Anxiety treatment - Al-Anon Family Group

Orchid Lady · Member

Anxiety treatment

Christy · ~*Service Worker*~

Orchid Lady,

My only suggestion is to try counseling and perhaps look in to meditation. Pills can't cure it all. Perhaps with counseling you could deal with what is happening and learn to calm yourself naturally.

The Alanon steps and some self discovery may help too.

take care
Christy

Karilynn · ~*Service Worker*~

((((((((OL))))))))))),

It has taken hubby along with a really good psychairtrist to work out his anxiety meds. It's still a work in progress. He also does meditation etc. If Buspar is the same thing as Busiprone HCL it can be tricky to get use to. His doctor recently gave him the okay to increase it because he, but she warned about the side affects. She said it will take awhile to get use to it, and if it continues to back it off slowly. Hubby is sooooo careful about taking his meds that we have a chart. He also has a pharmaceutical background. Work with a really good Dr. and keep track of how you react to it. That's important. Also the relaxation techniques etc can only help you. Be patient with the pills, they take a bit getting use to. I know how hard it is. So it's a combination of things. Hubby suffers from anxiety, panic attacks as well as OCD along with addiction, so it's been a tough road. But when things are all in sinc, it so nice to see. Keep plugging away with your program and your doctors. You'll find the right combination. Make sure your diet is on track too. I know when I get a bit anemic I feel really off.

Love and blessings to you and your family.

Live strong,

Karilynn & Pipers Kitty

nal · Senior Member

(((Orchid Lady))),

It sounds like you are taking a lot of the right steps to help yourself, but you are asking for personal experiences with Buspar because the "right steps" aren't providing enough relief. I take Buspar and have for a few months now and I have found it to be helpful. I don't think the meds are the answer for everyone, nor am I particularly thrilled to be taking them myself, but so far they have been helpful. Good luck.

Nancy

Diva · ~*Service Worker*~

I'm with CHristy here. Pills oftentimes do more harm than good. Further, I would wary of doctors who prescribe pills for treatment of my mental health. Perhaps some therapy with meditation will help. And listen to your AlAnon teachings.

Good luck, Diva

CJ · ~*Service Worker*~

I'm with Diva big time on this one. Sometimes the pills actually cause more anxiety and stress... especially if you are ultra-sensitive. If you or anyone else wants to check out side-effects and the such, go to www.crazymeds.org. I found this while researching.

You say accupuncture is working? Wonderful! Accupressure and massage therapy may help, too, and that is a lot more fun than taking a pill. I think holistic treatments are remarkable, and they don't ravage the body like a drug does.

with love
cj

lin0606 · ~*Service Worker*~

Nice to see people talking about alternative treatments here.

However, we are NOT doctors; some people do need pills to control chemical imbalances. It would be irresponsible to persuade a person who needs pills not to take them, because of some theoretical position.

I'd say work with your doctor, and if you are not happy with your doctor's approach, find another doctor.

Spiritually Calm · Veteran Member

Hi there O. Lady!!

About 3 years ago I was stricken with a debilitating bout of depression and anxiety. Anxiety hit me first and worst. I remember all the symptoms - the boosts of discomforting, uncontrollable energy, the racing thoughts, the sweaty palms (so bad I was constantly running them under water and drying them off), the sleepless nights, the hotflashes, the inability to join the world ... the list goes on. There is hope!!!! I am stronger now than ever!! I am more aware of me :) And you can get there too. There are soooo many remedies - pills, relaxation techniques, journalling, counselling, eating right, sleeping, exercising ... but the most important ingredients are EDUCATION AND PATIENCE! Educate yourself as much as you can about anxiety, treatments and YOU. Be patient with yourself every minute ... there were times I would sit and watch the clock as I healed. Keep it simple - you are in need of time to heal right now.

As for meds, I started with Lorazepam (which is highly addictive and not recommended for long term use). I was VERY SLOWLY weened off of lorazepam while beginning to take celexa (which I found to be very helpful). With other treatments - I joined a support group at the local hospital and met other people that were experiencing the same thing as me - that was very therapeutic. I journalled as often as I could - still do - it really clears the conscience and helps me to learn about me. I started simple - even just making a list of the symptoms I was feeling that day!

Much like alanon ... one day at a time. In time, I pray that you will see the beauty in what you are going through ... because it can do wonders for the soul. It gives you no choice but to slow down:)

Spiritually Calm · Veteran Member

Sorry ... one more thing ... I should say that I am not MED free and have not been taking meds for over 1 year now (this is not always possible for everyone ... but it may be for you eventually as well).

babysteps · Senior Member

There is a relatively new study out about depression/anxiety meds. I don't know the exact details but the jist of it is that the majority of people have to try several different medications before finding the one that works for them. My AH tried Lexapro but it completely knocked him out, he switched to Zoloft and it worked great. It took a while to find the dose that worked best, but eventually it was found.

Be careful with drugs in the Ativan/Zanax family, they are highly addictive. Keep working with your doctor, try yoga and meditation...and good luck!

kkw · Member

I again want to restate that alternative treatments are great but anxiety and depression are medical disorders and for some people meds are necessary. I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. My Dr. and I decided that by treating the depression it relived me of most of my anxiety attacks. It has however taken a lot of time and trying diffrent meds. Good luck!

AndiLynn · Senior Member

Orchid Lady, I too am sensitive to medications, plus add in the fact that I hate taking pills unless I have absolutely no choice and my options are then very limited. I was having alot of trouble with anxiety attacks for awhile. I called my husbands counselor and told him what was happening, asked if there was something I could take on an as needed basis (I have 3 young children to care for and A works long hours) he suggested himself, lol. I called him whenever I was feeling anxious and we talked through it, he gave me suggestions on what to do and how to think when these things started. It's nothing complicated, usually just busying myself and my mind after identifying what I am feeling anxious about. Sometimes I just need some quiet time (meditation/reflection sort of thing). Most of the time just figuring out why I was getting worked up occupied my mind enough to stop the attack lol. It has helped tremendously and I didn't need to take any pills at all. Like he told me anxiety attacks are usually caused by what is going on in our minds, not in our bodies. He will only prescribe meds if everything else fails or if symptoms are out of control and even then it is only for a short period of time since it has to be coupled with counseling. I still get an occassional feeling of anxiety, but can work through it, most of the time I don't need to call him now, but will about once a month just to "check in".

Andi

Christy · ~*Service Worker*~

It would be irresponsible to persuade a person who needs pills not to take them, because of some theoretical position.

In case my post was taken as having a position, I do not.
My suggestion for alternative methods was only because the poster claimed sensititivity to the drugs given to her.

Christy

CJ · ~*Service Worker*~

me too, christy, i just wanted to say what has worked for me, and emphasize keeping doing what is working for ya!!

much love

debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

Orchid, have you been checked for hyperthyroidism?

I have the opposite, but what you can do is keep a thermometer by your bed, soon as you wake up in the morn, before your feet hit the floor, take your temp and record it. Do this for five days.

It would be interesting if you had a hi temp. with me it is horribly low.

Has your doctor done blood tests? I guess I am hoping she/he has ruled out other physical problems that might cause these symtoms.

Orchid I remember that horrible feeling. Some things that sorta eased it for me, are one I breath in deep breaths and lift my abdomen at the same time. I do it three times and think or say everything is ok and i repeat it.

sometimes I say it over and over. Also I repeated the serenity prayer and put my situation in it. God please grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change,my beloved husband being A and brain damaged. then on and on.

Also I learned how to let go and let god. My hp is my creator. I went to where i can see my mountains and I breathed out and let everything go. I surrendered to my hp.

I still do. I do the footsteps, but the outcome is not up to me. Right now I am moving into my bunkhouse for several reasons. I need to rent my main house so I don't lose my place. My main house is too big for just me. And I need help out here.

I just did not know what to do. I could divide my house, make it into a duplex, rent it sell it. Just was going nuts then went wait a minute, It is not up to me. Just let it go. so I did. did not think about it anymore.

Next day, a neat gal came for a totally different reason, they are going to rent my house and he is a contractor, his dad an electrician. they are redoing my bunkhouse for me.

It works orchid. I have used xanax. Still do occasionally. I found though, and this is crazy, the less I use it the better it works. India docs feel this way too.

I take .25 of one. Most people take 1.0. sometimes I even take half of my small amount and I am a muscular type gal.

took buspar but cannot remember how it worked.

I don't use any caffeine, do you? no smoking very little sugar.

Do you have trouble sleeping?

What do you do for fun? I found simple stuff helped me. I watched funny movies, read the cartoon Farside books, watched absolutely fabulous from BBC. funnies video shows helped. Books on tape help if you don't have anyone to read to you. I know it is all very subtle.

One thing I have learned about grieving is, if we can just keep going in our life, keep moving keep developing a new life with out the person we lost, in time with effort, we will get better.

Just keep moving, quit analzying. concentrate on what you are doing, not the pain.

You just made a huge change in your life. you are still very raw. Naps help, no drama is a must.

Keep coming back and venting and whatever you need. The chat room helped me lots too.

much love,debilyn

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