how many of you have anxiety?

I do meditation, medication and breathing. I love that I can do the meditation and the breathing for anxiety. I take Xanax. I have been on it for many years and am gradually working my way down off of it. It isn't going to be easy, Xanax is addictive, and it does relieve the anxiety. But the truth is when we get older, they want us off of what they refer to as benzos. I believe that includes drugs like valium, Ativan etc... I have gone from four milligrams a day to 3/4 of a milligram a day.

If you are suffering with anxiety and have not yet started doing anything about it, try to do it naturally with breathing, yoga, meditation, etc. It is better if you yourself can control it, plus this makes you a calmer person and that helps with the fibromyalgia too. My fibromyalgia is mostly in my neck and shoulders. And that is where I hold tension, which is something I do when I get anxious.

I know anxiety is no fun. Some have social anxiety, some have health anxiety. I have an overall anxiety. But with the medications and practicing self help, it is much better now. Get some books on meditation and breathing (which go hand in hand) and see if it helps you.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen...

I have anxiety, which developed a few years ago (long after getting sick.)

I use a lot of yoga to get through it, although at the moment I'm recovering from surgery and can't do an active practice, so I'm stuck doing the meditation side of yoga for a while longer.

I also take Lexapro, which has been a god send. I look back at how I was before I started taking it, and it's like I'm looking at a different person. My partner has said it's like having the old me back.
I also use Valium when I'm getting really anxious, although that hasn't happened much since the Lexapro kicked in.

I think there's just so much uncertainty these days with our troubled world, that things can pile up on us. Most people I know are very concerned about jobs, finances, the future of our country, and often, health, along with the every day struggles we all have.

When I feel (to use an old '70s term) "uptight" about anything, I've learned to turn to prayer, which calms me almost immediately and reminds me that despite my efforts, I'm not really fully in charge. This really takes a load off my mind. "This, too, shall pass" and tomorrow is a new, fresh start.

Also, I pray for others and that's always a reminder that I shouldn't complain--it could be worse!

I also suffer from anxiety as well as depression. Mine began when I started going through menopause and prior to any health problems. I have been through many medications and I am now currently on Celexa.

I live with both depression and anxiety and have for years. I have lorazepam that I take to help with sleep and I can take it during the day if need be. I do deep breathing, counting and some other things to help me get through the it, working with it, instead of against it.

I was diagnose with social anxiety, because I dont really like to be in groups of people, unless I know them. When I was getting my BA and a university I would find other military veterans (like me) and I could connect with them. But besides that I dont go out of my way to hang out with people.
So the VA put me on medicine, it helps, I was up to 3 pills a day at one time. But with trying to calm down on my own, relizing I cannot control everything has helped alot and now I am down to 2 a day, 1 in the morning, 1 at night (the night one with some perscription sleeping meds is that only way I can slow down my brain, and calm my body enough to sleep).
Your not alone! It is tough! Find a balance in at least one part of your life, then just breath through the rest. Remember that one thing that you feel even just ok about when your anxiety kicks in, it helps me.

Anxiety ? Tons..... not all the time, but in spells. And probably nothing at all to do with my Fibro, but rather, from my OCD.

Your list leaves out the best stress / anxiety reliever on the planet > Exercise. I've had X's when I felt like I was going to come out of my skin, then I do a hard-core cardio workout, and Bam ! I'm a new, completely relaxed, person :)

As far as drugs to relieve anxiety, I'm quite sure they make all kinds of hard-core prescription garbage that will turn you into such a zombie, that you will "forget to be anxious"..... but if anything, I stick to the light weight, natural stuff.... that we can't talk about here.

Peace,

Fish

 

millymilan, I too take clonazepam, how much do you take?
Fish I powerwalk daily and it makes me feel worse Fibro wise, always feel more pain afterwards, RA told me to back off on the so much exercise, but I agree it does help with anxiety.

I try medication and acupuncture, meditation, yoga..praying always

Lots of prayer. I think mine is more depression than anxiety though.

I am also thinking I should add breathing exercises and maybe meditation also.

I also have anxiety over everyday stuff. I found, since I hate to be on hard core drugs that a natural one does me the most good when I just can't get out of my head. I have a small glass of wine and it settles me right down. Then I can put things in persective and relax. Best med for over ? thousand years. Cheap too! Don't worry, I respect the use of alcohol but this works so well. Enjoy and bon apetit!