Stress/Anxiety Disorders

[Pink_Converse]

Has anyone ever been able to effectively control these issues without medication? If so, how?

[miel]

Yoga is an amazing thing for stress and anxiety. Also, hypnotherapy can help some. Vitamins and diet can also help. But yoga has been proven to be effective for stress and anxiety disorders.

[miel]

I should say there are a ton of things you can do that don't involve medication but I don't know them all.

Is there a special reason you don't want medication?

[Linz]

Have you talked to a counselor? I went to my doctor once and told her I was feeling anxious and she automatically put my on social anxiety medication :rolleyes: I felt worse on the medication. I am not on it anymore and have found going to counseling has really helped me.

I also meditate a lot.

[TracieB]

I talk aloud when I'm feeling anxious. Sometimes saying it makes me feel better, for one reason or another. Also, I focus on breathing. I usually do 10 breaths in and out very slowly, which helps calm me. Diet and exercise is a part of it, as well, but talking about it helps me the most.

eta: I had one anxiety attack a little over a year ago, and have been able to manage it medication free. Sometimes I think I'm having one, but am able to tell myself that I'm fine, it'll be okay, etc. and the feeling goes away.

[Pink_Converse]

In the past I have done talk therapy with a counselor for anxiety and depression but I was also on medication which eventually I weaned off of and I stopped seeing the counselor because I felt better and felt I dealt with the things causing the depression. I am just a worrier by nature and a fairly new mother (my son is 14 mo. old) so I think the anxiety is coming back because of that. New responsibilities, life changes, etc. I just feel worry and anxiety that I can't explain. I can't pinpoint it. I have a very hard time explaining my feelings. It's so bad it's coming out in figetting and facial twitching (embarrassing and weird, I know). I saw a psyciatrist yesterday and we just did not click (he was pretty awful, he said inapporiate things about sex and was unprofessional and like 100 years old) and I don't want to go back. He put me on Cymbalta and Klonopin sp? and I don't know why this did not dawn on me while I was in his office, I think I was just nervous and didn't get to talk about everything I wanted to, but I would like to TTC in 3 or 4 months and I don't want to be on meds, have to wean myself off before I TTC, etc. so I would like to find more natural ways of dealing with it. I am not against medication in general though. I just need to find a way to cope with this. I know I could see someone else but I don't really want to go to counseling and I don't really have time for it. They just bring up things from my childhood and past that I am okay with now and tired of talking about. I want to deal with the here and now. If I can't deal with this on my own though I will seek professional help and will not add to the stress by having another child right now. As stressful as having children is I also love being a mother and want to complete our family. I just thought maybe you all could think of some things that have helped you all cope. Please don't judge me for wanting to have another child even though this could be causing the stress. There are always going to be stressers in my life and I need to learn to be a big girl cope with them. Thanks everyone :)

[Pink_Converse]

Forgot to say-Yoga is a good idea. I have just started walking in the mornings, maybe I will add a Pilates or Yoga video in while DS naps. I am definately willing to try it. I have also enrolled DS in Mother's Day Out once a week (starting in Aug.) so that should help to give me time to do more fun stuff that is just for me. I will have to fight the urge to just stay home and clean though ;) Hopefully those things will help some.

[miel]

One thing I meant to tell you is that I have been taking some vitamins and I believe they truly help. I take this vitamin called levity.

Levity website (http://www.geneva-health.com/)

I took them by accident. I was looking for something that did not have iodine because I have an illness where I was told to avoid extra iodine and these were on sale. I noticed I was feeling better but I didn't realize it might be the vitamins (it just seemed weird to me they would actually work the way the box said because these are just normal vitamins). When I ran out, I noticed I felt worse and then I got more and started to notice a difference in how I felt. I also take essential fatty acids--fish oil and flax seed oil.

I hope you feel better soon! Don't be embarrassed or feel bad about it. It's not like everyone in the world is so terribly understanding of these things but I truly believe it is a problem caused by brain imbalances and not a person's fault when you have issues like these. I agree that talking about your childhood might not be the right thing for you but there is cognitive behavioral therapy where you could try to learn techniques for calming yourself and learn what triggers the onset of your anxiety. This would not be about your childhood or big issues but more about your current life and could be short term.

I have also read that writing when you are anxious about the things that worry you can be an effective technique to deal with anxiety. You might have to try a few different things but it sounds like you are going to experiment and see what helps you feel better.

Medication helps some people but it's not a bad idea to try to stay off medication if you can--sometimes people get stuck on medication.

[diam124]

I struggle with anxiety - generally OCD but also generalized anxiety (and some mild depression as a result). I've never taken meds and I'm not planning on taking them unless I feel the need after having kids (I'm currently trying to get anxiety under control before TTCing). I was resistant to seeing a therapist for a long time, but I finally realized that I needed a professional to help me. I've been seeing someone for 6 months now (once a week). It does help to get it out and a professional might be able to give you insight on your condition.

We do relaxation (including hypnosis) as well as talk therapy and some cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD.

I think exercise can help - I also do Pilates once a week.

[Pink_Converse]

Thank you both for understanding!

diam-I feel like the twitching (I hate that word) thing is an OCD behavoir. It's like I do it voluntarily and I feel like I have to do it to get relief. It's very strange. I know I'm about to do it, I get a panicky feeling, I do it and I feel better. It's not very noticable to most people. I mentioned it to my best friend and she said she only noticed it once a while back and my husband never noticed it until I brought it up. He said he noticed I was doing it less lately. I'm too embarrassed and don't wanna know if anyone else notices it. Denial is great j/k! Does your therapist specialize in OCD?

[diam124]

The twitching definitely sounds like it can be related to OCD. It is a compulsion if it makes you feel better once you do it (and helps lessen the anxiety). Same goes for Trichotillomania (pulling out your hair). I do that as well sometimes when I'm really stressed and most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it. Although I don't consciously do it to seek relief. Thankfully I have a lot of hair and have never had a problem with thinning hair! I think Tourette's is also called an OCD-spectrum disorder.

I know how embarassing these things can be. It's very very difficult for me to talk to my DH and family about it because once it comes out of my mouth I realize how irrational my obsessions are, but that knowledge doesn't really help lessen them.

My therapist does not specialize in OCD (I actually couldn't find one in the area that focuses on it and accepts my insurance), but she does specialize in anxiety disorders in general. It's a lot of trial and error to find out what works for you. If you would like to find someone who specializes in OCD. The OC Foundation has a referral directory on their website.

[j*east]

I have a long history of anxiety and depression, and I'm not a big fan of the meds I've tried (for myself). I've done ~4 years of therapy, and still see a therapist on and off, but I've gotten to the point where I know my issues, I know what causes me pain/anxiety, and talking about it more isn't helping much more.

Exercise and yoga have helped me a lot. I also take fish, borage, and omega-3 oil supplements, which are supposed to help, though I haven't noticed a huge difference. Lately I am doing acupuncture and myofascial release (basically deep massage to release tense parts of the body--you can find a lot if you google it). Those are helping a lot.

[Pink_Converse]

Thanks j. I didn't pick up those meds and thank God I didn't. I found out I am pregnant with a surprise baby so I will definately be dealing with my issues naturally. So far I am walking and feel pretty good. I still plan to add yoga or pilates. I think that exercise actually will help a lot.

[miel]

Wow, congrats Pink Converse!

They have prenatal yoga. If you get a teacher who is kind of holistic they will teach you breathing exercises. Those can be an incredible help!

Also, if you get hypnotherapy tapes or find a hypnotherapist you can use it when you are in labor!

Even though many meds are not extremely harmful it is obviously WAY better to take no medication whatsoever when you are pregnant.

[Pink_Converse]

Thanks miel! It was unplanned and I was pretty surprised although I guess I shouldn't have been, I know where babies come from ;), but it will be okay. Our family will be complete now.

We actually have one of those Yoga Rasa studios right down the street from me. I may call and see what they have. It's surprising we have one in my stupid town but we do.

[miel]

Yay for a surprise baby! Maybe try a beginner's class? Yoga is a good thing for pregnancy. They probably have prenatal yoga too.