Managing anxiety without meds - Anxiety and Depre...

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Managing anxiety without meds

Jaco2016 profile image
8 Replies

Hi I'm new to the forum here. Have been on various antidepressants for the past 9 years but have stopped altogether due to side effects and am now left to deal with my anxiety and mild depression without them. I'm going to counseling, reading CBT books, and also taking St. John's Wort. All seem to help, at least temporarily. Can anyone suggest any other supplements or anything else to try? Magnesium? Other herbs or vitamins?

Thanks for your help!

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Jaco2016
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8 Replies
RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm

I just posted this - maybe it will help you - For the past year I have battled and recovered from major medical issues and now have to deal with an upcoming life change and home move. I use Ativan and have needed it more and more recently. ** What I discovered is this - STAYING BUSY and getting out of my head makes me forget about the anxiety! I had an epiphany about that just a few hours ago and wanted to share it with my roomies here. DO Something, get busy and relief came to me. *All of a sudden I realized I was no longer anxious. Maybe some of you already knew this but I wanted to share. Hope this helps someone .. :^)

Pearl67 profile image
Pearl67 in reply to RiderontheStorm

Yes!!! You are so right! At least I know I have experienced the relief through doing sonething, being busy!

Sadierose789 profile image
Sadierose789 in reply to RiderontheStorm

This definitely helps walks help as well if u don't have paranoia r there any other things u can recommend for releasing anxiety

RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm in reply to Sadierose789

Sadie, further help that I carry with me ALL THE TIME is, *Just because I think it, does not make it true. That is a big one. Hope this helps you.

Meeasy profile image
Meeasy

Here are some of my tools . These are suggestions that work for me Your results may vary

- excercise releases your brains natural anti anxiety/ depessant chemicals. Rigorous enough to get to heavy breathing and blood flow. It can be as simple as jogging in place or climbing stairs

- diet changes. Caffeine and sugar work against you

- meditation , I use podcasts and YouTube videos to find guided meditations, self hypnosis and inspirational self affirmation. Use the search bar. Get a podcast app

- stay connected, don't isolate. Find Meetup groups, forums, recovery , church, etc to express your feeling and get feedback

-Volunteer or support or encourage others is a good practice. doing things for others gets you out of ruminating about yourself.

- attitude of gratitude. As hard as it is, it could always be worse. I make gratitude list to remind myself of my blessings.

- write it down. Keep a journal, dig deep. Write letters to yourself, to god, your resentments, your fears, your inner child etc. be your own therapist. It's cheap

Avoid news, politics, and advertisements They all use fear to control your emotions

Avoid social media. Don't fall into the trap of comparing your insides with other people's outsides

Try Q96 brain supplements. Google it. I have not gotten dramatic results but I know people who have

With or without medication these tips have no negative side effects Good luck

Pearl67 profile image
Pearl67 in reply to Meeasy

Yes! Agree 100%!

in reply to Meeasy

Excellent suggestions

doing something physically cuts my anxiety. I tend to freeze and become immobile so getting up and walking, moving, taking some physical action helps a lot. Sometimes deep breathing. Standing in sunlight for a few minutes helps too.

I don't use nor can I afford supplements. St. John's Wart made me jittery and would not let me sleep. If you are looking for supplements, I have heard SAM-E and 5 HTP are supposed to help.

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