Anxiety Attacks!! - Naperville,IL

There certainly ARE things you can do to decrease your anxiety attacks.

Do you drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks? Stop. Caffeine is awful for anxiety.

Get enough sleep.

Exercise.

Eat right.

Doing just those things will help your anxiety significantly, because they help improve your overall well-being.

If you're still having anxiety once you've made those changes, go talk to a doctor.

Hi Momma CT. Sorry to hear about your anxiety yet I'm glad that you are able to recognize how you are feeling. My daughter suffers from a lot of anxiety and has had panic attacks, so I can only suggest what we practice at home.

Try some warm green tea (chamomile) anything you like tea with honey (I feel that the ritual of getting the tea ready and sipping it is more effective for my daughter). I was told by a doctor that dairy products tend to trigger and affect our 'anxiety' hormones in the brain (so we limit that as much as possible). This doctor also gave us a supplement spray - 5Htp, but you may want to check with someone knowledgeable if this is right for you.

What we also do is practice re-framing: that is see the situation that is causing you to feel anxiety and find a positive twist. I had to practice a lot to get this one - especially when identifying 'small' issues (but they don't feel small at that moment) especially when we are outside and trying to calm the anxious one. I also sit with both of my kids and listen to calming & meditation recordings. You can find some on UTube or purchase meditation cds.

My daughter had to take medications but has been medication free for three years. Yes, we have our moments, but practicing our coping skills and the above has helped tremendously. The meditation and yoga helps me the most when I'm overwhelmed with my daughter's reactions.

Please talk to someone that loves you...just to talk (or a hug), hopefully that also will help you 'forget' the initial reason that caused you the anxiety. Remember, every moment we loose to worry, we don't get back. Try to find the positives to everything and smile as much as you can. I've learned through the years and the lost moments of my daughter's childhood (through her and feeling of helplessness) that we survive, we are strong and can get through it. It's just unfortunate we don't get that time back to make it happier memory.

Hi, there, so sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. Like many moms, I feel overwhelmed and stressed out, too. I've been able to do yoga about once a week, but sometimes even that is too much for my schedule. However, even doing some of the deep breathing that I've learned in yoga helps me to slow down, keep calm, and feel more secure. Those low, slow breaths can be wonderfully soothing. Sometimes even doing a few of the basic poses helps, too. Even taking a walk can help to clear your mind and calm you down. Best of luck with this-it's so great that you've taken the first step of recognizing your anxiety and working toward a solution.

Sometimes I have issues with this as well. I do suffer from mild depression and I take on teeny-tiny pill for that but most anxiety meds are addictive in the long run and will make the anxiety come on like gangbusters if you miss a dose or try to stop taking them. If you can avoid the Xanax, Ativan, and Valium of the world...please do so! Don't try the herbal remedies either as a lot of them can be toxic to the body or just plain don't work. Anxiety is a tricky thing and most of the time, knowing where it is stemming from and what has triggered it is half the battle of controlling it. I do recommend looking into some therapy sessions if you can manage that. There's a lot of great tools that a therapist can provide you with to help you manage your anxiety. Talking things out and venting are also forms of release so therapy will allow you to do that as well.

I can tell you that one thing I have learned to do for myself is acknowledge what I am feeling and I actually talk to myself inside my head to calm down and really put things into perspective. I am not some kind of maniac or weirdo because I do this....it's not even noticeable to others when I do it. I take long, deep breaths, close my eyes, and I affirm the fact that I don't like what I am feeling but that I am in control of everything I do and I can and will let the moment pass. I remind myself that stress and stupid things are really bad the moment they hit but that the feelings of anxiety will pass and be minimized each hour that goes by. It seriously helps me. I always know that whatever sets me off at 2:00 in the afternoon per say will be better by 5:00 in the evening and hopefully non-existent by the time I go to bed. i had to learn to do this from attending therapy for a few months until I could work things out on my own. I also embrace all things calm and soothing into my life. A nice massage or pedicure, a warm cup of Chamomile Tea, a piece of yummy chocolate, a great scented candle, and a nice long soak in the tub as well. I indulge myself with all this stuff as I like and I don't feel guilty about it at all. it's way better than popping pills 24/7 and it teaches me to use resources that are right at my own hands to help keep myself calm. I also avoid toxic people and horrifying personalities as much as possible. Those types need not apply.

Please feel better soon no matter what you need to do. Think about therapy and if your doctor feels that a prescription is needed to get you to a better place right now...consider it for a short time until you can get back on track. Hugs to you!!

I have done 2 things that I found helpful.

1. meditation - especially around mindfullness and thought control.

2. "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns. Now, this requires WORK and DEDICATION to determine WHY you are having anxiety and to correct the source of the issue and change your behavior and the way you think.

There is no quick fix for anxiety, however. You need to get to the source of what is causing it in order to change it without medication. Sometimes you can do that on your own (by working through a book, like I suggested above) or with a therapist.

I have heard that St John's Wort in tea can be a relaxer. That never worked for me, but others have sworn by it.

Have a good vacation.

No on likes taking medication.
If these natural things do not help, ask your husband or best friend to help you make an appointment and then drive you there. You and your children deserve to have a healthy you.

I am sending you strength.

The first thing to do is to try to minimize stressors and triggers. I have found acupuncture very helpful for anxiety. Other home-based remedies include drinking tea, chewing gum, an Epsom salt soak (bath or just feet), lavender essential oil, and drinking warm milk/taking calcium. I also have a microwaveable neck/shoulder (can use it elsewhere, too) wrap that I put on my neck/shoulders and also my stomach. If you're really not doing well, benadryl can help (but avoid taking it if you're nursing). Finally, doing something to distract yourself (read, watch TV, listen to music) can help, too. And yoga/stretching helps immensely! You can find yoga DVD's and streaming if you don't have time to catch a class. Hang in there. If it doesn't get better soon, a trip to your doctor may be in order. But you may want to try acupuncture and yoga, etc., first. (And having someone to talk to -- a spouse, friend or therapist, is a HUGE help, too!)

Hi. In addition to great advice below, the following book was recommended to me to help me work through my issues:

The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution by David Clark and Aaron Beck....

I would also make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Even sometimes if you feel stressed, and you pick up that glass of water, drinking that glass can help you in the moment put things in a new light.

Best of Luck.

i agree with the feeling towards meds, but if you are going through a stressful period, that may the best answer for you.
i have not dealt well with stress in the past, but with the help of the meds, i am a joy to be around now.

Exercise is the most helpful usually...the more vigorous and tiring the better as it offers a release for your anxiety. Writing in journals also helps as does eating cleanly. Deep breathing, meditation... If none of this works, you may have to try the meds though. Good luck!