flareups for me which make me quite ill. Controlling my anxiety is something that my doctors and I work very closely on.

I'm not a fan of taking meds either, but in some cases, they have helped me manage my health issues. I'm recovering from pneumonia and fighting off a bout with shingles. Yes......I took antibiotics. Yes, I took steroids to help with the inflammation in my lungs and yes, I took antivirals to curb a shingles outbreak. Yes, my anxiety meds were ramped up because I have a litany of issues to deal with.

I do believe in homeopathic or naturopathic means as much as possible. However, if you have an actual anxiety "disorder", you may need something else to help you manage it.

I'm a very slight woman so my doses are fairly small. They don't make it impossible for me to function. My anxiety on the other hand, CAN do that to me, so taking some medications is the lesser of two evils for me. My anxiety and stress itself can compromise my health in other ways so it's a fair trade off for me.

Just my opinion.

I love to walk when I'm feeling really anxious. I love to get in the water if I can, even if it means a hot bath or shower. I gravitate toward things that are funny because I love to laugh and have a silly sense of humor.

You don't have to go it alone. Work with your doctor and be careful experimenting with things without cluing them in. There are lots of things you can do that shouldn't be worriesome as far as interactions.

Best wishes.

Therapy was the only thing that worked for me. I too feel the same way you do about meds. I was taught how to get through panic attacks, meditate, breathe and of course the talking helps too!

If you find a therapist, don't waste your time with ones that don't fit. You have to shop around. You will know when you work with the right one.....it will click.

If you can't to therapy, start getting books about anxiety and panic. Through amazon, the library. Knowing how it all works is quite liberating.

Good luck. M

i was on hydroxyzine a few years ago for anxiety but before the doctor perscribed it to me he told me to try different things to see if the helped like sittin quietly reading a book, taking a bath, yoga, go for a long walk.. basically just relaxing things.. he said to do at least one of them everyday.. maybe it helps some people but i needed the medication, none of that madea difference to me

You can do what I did...I told both my hubby and MIL and explained to them that I need them to help me take care of my little one, so I could have some down time. Sometimes that is all you need is someone to help out, so you don't feel so overwhelmed. It gives you a chance to calm down and enjoy yourself.

What about supplements? Maybe something like St. John's Wort which helps mood but might be a proactive measure? I have developed anxiety this past year (one with a trip to the ER), and I have to keep my meds with me because they hit so fast and so severely. I know you're not a fan of meds, most people aren't, but you might need to get hte script filled just in case one comes on that you can't handle. What about yoga? I've never tried it but I know that writing sometimes helps combat my anxiety if I feel it coming on. Most important thing I learned about mine is breathing is key. Otherwise I lock up like a safe and that's when it gets really bad.

I know how you feel because I had anxiety after the birth if my first. You're right to seek help and get it taken care of. Google "flo living"--strange name but it is an organization that treats women through food. And one I'd the things they treat is anxiety and depression because our food choices affect our hormones so much more than we realize. I did some work with them for some other issues and it really helped. Check them out. Good luck and congrats on your baby!

Have you looked into acupuncture for this? You might also sit down with a holistic practitioner and see if anything in your diet could contributing to this.

Beyond that, it might be helpful to know why you're reluctant to take prescription meds. I'm not saying there aren't legitimate reasons to be reluctant - there are - but if you can find a doctor you feel comfortable with and a drug "cocktail" that's truly right for you, they really can be a lifesaver.