I already suffer from GAD, but the last few days I’ve been on the edge of a panic attack and I just can not freaking relax. No insurance, and broke for prescriptions or even OTC meds; so wondering if there’s some kind of fruit/veggie or tea that might help a little bit. I hate this god damn feeling.
You must log in or register to comment.
I’m not sure about this myself. I too suffer anxiety. I use medical marijuana, which helps. I think depression is the bigger factor for me. The breathing techniques can help in the moment. Just big deep breathes if nothing else. It may only help momentarily; I don’t know what else lasts longer. Good luck to you!
Diet has a huge impact on the brain and mood.
There is lots of research coming out on the metabolic brain connection, basically try a well formulated ketogenic diet for a few weeks and see if you feel better, keep a daily mood journal!. Many, many, many people do, especially around anxiety symptoms. See the metabolic mind organization for the current research results.
One warning if your taking medication: changing your metabolism can make medicine much stronger then anticipated, so work with your doctor to modify prescriptions as needed.
If you’re broke, pretty much all of the usual external aids are out unless you already have them
Valerian nd kava have pretty potent anti anxiety effects. Pretty much the most potent ones, and the most reliable plant based stuff since even with the usual variances, you won’t have zero effect, nor too heavy.
So that kinda leaves you with non chemical options (just because they’re plant based don’t mean they ain’t drugs, ya dig).
Breathing exercises are the front line defense, even if you aren’t in practice, so you start there. Doesn’t even matter what kind, because there’s a chain of control. Control your breathing, control your heart rate and brain patterns. Control those, you control the stress chemicals being released, and that’s where the panic attack part really lives
It isn’t instant, but it works.
The problem is starting them. What I found helped a good bit when I could, was the opposite. Start out doing anything that spikes respiration and pulse. Sit ups, pushups, jumping jacks, whatever you can tolerate physically. Just crank out enough to spike your breathing and pulse a little. It serves multiple purposes, but the key to it is breaking the cycle of the attack. Usually, once you get that spike, you’ll be able to engage breath control easier than if you try starting that first.
Beyond that, you gotta find things to ground yourself in the real world instead of your head. Again the what doesn’t matter much, but I tend to find practical, hands on stuff works well enough. Like, sharpening knives grounds me (it’s my thing, what can I say). If there’s something that normally centers you and lets you kinda hit flow state, that’s the thing to try.
Shit, even something that’s mostly bad for anxiety can work if the ritual of it is calming enough. Like the process of making tea can help despite the caffeine sucking for anxiety.
None of it is easy without a breakthrough option though, and I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass and pretend otherwise. So if you do already have valerian, or an antihistamine, lead with that, but follow up with breathing exercises anyway!
You gotta use a multifaceted approach.
- Mindfulness or loving kindness meditation.
- daily walks outside.
- Breathing exercises.
- reduce caffeine, bring in herbal teas with an actual mindful ceremony kinda thing (being present while making it).
- picking up creative hobbies to do
Not food & stuff but maybe try to unsub from communites that make you feel bad for a while. Like politics and news (and you can join back later when feeling better)
Before I got meds my go to when I woke up from panic attacks and couldn’t calm down was putting on an episode of ARIA: The Animation. It’s super chill.
Exercise and shower
As others have said, light exercise is okay at pushing the feeling down. Anecdotally, a change in scenery also helps me when I get that way. Go for a walk somewhere you haven’t been before and see what’s there.
Also the 54321 rule seems to help ground me if I feel myself start to spiral.
- Name 5 things you can see
- Then 4 things you can touch
- Then 3 things you can hear
- Then 2 things you can smell
- Finally 1 thing you can taste
The 54321 exercise (or a variation of it, anyway) has gotten me through so much stuff. I recommend it all the time.
The version I was taught had me think of 5 things I can see, 5 things I can hear, 5 things I can feel, then the same with 4, 3 etc., skipping smell (which I can’t do) and taste!
Body weight exercise routines are free and the equipment is cheap and require little home area. It’s one of the only things that helps me in high pressure days. And prayer.
Squats and push ups for immediate relief.
Exercise, sunshine for vitamin D and pet some kitties for sure
Calming herbs: lavender, lemon balm, lime (linden) tree But any herbal infusion is probably better than coffee (and often cheaper). Chamomille, green tea, fennel for example you might find in a shop, they are not necessarily indicated as anti-anxiety, but still better than coffee.
From my own experience, quiet indoor activities that involve sitting are not so great for anxiety. Moving, talking walks, being outdoors, especially in nature, work wonders. What grows in your area? Maybe the anti-anxiety medication is right there (happy to help with identifying the plants you find).
There are some good ideas here, exercise and good nutrition among them.
You seem nice. You’re funny most of the time.
Lemmy isn’t a bad habit, but you might get a lot more out of interacting with real people.
You can do it. Get out.When I’m stressed out my potassium levels sink. Low potassium then affects my heart rate and this makes my anxiety go through the roof. If you feel like there’s a possibility that you have nutrient issues: bananas, nuts and so on can help.
For tea you may look into calming stuff like lavender (helps you calm down and sleep) or passion flower (is said to be a good remedy against anxiety) l. Try to take your time brewing and drinking it.
Warmth also helps to relax. If you have one and it’s not too warm around you, you can use a hot water bottle.
Maybe a warm bath or gentle shower? Not too hot as I find steam makes it harder to breathe. As for a tea, I’ve only ever tried chamomile and the sleepy time tea. Not really sure if they worked.
box brearhing
mindfulness meditation first thing in the morning dont reaxh for your phone, meditate for 15 to 30 mins instead
Kava root.
