Nothing helps my anxiety—I need alternatives to drugs or alcohol.

@69n420 have you tried deep diaphragmatic breathing?

I came across this video just a few hours ago and I am sharing it with you in the hope this exercise might help you.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVEPFr8kRlg/

I have anxiety but do not use any meds. My therapist prescribed a device called Alpha Stim. Its FDA approved however not covered by insurance, as it is not a drug. I’ve used this device since April 2025, and use daily, morning and at night. I bought it for anxiety but it can also help with depression and insomnia. It can only be purchased with a prescription.

I sure can relate! Anti-Anxiety pills don’t seem to be very effective for me! Tai Chi, trying to maintain a calm, home atmosphere help me, to an extent. However, when
one is told that they have a life-threatening ailment, like I was told, and actually went through a scary physical crisis, proving that, then the Tai Chi, and calming atmosphere disappeared, and panic and anxiety took their place! I am trying deep meditation, and concentrating on topics, other than my diagnosis! I refuse to let being scared and anxiety ridden all the time, take over my life! Helping others, challenging myself to overcome panic stricken anxiety, and exercise. such as Dalcroze Eurythmics, are helpful to me, as I pursue a reasonable, practical solution, to overcoming panicky, anxiety ‘attacks’! Wishing you will find a way forward, so that you can overcome anxiety too!

@malebreastcancer47 does the Alpha Stim work for you? Is it helping your anxiety and depression? Medications don’t seem to be helping me, even though they did in the past.

@foundryrat743 I had the same outcome and what once worked , did not the second time. this time around i have a routine i stick to and it brings some closure to my attacks and frequency. keep mymind busy but not so much that i start to get into a seizure mode. then its back off ,a little meditation and breathing exercises to calm the heart rate and kind of raise my feet to lessen the burden on my heart. eventually it comes together. hope something here helped. lastly a prayer and say hi to my angel if i need that extra support.

@kaliope Yes. I use it daily. It depends how over active my brain is. If I do not sleep well, I use the Stim in the morning. I can set the time for 20, 40 or 60 min.

@malebreastcancer47 did the brain stim work right away or take a while to work. Is it mostly for anxiety or also depression. I have both. I looked up the cost - well over $800. Some listed over $1000. Is that what you found? How does one go about getting it? Direct from BrainStim?

@kaliope I paid $850. I tried it first while meeting with my therapist.
I bought it for anxiety but it also works for depression and insomnia. I think it takes a few weeks of continuous use for depression. My therapist has patients on meds and Alpha Stim. I never used meds so the effectiveness took a day.

My therapist said it can only be purchased thru prescription however he won’t prescribe it without sessions. Only after few session could I get a prescription.

My therapist is located in Quincy, IL. Jerry Walker Therapy Services. I live in Munster, IN.

@malebreastcancer47 thank you for your prompt reply and for the information. I take it you do teletherapy appointments with your therapist? Sadly, I tried therapy, but it did not help me. Am trying medications, (Lexapro, Buspar, Remeron), but they are not helping either.

@kaliope Yes, I to teletherapy. Mayo recommended therapy since I self care and on few occasions, wanted to quit. I have therapy once a month, as long as I use the Alpha Stim. The idea is, eventually I will not need therapy.