Natural/Alternative Anxiety Treatments?

[Alcyone]

Hi everyone, I am new here and was curious if anyone has had any luck with using any natural treatments for anxiety and overcoming it without the use of drugs?  Maybe Accupuncture/herbal supplements, etc?  Can you even "overcome" it, or is this something you need constant treatment for?

My Dr diagnosed me with anxiety disorder and has referred me to a psychologist I havent had a chance to see yet - he prescribed Lorazepam in the meantime, but the problem is I have very very high anxiety when it comes to taking medications.  So in short, I  am staring at this pill that will (maybe) help my anxiety and having too much anxiety/panic to even take it. I am nearly in tears because I cant bring myself to even take half of the stupid pill.   I am like this with all medicine, even after my gallbladder removal surgery I didnt take any of the pain pills given me.

So I need to try and meet with the psychologist (which is just difficult because I have too much anxiety to drive, and I work full time so I take public transit which makes my days longer) but in the meantime I was hoping anyone had any insight to more natural ways to help with this?  Does anyone else have the crazy medicine anxiety or is that just me?

Thank you for any insights you can provide

[Squeemy]

My doctor prescribed me lexapro which I took for a week then experienced worse anxiety as I didn't like the thought of being on something that was ultimately altering the chemicals in my brain. I went back to him & he suggested doubling my dose  . I knew then & there that medication was not going to work with me so yes I looked for alternate methods.

1. Working out-  daily if you have to. It assists trembling & just makes you feel more positive over time
2.  Pilates/ meditation - this may not work during server panic/ anxiety but if done during a state where you are calmer it can help lessen anxiety returning
3. Illiminate the negative in your life - people, job anything that your not happy with. I had to find some new supports as I realised I was around mentally draining people. I went back to change my career path to something I felt was more me and it helped.
4. Change your diet. so important!!!  The foods these days are so chemically manufactured it impacts out health. Limit refined sugar intake & minimise coffee/ caffine. Our bodies are not designed to process artificial chemicals & I have noticed big changes in anxiety since eating more natural less tampered with foods.
5. Spoil yourself - go get a massage or your nails done or anything that helps you feel good.
6. I found drinking fresh mineral water assists - not sure why but after drinking just a glass a day I feel so much calmer. I'm assuming its the minerals & my brain likes them   

These are just some of the drastic & not so drastic natural measures I took that worked for me & at one stage I had severe anxiety which lasted months. i know medication helps some people which can be good for them but medication has & will only be a last resort or a non option for me.

Let me know how you go  I will post any other natural techniques I discover in my search for maintaining inner calm.

[Hijita]

I'm also uncomfortable with medication. I've been using the below to help manage.

1 - Exercise 20-30 minutes a day. I've been doing Leslie Sansone's Walk and Kick, Walk Away the Pounds 1 Mile and 2 Mile, and Turbo Jam's 20 Minute Workout.
2 - Chamomile tea twice a day. Once in the morning before work, and about 12 hours later after work.
3 - Diet. I've completely cut out caffeine, refined sugars/starches, and I limit dairy and sodium.
4 - Aromatherapy. A few drops of lavender oil in a warm bath helps me unwind. A couple drops on my wrists when I need some support at work.
5 - Instead of Lorazepam, I use Valerian Root Drops under my tongue when it gets really bad. It helps with palpitations and anxiety among other things.
6 - Journaling. Keeping track of when the anxiety hits helps me understand my triggers and then I can figure out how to solve them.
7 - Therapy. Gaining perspective from an outside source can help.

I've also heard meditation and CBT can help, but I don't have any first hand experience with either.

[howahkan]

I can't take medications. Benzos do help, but they are so expensive and they run the risk of dependency which is a no no for me coming from a family riddled with drug and alcohol addicts. SSRI's make me suicidal every single time I take them. I employ a number of coping skills and strategies, but I have started taking this natural supplement which has been helping quite a bit.

Here is a link to the one I am taking-
http://www.newtonlabs.net/NervousnessAnxiety/productinfo/N070/

Here is a link to another one I am going to order-
http://www.newtonlabs.net/Panic-Button/productinfo/N217/

[tinam7]

Wonderful suggestions. I also prefer just about anything to taking pills, though I do take supplements, but nothing special.

It takes time and effort and patience and dedication to go holistic. It can be an interesting trip to find what works best for you. I enjoyed learning about CBT, about yoga, qigong, and meditation. Also walk every day, 2 miles, about 30-40 minutes. Meditate twice a day without fail. Actually look forward to it: my undisturbed time to tell myself the positives missing in much of my life. Wishing you the best, it can be done. Others have posted that simply accepting anxiety as a reality, not fighting it, but following with suggestions re coping is the way to go. Many people have posted wonderful posts. Wish they were all in one place for reference. Anyway, good luck.

[Cheesus]

I can't really take SSRIs. I had a single sertraline once and it really messed me up. It felt like I was coming up off a really 0103 pill, if anyone knows what that's like.

Regarding natural treatments: I have just started taking Ashwagandha and I think it is working fairly well (though it might be a bit early to say and there are other things going on for me at the moment). I have also heard of a supplement called SAM-e that is meant to be highly effective, but I have not got personal experience with it.

[WellSeeker11]

I  read that increasing your vitamin D intake can help.

[Eljay]

Doing endurance sports is an important factor and eating clean: fruit, veggies, fish, legumes, turkey etc but avoid processed foods. It might not cure you anxiety but help.