anxiety12345
01-11-2015, 07:19 PM
Hi
I am a 27 year old man.
I started having anxiety (panic attacks) from beginning of high school (around age 14). I had anxiety and panic attacks during class, specially before presentations (social phobia symptoms).
My family doctor prescribed to me Effexor XR 35 (70mg for sometime) at the age of 17. I was on it for some time and I saw some results (less symptoms), but I decided to not take medication because of side effects and addiction to it. I tried Cognitive Behavioral therapy. It was useful to some extend, specially to see others like me. But I didn't see any promising result.
When I stopped taking Effexor XR, and due to many stressful presentations I gradually developed panic disorder (or I guess GAD). Sometime I panic (get minor or sometimes major panic attack) from random events. Events such as, when the phone rings or when a car pulled to my lane. Whatever that is tiny bit stressful causes me a lot of anxiety and an adrenaline rush.
I know that none of these anxieties are rational but I cant stop them. I cant stop my automatic thoughts and the attacks.
My family doctor and a psychologist give me breathing instructions which I use. I tried various natural medications such as Valerian, GABA, St. John Wort (currently taking), Passionflower, green tea, maca roots, and haven't been able to significantly reduce the anxiety attacks or get raid of it (I try to test one medication at a time to measure its effectiveness). I have also changed my diet, sleep more, workout and eat smaller portions of food. I take multivitamin which has B, Zinc, Magnesium and C vitamin. I have cut down on caffeine and sugary stuff too.
I have also tried acupuncture with not much result.
I did EEG and other tests on my heart, almost all was good. I found out I have a 1mm mitral valve syndrome. The doctor said its nothing serious and prescribed me beta blockers. I have read the solution to hearth palpitation caused by mitral valve syndrome is the same as reducing anxiety (less sugar and caffeine and breathing exercises).
Now whenever I have a presentation I have to take a Lorazepam / betablocker or drink before the presentation. But this only solves my presentation problem which gives me stress from a week in advance.
My bigger dilemma is now the everyday anxiety. I have recently found out about the Autonomic Nervous system and how it is divided into sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Maybe I have to find a systematic way of replenishing my parasympathetic nervous system or calm down my sympathetic nervous system..? I wish there was some natural medication that I could take for that to bring my body to a stable stage. This whole anxiety issue, not only its painful but it always make me stressed out, tired and a bit depressed, since I have had for the past 14 years and cant get raid of it.
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you,
I am a 27 year old man.
I started having anxiety (panic attacks) from beginning of high school (around age 14). I had anxiety and panic attacks during class, specially before presentations (social phobia symptoms).
My family doctor prescribed to me Effexor XR 35 (70mg for sometime) at the age of 17. I was on it for some time and I saw some results (less symptoms), but I decided to not take medication because of side effects and addiction to it. I tried Cognitive Behavioral therapy. It was useful to some extend, specially to see others like me. But I didn't see any promising result.
When I stopped taking Effexor XR, and due to many stressful presentations I gradually developed panic disorder (or I guess GAD). Sometime I panic (get minor or sometimes major panic attack) from random events. Events such as, when the phone rings or when a car pulled to my lane. Whatever that is tiny bit stressful causes me a lot of anxiety and an adrenaline rush.
I know that none of these anxieties are rational but I cant stop them. I cant stop my automatic thoughts and the attacks.
My family doctor and a psychologist give me breathing instructions which I use. I tried various natural medications such as Valerian, GABA, St. John Wort (currently taking), Passionflower, green tea, maca roots, and haven't been able to significantly reduce the anxiety attacks or get raid of it (I try to test one medication at a time to measure its effectiveness). I have also changed my diet, sleep more, workout and eat smaller portions of food. I take multivitamin which has B, Zinc, Magnesium and C vitamin. I have cut down on caffeine and sugary stuff too.
I have also tried acupuncture with not much result.
I did EEG and other tests on my heart, almost all was good. I found out I have a 1mm mitral valve syndrome. The doctor said its nothing serious and prescribed me beta blockers. I have read the solution to hearth palpitation caused by mitral valve syndrome is the same as reducing anxiety (less sugar and caffeine and breathing exercises).
Now whenever I have a presentation I have to take a Lorazepam / betablocker or drink before the presentation. But this only solves my presentation problem which gives me stress from a week in advance.
My bigger dilemma is now the everyday anxiety. I have recently found out about the Autonomic Nervous system and how it is divided into sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Maybe I have to find a systematic way of replenishing my parasympathetic nervous system or calm down my sympathetic nervous system..? I wish there was some natural medication that I could take for that to bring my body to a stable stage. This whole anxiety issue, not only its painful but it always make me stressed out, tired and a bit depressed, since I have had for the past 14 years and cant get raid of it.
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you,