Tried all techniques for managing anxiety, nothing’s worked

[Traceyintassie]

Hi this my first post. I’ve tried all managing techniques listed for coping with my anxiety. I’m just getting worse. I was on meds for 16 years. I’ve been having neuro feedback with my psychologist. I think I’ve had 10 or more sessions so far. This hasn’t helped either so far. I’m out of options.

[LesDave]

when you say you've worked through all of the therapies, can you please list them so we don't waste your time suggesting the same thing.

Have you tried ACT - acceptance and commitment therapy? If so, are you doing it correctly and have you had someone help you work through it. It is hard, and it requires a few months of concerted effort, but it worked for me.

[Here_I_am]

Hi Traceyintassie,

I just want to start by saying that this sounds like a very unsatisfying position to find oneself in. I don't imagine it's a very pleasant feeling at all to have the sense that nothing is working or helping in spite all your efforts.

One thing that was really helpful for me earlier in my journey when things were pretty desperate that continues to be of value is to realign what my expectation was. For example, when I first started a mindfulness meditation activity via an app on my phone, I had the hope that I would do this at 3:00am when my anxiety would jolt me awake, and that this would then lead to a good five or six hours of freedom from my anxiety. I would do a mindfulness meditation at work before the day got started hoping it would keep me going until knock off time. What I soon realised was a mindfulness meditation would make me feel at peace for a minute or two whilst going through an episode of anxiety. So nowadays, I am much more aware of the need to practice it regularly.

I also thought if I did everything right (exercise, food, go to counselling, take my meds, etc), then I would return to 'normal' in no time. What I have come to realise is that doing all the right things helps me manage my anxiety for the most part. That's where I am at right now, and I live in the hope things will continue to improve and become more effective.

Looking for the things that will stop or remove the unpleasant aspects of our struggles is perhaps an unrealistic expectation. Instead, I have found much more peace in understanding that their is much available to me that will provide short, sharp, controllable relief from anxiety - I just have to take five minutes to do a mindfulness activity. I just have to set aside a few hours to exercise. I just have to eat good food that doesn't mess with my mood (junk in, junk out). Doing all these things means my anxiety is now a manageable aspect of my day to day living.

Perhaps realigning our expectations of interventions can assist us with recognising their effectiveness and role in our recovery/management?