Why I Don’t Take Medication for my Anxiety
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Over the course of nearly two decades, I have tried a handful of prescriptions including Xanax for immediate relief of my panic attacks. I ordered a DVD/CD program on how to overcome panic. I’ve seen four counselors. I downloaded the most tranquil of meditation apps to my phone. I experimented with my diet, starting exercising, have taken supplements, and locked myself away becoming midline agoraphobic. I have cried, screamed, and trembled.
Figuring Out What Works
I began to notice certain methods took the edge off, some more than others. It didn’t take me long to learn that I’m a lightweight when it comes to medicine. If there was a side effect than I would have it. At the time my anxiety started, I was trying to navigate motherhood for the first time with a toddler. I wasn’t at liberty to stay in bed all day waiting for the side effects to pass.
One particular prescription I took for a few months made me extremely aggressive and agitated. Lots of them added to the disorienting feeling of my anxiety. Most SSRI’s made me tired or lose my personality completely. After a couple of years of that, I was done being a walking human experiment.
I’ve learned that anxiety treatment is not a one size fits all solution. I am not the norm. While I’m surrounded by friends and family that have no issues taking prescriptions to ease their anxiety symptoms, I’m the odd man out here just white-knuckling it.

Why I White Knuckle It
Anxiety medication is not right for everyone. Some, most, find one that works and are fine with it. Over the years I’ve found that my body is super sensitive to medication of any kind. I can’t take Benadryl, or any pain pill ending in “cet”, along with a whole plethora of other medications.
Is it all in my head? Well, I personally don’t think so. It is easy for others to think that. After all, anxiety is extremely irrational! It seems impossible for people who don’t have panic attacks to understand. I definitely recognize changes to my body very easily. Critics call it hypochondria, I like to call it being in tune with my body. My counselors like to call it hypervigilance.
Doing What Works For Me
But luckily, being sensitive to medication has a plus side too. I’ve found that I’m sensitive to other methods as well. I have come to learn simple techniques to manage my anxiety.
Through exercise, prayer, keeping my sugar balanced, quiet time, and… saying NO (more on that in a minute) have made a huge difference for me.
Not handling prescription medication very well, I have made it a priority to get to know the roots of my anxiety and take control over it. After 15 years of anxiety, you learn the ins and outs of it. What makes it worse, plus what you have survived through, gives you leverage over panic attacks in the future.
Being dependent on anxiety medication gave me anxiety. Like an anchor that I would have to stay chained to the rest of my life to be able to cope in this world. It made me feel even more out of control.
To me, it was the equivalent to sticking a band-aid on it and calling it a day. For those that do benefit from taking meds don’t take this the wrong way. If they work for your anxiety, then you should most certainly do that.
Everyone GETS to decide for themselves what they can or can’t do and how they want to manage it. We all have choices and have to do what is right for ourselves. Recognizing my limitations and needs as well as lots of counseling has allowed me to be able to overcome a great deal of it.
Understand What Anxiety Is
Anxiety manifests because there was or is something in our lives that has not been dealt with. There are patterns that need to be broken. Trauma that needs to be healed. Support from the outside needs to be obtained. When I realized that I did many things I wasn’t comfortable with, it was a game-changer.
As a person that does not like to make waves, I tried to do things that I thought everyone else was doing. Then I would heavily ostracize myself when I didn’t enjoy it. I put a ton of pressure on myself all the time. I didn’t know how to heal from my past or where to go from that point. Worst of all I felt I had no support. I didn’t know where to find any and felt I was on my own.
Finding Your Voice
As cliché as it sounds, you have to embrace your individuality. Once I started living a life that worked for me, I saw the panic slowly release its grip on me. I said NO to things I didn’t want to do like not engaging in huge social activities because that’s not an environment I thrive in. Then also saying NO to the things I didn’t want in my body.
I wanted to go all-natural and get to know what the original me felt like. I stopped smoking, never really drank, quit any and all stimulants, got off all my medication, and filled myself with good stuff.
My Proven Methods
Exercising released a lot of good endorphins. I got to the point that I could drastically notice a difference in my mood before and after a workout.
I know it seems like common sense, but what you eat plays a huge role in how you feel. For me, balancing my blood sugar with whole foods made a tremendous difference.
The Bible, and its persistence in the phrases “do not worry, be anxious for nothing, trust God” were starting to soak in. Quiet time alone to meditate, pray, or listen to soothing music were lifesavers for many panic episodes. Of course, counseling for healing, trauma, and changing the way I think was vital to my healing.
All of this was new territory for me. There was no one in my family that did any of these things. Maybe because they didn’t need to. Maybe they didn’t know how to break old habits and invest in being mentally healthy. As I walked uncharted land, I had no examples of anyone to follow. I had to lay the groundwork, and honestly, it was making me stronger.
Just Stop Fighting It and Know You’re Not Alone
One of the best ways to know if your anxiety is leading your thinking is how your viewpoint changes. My viewpoint can vary like night and day depending on if my mind is ridiculed with panic.
When your anxiety is activated EVERYTHING seems terrifying, hard, and unattainable.
When you have a day with zero anxiety, you’ll notice that you feel much more capable of taking on the exact same tasks or situations that were overwhelming you before.

So, stop and check yourself on that. Know your triggers. Not so that you can avoid them completely but so you can acknowledge why you may feel uncomfortable. “I feel uncomfortable because this is something that I don’t like to do, I feel out of control, etc.” You can remind yourself that once you get through the said triggering event that you will feel better but also stronger.
What I’ve Learned
I’m here to tell you, it is completely possible to manage anxiety without medication. I know the world and the doctors tell you that this is a one-way street, but it’s really not!
When your brain is telling you to flee and you are doing everything in your power to avoid a full-blown panic attack, it is making it worse. Instead of fleeing, grab it by the hand, and embrace it (give it a blanket and a hug). Investigate what is making you anxious, and give it the attention that it demands. Doing this will prevent it from ruling over you during the next encounter.
It is a continuous process every single day living with anxiety. I’ve stated before that sometimes it seems it is in remission. There will be dry spells, sometimes for years. For instance, when life is going smooth and your body is more nutritionally balanced than other times when you feel mentally stronger, you’ll feel like anxiety is a thing of the past. You may get blindsided. That’s what anxiety does, it seems to come out of nowhere. But each “next” time you can be more prepared.
Overcoming panic attacks and anxiety on your own terms, while dealing with your trauma head-on is liberating, and makes you so unbelievably strong.
It just takes a lot of work, work that I think is worth it.
Tell me, how do you deal with anxiety and panic attacks? I would love to know and open dialogue on what works for you. Is it a certain medicine? A certain method?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I’m just here to tell you there are options besides medicine. If you are looking for an alternative to prescription medication for relief from panic attacks, believe in yourself. Trust the process. There are so many methods to try. Put the work into healing. You know yourself better than anyone. You can do this. And although I encourage you to find solutions other than medication, please use your own discretion when dealing with your diagnosis. ALWAYS heed the advice recommended by your healthcare/mental healthcare provider when dealing with any mental illness disorder. Medication has its place. And I recognize that shall my issues with anxiety ever persist without relief, I would certainly not rule out the use of medication.
October 30, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
Thank you for sharing. I have anxiety and I to have tried the meds, but they just didn’t work for me either. Mediation and yoga have helped me a lot over the years.
October 31, 2020 @ 10:53 am
Tammy, meditation, and yoga combined are so powerful. I think you’re on the right track. I need to implement that more into my routine.
October 30, 2020 @ 7:33 am
I really love this. Will be sharing it with others!
October 31, 2020 @ 10:54 am
Thanks Daphne, I really appreciate that.
October 24, 2020 @ 7:41 am
Thank you for sharing such a personal experience and its effects. A few years earlier, I went through something similar and I was the lucky one percent to which medicament causes hallucinations. It was the worst time of my life, I spent 3 weeks at the hospital to find out what was going on. Since then, Ive stopped all medication and such as yourself I’m doing much better!
October 24, 2020 @ 9:11 am
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad you are feeling better and letting your system clear out.
October 18, 2020 @ 10:30 am
I have 5 brothers and sisters and almost all of them take medication for anxiety (my dad, too). Sometimes I think it sounds like a good idea, the easy route. But I agree with you, I know that sugar regulation and other healthy habits are why I been able to not go that route yet. Knowing I am not alone is a game changer, too.
October 18, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
Thanks for your comment Shannon. It has been so enlightening hearing about others that are able to cope without medication.
Stay strong and keep up the good work.
October 17, 2020 @ 8:56 am
I have found that by identifying my triggers I can short circuit an anxiety attack before it gets out of control or at least manage it better. I hate how the meds made me all mellow all the time so I opt to go without!
October 18, 2020 @ 3:05 pm
Yes Cathey! Stopping your anxiety before it turns into a panic attack takes so much skill and knowledge, but is absolutely worth it.
It is a great feeling getting to know your own body and what triggers it.
October 16, 2020 @ 7:49 am
I think it’s amazing to be able to manage your anxiety naturally! I found that what works for me the most is doing daily meditation, eating healthy and sleeping well. Also, being more aware of my body really helped me so I can notice when I start to feel anxious and just relax my heart and my body when it happens. Thank you for sharing your tips!
October 14, 2020 @ 1:41 pm
We have a very similar outlook when it comes to anxiety. I find when I’m living my healthiest life and doing all I can to be healthy, I have no anxiety. When I’m frazzled, stressed, and eating unhealthily, that’s when it kicks in for me. Great read, thanks
October 14, 2020 @ 8:22 pm
Yes Sarah! It is so true…how much we can do that actually helps. It is such a blessing that our bodies respond well to these things.
October 13, 2020 @ 5:44 pm
I agree with you, medication is not for everyone. My sister and I have the same medication for anxiety/depression. The highest dose was perfect for me, but it didn’t do much for my sister. I also try to talk to someone or listen to specific songs when I have a panic attack to help me calm down. You are so brave for talking about this <3
October 11, 2020 @ 7:57 am
I never tried medication, but I found that my anxiety and panic attacks were 100% resolved when I started eating gluten free. It’s been great because I can still have chocolate and some other treats – but GF was the key for me! I’m so glad you’ve found stuff that helps!
October 11, 2020 @ 8:34 am
I love hearing about what people have found works for them. This is a wonderful discovery. I’ve heard other people benefit in many ways from taking glutton out.
Thanks for sharing.
October 11, 2020 @ 7:32 am
hi,first of all,i’m sending you tons of virtual hugs; second,i too,stopped taking my medication for my anxiety,but i stopped taking it bc pills made me numb,sleepy,and i wasn’t productive and couldn’t focus on literally anything,all i could do was sleep.
thanks for sharing.
October 11, 2020 @ 4:24 am
Im not sure if meds are the answer for anxiety. I have stuggled with general anxiety disorder for a number off years. I dont want to live on meds.
I think its best to find ways to deao with your feelings and recognise triggers.
October 11, 2020 @ 8:35 am
Emma, I agree. Thanks for reading and commenting.
October 10, 2020 @ 9:52 am
Truly said, there are options other than medication. Coping strategies are important. Knowing which one works for each individual is important. Well written
October 9, 2020 @ 12:11 pm
I have anxiety as the result of PTSD. I used to take medication for it, but I was too sensitive to it as well. Even 0.25 milligrams of klonopin was knocking me out; I could not function. Thankfully, I was taught to use Biblical scriptures on comfort and prayer to be healed from anxiety. One such scripture I relied on a lot was “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7. Knowing the fear and anxiety I was experiencing was not from God freed me. đź’—
October 9, 2020 @ 1:07 pm
Yes!! I love hearing this. It really is such a simple truth. God has not given us panic and fear.
Bringing it to Him works wonders!
October 9, 2020 @ 8:24 am
I’m in nursing and I know exactly how these medications works, most of them actually increases your risk for depression and suicide. I also suffer from chronic anxiety and I relate to a lot of things you mentioned here, I too have found other ways to manage my mental health, This was such a great post , thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing with us.
October 9, 2020 @ 8:54 am
I’m so glad to hear of someone else choosing to manage their mental health naturally.
It is astounding to me the list of side effects on this medication.
Thanks for your comment.
October 8, 2020 @ 7:42 pm
panic attack is a real challenge.
glad you’ve learned the coping strategy that works for you.
you are a strong person and this will surely be of helpful for those who are struggling with it.
thanks for sharing.