55 replies to this topic

[ShadowLink64]

I have some anxiety issues.

It's not bad for the most part and I've come up with some ways of coping, like going for walks, listening to music, having naps, but sometimes I have trouble keeping it at bay, especially during the day. But, I'm determined to live a healthy life without worrying and being anxious, and I don't want to resort to medication. The number one trigger for me is when plans change unexpectedly, or if I don't have a good enough grasp of a situation. This has been happening a lot more recently.

I heard that exercise is very good for managing anxiety, and I know that I don't get enough. For anyone who experiences anxiety, do you find that going to the gym or something helps? What ways do you manage anxiety?

[Scot]

Xanax

[ShadowLink64]

Xanax

and I don't want to resort to medication.

If need be, I'll go to the doc, but I'm looking for other things I can try in the meantime.

[Scot]

Ok but you may not like the non medicated solutions.

[Asakura]

The gym does help alot for anxiety as well as stress. I find that music helps too, or just going for a run with my Ipod

[Nymh]

I compartmentalize my anxiety and deal with it when it's the most inconvenient for everyone so they all have to make arrangements to take over my responsibilities while I cry in bed for hours over my pent-up issues.

But yes exercise does help. Running and weight-lifting are my favorites for finding peace and discipline mentally. Also, cleaning helps me too.

[Lychee]

Have you tried any cognitive behaviour techniques, like worry logs that break down the problem into components and allow you to frame it in a more factual light? I also find talking out problems (but not with my mother, whose advise is 'be less anxious') and getting different perspectives helps.

I also recommend getting laid. In general and in regards to anxiety - when you're so blissed-out that you can barely think, you tend to avoid worrying so much.

[Rainie]

For anyone who experiences anxiety, do you find that going to the gym or something helps? What ways do you manage anxiety?

Not necessarily anxiety, although when I feel stressed out it always helps me to go out for a swim (if the weather allows).
Jogging usually also helps me clear my mind

Of course, being optimistic will help with managing anxiety as well, although I myself tend to think negatively a lot (since I'm an incredibly unlucky person) ~

[Kat]

I also recommend getting laid. In general and in regards to anxiety - when you're so blissed-out that you can barely think, you tend to avoid worrying so much.

This^ helps me so much with my anxiety. Also, pot. Both highs are very helpful. hueuhuehueheu

Also, I find that a repetitive mindless task helps calm me down a lot. My hobby is making jewelry, and I usually don't have to think much while I'm working.
Find something creative that you like to do and try to let your mind go. I also think cleaning and organizing things helps me feel calm.

Edited by Kats, 31 January 2012 - 02:28 PM.

[Xexist]

I have some anxiety issues. Both my mother and sister also have anxiety issues and there's a back-story as to why I think we all have it.

It's not bad for the most part and I've come up with some ways of coping, like going for walks, listening to music, having naps, but sometimes I have trouble keeping it at bay, especially during the day. But, I'm determined to live a healthy life without worrying and being anxious, and I don't want to resort to medication. The number one trigger for me is when plans change unexpectedly, or if I don't have a good enough grasp of a situation. This has been happening a lot more recently.

I heard that exercise is very good for managing anxiety, and I know that I don't get enough. For anyone who experiences anxiety, do you find that going to the gym or something helps? What ways do you manage anxiety?

Dont take this as s smartass response please, but I experience almost no anxiety no matter the circumstance and the key to it all? Not giving a fuck. Going to lose your job? Yawn. Girlfriend going to leave you? Good thing theres more out there. I dunno, Not giving a fuck isnt really something I can teach, its just a lifestyle. Also I think I have a medical condition which may or may not help contribute.

PS.
Sorry to hear you having trouble.

I compartmentalize my anxiety and deal with it when it's the most inconvenient for everyone so they all have to make arrangements to take over my responsibilities while I cry in bed for hours over my pent-up issues.

But yes exercise does help. Running and weight-lifting are my favorites for finding peace and discipline mentally. Also, cleaning helps me too.

Scot is so lucky

[Feral]

I think that, even though you seem hesitant, you should look into medication. It's helped a lot for some people I know, even though it might take a while to find one that works well for you.

[Nymh]

Scot is so lucky

I also love sex and cooking.

[Leaf]

Xanax

I don't even want to ask...

[Rainie]

I don't even want to ask...

It's a drug used to treat anxiety/panic o3o

[likerobots]

wow.
JW, is it general anxiiety disorder, social, or do you have perks that come with it, like trichotillomania, depression, ocd, anorexia, etc.
okay, for everyone suggesting pot, that does not work. take it from me, i've got SAD/GAD and i've smoked pot. when 'm high, i get paranoid and anxious, when i come down, i get almost psychotic, as in i see/hear things, which is not as fucn as i thought.
CBT/DBT does help, do you have a therapist?

and as for medication, yes, a lot of psychiatrists have and will prescribe xanax / clonopin / ambien / ativan / zopiclone / whatever godforsaken benzo is out there, but sometimes it doesn't work, and it's not a long-term solution, as benzoos can become addictive.
SSRIs (antidepressants) often help counter-effect anxiety.

take it from me, i know how hard and crippling serious anxiety is. i hope you get some help out there D:

It's a drug used to treat anxiety/panic o3o

+ psychotic episodes, and it's a sedative and was often used illicitly as a downer.

/med enthusiast (:0

[ilovepolkadots]

obviously it has already been said but truly exercise is the best medicine
my roommate struggled with anxiety for years before coming to college
she started to go into one of her anxious cycles
(she kept thinking she had a life-threatening disease, wouldn't be able to sleep and would basically make herself sick causing this terrible cycle of anxiety and illness)
so! i told her she should start coming to the gym with me to kick it
and it really worked for her - now she takes ~30min during the day to exercise/work out
we do yoga together Tuesday and Thurs, then usually get a run in together on Sunday :3

[Unseen]

Meditation. I don't mean bullshit run of the mill sit there and make humming noises. I'm talking seriously sit down next to a creek, river, a running sink, or just laying in the bathtub, while pondering absolutely every thing you can. I have serious issues with emotional flares, and this fixed it immediately. It took me about 5-8 months before I figured out what I need to focus on to keep myself in check, but it has worked wonders. If you would like a place to start, pm me.

[iargue]

If need be, I'll go to the doc, but I'm looking for other things I can try in the meantime.

My best friend suffers from anxiety.

The best bet is to just do anxiety. Walks and such can help fight off the minor attacks, but nothing but medication can help with the major attacks. If you want to survive during the day, you need to take meds.

[likerobots]

yeah, unseen is right, i see a shrink and one of our coping strategies is meditation, although i've never tried it myself
i'm glad its worked though.


i've started working out really recently, say three weeks ago. it really takes a push, esp because of my anxiety / lack of motivation in concurrence with mydepression, but after just the first week i've been feeling a lot better.

[Badger]

I deal with some anxiety issues, too, and here are all the ways I can think of to manage it without drugs:

- As people have said, exercise. Whatever you enjoy. Running, weights, swimming, etc.
- Focus on your hobbies or get a new one. When your mind is busy you don't fret so much.
- Meditation or yoga definitely helps to teach you how to just relax.
- Try taking herbs daily that will naturally calm you. Herbal tea may also work.
- Creative pursuits such as writing or drawing can help you to deal with your anxiety when it feels overwhelming.
- And lastly... regular sex/masturbation.

Edited by Trixic, 31 January 2012 - 04:26 PM.

[Kat]

.
okay, for everyone suggesting pot, that does not work. take it from me

well, it works for me, might not work for other folks. don't shoot it down just because it didn't work for you. although if a person with anxiety is super anxious about trying it, then of course they shouldn't.
every time i think about how relaxed and calm it makes me feel and it works. it's all about attitude. *shrug* it was just a suggestion.

[Applepi]

I dont have anxiety per say but i do have moments of time where i get something similar to panic attacks because I start thinking too much. I've found that exercise can be very helpful. As well as just talking or writing it out can also be helpful as a way of getting all your emotions out. I can't even tell you the number of times I've started just writing down what I'm feeling and end up having a good long cry. But once its done, I feel MUCH better.

[likerobots]

well, it works for me, might not work for other folks. don't shoot it down just because it didn't work for you. although if a person with anxiety is super anxious about trying it, then of course they shouldn't.
every time i think about how relaxed and calm it makes me feel and it works. it's all about attitude. *shrug* it was just a suggestion.

yeah, it does sedate you and relax you, but my docs have said that in the long run it'll only affect your mood even more, making it worsen, and it deprives you of your motivation too, eh.
i'm pro-decriminalization, but even i've taken it easy since i've noticed that it depreciates my overall mood P:

[Unseen]

yeah, it does sedate you and relax you, but my docs have said that in the long run it'll only affect your mood even more, making it worsen, and it deprives you of your motivation too, eh.
i'm pro-decriminalization, but even i've taken it easy since i've noticed that it depreciates my overall mood P:

Unfortunately I believe it does form a sort of dependency. I know of people that, while they're on it it keep them calm and in control, but off of it, and the negativity you're trying to stop becomes stronger than before.

[redlion]

Unfortunately I believe it does form a sort of dependency. I know of people that, while they're on it it keep them calm and in control, but off of it, and the negativity you're trying to stop becomes stronger than before.

This. Sooo this. It isn't physically or mentally addictive, but it sure can form dependencies. Part of my problem with weed was that I didn't know when to quit. I never took tolerance breaks. I smoked every day. I associated with people that smoked more and more herb. It does lower your ambition, your motivation, and your social output. It makes everything alright in the moment, and nothing alright in the long term.

Of course every patient is different, and for some people it can really help. For me, it didn't because it was easy to get high and forget about my problems. The problem was that when I woke up, the problems were still there, or worse, they had grown. Which necessitated smoking again to forget about my problems. OMG infinite loop.

Drugs of any sort should not be a permanent solution to a problem, but for many, they can help immediately, which feels good and fuels long term drug use. Weed is probably the mildest drug out there, and yet (from personal experience) it can still exacerbate problems. I have found that drugs should be used as a last resort as problem solvers. If you go into a drug regimen thinking that it's going to be a panacea, you've already misled yourself and set yourself up for dependency.

Cam I'd suggest some regular exercise (~30 min/day), some meditation (real meditation, regular, studious meditation, ~30-60min/day) and forget about these guys recommending pills.