dealing with anxiety without medication

Hello @nikki16,
Welcome to Connect; we are so happy to have you!

There are so many wonderful members here, who have discussed anxiety and the many ways to deal with it; allow me to introduce you to @nojeanius, @jimhd, @rspaulling, @heatherf316, @quazar, @thinktherapy, @jay_baruch, @missyb57, @mamasitalucita, @twptrustrek, @djabber, @roxie43. I am confident they will have much advice to offer you.

You may also wish to join in on a recent discussion: "Do you use your anxiety in a productive fashion?"
http://mayocl.in/2gwQq5O
@nikki16, can you tell us a little more about the kind of anxiety you experience? What have you tried to not allow these feelings to interfere with your daily life?

Hello nikki16 - Great question - Many of us wish the same thing.
After some practice, I was able to reduce mine through concentrated
breathing.

Breathe slower... 1,2,3,4
and out... 5,6,7,8
works best for me!

If I can make it to the count of 4 as I breathe out, I'm stable.
- count of 8 doing great!

Something called Neuroplasticity & Psychoneuroimmunology can change the
way anxiety affects you?

Good Luck

My anxiety takes over my nights, I,m overwhelmed with thoughts & visions of almost my whole life, always thinking the worst & rarely any happy thoughts, but am mostly ok during the days.

Rarely is a start,
hold on to those happy feelings and thoughts
even to the point of writing them down.

Seems simple, but not always easy
especially at night? Repeat the Happy feelings
you can imagine - try writing them down and
use those to flush out the negative self-talk?

Good Luck, and "Happy" Dreams...

Cognitive behavior therapy. Every bad, anxkous thought, I deal with one at a time. I talk to myself and say, "That is silly or stupid, or what is the worst thing that can happen to me?

Dealing with anxiety on a daily basis can be exhausting work...the key is to never give up. I use box breathing, relaxation videos (on YouTube) and distraction activities such as crocheting, watching TV, and light housekeeping tasks. Good luck and I wish you well as you search for inner peace.

nikki16 some of the ways that I have dealt with anxiety was to be active by exercising, going for walks, or just changing my environment for a moment or as much time as I can. Talking with someone is helpful like you are doing on this sight. Anxiety itself can be caused by so many things that sometimes it pops in on you or sometimes it builds up. Everyone some time or another experiences anxiety. Either way I can understand why you do not want medication it could be so controlling and have an effect on your body. You could seek counseling and just say no medication such as counselors, social workers and psychologists. They do the counseling and do not subscribe medication. But either way keep well and keep in touch

Welcome to Connect, Sue.
Can you explain box breathing?

In 2017, I am trying meditation to help change my relationship with anxiety. It doesn't necessarily make the anxious thoughts go away, but it is slowly changing my relationship to them. I find I am more able to observe the anxious thought and not get caught up in it. That helps reduce the physiological reactions, which dampens the cycle of anxious thought => physical reaction => more anxious thoughts (and so on).

If you are interested in exploring this, I've found a book that might be helpful. It's called The Mindful Way Through Anxiety by Susan Orsillo and Lizabeth Roemer. Both have PhD's in Psychology so they are well-qualified to write on the subject. There is also a book on the Mindful Way Through Depression with different authors. I've read both and found both helpful. I second the comments of others about counseling. I've done that in the past too and it was helpful, but I like the idea of meditation because I enjoy it and it really seems to be working for me. (Your mileage may vary, of course).

Best wishes for a healthy happy 2017.

nikki16 night times and winter time as well can be for anyone depressing. I know how you feel about medications and being dependent on them or just how they make you feel. Have you thought about a counselor or support group to discuss any issues that you may have. It is always better to have someone or others to talk to in person as well as on this sight. It may help you with your anxiousness. What do you think?