Anxiety. Help. | ADHD Information

Do you guys get anxiety? How do you cope?

I am full of anxiety right now as I am trying to finish up a project and I have had so many ADHD problems all the way through that have caused me to let the ball drop in several areas while I have been trying to find methods, supplements and/or meds to help me.  I can feel the frustration of people around me and I'm getting that "look" - you know the one. It feels like it's the "is she for real?" look.

Also, if that hasn't been enough, I have had a couple of interpersonal issues going on too. There is a very unstable secretary at work who has been making me her target lately. Her gossip has been getting back to me, and these things send me sky high and distract me like crazy and have a total grip on me.

My dr. suggested trying yoga or meditation. (sigh) I swear, I am beyond that. I asked for a Xanax prescription again yesterday, so maybe that will help.

I hate feeling this way (hitting the roof and then having to try to pull myself together). I want to feel serene and confident.

Anyone have any helpful suggestions?


I find David Burns' books help me with anxiety.
If anxiety is the main problem, I suggest his book
"The Feeling Good Handbook", though the other books
would do too.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids also help with anxiety.
And calcium.

Talking things over with a friend. Taking a break.
Going for a walk; getting exercise.

Writing things down. Setting priorities. Making decisions,
and then deciding not to worry about the things you've
decided you don't have time for because you have higher priorities.

I say "I decided ... " It helps me feel better, and I
accept the positive and negative results of the decision,
including risk.

Those are the things I use.

I've tryed Xanex for anxiety, and that helped, but be VERY careful, b/c what they don't tell you is that it is so addicting, that if you miss a pill, you start to feel like your going through withdraw. I went through it! It took days to feel like I could even go outside of my house!

Klonipin is less addictive, but you can build up a tolorance to it with in ....say 5 mos. I go back ond forth from Klonipin to Ativan. I have very bad anxiety, and nobody in my family seems to understand, so they tell me " you can't feel comfortable all the time" No I guess you can't, but don't I have the right to feel non-stressed sometimes? I wake up feeling stressed.

GOOD LUCK W/the Xanex!But there are other things out there.

Surviving anxiety attacks is definately a learnt thing.  The first time I had them, I nearly went insane, but now I just sort of detach.  I acknowledge that this chemical thing is happening to me, I take expectations off myself, only do my 'have tos' and often take a blanket out onto the grass and have a nap in the sun.

Praying also helps me, asking God to take control of my life, while I let it go for a while seems to make me relax a little.  But you have to have faith for this to work!

Lots and Lots of fresh vege and fruit juice also is a good help.

I have had tons of anxiety this week, My new meds, adderal, has not kicked in yet and I am with nothing. I teach school, and I do not want to go back to the way I was before meds. The kids think it is great because many of them are ADHD too.

Praying does help calm, but right now I cannot seem to stay focused more then 10 minutes at a time. 

I am just hanging in there for the meds to work.

I took a hot bath last night, I worked great and helped me sleep.

For me the best way to beat anxiety and the anger that builds up in me is to do something aggressive. I took a karate class for awhile, was on a rugby team in college, now I inhereted my fathers old punching bag. It is great when I'm really stressed or about to explode I go out into the garage turn on some music, put on the gloves and just beat the hell out of that thing. It gets out a lot of stress and saves me from attacking my family or friends when I'm in a bad mood. Plus it's really good exercise. It won't help while your at work but you can unload at the end of the day so the stress doesn't just keep building day after day.

Hi bluebird,

I think that a steady practice of meditation or yoga is very helpful (especially over time). But I know that is no help when you are sitting in traffic or in a mall and you feel like screaming and running. I find the best thing to do in a mall is to actually start screaming and running.  

Actually, what helps me is to change my environment if possible. The best is to get outdoors if I can. Even if it is just to get out of the office and walk around the parking lot while breathing deeply. I find that doing anything very physical is a huge help (walking, running, raking leaves, etc.). The more strenuous the better.

Anything that changes the setting or the mood seems to help. If I can get moving on something that takes me out of my self and thoughts for awhile it helps greatly (like working in the yard or walking around outside).