What is the best treatment, natural remedy or therapy for GAD/anxiety & panic disorder? HELP

jcs1987 · ‎23-02-2017

I have suffered from GAD and panic disorder on an off for about 6 years now. I recently in the last 3 years have been really good! Even adventurous some might say, which for me is miraculous. It just sort of eased up and i was able to test myself and succeed. With things like: going overseas, going on hikes, learned to drive, got license, lost weight, went to concerts and other things i wouldn't normally do. All of t his was great until recently i have begun hiding again, doubting my self, creating issues from situations in which didn't bother me before and worst of all now having panic attacks while driving which is really saddening and disappointing. And i hate myself for it. Like all of you, i do not want this in my life and i want to be normal (im angry at myself). I do NOT want to take meds, i have been through cognitive therapy and i try and meditate once a day to help, I stopped drinking caffeine and stopped smoking cigarettes, I eat better, I use the rescue remedy drops like water and i do generally have a positive outlook on life. So i don't know what else to do. Can you please give me your BEST fixers for anxiety/panic attacks before i stop driving all together and lose my wings forever? Do you have any natural remedies, ideas or what has helped you take control. Perhaps experience in hypnotherapy? Thank you. 🙂

Phil_in_Syd · ‎10-04-2017

Hi Jcs 1987

I went through severe panic attacks with agoraphobia since about xmas 2015. The initial panic attack incident was frightening to the point whereI thought I was having a heart attack and was going to die. Through my stubbornness I avoided "chemical" help and instead tried alternative therapies such as acupuncture, natural remedies and physical exercise.

Of course the problem was that my nervous system had become so screwed up due to years of chronic stress (family, work, finances etc), that my body simply was not able to relax sufficiently to be able to benefit form the natural therapies. The severe panic attacks/anxiety became an ongoing and at times severe agoraphobia.

Life was HELL! I would not wish this disease on an enemy. It is so debilitating and so difficult for others to understand because it is a mental (rather than physical) illness. I felt so angry with myself, to the point where I (an adult male) would cry in desperation for it to go away. An of course I just grew so tired of it.

It was an incident a few months later that made me finally turn to my GP who prescribed me medication for a couple of weeks just to relax my body and mind some. I then went to see a psychiatrist who put me on antidepressants (for anxiety/panic attacks).

After some experimentation over about 3-4 months with the AD meds I finally started to find relief. However I warn you this is a process (not an event). It takes a few months for marked real improvement to be noticeable.

My own personal suggestion is that if you suffer from severe anxiety, panic, agoraphobia etc, go with the meds. They will help you to get back to "normal enough" so that you can benefit from other natural therapies, including meditation and changing your outlook on life.

I personally have found that the AD meds have helped to keep me more "chilled out". Whereas previously I would get annoyed and upset by things, with the help of the meds I have a more relaxed response which I prefer. So in a way the AD meds, whilst not a silver bullet, they will definitely take the edge off and allow you to work on aspects of your life and your self that will improve you over the long term.