A lengthy search for anxiety relief- seeking advice

[SAL27]

Hello! I'm wondering if anyone has advice about anxiety medication or treatment. I have tried many different methods, and I am still looking.

It started when I was eight years old and has been an intensively difficult and enduring part of my life since then, for the past eighteen years. I'm 26 now, but I feel like I'm 80. I have seen six different therapists over the years; psychologists, analysts, CBT therapists, trauma specialists etc. I got the C-PTSD diagnosis last year and recently OCD. I tried anti-depressants (Citalopram) for a couple of years and the side affects were horrible (feeling dead inside, constantly exhausted and ruining my sex life!). I've tried homeopathy for a year and it has barely made any difference; my homeopath tells me that in 20 years of treating anxiety she has never met someone so difficult to treat. I've tried all kinds of daily supplements; omega 3, probiotics, vitamin b complex, l-theanine and lemon balm, protein powder. I live off Emergency Essence. I've tried eating all the anti-anxiety food, avoiding the bad ones. I've tried acupuncture; yoga; jogging; mindfulness; breathing. I've mostly been trying to do it naturally, but none of this works for me. Sadly, the only thing that helps me is alcohol, and this has inevitably lead to an unhealthy dependance.

The other day I had a nerve-wracking event to attend (an award ceremony). Because of my anxiety this meant a fun occasion was fraught with misery for me- before, during and after. After acupuncture the day before, a run that day, a high protein lunch, various homeopathic remedies, it wasn't until six alcoholic drinks later that my heart stopped pounding and my hands stopped shaking. Upon reflection, I can't go on using alcohol to control my fear, and the natural options simply aren't working for me. My anxiety is profound, and I need something potent to take away the pain.

Can anybody recommend me some medication that might help me live without being plagued with terror, but without taking away other pleasures in life?

Thank you for reading xx

[Dee]

I like Visteral.  I am sensitive to medications and it doesn't make me feel bad, weird, tired.  It is a mild anti-anxiety.  Take it when your anxiety is up and it brings you to normal.  Take it when normal and it brings you down.  It is as needed so I control when I do or do not take it.

[sanmagic7]

i will use a half tab of xanax or klonopin when my brain is spinning out of control.   either makes me feel more relaxed, like i'm giving my brain a break.  neither gives me adverse side effects.  i do a lot of vitamins, also, and i believe they help keep my system more stable, but every so often i need a bit of chemical help.  i'm a recovering addict/alcoholic, but i've been taking the same dose for over 20 yrs. and have never been tempted to get 'high' off either one.  they are definitely for medicinal purposes only.

just my experience.  it may be different for you, and i'm not advocating any chemicals for anyone.  best to you with this.  that alcohol intake does seem a bit excessive, and i think it speaks highly of you to be concerned about it.  big hug.

[Donna]

Hello,
I am new here but I read your distressing note about anxiety relief so I thought I would share what has helped me.  I am so sorry for your distressing journey towards healing.  I know that can be frustrating.  Anxiety was my middle name for decades if you know what I mean.  I am not one for medications & would react to them anyway so thankfully I found neurofeedback!  You can find all kinds of good information about the neurofeedback to calm down your firing brain on youtube & in books.  Seburn Fisher & Bessel van der Kolk are two names I am familiar w/.  It's a brain thing & no matter how much psychotherapy you have or supplements you take ( I take a lot) the brain needs retraining.  Gaba (a supplement) does calm one down but it's not like the neurofeedback treatments.  It looks like you have suffered from & suffer from developmental trauma which is somewhat different from CPTSD.  A good book on that is Neurofeedback Treatment for Developmental Trauma by Sebern Fisher.  You can read a lot of it when you go to Amazon & check out the Look Inside feature.  My anxiety level definitely decreased after several treatments & I am doing much better as I continue w/ the brain training.  Blessings to you.