I need something over the counter for BAD anxiety.?
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Keep in mind that no doctor has EVER cured anxiety or depression with ANY drug. The cure must come from within. Here are the keys to unlocking the door: http://www.feelinggood.com/
This good doctor has CURED more folks with anxiety, panic disorder, depression... you name it, with a simple thought control process that you can learn in just a few weeks. It works!!
Maybe you could get some kind of herbal supplements to help.
Years ago I tried St. John's Wort--it didn't do diddly.
If you find anything --let me know too---I'm anxiety ridden too!
Peace.
Natrol 5-htp
Go to a health food store. They have stress and anxiety relief vitamins that really work
Skip walmart. Nothing there. Find a health food store or an herbalist. Believe it or not, herbs can really help. I've also been experimenting with aromatherapy (or my rendition of it.) They say lavender is supposed to calm you, but I don't like the smell. So, I went out and bought vanilla candles and when I'm freaking out, I light the candles, watch the flame, and try to clear my thoughts. I'd been on anti-anxiety meds and Ritalin (of all things) for years and just decided to stop. You may be feeling terribly anxious, but it's better than what those meds will do to you...Good Luck!!!
I've heard good things about a homeopathic one called Rescue Remedy. But if the anxiety is that bad...a prescription medication may be necessary to at least start trying other methods to help control the anxiety. When it is that intense, it can be hard to think straight, so relieving the anxiety to some extent can help get the ball rolling.
What did the dr give you?
One tip I can offer...
deep breathing
which I always thought was kind of silly and too simple sounding but then I was in an intensive therapy environment and they taught me a technique that actually helps. I didn't realize it's the exhale that gets the most attention. Inhale to the count of 6, hold for the count of 4 and then exhale to the count of 8.
There are actually biological reasons why this works. First and most obvious, every cell in our bodies depends on oxygen. When we get very anxious, we tend to breath more shallow and rapidly or even hold our breath. Controlled breathing oxygenates the body and also gives you something concrete to focus on other than the anxiety.
Second, something about it tricks your brain into getting the message that you are calm. (In the same way, smiling can improve your mood.at least to some extent.)
And what I found most interesting is that deep breathing may cause the diaphragm to stimulate something called the vagus nerve.
I don't know if you've ever heard of this new treatment for treatment-resistant depression, but it's called vagus nerve stimulation. It's actually an implant somewhat like a pacemaker that stimulates this nerve that transmits messages from the body to the brain (and to some degree from the brain to the body) ... it runs from from the brain to the diaphragm and stimulates areas of the brain involved in the production of neurotransmitters (which are involved in mood and cognition...I did an article review on it for my human bio class...I'm an undergrad psych student)
I'm not suggesting you need this rather extreme treatment to cure anxiety...just explaining what it does and why deep breathing can help... the article says "various types of paced breathing can also influence brain electrical activity" and goes on to say it may be because that nerve gets stimulated. (Personally, I found that fascinating.)
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