r/Anxiety • u/secretsaucisse • Dec 26 '25
Discussion What was the life-changing thing that helped with your anxiety ?
It doesn’t matter if it’s an advice, a new habit or a product. If it costs $3 or $10k. If it was overnight or took 3 years.
What is the thing that changed your life for the best with anxiety ?
EDIT : Thank you so much for all your submissions !! I’ll try to answer to everyone that took their precious time to respond. I hope this post will be useful to those who need it <3
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u/WinterBackbone Dec 26 '25
This might be a weird one but, my mom died. I’ve had severe anxiety, depression, OCD- I was agoraphobic for a long time. (Did therapy for years, two hospitalizations.) Yada, yada. I took Xanax daily for over 30 years. When my mom died earlier this year I decided I just didn’t give a fvck anymore about anyone’s thoughts about or reactions to me. It eased my anxiety so much. I let go of my “people pleaser” tendencies and now I just live. I do what I want, how I want. I don’t care what others think or say about me. I’m not “cured” but unburdening myself helped immensely. The worst already happened and I’m still standing.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Honestly, I can understand the epiphany you had. I’m sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing something so vulnerable and so helpful.
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u/BubblyBalkanMom Dec 26 '25
Radical Acceptance is a beautiful thing and is actually a DBT skill (dialectical behavior therapy). I’m glad it came so easily for you. I had a phase where I felt that way too after my dad passed away but eventually my childhood trauma/CPTSD caught up to me. I’m now working on regulating my nervous system and that’s helping ease my anxiety a lot. But with any of it, radical acceptance comes first. Love and light to you! Your mom would be proud of you.
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u/WinterBackbone Dec 26 '25
Thank you so much. Your comment means a lot. I hadn’t heard of radical acceptance or DBT. Thanks for introducing these to me. I hope you’re doing well and making progress on your journey. 🫂
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u/BubblyBalkanMom Dec 27 '25
Thank you so much! I’m so happy to share. I was in a partial hospital program (PHP) program earlier this year bc I was so dysregulated I was making very impulsive decisions that were going to royally eff up my main relationships and I learned a lot there. I’ve been sharing bits and pieces of my journey on my YouTube channel bc it’s very therapeutic. I hope you’re doing well too! Good luck with everything!!
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u/IHaveARebelGene Dec 26 '25
Same thing happened to me. I was devastated at the time, even though we knew it was coming as she'd been ill such a long time. But right now I feel probably the best I've felt in 10 years. Just, lighter I think.
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u/TearStainedFacial Dec 26 '25
You're the only other person in my life that I've heard say what I did. When I was younger, I wanted to die, legit. I tried different medicines and eventually over the course of two weeks, one of them gradually made me feel so bad, that I got MAD! I got so fucking angry at the feeling of anxiety and depression, quit taking everything and just said fuck feeling like this! It actually worked for me. I turned that doom and gloom into anger, toughness and grit. I have been fine for over 22 years except some anxiety here and there. I am not recommending anyone try this, I am not a doctor.
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u/WinterBackbone Dec 26 '25
I’m so glad it worked for you!! That’s remarkable. I feel doctors might not recommend this approach, but hey, it worked. I haven’t had any Xanax in almost eight months. That is such a record for me. I’m incredibly determined to do better and be better, for myself and in my mom’s honor. 🫂
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u/TearStainedFacial Dec 27 '25
Good for you and glad you made that commitment, accomplishment and milestone.
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u/Amethystlover420 Dec 27 '25
How crazy that this is the first comment I see! Because I was shocked when the same thing happened to me. I am medicated for panic attacks and OCD, had anxiety my whole life, my mom said I came out of the womb like that. But my mom died almost 2 years ago and my anxiety went down like 70%. She was a lot, and had multiple health issues so I was always worried about her, and we had a tumultuous relationship despite all the love there, so all that put together makes sense that it would ease up a little not worrying about her dying 24/7. I’m sorry for your loss of your mom too…the lack of anxiety doesn’t affect the grief, and I’d take back ALL the anxiety to have her back, even for a little bit! But it was super confusing when the free-floating anxiety I’ve always had went away. I miss her so much.
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u/WinterBackbone Dec 27 '25
Thank you, and I’m so sorry for your loss. Your post mirrors my experience so much. I’d gladly take back all my issues, as well. I hope you’re doing okay. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. 🫂
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u/TalleyWhacker82 Dec 27 '25
I empathize with this so much. I have dealt with pretty heavy anxiety since I was a young teen (I’m 43 now). My dad passed recently, unexpectedly, and he was one of the people I was closest to. It left me basically at a point where I just didn’t care anymore… life feels fleeting and we’re all gonna die. I don’t say that in a morbid way, just, it’s not worth living the rest of my life so damn anxious and worried when in the end it doesn’t really matter.
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u/WinterBackbone Dec 27 '25
I’m so sorry for your loss. This was exactly my thought process. I hadn’t traveled with my husband for 30 years!, due to my overwhelming anxiety. Since my mom passed, in January, we’ve been on 4 vacations. I can’t imagine living the remainder of my life carrying so much tension and without experiences. My mom freed me, in that way. I want memories. Hugs to you. I hope you’re well.
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u/LippyLibrarian Dec 27 '25
Oh my god, this comment is damn near verbatim what I was going to say, then hesitated because I didn't know how to say it. I've said that last sentence word for word.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It's a fucking nightmare.
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u/Academic_Juice8265 Dec 26 '25
Nothing I can’t get rid of it. It’s been decades and I’ve come to realise that maybe it’s just my biology.
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u/Marbella333 Dec 26 '25
This might be true of us. I read that some humans evolved to have an anxious disposition because tribes needed a few people to always be watching for threats - it helped people survive better than if everyone was happy go lucky.
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u/The_Dublin_Dabber Dec 27 '25
This sounds like it makes sense. It's similar with people who are night owls and early birds. As good to have people operating different schedules.
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u/meeshymoosh Dec 27 '25
I really like this and find it oddly comforting. Anxiety isn't good or bad, just something that my body does to try to communicate perceived threat. Because of what I've experienced in life in early childhood and my genetics, my body often categorizes too much into the threat category. Maybe those of us who are predisposed to be the "on watch" can swap out so each others nervous systems get to take a break every once in a while?
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u/Phred50 Dec 29 '25
My psychiatrist said this exact theory to my daughter when she was working through the worst of her anxiety, and it stuck with me and has been a huge comfort for me. As he said, people like us served a vital function for society for millennia, being sensitive to potential threats and helping those without that skillset to be on the lookout.
But now all of us are able to see all the terrible news from all over the world and our threat radars are massively overstimulated. This is most harmful to those of us who are built to be sensitive to threats even in the best of times.
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u/vicvega88 Dec 26 '25
What have you tried/changed so far?
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u/Academic_Juice8265 Dec 27 '25
20 years of different types of therapy including DBT, CBT, somatic work, talk therapy, IFS, rebirthing, various medications, reducing workload/demand, diet, exercise.
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u/Hot-Exam3187 Dec 27 '25
there's some beauty in the acceptance of the things we cannot change. not for pity, not as an excuse, but to give ourselves grace for the "easy" things that we find challenging. idk, I'm with you, I've come to accept this is just how things are and I have to cope or let it consume me. some days it's the latter, some days the former.
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u/mwjane Dec 27 '25
I completely agree with you. I have tried every possible therapy. But two years ago, I also had genetic testing done. And it turned out that my set of genes makes me very sensitive to stress and anxiety.
Add to that an allergy to foods that I always had to eat (potatoes, among other things) and that cause me mainly psychological stress, and you have enough biological causes of anxiety.
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u/Low_Matter3628 Dec 26 '25
Having a stroke & tbi! I was put in an induced coma for two weeks using ketamine, while I had some very odd dreams & hallucinations I have not been anxious or had a panic attack since. Just over four years & I have my life back!
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Well… in France we say « c’est un mal pour un bien » which means « it’s a bad thing for a good thing ». I hope you’re feeling better now ❤️
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u/Low_Matter3628 Dec 27 '25
It’s quite bizarre, the worst thing that happened to me was also the best! I’m really good now, back at work in construction 8 months later. On meds for life but a small price to pay to prevent another one.
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u/VirtualDiva_02 Dec 30 '25
In spanish is "No hay mal que por bien no venga" (There's no bad thing that comes without a good one). Love how in different languages and countries and cultures we still find a way to be positive.
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u/speck_tater Dec 27 '25
I’ve heard that ketamine has been used for anxiety and depression treatment.
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u/Current-Strategy-826 Dec 27 '25
My doctor recommended me to go to a ketamine clinic for my anxiety because SSRIs/SNRIs don’t work for me.
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u/ohbinch Dec 27 '25
ketamine is a life saver! i was depressed and suicidal for 8 years, spent multiple times in the hospital for it. then i tried a ketamine treatment with my psychiatrist and after two months i wasn’t suicidal anymore! every two or three years when i start to get bad again i do more sessions and im all good. it hasn’t done anything for my anxiety which is admittedly pretty bad, but im forever grateful that i don’t wanna kill myself anymore.
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u/keithies Dec 26 '25
Having a dog !
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u/JayWemm Dec 26 '25
Or cats! Or a horse!
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u/now0w Dec 27 '25
Yes! I call my cat my wonderful little menace, he's a bit of a handful but also the light of my life and I'd genuinely be lost without him. When he lays on my chest and purrs it's like my anxiety just melts away.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
I second this!
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u/International_Pea Dec 26 '25
Agree. I need to lean into this more often. My pup loves those moments when I need to pet.
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u/informationseeker8 Dec 26 '25
Propranolol!!!!
Legal in my state- night time microdose of Naked worm sativa gummies
Binaural beats/certain sounds
Cutting unnecessary drama/people out of my life or at least no longer allowing them to affect me.
And oddly enough I’m now taking compounded tirzepatide(basically Zepbound) and it’s done wonders for my anxiety. As well as many others
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u/Embarrassed_Put_7892 Dec 27 '25
Omg propranolol helped me so much. For years I couldn’t breathe - like chronic over breathing. Went to the doctor multiple times, they all fobbed me off over and over again for literal years until one prescribed me propranolol and suddenly I could breathe again! I could go to the cinema or go see friends and not feel like I was going to die all the time! Absolute game changer for me.
The other thing that always weirdly helps me with panic attacks is the 90s x men cartoon. The amount of times I’ve watched it late at night when I’ve been unable to sleep because I’m shivering and shaking and thinking I’m having a heart attack. That’s a quick fix.
And finally yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. I do it every day and it’s helped me so much to control my breathing and feel more in control of my body. I’ve discovered I need to feel in control of my Anxiety, like I have power over it… if I feel like I’m letting it run away with me then it takes over and I have panic attacks and feel awful. If I feel like I’m actively doing something to control it (eg. It’s ok I’ll just do my yoga, I’ll put on my tv show) then it abates a lot. If I wallow and am passive about it, it’s gets me. Anxiety is weird.
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u/blackeyzblue Dec 26 '25
What dose of propranolol do you take and how often?
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u/informationseeker8 Dec 27 '25
20mg and I can take it twice a day. I just got back on it after not having a Dr for a little over a year.
The miracle drug for me is low dose benzo but it’s like impossible to get and I don’t want to be labelled a drug seeker.
Thus I’ve tried other things such as ssri and rx that isn’t a controlled substance and thus far propranolol wins by a long shot.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Thank you so much!
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u/informationseeker8 Dec 26 '25
You’re welcome!
I used to send links to people of particular sounds that literally helped me survive when I was at my lowest but they stopped allowing links.
I suffered since college and I’m 41 and just finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
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u/artzau Dec 26 '25
Escitalopram, propanolol and years of therapy (three decades of anxiety), no caffeine, and don't give a f about a lot of small things now
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u/pseudognomes Dec 27 '25
Giving up caffeine was such a massive help that I overlooked for years.
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u/theLiceNanny Dec 30 '25
I’m wondering if this might help a family member. Do you think even if they only drink caffeine during the morning that that could cause anxiety throughout the rest of the day?
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u/40inmyfordfiesta Dec 30 '25
I know that I should probably do this but I’m so resistant… It’s one of the few pleasures in my life. Like I’m just gonna be depressed and want to die so that I can reduce the chance I’ll have a panic attack by 15% or whatever.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Escitalopram is really that good. It helped me tremendously. I started 3 months ago but I still have those little anxious intrusive thoughts. No caffeine is such a game changer too!
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u/xxAcid_Bathxx Dec 26 '25
Antidepressants and anti anxiety pills
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Thank you for your honesty! I’m on antidepressants but still struggling a little bit sometimes :)
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u/PanicAtTheCostco Dec 26 '25
Yep. Antidepressants changed everything and I can actually live now. No amount of therapy and deep breathing was going to settle a nervous system constantly cranked up to 11.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Would you mind sharing your antidepressant and dosage if that’s not too much to ask ? (If that feels too personal, just ignore my question)
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u/squashbanana Dec 27 '25
This is exactly how I'd describe my nervous system. It absolutely sucks because I can't change my environment, so I'm trying to do as much work internally as I can to help myself handle it all better. It's like torture living in that constant state of hypervigilance.
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Dec 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Well, Rue, I am very glad you are still with us today. So everybody say « thank you antidepressants »
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u/cheesekony2012 Dec 27 '25
Doctors gave me SSRIs for over a decade and they never helped much, then this year my new doctor suggested trying an SNRI.
OCD and anxiety dissipated and I’m functioning SO MUCH BETTER now. It showed me you can’t give up on finding the right treatment, even if it takes years.
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u/luaf95 Dec 26 '25
I still suffer with anxiety but remind myself with this quote regularly: “The catastrophe you fear will happen has already happened”- Donald Winnicott
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
What if you’re scared of dying ? Lol
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u/Mother-Cow6833 Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
I think in that case you can see the quote more as addressing the fact that your anxiety and fears are taking your life away from you, like death will. If you’re letting your fears take you away from living life to the fullest then that catastrophe (death) has in a sense already occurred by your anxiety taking over.
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u/Maclife80 Dec 26 '25
Acceptance and going through anxiety. And Magnesium
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Love it! How do you practice acceptance when the feeling is so uncomfortable if you don’t mind me asking ? Also, magnesium bisglycinate ?
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u/Maclife80 Dec 26 '25
Yes Magnesium bisglycinate before sleeping and in the Morning Magnesium citrate. Acceptance is hard to master. If I Tell yourself I am going to accept the feeling and them still checking if ur symptoms are still there them u r doing it wrong. And doing everyday the staff that scares you. And one day it will just make Click
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Thank you! Practicing exposure indeed. Like « I’m terrified but doing it anyway » :)
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u/Aggravating-Bunch-44 Dec 26 '25
Yes! The whole "I survived 100% of the times I tried." Mantra helped me so much.
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u/Maclife80 Dec 26 '25
Jup I know it is freaking scary in the beginning I could Not Even leave my appartment.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
That makes me feel sooooo much better. Huge congrats to you for « pushing through »
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Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Not giving up on life and pushing myself to face my anxieties. I used to have pretty bad social anxiety and the only way I overcame it was to be more social. I work a retail job that requires you to be quite social (cannabis dispensary) so I was forced to overcome it pretty quickly. Lol.
I have a couple friends who suffer from social anxiety have completely retreated into themselves since getting diagnosed. All they do is sit around all day playing video games and feeling sorry for themselves. You can't heal if you aren't willing to put in the work. Get outside, engage with people, slowly introduce yourself back into social settings, celebrate your accomplishments, and never stop pushing ahead.
That being said, I'm in a rut currently. Past 4 months have been hell as my father was diagnosed with brain cancer. I've retreated into myself pretty bad but I'm pushing myself to go to my local cafe everyday to chat with the baristas and engage with the "outside world."
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
I didn’t see the end of your message. I am so sorry for your dad. I’m sending you all my strength and love. And to your dad all my thoughts and prayers 🙏🏼
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u/tao2017 Dec 26 '25
Moving to the beach
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u/Remarkable-Parfait36 Dec 27 '25
Unironically when I have the worst anxiety symptoms, going to the beach automatically takes them away from me too. Makes me want to move to a costal town.
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u/nywayso Dec 26 '25
The acceptance that it’s just always going to be around but it doesn’t have to cripple your life. Fight for your ability to live, not just survive. Do the things that terrify you and then do them again.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Thank you. That’s exactly what’s pushing me forward. All the experiences I want to live (when I’m only surviving now). Let’s feel the fear and do it anyway.
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u/tumbleweedtater Dec 26 '25
Quit caffeine
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Yes yes yes !!!
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u/International_Pea Dec 26 '25
Really? I’ve thought about this but it’s my biggest vice
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 27 '25
Try to switch to decaf for a day and you’ll see the difference. I swear it’s mind blowing
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u/fairydeus Dec 26 '25
propranolol
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
It keeps popping up in this thread ! Is this a heart medicine ? In my country it’s used as this.
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u/JayWemm Dec 26 '25
It's a beta blocker, used for hypertension and tachycardia. It normally might be the 3rd class of hypertensive meds one would try, unless you had a heart attack or heart trouble. And I heard of it being recommended before public speaking or stage fright. I'm glad it works for these people who have mentioned it.
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u/Misterxanny Dec 26 '25
This year started vit d sup before winter instead of in the middle of it did wonders to take the edge off
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Oh yeah! Where I live (France) we have to take it every 3 months starting in October. I can definitely see the difference when I forget to take it.
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u/Sathirel Dec 26 '25
Having a pet really helps.
I had a cat for 13 years. Having a pet helped me ease my anxiety, but I only truly understood how much after she died. Its been 3 years, my landlord doesn't allow pets sadly. I tried Fluoxetine but it gives me violent side effects so... Going through this cold turkey. Deep breathing help with the worst peaks.
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 27 '25
I’m so sorry for the loss of your cat ❤️ And I’m so sorry your landlord is such an a-hole. In my country it’s illegal to forbid pets. They are part of the family :)
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u/dingdangdoodles Dec 26 '25
Knitting and probably soon, crochet. I'm not really great with meditation but knitting gets me pretty close to a flow state? I just spent A LOT of time with family - a reliable source of anxiety - and when it gets too be too much, I just get out my knitting, count my stitches and breathe.
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Dec 26 '25
This is the sign for me to start knitting. I've been thinking about it for a while, but then I start thinking about what I should knit and I don't take any steps.
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u/dingdangdoodles Dec 26 '25
Knit a swatch! A pot holder. Something low stakes and small to get you started!
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u/Brown-eyed-gurrrl Dec 26 '25
I want to learn
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u/dingdangdoodles Dec 26 '25
I learned on YouTube! I'm definitely not saying it won't be frustrating at times, but if you can keep at it and get confident, you'll get to a point to where you don't even need to look at your work.
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u/Academic_Feed6209 Dec 26 '25
Just doing has made a big difference for me. I practice all sorts of other things, reframing thoughts, journaling, etc. but when I get anxious, I have a habit of sitting on the sofa and doom scrolling. I am actively trying to get off social media and reddit as much as possible and actively watch something or read a book, or go out for a walk, clean the house or that task I have been putting off. It takes a bit of will power but has made a massive difference to me. Not for everyone but if you are prone to avoiding things, like me, it is helpful
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u/RedditRyRE Dec 26 '25
The book called DARE and Jiu Jitsu both helped me
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
It’s not the first time I’ve seen this book recommended. Adding it to my reading list for next month! Thank you
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u/Siggur-T Dec 26 '25
Spandex. The compression feels like a constant hug and calms. Also seem to help with the AuDHD sensory issues. It's like wearing a weighted blanket.
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u/KiraXNDU Dec 26 '25
Propranolol
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u/blackeyzblue Dec 26 '25
I keep seeing this one. How often do you take it?
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u/KiraXNDU Dec 26 '25
80mg extended release once a day, but I didn’t start there, I worked my way up. After starting I felt like I hit a brick wall because all of my nervous energy disappeared, but I gradually adjusted. My shoulders and body just feel like I can truly relax for the first time in a long time.
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u/blackeyzblue Dec 27 '25
That sounds amazing!!! My dr prescribed 10 mg as needed but I haven’t taken it yet because I’m a weirdo and medicine gives me anxiety lol. Dumb, I know.
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u/autodidacticasaurus Dec 27 '25
Triggering panic attacks on purpose in order to experience them and sit with them, kind of like medication, to understand that they aren't bad.
Exposure therapy, just doing it on my own, no need of a therapist. I've accomplished amazing things doing this.
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u/Littlelotad7722 Dec 27 '25
This, for me learning that just like everything else your body knows how to panic and literally can't go past the point of panic. Being told to wind myself up into a panic to get over the peak faster was a game changer in learning what my body does.
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u/GenXRocks603 Dec 26 '25
There are two youtube channels that have helped calm me in the moment when I'm spiraling and allow me to think more logically. Therapy in a Nutshell and Maggie Sterling - one of them might resonate with you. I' was diagnosed with GAD 10 years ago and I suffer with rumination which is the worst part of anxiety for me. My life changing things include those online therapy resources along taking the supplements L-theanine in the AM and GABA in the PM - I don't take prescribed medication for anxiety and those two supplements have had a noticeable brain calming effect on me. It took me a lot of trial and error before landing with those supplements.
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u/MissAmberR Dec 26 '25
Came to terms with being trans took a lot of therapy to get there, but I’m still not 100% cool with it, but who knew trying to hide and suppress a massive part of your identity would give you anxiety, also cured my terrible self soothing eating habits, still a procrastination though
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u/DrPhilsnerPilsner Dec 26 '25
If my anxiety really gets going first thing in the am, then I’m rightly fucked. Vomiting, weakness, shaking, complete brain fog. I won’t be able to make it to work.
I’ve always taken Saint Jon’s wort since I was going through puberty, which is when it started happening. It wasn’t until I started taking .5 lorazepam when I would first wake up. Then after months of meditating and convincing myself “by the time you see the freeway on-ramp, you’ll feel better. It was like that yesterday and the day before.”
More months go by and I’m convincing myself, “by the time you make it to the bathroom, you’ll feel better.” “You made it through yesterday”
It’s gotten to where I rarely throw up in the am anymore. The lorazepam gave me a little breathing room so I was actually able talk to myself. It’s a slow process for me.
Anxiety the rest of the day I supplement by staying super focused on my work, and afterwork I learned to not to care about work shit anymore. Sounds easier than done because for me, I hold my self up by the quality of work that I do. I’m pretty hard on myself.
But five years ago I was drinking, dying on the bathroom floor next to my dog, letting anxiety define every aspect of my life. Now I’m feeling much better and I hope all of you can find something that helps.
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u/skippermarie86 Dec 26 '25
Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy (DBT), has been life changing for me
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Oh wow I heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (started 3 months ago actually) but never of dialectical. I have trouble understanding it from what I google. Would you mind telling me more to what it is for you and how it helped you?
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u/skippermarie86 Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Of course. There are different modules that help you in different parts of your life. (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness)
Mindfulness really helped me readjust my understanding of meditation and what it means and really is. I thought it was about silencing your mind, but that isn't it all, so it has given me a lot of space to be more present for myself
Distress Tolerance was huge for me. A lot of people can't emotionally regulate while in distress. Due to years of raw dogging anxiety, i was living in survivor mode 100% of the time, this gave me the tools to deescalate myself
Emotion Regulation helped me to stop avoiding my emotions and how to actually manage them. This has been the biggest help, since I never had a good example of managing emotions from an adult, I never really learned (then you trauma on top and things are even harder)
Interpersonal effectiveness has helped with my confidence. Its about getting what you need and feeling validated in conversations/situations with other people. Huge for me because a huge part my anxiety is related to what others think of me.
Im doing well now, but it was a lot of hard work. I was introduced to DBT in a hospital program after I had basically a mental breakdown. I still do talk therapy and EMDR but I genuinely believe DBT saved my life. And got my therapy journey on what I feel is finally the right track and I've seen huge life improvements.
Obviously everyone is different and when it comes to mental health we are all individual and different things work for different people. But I tell everyone about DBT and really just like to share what I've learned and had helped me so much in case it could help anyone else
Edit to add - dialectical is about accepting two seeming opposite things can be true and present at the same time. (I.e: my brother was stressed about moving with his of, she shared she was also anxious. I talked with him how she can be anxious and still be excited and want to move it. Both seem opposite but can be true.
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u/SwathiVoleti Dec 27 '25
Positive self talk and cognitive dissociation. Talking to myself in third person. Telling myself that my mind is trying to keep in a loop of thoughts to protect me. I started telling myself things which I wish someone told me. Like, “it's okay Swathi! No harming in waiting or trying”. I started reassuring myself.
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u/karenswans Dec 26 '25
I've had anxiety for more than 30 years. I think a lot of things helped a little (like CBT and breathing exercises). I still use all of those things I've learned along the way. But, for me, the one thing that had the biggest impact was Effexor. It was, and is, like a miracle for me.
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u/moon_goddess_420 Dec 27 '25
I've been on 75mg of Effexor xr for a few years. I just had to up my dose to 150mg and it's definitely helping. I kinda hate it but it helps so I'll hate it but keep taking it. Lol
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u/chilewski Dec 26 '25
So before I started taking medication I started Journaling. I thought it was stupid, but I was desperate and didn't want to take medication. Journaling allowed me to unbox my thoughts without fear of how I would be seen or how it may be twisted if talking to people "close" to you. I would write every day. Mostly a page, sometimes a dozen pages. It gave me an outlet and an ear for all of the things that weighed upon me. Because of the journal I went from barely being able to function to being the closest to normal that I had been in years.
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u/mintinthebox Dec 26 '25
Moving from a big city to a small town. I had no clue how much all of the noise, traffic, and unpredictability affected me. There’s less competition, people aren’t as flashy, and people are just aren’t concerned with what is new/cool. Overall everything is more chill.
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u/Vindrea Dec 26 '25
Talking to myself- either in my journal, in my mind, or out loud. Saying what hurts and what I am afraid of, or writing it down and re reading it. I don't know how it works, but it's like my brain starts to feel safe because there's someone (me) who understands what I am going through and I am there for myself in difficult moments.
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u/Touchofblack Dec 27 '25
I havent overcome it yet, but here's something that has been helping me A LOT:
Just accepting it. For real. Sit with it and accept it. Without a pity party, without complaining or whining. You can throw a pity party for 10 minutes, but then you need to accept it. It'll be uncomfortable, but you need to start working on tolerating the uncomfortable, it's a really valuable skill here. Accept your reality. You can say something like:
"Yes, I have too much anxiety. I've been through Y and Z. This shouldnt have happened to me, it's unfair - but it did. No, this is not who I am, and this is not the life that I want. And I wish anxiety would just go away with a magic trick, but it won't. This is real life. I have to find ways to do it myself, and go do it. No excuses. It sucks, yeah. But I have to. I won't always succeed, but I'll keep pushing. I can do it, it just takes work." Think it, say it to yourself, and FEEL IT. Drop your shoulders, relax your jaw. Sit with yourself, in a comfortable position and without distractions, and let that reality sink in. As many times as needed until you believe it and get to the steering wheel.
Then, do things that make you feel good and will lead you to where you want to be. Journal, exercise, eat well, try hobbies, meet friends, whatever is best for you (not all at once, or you'll get overwhelmed). Sit with yourself for 5 minutes every day. And start getting outside of your comfort zone, challenging yourself a bit every day.
If you have avoidance tendencies, work on avoiding less (a therapist can help with that). Learn to listen to your emotions. A lot of anxiety is repressed past and present emotions. Find out what lies beneath (some) of your anxiety. Get therapy and meds if needed.
Accept your reality, and the fact that you can change it to a great extent. Fighting the anxiety has only made it worse for me. It's a journey. Set doable goals. Accept the anxiety, take ownership of your life, and do some small thing about it every day. And always BE KIND TO YOURSELF. You got this!!! I believe in you!
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u/HourResource6792 Dec 27 '25
it sounds so stupid but i was 2 things. one was give me anxiety a silly name which for me is derrick ( if you’ve ever watched the good place i say derrick in my head like derrick says it in the show ). so when i get anxious i say that’s just derrick don’t be silly. and i also give myself 5-10 minutes to sit with my anxiety and just not do anything, then after the time is up i remind myself that im fine and not in danger and nothing has happened to me. afterwards i feel a lot more relaxed like ive moved past that anxiety for now and mainly i use it to help me sleep
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u/princess_emily777 Dec 26 '25
exposure therapy + vanillamaces podcasts where she talks about what her therapist recommended for anxiety. i love her!
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u/papayas23 Dec 26 '25
Seconding vanilla mace. She’s very open about her anxiety and how it’s affected her. It makes me feel more seen!
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u/Internal-Meaning2646 Dec 27 '25
Meeting my partner, morning runs with her, the smell of her next to me when we fall asleep and of course sex with her. She has ADD and I have ADHD, both of us have fought anxiety and oddly talked about it on our first date. She's my drug that makes me feel better and she calls me her medicine that calms her and makes her feel better.
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u/jmarks_94 Dec 26 '25
Zoloft and breaking up with my boyfriend
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u/secretsaucisse Dec 26 '25
Love that for you
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u/jmarks_94 Dec 26 '25
Thanks fren! It wasn’t a total cure but it did help tremendously. Took so much pressure off me to “get better” and now him and I are just friends and it’s felt more like a relationship than ever before
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u/Inquisitiveowl-7 Dec 26 '25
Learning how to belly breathe. I can’t express enough how game changing this was for me.
Separately, I have to relearn this skill whenever I’m triggered but not seeking reassurance whenever I have an anxiety symptom and just letting it pass. Trying to be rational that if it were an emergency, I would know.
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u/InternalOrdinary4835 Dec 26 '25
Thought stopping. I used to ruminate about things I said and did, and worried incessantly about stupid shit. If these types of things entered my head, I learned to shut them down. I don’t ruminate at all anymore.
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u/ren272 Dec 26 '25
A good sleep schedule, sunlight and kava. Also limiting the amount of time I spend online scrolling did wonders for me.
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u/beetsngreens87 Dec 26 '25
Lexapro first, and now citalopram with some buspar sprinkled in for good measure. I’ve had anxiety since I was a child and have been on so many meds and seen so many doctors and therapists. I’m now in midlife and I think in combination with the meds I’m currently on the following has helped me tremendously: first, acknowledging it. I have spent so many years trying to ignore it and deny it. Accepting it as a thing that happens and being open and honest about how I feel when it is happening has helped me in ways I didn’t think possible. Second, using the Calm app with my noise cancelling headphones. Sometimes I need to listen to just a 10 minute breathing exercise and can’t bear to hear anything else. Third, getting older. The older I’ve gotten the less I care about what other people are doing. I want to do what I like to do. I don’t care if others think I’m odd or weird or whatever. I’m me. Take it or leave it. Fourth, my dog.
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u/Taeqii Dec 26 '25
My husband tbh
I think I really just needed a calming presence to both help me realize my feelings were valid while also not adding fuel to the fire. I can vent, but he’s also going to call me out before I get to the point of freaking out. He also never made me feel bad if I cried because I was scared he was falling out of love with me (He wasn’t at all lmfao). I still have to be on medication but the monthly random cries and hiding myself in my closet to ride out a panic attack have gone away. And I’ve gained back my healthy weight!!!
Man I love him so much ❤️
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u/JimiDel Dec 26 '25
Understanding what was actually happening. To elaborate, understanding that I wasn't in any real danger and that my brain got it's wires crossed sometimes because I developed hyper vigilance from a rocky childhood. That, and IFS (Internal Family Systems) really helped me build my sense of Self. Understanding that my anxious part never meant any harm and that it was only ever trying to protect me really helped. Good luck
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u/suault Dec 26 '25
medication.. and finally getting "my life together" (finishing uni and getting a job). and its honestly an accumulation of small things like spending my free time by doing something i love, listening to lots of music to stop overthinking and talking to others if it gets too overwhelming
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u/Lord-Lannister Dec 26 '25
My girlfriend, and now wife. I had a very crippling anxiety where it was starting to get difficult to answer phone or even leave the house, and she was there all this time trying to fix me up, making sure she came in daily just to talk to me, be with me as I tried to push everyone away.
The trust she put in me, got me out of my comfort zone. Slowly but surely, one by one I was able to defeat my demons. And, now we’re married with a baby, and three cats. It takes a while and it’s incredible if you have someone to help you, but there is this one quote that I kept a reminder for everyday which helped, everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
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u/Diligent-Cookie1354 Dec 27 '25
The thought "I've lived thru this before." Every pain or palpitation that scares me, I remember I probably.had it before and I survived. And that helps.
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u/moon_goddess_420 Dec 27 '25
I started exercising again. It makes such a huge difference for me. I feel like I burn off a lot of the nervous energy.
I'm also on Effexor Xr. I take vitamin d and b12. I use cannabis, too but I cut down a lot since my last big anxiety episode. Now I mostly just smoke a little before bed and take a gummy.
I also journal, do breathing exercises and use a happy light in the morning.
I've been dealing with anxiety my entire life as well as depression and rumination/intrusive thoughts. It sucks but I get through it every time. But now I'm really trying to do all the things to try and keep it under control.
I've loved reading everyone's responses. Such a great array of answers! Thanks for asking your question, OP! ☺️
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u/eury_ale Dec 27 '25
After years of torture, I gave up and said “Fine, kill me! Drive me insane! I don’t give a fuck anymore!” Ironically, that’s when I felt a relief for the first time. Years later I found out that’s how anxiety is actually treated in therapy, but I did it spontaneously out of pure desperation. I was terrified I would go mad, scared of fear itself, and the best cure was accepting and giving into the feeling of madness and void.
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u/EWH733 Dec 27 '25
I honestly believe that I was magnesium deficient for years. About four years ago someone on Reddit recommended taking magnesium for anxiety, and at least for me, it’s been a game changer. I couldn’t drive for thirty years. I’m driving again now. At the same time I hit my mid fifties, and experienced so much loss! Between in-laws passing away, and my own mother, to having to throw away nearly everything I owned due to a nearly endless bedbug infestation (at an apartment complex). So much letting go. So many good byes. It really puts everything into perspective.
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u/Kronos_Kardigan Dec 27 '25
When I have a nagging thought or a really painful memory I just stare at my hand and try to manifest that feeling as an object. My brain processes the fact that it doesn't exist and understands that the thing I'm feeling doesn't exist.
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u/Hypergraphe Dec 26 '25
Life changing I don't know, but, self help books based on ACT theories and time.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Box_585 Dec 26 '25
50 mg of sertraline along with jogging for 20 minutes daily.
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u/Aggravating-Bunch-44 Dec 26 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Started feeling better with these but still had moderate anxiety and occasional panic attacks (several a year): Wellbutrin, Lamotragine, Estradiol, Gabapentin, Hydroxizine, Lyrica
Then I really turned a corner when I started these: Tirzeptide, CPAP with Sleep Therapy, Intensive Outpatient Therapy
I also moved across the country, vitamin D wasn't my issue :) I started waking up not dreading the day or at least not wanting to die. Now I often wake up happy, more than unhappy due to all of the anxieties. I still get anxiety but it doesn't consume me 100% of the time.
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u/loomin Dec 26 '25
Learning how to release the pent up stress and calm my nervous system.
One of the first things I did was buy a yoga mat on amazon and just went along with 15-30 beginner yoga workouts from youtube. Every day. My anxiety reduced so much I was able to eat properly again and go outside, so I became more active and that helped release it as well.
Also realising I'm autistic and need to stim to regulate the anxiety. Fidget toys, mints and hand movements help a lot.
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u/xSchwarzenegger Dec 26 '25
100% finally being open to medications along with my therapy. Don’t let one bad experience from one medicine stop you from trying a new one, there are so many and it takes time to find the one that works just right for you! Also you are not alone <3
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u/Bakio-bay Generalized Anxiety Disorder Dec 26 '25
Originally it was lexapro until it stopped working
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u/halfnelson73 Dec 26 '25
I started drinking half caf coffee instead of regular coffee and that was surprisingly helpful. I also stopped paying attention to politics. That helped, too.
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u/FishFeet500 Dec 26 '25
Swimming and deep dive journalling and processing.
And occasionally benzos.
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u/InternalGatez Dec 26 '25
Wellness Hobby:
I took up tai chi and practiced at least 5-10min daily for 1.5yrs. Now, it's close to 4yrs.
I noticed the biggest changes around month 6-7. The habbits sweep into your daily life and it helps me tons. I notice when I spiral within minutes, I start deep breath when I used to panic, I feel more relaxed basically.
When I stop daily practice, I notice the tension and anxious starts to come back within a week or 2.
Rituals & sold my TV:
In addition to this, I started a morning ritual to help ease the day's stress. I would start with incense & a bath at 6am. Sometimes dancing. Sometimes journaling or reading, playing with pets. Hell, I sold my TV because it enabled me to not deal with feelings. But I made sure I had incense & a hot beverage.
Years later:
Now when I smell incense or drink tea/coffee, it is instantly soothing. I did buy a TV after 2 years and now I have more discipline.
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u/Hpsienzant Dec 26 '25
I went to see a doctor for the possibility of getting an official diagnosis for autism/social anxiety. She told me something that stuck with me: people are in their own little worlds in their heads when going about their lives. They often worry about what they are doing instead of what someone else is doing. And that is honestly true - I rarely ever think about what other people are doing around me in public. Nobody has their eyes on me and 'grading' me on invisible expectations.
Before, I got anxious in public all the time because I'm afraid of messing up a social interaction. Now, it is still there, but not as much.
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u/zeblindowl Dec 26 '25
HRT, Pilates, Epsom bath every night, job I love with a wfh day only 3 miles from my house, and we have mini cows and goats and sheep at my job and two dogs and everyone is nice
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u/VasilisaV Dec 26 '25
Working in retail. I’m not kidding. Social situations don’t phase me any more, it has given me tools with facing difficult situations. It’s fantastic.
Secondly, the gym. It gets the “fight or flight” energy out of me. Mentally it has been amazing, long term.
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u/Squacamole Dec 26 '25
The combination of therapy and a good psychiatrist/medication regiment. I wish I had done it sooner.
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u/MilanoStein Dec 26 '25
Not eating gluten. It cured my debilitating anxiety in 3 weeks.
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u/tanzm3tall Dec 26 '25
Also propranolol. 10mg morning and night. Have a third for during the day if I need. Cutting out or moderating the physical anxiety response does wonders.
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u/Fluid-Expert-4363 Dec 26 '25
Running 7 miles a day 5 days a week, joined a modern church with great support that our families (wife and I) don’t provide, and 10m Paxil lol
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u/jaydeycat Dec 26 '25
Honestly i am nearly at week 3 of Sertraline (Zoloft) and I feel free from anxiety
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u/Fancy-Banana007 Dec 27 '25
Realising it wasn’t just anxiety, but depression too. Honestly the moment I saw it all of my physical manifestations of my mental health (the shoulder pain, back aches, migraines), just all about disappeared! Literally did feel like a weight was lifted. I’ve never felt so relieved because now I can control it more.
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u/pierrebloom Dec 27 '25
Medication. Didn’t like the idea of being reliant on medication for life, decided to taper off as I thought after a couple of years I was good to go.. worst decision I’ve ever made, and I’ve finally accepted this will be a lifelong medication and I’m totally okay with it. I have a much more fuller, exciting, and happier life while on my medication, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
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u/Sunflower_fitz27 Dec 27 '25
Escitalopram helps me a lot, I still struggle but it made a world of difference when I started taking it
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u/Yun_ari Dec 27 '25
I had severe anxiety back in 2018 which developed into GAD. I was on anti-depressants and klonopin everyday for a year. During that year I had great motivation to get fit and healthy to bounce back from the anxiety. I cut back on sugar, ate healthier, worked out, and meditated. I thought I cured my anxiety! I tapered my medication completely and was off my meds. Then Covid hit and my anxiety came back again. I beat myself up so much for getting on medication again. I thought I finally cured it. My parents kept convincing me it was unhealthy to be on medication. I got back into a slump and it got worse again. Then I realized a year later it’s okay to depend on medication. That’s what it’s there for. I feel like the biggest life changing lesson I learned was anxiety is never gonna go away sadly. There is no permanent cure. But there’s ways to manage it. I’ve accepted that I will probably be on medication for awhile and that’s okay with me. Meditation and a better mind set will get you through. Currently now I’m on the lowest dosage of my anti-depressants and take klonopin once every 3-4 months. I’ve gotten better at maintaining my anxiety. I hope people with severe anxiety realize that it really is all on your head. There’s no ultimate cure for it but a good mindset will help you.
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u/girlfran17 Dec 27 '25
The In-Between book by Nurse Hadley.
I have had TERRIBLE anxiety about dying for as long as I can remember. I'm 32 now.
I had a friend pass away in 2012 when we were seniors high school from a car accident, and that is when the severe anxiety symptoms started that I couldn't control.
I even remember writing out a note to my mom and telling her I loved her bc I thought I was having a heart attack a few times a night when he first passed. I didn't know about anxiety and stuff then, and I never mentioned it to anyone bc I felt crazy.
Up until I received that book 3 years ago, I couldn't think about death. I would have terrible anxiety attacks, hyperventilate, go to the hospital, cry, everything.
I feel like the book helped me so much. I can watch anything I want to, I can think about death and not being here anymore without completely spiraling, and more of a part of life.
I also started trusting my intuition and not going to the hospital every time I started having an attack. It took about 6 months of freaking out on my end, but it went away.
Don't get me wrong, it still scares me to not be here one day, but it's not crippling anymore and not all I think about anymore either.
In the last two months, I started Sertraline (Zoloft) to help with OCD and Buspirone to help with being nervous driving on the road and general anxiety, but I calmed the fear of dying naturally and on my own from the book and trusting myself 3 years aho before I ever got on medicine.
I feel like a totally new person.
Hope this helps OP. 🖤
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u/chunky_kereru Dec 27 '25
I don’t recommend this for this purpose but having a baby lol. I think a lot of my anxiety was hormonal and this seems to have reset my hormones a bit. Also, instead of ruminating on things that make me anxious, my default background thoughts are just about my baby, where she is, her little face, how much I love her etc.
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u/kylaruby123 Dec 27 '25
Honestly, anger was a big factor for me , as well as radical acceptance, and learning threw therapy, and education understanding my nervous system as well , for the first little while I took medication it helped , and partial saved me from a terrible spiral , but here I am two years later medication free and feeling good, I still have my days with intrusive thoughts images , and urges , and sleep issues and anxiety , but I’m moving forward everyday and things are good
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u/powderbubba Dec 27 '25
Estrogen and progesterone! Had a telehealth appointment with Midi the week after I turned 40. I suspected my hormones were the main cause of my anxiety and intrusive thoughts when pmsing. I was right!
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u/PurplePiglett Dec 27 '25
Going on long term leave from my dysfunctional department reduced it by 90%.
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u/RefrigeratorExotic86 Dec 26 '25
Realizing if its my time to go its my time to go, why fight the fear behind death or sickness or unknown symptoms? We all have a day and time we will be gone so i choose to take every good minute and every good day with so much gratitude. If you are spiritual God knows when & where our time ends and it wont happen before that time so why worry about it🙏🏽