Generalized Anxiety Disorder non-medication remedies?

I was diagnosed with GAD almost one year ago. Since then my therapist (whom I've only seen off and on) has encouraged me to make some changes in my life: limiting caffeine intake, quiting smoking, increasing my daily exercise routine, making "to do" lists, yoga, etc.

Unfortunately, I still feel very anxious although I have included the above activities and changes in my daily life. My therapist referred me to a doctor who prescribed Cymbalta. I experienced many side effects with this drug. I have also tried Paxil & effexor, but still experience side effects that are very unpleasant. I really do not know what is worse: being on anti-depressants or feeling anxious.

I have always been one who researches to find a non-med or herbal alternative to illness, but I cannot seem to find anything of this nature that has worked so far.

Please help; I'm desperate to find a solution to this problem.

My theory on Anxiety is that we who have this disorder chose to have it. I've experienced this for many years and at the beginning I had NO idea what it was or how to stop it. I started listening to my subconscious thoughts and realized that I was extremely negative to myself. I then wrote down all the negative thoughts that I had RACING through my mind and decided to work on the one that was causing the most pain inside myself. That thought was " I'm crazy". Anxiety, I think tends to make people feel this way because of the racing thoughts. So, when this thought went through my mind, I replaced it w/ " I love myself". This worked and that thought started to dissipate. This can work w/ anyone. You never want to try to work against the negative thoughts you are having, instead work w/ them. After you think the negative thought, just tell yourself you love yourself. So, try this w/ your anxiety and see if it works. Also, on OPRAH, they had a show on " THE SECRET". Get this book or get the video. I would recommend the video. It's wonderful!!! Good Luck and I hope this helps you. I have never been on meds and I am happy w/ out them. You can do it too. Always believe and think about the positive things you want in life, rather than what you don't want!!!!

GAD ?

Exercise helps

i have the same problem as you do, but i was diagnosed with it 5 years ago. I didn't want to take the medication either and i told my therapist that i didn't. she said the one thing that we forget to do is breath. whenever you start to feel anxious, just breath deeply. after about 2 or 3 minutes of breathing the anxious feeling should go away and you can go on with your day.

Find a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders (ask a psychiatrist or call your health provider and make sure to ask for one that specializes in anxiety disorders) and start doing cognitive behavioral therapy with him or her. That's the standard therapy for someone with GAD, and, although you can do it without medications, they do help while you're learning the CBT techniques. A medication I would recommend would be Zoloft, which, at least I have found, has few side effects and works reasonably well (no medication will work 100%).