Advice on keeping anxiety away w/o meds?

[Rosarydevotion]

I think unless you are a doctor or a medical professional, it is unwise to give advice or opinions regarding specific medical care or pharmaceutical use.

I think its unwise to not speak the truth when the opportunity presents itself.

However it’s not just me, just google “benzo withdrawal syndrome” and see all that you find. What I am speaking of here could potentially save lives, this is something people need to know.

I also want to say that you should never abruptly stop taking a benzo, they need to be very carefully and slowly tapered. (find the Ashton Manual and read it).

 

[casslean]

I think its unwise to not speak the truth when the opportunity presents itself.

However it’s not just me, just google “benzo withdrawal syndrome” and see all that you find. What I am speaking of here could potentially save lives, this is something people need to know.

I also want to say that you should never abruptly stop taking a benzo, they need to be very carefully and slowly tapered. (find the Ashton Manual and read it).

Google is not a doctor. The information I find on it is only as good as the people writing it. Therefore, again I will say that while your EXPERIENCE with a given medication might be valuable to share, your opinions or advice are not truth. They are only opinions, and thus when it comes to specific medical ailments or pharmaceutical use, we should be cautious in offering advice or opinions as we are not doctors.

 

[Katherine438]

I have General Anxiety and try to live with it naturally using exercise, diet and prayer. I am, marginally successful as its an almost constant battle

Anyone else have this condition or similar (worry all the time) - what do you do to make it through the day? Have a special prayer? Say the rosary over and over or just once?

Thanks

I have this problem … and I pray a lot … but it doesn’t quite do the job … the kind of General Anxiety you are talking about can ruin your life and your prayer life … at least mine was doing so when I decided to go on medication … medications help me to deal with it quite well … and my daily life and my prayer life have improved dramatically since going on medication.

 

[Katherine438]

Google is not a doctor. The information I find on it is only as good as the people writing it. Therefore, again I will say that while your EXPERIENCE with a given medication might be valuable to share, your opinions or advice are not truth. They are only opinions, and thus when it comes to specific medical ailments or pharmaceutical use, we should be cautious in offering advice or opinions as we are not doctors.

The person who spoke about benzo withdrawal is actually quite accurate … I have been cautioned by my own doctor to never miss a dose.

 

[Katherine438]

As someone who almost died coming off benzos, I’m can say with conviction that you are playing with fire in regards to benzos.

The doctor did not bring you off them properly … there is no reason for someone to die … if withdrawn properly, under a doctor’s care, one can get off benzos.

 

[Katherine438]

Keep in mind that there are side effects with meds and their use should never be taken lightly.

I took meds for anxiety and incurred extensive neurological damage that has taken years to recover from. Meds that are in the benzodiazepine class are highly dangerous and should never be taken long term. I’m still recovering from their use. It’s been a nightmare from hell getting off them and that is not an exaggeration.

You are only one person with one opinion … I also am one person with one opinion … and I have been on a benzo for over 16 years … with no side effects and with great advantages to me for taking it … I can live a normal life without the excessive anxiety I had without the benzo … I had suffered dramatically for a long time before I finally went on a benzo … it saved my life.

I would suggest that someone not go on a benzo just for a little anxiety though … but if someone is having a severe form of constant anxiety … by this I mean an anxiety that is not related to a specific issue happening in one’s life … then it may indeed be a good idea to see a professional who can medicate with a benzo … but the professional should be well respected so that he/she can decide for sure whether a particular case can only be helped with a benzo … and also adequately prescribe the appropriate dosage for the person.

I will also note that anyone that goes on a benzo needs to know that they need to be under professional care the entire time they are on them … there is no going off or lowering a dosage of a benzo without professional care.

 

[Katherine438]

I have General Anxiety and try to live with it naturally using exercise, diet and prayer. I am, marginally successful as its an almost constant battle

Anyone else have this condition or similar (worry all the time) - what do you do to make it through the day? Have a special prayer? Say the rosary over and over or just once?

Thanks

I also want to inform you that going on medication for general anxiety is a serious decision … they use a drug called a benzodiazepine … it is a serious medication that once you start, you cannot just stop or miss doses … you must take your medication regularly.

However, you can safely go off a benzo … you simply need the professional … that should have consistently been following you while you were on the benzo … to titrate you down off the medication very slowly … it’s not impossible to stop this medication … it just takes time and you must work with the professional who has been prescribing it for you.

One more point … general anxiety is anxiety that one has constantly and for no specific reason … if you have anxiety over specific situations that is not considered general anxiety … you need a well respected professional to help you make this decision … not a bunch of posters on a message board, including myself.

 

[Katherine438]

Be aware that there are different antecedents to the different forms of anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Modification may work well if your anxiety is psychologically based, but if it’s biological, then you may have no other choice than to take meds if you want to successfully treat it. Having delved into religion, I have come to believe that it can also be spiritual, in which case I would suggest following the contemplative technique outlined in The Cloud of Unknowing.

Exactly … you hit the nail on the head … and only a professional can help decide if your anxiety is biological … my anxiety is caused by another major disease I have … there is nothing that can be done for it besides medication.

 

[Katherine438]

Just noticed the title of this thread was “Keeping anxiety away without meds” … so my apologies for adding so much information about medication … I hope that you find a way to keep anxiety away without meds … always the preferred choice.

 

[misspriss]

The person who spoke about benzo withdrawal is actually quite accurate … I have been cautioned by my own doctor to never miss a dose.

Really? I have almost always been prescribed them on a prn basis, so by definition I space out doses. But I could see the danger if it were for say seizures, where missing a dose could be a problem.

 

[Rosarydevotion]

Really? I have almost always been prescribed them on a prn basis, so by definition I space out doses. But I could see the danger if it were for say seizures, where missing a dose could be a problem.

Once your body becomes dependant you should never just stop taking the medication. The reason why is that the medication has taken over much of the calming action of the central nervous system. The body itself then allows much of the calming action to be provided for by the medication. When you abruptly remove the drug, the body is not equipped to take over the functioning of the central nervous system because the bodies own mechanisms have gone dormant. Abrupt withdrawal after dependency sets in could lead to heart attack, stroke, seizures, and in some cases temporary brain damage.

 

[Katherine438]

Really? I have almost always been prescribed them on a prn basis, so by definition I space out doses. But I could see the danger if it were for say seizures, where missing a dose could be a problem.

If you take them as I do on a daily basis, they become addictive, and then you need to be titrated off of them when you want to stop taking them.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I had a severe clinical depression when I was in my 40’s and had severe anxiety and obsessions with it. I was hospitalized and given Xanax as well as an anti-depressant. I was given the Xanax on a prn basis, and it helped me tremendously to get through the period until the antidepressant started to work. I never used it after that, and also had no withdrawal because of the short time I used it. I was in such a state that I could barely walk or care for myself. and could not think coherently. The medication helped me get to a point where I could respond to therapy, otherwise there was no way I could function as a human being.

With the proper medical treatment and psychological counseling I recovered fully from this episode, and I no longer take any meds. It took a while to wean off the anti-depressant under my Dr’s supervision, but it’s been at least 15 years now and I have not had any trouble since.

I am an RN and well aware of the side effects of drugs. Any drug can have severe side effects, and no 2 people are alike in how they respond to them. But people should make it their business to know what they are taking. Besides talking to the DR., pharmacies normally these days give out literature explaining the drug, the side effects, and warnings. Unfortunately, many people don’t read them. Please read them, and if it’s too complicated, ask questions of your Dr or pharmacist (I suggest the pharmacist–they are easier to get ahold of). Also, just because one person had a bad reaction does not mean someone else will–it is highly individualized.

If one is finding that their anxiety or other condition is interfering with their life and cannot control it, please see a Dr. Don’t totally rule out meds. After all, they are a gift of God too and can help tremendously if used correctly.

 

[Liturgy_Geek_1]

Although I must have medication to cope with my anxiety because it is so severe and so firmly entrenched in me, I find that if I am able to work on my genealogical research, it breaks the cycle of the anxiety. When I am feeling depressed, I crochet. Hope this is helpful.

 

[mommy_k]

Op I would think if anxiety is unbearable you should talk to your doctor. I would think there is alot of different medical options for this. In the meantime, if you desire to alleviate this, here is what I do in times of stress.

I worry alot, as I am a mom…Sometimes it comes with this territory. What works for me is that I control where my mind goes and focus on good things. I brong my mind back to these blessings.When this is extremely difficult to do, I place all my trust in Jesus. The Divine Mercy chaplet is a wonderful devotion for this. I listen to it on you tube sometimes too.

Knowing that some things are beyond my control and handing my problems over to Jesus and trusting is a big help for me. Keeping busy with things, is also helpful.

There are many prayers to Our Lady to help too. Our Lady of Mental Peace prayer is very effective for me as well.

I hope you feel better.

 

[Liturgy_Geek_1]

My last suggestion might make you laugh:

Sleep with a stuffed toy.

I have derived great comfort from sleeping with my stuffed lion. It helps me to calm down. I also say my evening prayers just before laying down to sleep, that helps a great deal as well.

BTW, I’m a 57 year old woman. I used to think I was silly to sleep with a toy. When my mother died, my sister and I were stripping her bed. Nestled in the bed clothes was a stuffed bunny. My mother, who died at age 92, was using the same technique I was.