Posted 5/18/2016 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there, I am really sorry to hear you're having these issues. I have been told by a medical intuitive that I've had fight or flight syndrome since I was 4 years old... I am now 21. I know just how tough it can be. As I get older I am trying to manage it more and more. I am also learning along the way. The seasons seem to affect me very dramatically! Do you see this affecting you at all? I also live where the snow can be very brutal in the winter...
Are there any medications that you are taking, for anything? I am on heartburn meds and they have caused me to suffer severe panic attacks. The doctors wont admit it, but others have had the same affect on them. Currently trying to get off of them!
I know some of these suggestions might seem silly or you might've heard them before, but these are what help me and the conclusions I have come to. You just have to experiment and see what works for you.
Exercise! light jogging and walking help immensely. It sucks getting into a routine with it, but one you do it'll be second nature. Every night at 8:30 I go for a walk/run. If I feel really lazy I will just walk and listen to music. But upholding that 8:30 commitment is where the results come from. Your body will thank you!! Its allowing your body to feel the physical stress that is tormenting you in your mind. Once you move that stagnant energy that has become trapped in your nervous system you can feel much more free. Its at least worth a shot!
SAD light. I bought a light on amazon several years ago and use it all fall/winter/spring long. It gives me a boost of energy that not even coffee can give me! It also helps me feel much more confident in myself. This is the one I have had good results with. Just 15 minutes a day does the trick.
http://www.amazon.com/Sphere-Gadget-Technologies-Lightphoria-Energy/dp/B004JF3G08/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1463543218&sr=8-1&keywords=sad+light
Meditating, breathing exercises, visualization techniques, yoga videos on youtube (especially yoga for panic attacks), grounding techniques, and acupuncture all help me as well.
I started going to the chiropractor for my stomach issues however I noticed right away that when I was getting adjusted all of the stress and worry that my body was harboring would slowly get released. I felt much more at ease and lighter between treatments. I would highly suggest looking into that if it interests you.
I have been on several different SSRI medications years ago. I am not a fan and do not advocate for them at all. In fact, I have gotten several of my friends off of the medication--with the help and approval from their doctors-- and there is no looking back for them too. Yes there is a place for those medication and I am so glad that it helps many people out there. However, the side effects, long term effects, and general personality altering effects that I, and several of my friends have experienced was not worth it for us. Instead if I am having a terrible bout of anxiety/depression I do a round of L-tryptophan or 5HTP for about two weeks. Both supplements that acts on the same serotonin receptors that all of the medications do. You should have relief in as little as 3 days. Compared to 3 weeks that the medication supposedly claims. You can buy both of these supplements at health food stores, maybe even walgreens! I would NOT mix either of those supplements with medications though. Also, there is no come down or withdrawal symptoms as there is from an SSRI.
I do however take lorazepam very seldom. If I am flying or am super anxious about something (such as public speaking or a large event of some sort). I also occasionally but very rarely will take a beta blocker. I am not an advocate for either of these drugs however I like that they can be taken AS NEEDED. I don't want something permanently altering my perceptions and consciousness as I have found from other drugs. However, that is just me and the experience I had with it. To each their own!
Acupuncture: I go to a community acupuncture and each treatment is 1 hour long for 20 minutes. Very economical. It can help relieve stress, calm and prevent panic, and rebuild and restore those adrenal glands we have all wore down to nothing! Very painless and relaxing.
Sleep hygiene is very important! Are you getting enough sleep? Something I greatly struggle with.. No phone, tv, or computer in bed! Try journaling or reading if you dont already. Just like getting in the routine of walking/jogging, journaling can also help. Write down your exact thoughts. Write in it like you are talking to your future self, or your best friend, or like you're emptying your thoughts. Use whatever angle sounds best for you that day. It also helps looking back several months from when you wrote and you can see how your thought process was. It helps show how you can grow and over come. It also helps yourself realize that you WILL be ok. Even though our bodies and minds sometimes like to make us think otherwise :/
DIET! Are you eating enough healthy foods? I had a roommate that would have such terrible anxiety but she would eat a donut for breakfast, chicken nuggets for lunch, and mac'n cheese for dinner. On top of that booze, booze, booze, and don't forget the pizza! She would get ZERO nutrition. Imagine years of this type of diet!? No wonder she was anxious! I recommend as little processed food as possible. Same with sugar, this only builds the anxiety. Try and cut it all out if you can. It takes some dedication, but it really does help.
Probiotics! Doctors in Europe are prescribing probiotics instead of SSRI's because they realize what they can do to people! I just read an article on it a few days ago. I recommend starting slow. 1 probiotic every night before bed. Start with a 1.5 Billion dosage every other day. Then every day. Then repeat this cycle and slowly work up to 30-50 billion. If you move too quickly or take too high of a dosage at first it can cause you to have bad die off symptoms. The first time I took one I was unaware of this and it made me SOOOOO anxious. It brought up old emotions and feelings I hadnt had in years! It literally cleans your gut out. The gut is the seat of your emotions. There is a mind gut connection that is very real and very strong. Nourish that gut so it can help your mind! Probiotic foods help too. Things such as saurkraut (yuck!), kombucha, and kefir.
Try and avoid caffeine! Maybe treat yourself on the weekends, but the more you consume the more tense and locked up your nerves get. This creates the perfect condition for panic. This was my hardest thing to give up :/
Try sipping on chamomile or chicory root tea. I make a huge batch each week and keep it in the fridge.
HYDRATE! Most people don't realize that they aren't getting enough water. This causes a whole slew of issues for them. One being anxiety and panic.
Having a set schedule for a while always helps me. You know what to expect and when to expect it.
Clean! When I started getting super anxious I started cleaning. I found it a nice physical distraction while my mind would normally be running. When your environment is clean, your mind wants to be clean. My roommate was also the biggest pig I've ever seen. Crack houses were cleaner than her environment... So again, no wonder she was so dang anxious! It then made me anxious. Also, from an energetic point of view-- dirty and cluttered environments attract negative energy which then attaches to you. Fight that energy and get rid of it!
One final piece that helps me--when I remember-- is a visualization technique. I imagine two tigers on my shoulders (or whatever animal you want). I picture a black tiger on my left shoulder and a white one on my right. When I worry and start to be anxious and feel panic I am "feeding" the black tiger. I try to tell myself to stop and to feed the white one with positive, happy, optimistic, and realistic thoughts. I want a strong white panther to protect me and give me confidence when I need it. To fight off any potential threat, real or perceived, realistic, or irrational. Its symbolic of an angel and a devil. It sounds silly but it helps me..
Therapy can help soooo much. It definitely did with me. I wish you the best of luck with this. Just remember, with hard work it wont always be like this. It takes lots of effort and faith in yourself, and maybe a higher power if that suits you. I have faith in you. I am sending positive energy and prayers your way. Please take care, and remember to BREATHE :)