According to a Mayo Clinic study, smokers are 16 times more likely to develop Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Cleveland Clinic reported that people who consume more than one cup of coffee per day are over 3 times more likely to develop GAD. I have been battling anxiety in one form or another for four years, but never did anything about it. For the first year I didn't even know what I was feeling had a name. When you worry all the time and can't calm down you first kinda assume that nothing is wrong, people worry no biggie right? Well as the years progressed I got better, then worse, then better and so on and so forth. About seven months ago I lost my grandmother and my anxiety went through the roof, like I'd never experienced, it was and still is insane - hell I feel insane sometimes. I worried about everything, literally. I worried that my worry was causing things to come true, like my anxiety had an influence over human will or luck. I worried that if I yelled at someone in traffic then somehow that act would directly lead to something bad happening. Real anxiety can do this, make you think the cosmic soup of unseen phenomena and forces is impacted by your thoughts and actions like you are a part of the chemistry that makes up human will and karma. It's a huge desparate need to control the uncontrollabe, therefore curing the worry. Well, like I said, seven months ago I kinda lost it and took a long hard look at myself and what I was doing to my brain. I smoked at least a pack a day and drank at least two pots of coffee in the morning alone! I got very little sleep and was in terrible physical shape. Anxiety makes it extremely difficult to use common sense. So I quit smoking and started working out. My anxiety is still very high, but according to the Mayo Clinic study, smokers who quit can experience increased anxiety for up to a year after quitting, which really sucks but I did that to my self, no argument there. Things are going terrible for a lot of people I know right now, and I still find myself blaming myself, but I have the common sense now to realize that things just happen man. Which is a good first step in overcoming the worry that comes with GAD. But working out also helps too. I workout everyday and it usually calms the anxiety for hours, if not the rest of the day.
A few notes on remedies:
St. Johns Wort has severe side effects and anyone thinking about taking it really needs to read up on it and speak with a doctor. Women taking it can experience increased menstral bleeding and disruption of the cycle. Also, while never completely proven, it has been suggested that St. Johns Wort can interfere with oral contraceptives. Most important however, is that in many people St. Johns Wort can INCREASE anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
SAM-e is another remedy that can be taken. Usually taken to deal with depression, studies suggest SAM-e can help with GAD. Side effects should be researched carefully by anyone considering taking SAM-e. SAM-e is produced naturally in the body, so irresponsibly taking supplements or paying little attention to directions for dosage can produce severe side effects and problems. SAM-e has been known to increase anxiety in some users.
Passion Flower Extract, is just as strong a remedy to anxiety and restlessness as Clonezapam, Xanax, Paxil, and Prozac. I've tried passion flower extract but the side effects were too severe for me, which include altered state of consciousness, loss of inhibition, and compete lack of discretion. Basically I could see how this stuff would make someone do something horrible that they'd never even contemplate before. I, for example the first time taking it, felt like I could ride my motorcycle on snow-packed roads to go to work. But these are side effects and not everybody will experience them. Anyone considering passion flower should half-dose in their home in the company of another person.
Overall anxiety is a disease and overcoming it is a process. Like most any disease it is usually brought on by how we treat our bodies and minds. I agree with the quote from the Infield thread, treat yourself right. Why even bother trying to overcome anxiety if you're treating yourself poorly? That's like trying to overcome a hangover by partying some more. It requires a great deal of discipline and will to want to beat it back, it's not something that you can just throw a prescription at and go on about your day like you have the common cold. It needs to be battled on all fronts and over the course of months to years. Best of luck to anyone who is suffering and I hope we all overcome it in our due time.
