Hey all. I believe I have generalized anxiety disorder or something to that effect, but it's only gotten bad recently. Sometimes it's work related or sometimes it's a social situation, and both of those scenarios don't bother me terribly because I feel they are relatively normal times to have anxiety. If I am at work I take a smoke break (I do not smoke and I am not willing to take up smoking but smokers get extra breaks so I am alluding that I smoke sometimes ha) and in a social situation, well, the people important to me know I get anxious sometimes and end up acting a bit quiet or weird, and I think that takes the pressure off. Lately though it has even been happening when I go to the grocery store, or when I'm just at home alone. It really bothers me that I am starting to get anxiety attacks complete with physical symptoms even when there is no real trigger to it.

I was prescribed Paxil by my GP a couple of years ago when it first began, around the time I got my first real job. Long story short it ruined my life and was not worth the trade off. It destroyed my sex drive and sexual function, it wrecked my self-image, it made me lethargic, and it changed my personality to one that was apathetic and disinterested. My work performance even ended up suffering because I no longer had motivation to care. I have no interest in taking more medication for this, or at least not from a GP who doesn't really know much about mental health.

However, counselling isn't really in the cards right now. I can't afford a therapist as I live in a very small town and the drive to the city plus the cost of therapy is not feasible. I know some offer a sliding-scale payment, however the clinics that are available to me do not. I don't have insurance coverage that takes care of any of that either.

I want to know if you guys have any coping strategies, websites, etc that could help. I am doing my best to get through daily life and not use this as a crutch but sometimes I really just get overwhelmed and depressed by the fact that simple things seem really difficult to me. It's getting extremely frustrating. I just want to be normal.

There is no such thing as normal lol. To cope with my anxiety and depression I look towards some hobbies I enjoy such as art. I've also considered of registering one of my dogs as an ESA - because they are big helps in my life and tend to wash away the worries. c:

Pet therapy such as said can help but the first thing my clinic said was to start breathing exercises like this have been known to help. They have never aided me in any way, sometimes medicine is the only thing that can help. Just because one medication didn't go right for you, doesn't mean there aren't any alternatives that could better suit you. Also, exercise is a good way to reduce stress and anxiety since it sends serotonin. (which sends neurotransmitters to the brain to make you feel good )I can imagine the panic you are going through right now, so if you ever need someone to talk to I'll always be here. I can relate with you. Hopefully the breathing exercises and the excercising will help you.

i know that you said that you have no intention of taking up smoking, but if all else fails, i find that smoking pot really helps my anxiety. it mostly depends on how it affects you but almost everyone i know smokes it to help with their anxiety. best of luck

I always try to find something comforting to watch or listen to when my anxiety acts up. I find music helps in particular, or just anything that acts as a distraction to take my mind off of whatever is making me anxious (immersive video games are another good one). I know Youtube has some good songs to help calm people down (looking up like... music for anxiety, or something should bring up something).

My mom also has this stuff that she gave me called Rescue Spray. It's an herbal thing, and it's kind of expensive and tastes horrible, but I find it helps calm me down for a little bit. It's not a long-term thing by any means, but even just a small break is enough to help settle me down sometimes.

I tried anxiety medication once. I was pretty zen, except that I legitimately felt like my legs were supposed to wobble like a cheese stick. ... It was weird. Never again.

Honestly, I find that just sitting down for a minute and focusing on your breathing helps a lot. Definitely pay attention to your caffeine intake, though, if you drink coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, et cetera. Caffeine can make it worse. Sometimes cutting that out can make a huge difference. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate anxiety as well, whether you don't sleep enough, don't stay asleep, or if your sleep just isn't restful it strains the brain.

meditation, CBT, calmness/deep breathing exercises, 20 minute deep muscle relaxation exercise. Meditation and calmness/deep breathing and the deep muscle relaxation exercises are effective when done consistently. You need to train yourself to do these exercises, so that they can be used as effective tools. So when anxiety pops up, you can simply whip out these tools and try to calm yourself down.

I don't get panic/anxiety attacks, but I generally feel dizzy almost all the time and feel worse when anxiety begins creeping up or when I start to overthink/get stressed.

I'm very tempted to seek out a psychiatrist and get some kind of anxiety medication because I don't know what to do about it anymore.

Yoga-- breathing deeply and drinking a lotta water. Do it yourself at home or join a relaxing group. I personally wouldn't take up smoking or even doing medicines. You never know how it'll get you later.

[quote=]Caffeine can make it worse. Sometimes cutting that out can make a huge difference. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate anxiety as well, whether you don't sleep enough, don't stay asleep, or if your sleep just isn't restful it strains the brain.

This is so true. I am a big coffee drinker and it just makes it way worse.

I also stopped taking my medicine because I wasn't a fan of it.

I do a lot of listening to music, walking/exercise, and talking about my stresses/fears with anyone that'll listen. It seems to help a lot.

Oh dear, oh dear. See, I'm on medication and it has worked well, although it's caused me to have almost no appetite to the point where I forget to eat and have nearly no energy... My friend was once on the exact same medication and it made her gain weight and become irritable. People react so differently to medication and it can be one of the hardest things to get a handle on. So if you are opposed to trying different ones, which can take a long time to find a good one, I will suggest yoga and meditation. I am not joking with the yoga thing. I know it's a fad lately, but I took yoga and meditation twice a week with the most wonderful instructor at my college last semester and it changed so much for me. It helps you in mind and body. She helped us to learn that being aware of our emotions is not giving in to them. Accepting them robs them of their control over us. I have OCD and the medication has helped with it, but I also have a sound sensitivity disorder- and there aren't even any medications available. So I'm at the mercy of alternative options. While taking classes with her, I adopted a method I call the Spinning Ball method. You become focused enough to materialize a small ball of energy within your mind, and you control it with your thoughts. It allows you to focus on both breathing techniques and having control over what your mind is holding onto, while giving you something to focus on that isn't distracting. Anyway, I digress. Taking those classes helped my posture, my breathing, and my sense of stability. I feel I can always return to yoga anytime.

, I'm not sure if others have mentioned it by you might want to reconsider medication. From what I've read, the different SSRIs target different areas of the brain, so if one doesn't work or has bad side effects, another could work. My boyfriend has anxiety and he started on Zoloft. He literally (and I mean LITERALLY) could not sleep for a couple of days and had to stop taking it. He switched to a new medication and he has some very minor sexual side effects but honestly not anything I even notice.

I have depression and I got lucky in that Zoloft, my first one, works great for me and I have absolutely no side effects. Everyone is different I'm sure, but I tried tons of non-medical methods to control my depression before I finally starting taking meds and none of them came even close to being as effective.

I believe I also read a study that a very large percentage of patients who try switching which one they use, find one that works really well for them. Anyway, I hope you find something that works for you. :) I don't mind talking if you ever need anyone to talk to. Between my boyfriend and I we've got quite a bit of experience in mental illnesses. :P

First, full disclosure, I meditate every day. However, for those who have tried it, don't like it, don't have the time, or for whatever reason just don't feel it's right for them - try mantras. Pick something that resonates with you. You could use a sanskrit mantra, "Ohm," something that specifically addresses your issue such as "I am calm," or whatever you like so long as it is positive. Then just repeat it to yourself over and over and over again whenever you feel it necessary. The first couple weeks you'll have to constantly remind yourself to repeat the mantra but soon you'll find yourself repeating it automatically and discover it's a very calming habit. It basically just forces your mind away from the thoughts that you don't want and allows you to remain calm and centered. Be forewarned though, you might eventually like it so much you want to try "meditating" with the mantra. The effects will certainly increase then.

I'd suggest moderate to light exercise while listening to music and meditation. Rather than go for the clear your mind bit, imagine your body is a vessel filled with darkness. As you exhale you push these dark clouds out and with each inhaling breath you fill this vessel with light. It might sound silly but it always helped me in stressful situations.

Hey! Going through the same thing now, I don't know if you still need help but I've found something that's worked the best for me, though I still need to find something else as it's not enough anymore. It may work better for you. I don't remember where I first saw it but it's the 5 finger rule. Start at 5 and work your way down. Hold up 5 fingers, name 5 things you can see. Hold up 4, name 4 things you can touch. Hold up 3, name 3 things you can hear. Hold up 2, name 2 things you can smell. Hold up 1, name 1 thing you can taste. It forces you to focus on your environment and grounds you. It's a temporary thing but it can help if you need the anxiety to go away quickly.

@ I've never taken meds and my doctor says I have Chronic severe Depression with severe Anxiety. It comes in waves. But for me....this is what I do to 'get through it' I cope with my anxiety with trying to stay on a scheduled. Drinking calming teas like chamomile or green tea...many times a day, no coffees or cokes. Taking salt baths centers me. Going for walks and hikes in nature. As much as people dont enjoy hearing it, physical actives really REALLY help with depression/anxiety. Orgasms help relief tension, even if its by yourself. Writing takes a lot of my anxiety/depression out. Find your outlet.

Websites and talking to people didn't help me, I kinda have to get through it myself.

Hope this helps some :/

These help me: Art journaling. (If someone reading this isn't familiar with the term, here is a helpful link.) It honestly got me through last summer's anxiety & stress. Nature. Hiking, looking at trees and birds, just walking around. I find that my mind processes lots of things when I walk, but it doesn't make me more anxious, it just helps me see things in new, hopeful ways. Yoga. Even if it's just a few minutes a day. A cup of tea/rooibos/herbal tea. Spending time with pets. Getting a good night's sleep is REALLY important. Watching a movie is a nice way to take my mind off things when my anxiety gets so intense that I become basically unfunctional. Social situations make me most anxious, but sometimes I just have to force myself out of the door and go to the grocery store or the city to realize it's not so bad to be surrounded by strangers after all. There are days when spending time with friends/boyfriend is the best thing I can do, and there are days when I just need to be alone. And I know it's a little weird, but I find thinking about what a small part of the universe my life is helps me so much.

Sometimes nothing helps me, and I just have to wait for it to pass. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that just because I feel really bad on one day doesn't mean it's going to be like that forever. Even just new situations or not getting enough sleep can trigger my anxiety, so sometimes it's hard to tell whether things really are bad or whether it just seems so.

Lavender oil!! It's really awesome. Essential oils are an amazing alternative medicine with a plethora of uses. Lavender oil is calming and is great for anxiety. Being kind of a little dirty hippy, I'm also very into crystal healing, and amethyst and smokey quartz are my favorite for anxiety. <3 Best of luck I hope you feel better!

The most permanent way to eliminate anxiety is to live your life in a way that's in accordance with all your ethics, hopes and dreams while directing it towards a secure future with love somewhere in sight. Some people have tougher personal goals than others which is why it's so much more difficult. But realistically, you should never feel comfortable until you've lived a long, eventful life full of achievement. Just be aware of your time and make sure you are making very real steps towards your goals. So let's enjoy the struggle bus together!

I suffer from some form of generalized anxiety and I refuse to take medication for it (I already take 5 different prescriptions daily so I'll avoid the pills if I can). So I've had to find alternative ways to manage this. To me, it comes down to 4 things: regular exercise, good amounts of sleep, meditation, and sound therapy. Honestly, that last one helped me more than anything else. I was skeptical when I first looked into it, but it really works wonders for me. (It's actually fascinating how much sound waves can affect the brain!) If you're ever interested, youtube is a good place to find some good tracks that calm the mind :)

Personally to help with my anxiety, I do take zoloft but I learned quickly that medicine won't fix it completely. Everyone's different though.

For me, if I feel one coming on, I move and breath. It could be stretching, it could be dancing around a little or even just walking to a different room. Get your blood flowing. I also try to focus my brain on a few different things-- mainly, that everything's okay. Sometimes I get anxiety in bad crowds or resteraunts, so I have to reassure myself that I'm safe and just feeling anxious. I also make plans for where the door is or the bathroom is if I need to leave for an emergency.