by Jade Mccombs

Created on: February 16, 2010

Anxiety. The feelings that come along with this word make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Anxiety has ruined what could of been wonderful times in my life. I am sure if you are reading this, it has probably ruined some of yours too.

Anxiety = fear. It is that worry or concern for what is, what will be, nervousness etc. A panic attack is when everything hits you at once and you feel like if you don't get away quick you will die or something terrible will happen. Believe it or not, these ackward feelings are all normal and are called the fight or flight response. What is unfortunate is that there is many people who have these attacks at all the wrong times and cause us to freak out when we really know nothing is wrong. The big question is "How do I make them stop?"

For some, the answer is simple. Take a few prescribed drugs from the doctor and put an end to the misery. Then there are some of us who would rather not jump onto the pharmaceutical bandwagon so soon. If you are having panic attacks, I think it is a great idea to tell your doctor, and if possible, see a psychiatrist and a psychologist. They will both be able to help you get back on your feet with identifying what kind of fears you have and why and also give you medicine if requried. There are so many people who refuse to see a doctor because they are afraid of being judged, but I can tell you that is not their job and really all they want is to give you the best mental health care possible.

Afraid of taking medications? Well to be quite frank, you may not even need them. There are many people who through therapy can stop the attacks, so don't assume you will be all "doped" up. If you are like me, you might try different remedies only to find that medicating is the answer. Like most people with anxiety and panic disorders, I have a serotonin disfunction. Basically when I don't medicate, my brain releases more than what is needed, and I become anxious for no reason at all and will at some point peak into a panic attack.  I take Zoloft at a low dose, just enough to keep the proverbial "door" cracked so I get enough serotonin but not an overload. I feel totally myself just minus the attacks.

Finding a medicine that works for you can be a real pain, but if you really need to be on some type of drug, ask your doctor to try out the less "harsh" ones first. IE: Zoloft over Effexor XR. You will find the right one for you and by all means, do not take yourself off your meds! Always have your doctor ween you off, it is dangerous to do otherwize!

If you really are not into taking perscribed medications, try herbs! I highly recomend St. Johns Wort which you can by at your local pharmacy or herbal store. It comes in capsule form and you take it 1 to 2 times daily. Go here to check this out: http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item00351/St -Johns-Wort-Extract.html  As always, check with your doctor to make sure this is a safe route to take first! Also, if you are going to go the herbal way, perhaps if you can in your spare time, find some relaxing hobbies to do. I find that if you journal, paint, jog etc, it tends to help ease all the racing thoughts and really calms your nerves. For other relaxing tips and tricks you can go to use google, and just type in "anxiety relaxation" or "anxiety help". You should find a wealth of information!

Remember, anxiety is just your natural defenses, you are able to stop it! Good Luck !

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