me...for a long time.Tell me what your doctor says.

I've struggled with it, too. Mightily.

Sorry I can't help, but wish you the best at the doctor's when you go.

Sue

I have a relative who does and she was able to join a support group through her insurance, which has done a world of good. She has learned great coping skills, which you can too. You'd be truly surprised to know how many people suffer from this but keep silent about it. I hope you can get some relief because it's exhausting!

Yes, will let you know what he says.

I've had anxiety since I was a teenager. It got worse these last few years and in Feb I was not doing well. My doctor gave me lexapro. Because I'm med sensitive and honestly I fought taking meds for years... well she let me take just 5 mgs. Most take 10mgs. The 5 mgs has helped me so much. I had no side affects, just felt calmer and my mind isnt thinking, thinking all the time. ADs really do help alot of folks. Hope you feel better soon

jillianrose

I've been on 10 mgs of Lexapro for years and I'm a completely different person. It's a GREAT med with very few, if any, side effects. I tried Wellbutrin but it made me angry. I'm pretty sensitive to medicine and that's why I was switched to Lexapro. I don't know how I lived like I did before them. :)

Blessings,
Haley

I have suffered from anxiety for 30+ years. I've been to many doctors who kept presribing meds and whose side effects were worse than the anxiety. I do not do well on meds, so was looking for a natural approach. I tried accupuncture with some success, BUT it wasn't until I started biofeedback that I finally was able to get my anxiety under control. I was referred by my doctor and at first was a skeptic, but I can't begin to tell you how much it has changed my life. I am no longer crippled by anxiety or panic. Along with the anxiety that I suffered with, I also experienced alot of physical problems, which I now know were brought on by anxiety. I no longer suffer from those either.

I am now able to immediately shut down anxiety with the many techniques that I have been taught. So far it works 100% of the time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I am finally in control of me :)

Yep, I do. I learned to curb an attack on my own if I feel one coming on. Usually just removing myself from the situation, or using deep breathing techniques helps me. For me, I'm most prone to getting anxiety attacks in a car, and sometimes I can't get out of that situation when you're on the freeway. I can usually tell right away when it's starting to happen, because strangely enough, my lips start to kind of tingle, or other parts of my face. Luckily, it's pretty rare anymore.

All doctors ever wanted to do was give me drugs, which I was unwilling to do for occasional anxiety attacks.

I had a lot of problems with anxiety in my forties. (I'm now in my sixties.) I experienced panic attacks, and was afraid I'd become agoraphobic like one of my relatives. It affected my physical health in a number of ways. And I became afraid to drive, especially at higher speeds, and that bothered me /hugely/ because I've always been a car person and loved driving.

I remember my doctor opening a drawer and offering me my choice of Xanax, Halcion, or Prozac. I turned them all down, and thank goodness for that.

I got over the driving fear by forcing myself to drive the way I used to. I think I was able to achieve this because I was so angry and disgusted with the situation.

As for the rest, what really helped me was learning to breathe properly (diaphragmatic breathing) and then applying this to biofeedback and meditation. I never became the best meditator in the world, but with the help of CDs--relaxation and meditation--I could calm my nervous system and get out of the anxious state. Just lying down for 15 minutes with headphones on, breathing deeply, made a huge difference. It even helped my fibromyalgia pain.

For the past two years I've been having breathing problems, and I really miss being able to do this. I've had all sorts of tests, and the doctors can't figure out what's causing it. I used to say that learning how to breathe was one of the best things I ever did for myself.

Susan

See: www.anxietyhelp.org

Read the standards by Claire Weekes, an MD who also suffered from GAD. One is "Hope and Help for Your Nerves".

I wouldn't see a GP for help or meds. See a *psychiatrist* -- who may also refer you to a therapist. Self-diagnosed "Anxiety" can cover a lot of territory and can be caused by deeper problems, like PTSD and depression. It may have a chemical basis or not. (It can also be a side-effect of thyroid problems.)

I agree with Chisue about the thyroid problems.

Both Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism can cause anxiety. I've always had some mild anxiety issues... but while at my most hypothyroid state I had severe anxiety and panic. Like Susan I was afraid I might become agoraphobic. Switching to a different thyroid medication made the anxiety go away.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thyroid and anxiety

I agree with Chisue and Lydia. I forgot to mention in my post that I was tested for various things including thyroid issue, but all came up negative. I'd ask your doc to do a complete blood work up before sending you to a therapist or putting you on anxiety meds.

My best friend complained of anxiety, fatigue and depression for almost 2 years, but her docs kept telling her that it was peri-menopause and put her on different anxiety meds. She felt worse, so she demanded a blood test and it showed she had hypothyroidism. Her number was extremely high. She has done a complete turnaround since being on thyroid meds.

Not saying this is your problem, but a blood test will at least rule it out.

Good luck!

Keep in mind too, that if you have thyroid tests you may want to ask for thyroid antibody testing as well. Many people (like me) will have high antibodies, but the rest of the thyroid labs look normal.

I am also very meds sensitive. I have fibromyalgia and have the personality that many who suffer this have. I doubt it's my thyroid. I think it's genetics. Genetics has been kind to me because no one in my extended family was even slightly overweight. All were reed thin..on both sides. Too bad that the mental genetics weren't so kind.. Depression in paternal side, anxiety in the maternal one. Cousin and I think our aunt might have been schizophrenic..Bad genes.

I've had it for most of my life. I'm 35.

2 years ago it got much worse. For a while I could barely function. I shook constantly, had the numbness/tingliness in my face, and had panic attacks for no reason at all.

After trying many different meds, I finally found relief with cymbalta. It is for depression (which I don't have), but it has almost completely taken away my symtpoms.

I still have spells once a month when my hormones rise and/or fall.

Anxiety has been my middle name the past two years. If it's not one thing, it's another to worry about. I never had this problem before; I always could "handle" things. It's the constant worry about my kids that I just can't let go.

Whenever I hear someone mention a GP I have to laugh. GPs are basically non-existent now. A GP was someone who graduated from med school but did not do a residency to get any further training in a specialty. Today your family doc may be a family practice physician or an internal medicine specialist who can correctly be referred to as your primary care physician but is definitely not a GP. Your doctor today would be board certified in family practice or internal medicine.

Well, I went to see the doctor today about my anxiety, he gave me a Rx called Cipralex to try. He told me that anxiety is genetic, both my brother and sister suffer from it and also my daughter.

So, will give this a try, hope it helps me

Oh dear, am I showing my age? Did anyone here misunderstand that I thought anxiety would be best treated by a psychiatrist instead of her family doctor?

IMO far too many psychiatric meds are being prescribed by doctors who have no training in the field. We don't need to reinvent "The Valley of the Dolls" when women suffering from 'nerves' were prescribed Valium for Life.

Seeing a psychiatrist doesn't mean you'll become a Woody Allen type, seeing your shrink three times a week forever! LOL You can ask for an evaluation and see someone briefly to see if or how meds work for you.

My internist is experienced (and board certified), but he doesn't do surgery -- or psychiatry! He'd prescribe something like Xanax or Ativan to try to stem the anxiety until I could get an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Hale Bopp mentioned Lexapro and how well it works for her -- the Cipralex that the doctor gave you is another name for the same medication. Let's hope that kicks in soon and helps you just as much.

I took a workshop about managing anxiety and learned a lot, but practice makes perfect and I haven't been practicing very much. Thanks for the bringing up the subject, as it reminds me to review my notes.