What do you do to make it better?

[Graham]

Does ditching Caffeine actually do much?

Helps you sleep better and a good sleep helps.

Not helpful if you have a racing heart too. Although for some it probably doesn't matter.

[Albion]

You do not sound as though you are sensitive to caffeine, because if that were me I would be going until 4am, and probably on this forum.

Caffeine makes me fall into a deeper sleep, I suppose it's the effects of it wearing off.

Do your anxieties relate to past experiences? I ask the question because your troubles sound psychological rather than neurological, in which case they could possibly be fixed with cognitive behavioural therapy.

I was very confident as a kid but bullied through most of high school and lost my confidence. It's true what they say about kids being mean.
I've never bothered to do anything about it, just lived with it as best I could.

There is an additional possibility, which is that you are putting yourself in the wrong environment. I wasted time doing this at university, when I should have followed my gut instinct, and stuck with my yoga teachers; my yoga contemporaries are now teaching teachers while I am still trying to teach beginners.

I'm not sure, I suppose I avoid difficult situations but I don't think that'll change any time soon.

I was literally too cool for school, and it was foolish of me to get sucked into studying useless humanities subjects, as one of Anthony Blair's 'fillers'.

I see. I ended up on one of those and it was only in my last year of college that I found out what I really wanted to do. It was a waste of time, I suppose college helped to keep unemployment figures down for the government back then.

It might be that you are doing what is expected of you rather than what you would be best at doing, thus your anxiety.

My anxiety is social, I really hate communicating with people I don't know. Even with people I have known for a few weeks it takes months until I'm fully comfortable around them.

[Albion]

Walks in the countryside, exercise or red wine in moderation.

Also found gardening to be good as of late.

I do that too (don't drink much wine though). It's funny that you mention gardening, I found that very relaxing too. There's not much to do in the garden at the moment though.

Helps you sleep better and a good sleep helps.

Not helpful if you have a racing heart too. Although for some it probably doesn't matter.

I don't notice much difference in heart rate after having coffee. It's interesting to see you observed that as well, that it helps you sleep.

[Stefan]

- Pacing

- Tapping; a pen usually.

- Isolating myself, somehow.

- Deeply involve in a special interest. This is usually reading about a topic I like, or playing with some problems that are a challenge. This helps me by distracting me mostly.

- Developing an organized step-by-step process to accomplish whichever task, or remove whichever object/person is causing the anxiety.

[Vasconcelos]

- Deeply involve in a special interest. This is usually reading about a topic I like, or playing with some problems that are a challenge. This helps me by distracting me mostly.

I do this very often aswell.

[Kazimiera]

I always thought the caffeine thing was a load of bull. Until one day I had a series of hectic panic attacks, one after the other. I'm on a lot of medication for other things too (Bipolar Mood Disorder) and amongst others I had some benzodiapines prescribed as well. Any way, I reached over and popped a Valium. And I wondered where this all came from.

Usually my anxiety attacks are related to something or other but I couldn't pinpoint this one. Until my husband pointed out that I'd just finished an energy drink in two gulps.

So caffeine is bad, and as people drink coffee everyday, it can increase anxiety.

I then decided to stop drinking coffee and caffeinated drinks for a week, just to try it out. Voila! No anxiety! Or at least less.

My anxiety became so bad that I had it from the morning when I stood up until the time I went to bed. I found stuff to obsess about every day. If I had a day of non-obsession I wondered what was wrong with me. I did this for two years, every day. I was exhausted in the morning when I got up from all the anxiety from the day before.

I then had a depressive Bipolar episode loaded with tons of anxiety too. I told the doctor how I felt and he tried me on an antidepressant. With Bipolar antidepressants can be quite risky, it might get you out of the depression but also them swing you skywards into a mania. He tried out a special one which has minimal risk for 'switching' from one mood to another. And I can honestly say that I have no more panic attacks, no more low grand anxiety which takes it out of you.

I suffered for 2 years. Probably even longer. The medication saved me ass. but I have also had to change my life around a little.

I think the best for someone would be to start off with some breathing techniques and visualisations.

Going to a doctor will get you prescription drugs, which are really there to put a lid on the pot. But underneath the anxiety is boiling. And the reason is what needs to be addressed.

Some people respond well to medication but it is also not for everyone. There are so many ways one can go about taking care of oneself. And they are really so simple that they may have passed you by completely.

I will try to find out more treatment modalities.

And I ask you all, if you hear of something new and would like to post it, please do.

We all have so much to learn from each other! I'd like to keep this group as active as possible because I believe that other people here with experience are able to help others too.

Please don't be shy to post things which you have come across which would be of interest to others here!

[Grumpy Cat]

I don't really do anything but tough it out. Cry if I'm alone.

Having a bad day today.

My doctor won't give me benzos. He'll give me zyprexa, which I refuse to take.

[Sikeliot]

Exercise and eating. I gave up cigarettes just under a year ago.

[Grumpy Cat]

I have been very anxious lately. Tips would help.

I never have anxiety attacks, just lingering anxiety. It sucks.

[Loki]

What do you find that works for you? What makes it go away and makes you feel better?

I don't personally suffer from anxiety, but I've heard from people that camomile tea is a little miracle indeed. That and yoga will change your life.

and lots of sex of course