Anxiety treatment

[Aazz]

If anxiety is as a result of chemical imbalance does that mean the only way to fix it is medication?

[Helena877]

... or hormone replacement. My anxiety for example was caused by having an undiagnosed under active thyroid FOR YEARS!

I take T3 medication now (once prescribed - as a last resort - for severe clinical depression). I don't suffer any more.

[Agora1 in reply to Helena877]

Helena877, I'm glad you added this response. Because it did say medication not needed unless it is thyroid caused. I'm glad you aren't suffering anymore. x

[Helena877 in reply to Agora1]

Yes - the ONLY thing that replaces a lack of thyroid hormone is taking hormone replacement - T4, T-3 or Dessicated Thyroid.

[Aazz in reply to Helena877]

I've checked my yhryroid twice and it's fine. Glad you have found relief 😀

[Agora1]

Hi Aazz, I was reading up on Chemical Imbalance of the brain and it looks like medication can be avoided if:

You learn coping skills to overcome anxiety because your mental health affects brain chemistry

Exercise is important for both anxiety and chemical imbalance.

Healthy living especially Healthy Diet

Quality sleep plays a crucial role in balancing chemical imbalance.

That's good news for those of us who don't like taking meds

[Aazz in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for that. I've tried meds but could never get through the adjustment stage the side effects are so awful plus I'm afraid of all the side effects when coming off them and I don't like the idea of putting chemicals in my body. But sometimes I wish it could be as easy as taking a pill and feeling better. And lately I've been wondering the original question I asked can it only be cured with medication. I've had my thyroid checked twice and it's fine. I am trying to eat better that's my biggest problem I love food and I eat a lot of sugar it's so hard to cut out 😬

[Agora1 in reply to Aazz]

Oh I know Aazz, sugar is one of my weaknesses too. I do know that exercise plays an important part in bringing up those Endorphin levels in the brain. That "good feeling" chemical. I wish there were a one time pill people could take and feel better instantly w/o side effects and never have to take another one again. Unfortunately, we can wish all we want but anxiety takes patience, time and some work.

As for getting enough quality sleep (which is important) using meditation and deep breathing (as I do every day) can help put you into that deep sleep that gives your brain time to regenerate as well as you body. It's nice knowing that there are other options to feeling better. Just not as quick

[Aazz in reply to Agora1]

Definitely need to work on all those aspects, I've just decided the other day I'm going to put my time into myself, I spend a lot of time trying to keep my house clean which is impossible with two young kids and it seems to be my priority I just hate mess but then I don't have time for anything else (exercise, meditation preparing better meals for myself) so that my new thing just accept the mess lol

[Agora1 in reply to Aazz]

It is Imperative that you take care of yourself as well especially with having 2 young children. They need mom to feel good more than they need a clean house.

The forum is writing you a prescription for some "me time" starting tomorrow. Take as directed daily... x

[Aazz in reply to Agora1]

Will do! Thank you so much 😀

[HopingCat]

Supplements and brain food can fix it.... so I've heard. I'm going to a holistic doctor and her job is to rebalance my brain the natural way so we will see.

[Agora1 in reply to HopingCat]

That's true HopingCat. There are ways around it if we research a little.

How are you feeling today?? x

[HopingCat in reply to Agora1]

Hiii

I feel ok. I have been keeping myself really really busy to see if I snap back to reality. Thanks for asking. How are you?

[Aazz in reply to HopingCat]

Would love to know what your results are keep us posted 😀

[PaulaL]

Not necessarily, i treat my anxiety without medication, but i think that depends the level of anxiety you feel, if it is too high you can't deal with it alone, so medication could help you

[jessiejakes]

Hi PaulaL when anxiety is severe medication is needed to help with the physical symptoms to help calm them down so you can move forward.I had to take 2 mg diazepam for few weeks to help me in the beginning. And had a long wait 3 months for CBT treatment.which really helped me so much so that I am feeling back to my old self and enjoying life anxiety free.but well done you for doing it without medication you must be strong minded.

[Usagold]

Hey Aazz, I just saw this. The newest literature on anxiety indicates that it is not caused by a chemical imbalance, but by how a person thinks, which in time, can effect the brain's chemistry. People with anxiety often have common environmental denominators like overprotective parents or otherwise dysfunctional families, and they have similar personality traits that are more predisposing to anxiety like drivenness, perfectionism, people pleaser, worry... showing that this condition didn't just happen to them, but they did it to themselves. A wonderful (scientific and Biblical) book that teaches how to change thought processes is "Switch on Your Brain" by Dr. Carolyn Leaf.