Please be kind, Help needed( medication usage) and Anxiety issues

[goodguy123]

So I am back at it studying abroad Pharmacy program in Eastern Europe I have dealt with anxiety issues while studying abroad on and off . First few weeks went well no anxiety at all at my University . Lately I have been more anxious it manifests it self in early awakenings from sleep and a constant feeling of Mental tension( however no racing thoughts) I can only sleep 4-5 hours each night max 6 hours a night. My anxiety is very mental like something is just over my head and I feel a burning sensation around my eyes and I feel fatigue coming on ( Mental) I went to a Doctor and he prescribed me 30 tablets of .25 mg of Xanax for short term relief of anxiety. I have been exercising as well went to the gym 20 minutes of Cardio and a full workout, it seems to ease me. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when abroad and I feel a lot of anxious thoughts looming over my head with mental tension, However my anxiety thankfully has receded it isn't as severe as it once was but yet it exists.. I enjoy my life very social person and I have cut down on drinking dramatically which helped my anxiety dramatically, Can anybody give me more advice on how to fight anxiety? and can somebody give me advice how to use .25 mg of xanax? I am leaving Univ next week so I will only use Xanax for a week and a half for anxiety relief. .25mg dose can somebody give me advice on how to use it for sleep or day time anxiousness? The doctor told me to take one or two at night for sleep max .5 mg.
Xanax I must admit does offer significant relief even in small doses of anxiety.

[goodguy123]

How would the use of cannabis effect Anxiety and stress? I dont use it not a pothead but a lot of people smoke it at Univ. would one recommend that to me? However weed leads to paranoia! I know this for a fact! Please people if anybody has positive recommendations give em to me.
Thank you everybody.

[Funkapotamus]

Don't do that if you're in a bad way. It only enhances that mood. Just listen to some good music and do something like writing a journal or try and meditate.

[goodguy123]

Understandable I won't resort to Cannabis! but what is your view on using Anti-Anxiety medication like Xanax only for short term is it good or bad??? I will take your recommendations and yes im exercising everyday. How does Exercise effect anxiety though?
Thanks again

[Funkapotamus]

Understandable I won't resort to Cannabis! but what is your view on using Anti-Anxiety medication like Xanax only for short term is it good or bad??? I will take your recommendations and yes im exercising everyday. How does Exercise effect anxiety though?
Thanks again

Exercise clears the mind and releases endorphins. It's also a good time to be care-free and not worry about anything. So exercise is a definite positive.

I think on the short time, they can help you get back up and get your mind in the right mood to make positive changes to cope with your mood. But it's also really easy for short term to turn long term, so you want to monitor things closely.

I've suffered crippling anxiety, but wa forced against it and I managed to cope alright and now Im alright. I'm sure you'll be too.

[goodguy123]

What changes have you made to deal with your anxiety? My god ANxiety is a really hard to deal with!!!! I have suffered so much because of it. What are some of the causes of anxiety? can you give me some tips to deal with it???
What can I think so that my thoughts change my emotional state? I am homesick as well you see I am studying abroad. I noticed I have less anxiety when at home or around family members.
But while I'm here I suffer yes exercise helps but the relief you get from Xanax is more significant and i know of its dangers. I will just use it short term

[Shenron]

Well, there are different causes for anxiety and different treatments depending on the cause. You should speak to a doctor about it and se what they have to say. Tell him you are interested in Xanax and see of he thinks it will be right for you. As far as your homesickness goes, I have found that a phone call to home every so often will help with that. I would recommend against resorting to cannabis because it is illegal and it can actually make your symptoms worse.

[goodguy123]

Yea the Cannabis I won't use Cannabis. Regarding Xanax the Doctor prescribed me .25mg which can be used 2 to maximum 3 times a day on intervals or if used for sleep 2 tablets before I go to bed. The Doctor told me to speak to a shrink or to find a way tor resolve my issue of being anxious. I want to figure why I am anxious!!! it is a bitch to deal with. Can you give me some tactics?
I am studying abroad away from my family so I am homesick as well.
But this anxiety is a killer How can I fight it?
Anxiety is bad too because believe me it effects your physical health. Not enough sleep, Fatigue worn out, more susceptibilities to infections. But yea Xanax helps but it isn't a solution forever. And I talked to a shrink once before about the problem she was hesitant to prescribe me medication she told me to exercise and work out my anxiety on my own .
But she said if it gets worse she would prescribe me meds.

[goodguy123]

My regular Practioner did prescribe me Xanax and its been a life saver these past few days.

[goodguy123]

God I hate the fact we humans deal with anxiety disorders and related problems they are truly a living nightmare.

[goodguy123]

I had times when I was less anxious and times when I was more anxious those days I was less anxious felt like everything was at peace and living life felt easy. But when my anxiety rises the serenity and the calm of mind is gone. To heck with it.

[goodguy123]

Less anxiety= Serenity More anxiety= living nightmare.

[Shenron]

Well, I'm going to assume that your anxiety is caused by being on your own. Do you feel like you are having trouble keeping up with your daily routine? Are you nervous about something in particular?

[goodguy123]

not nervous about a particular issue. Just feeling nervous in General without justification. I am keeping up with my daily routines to an extend but anxiety interferes with my functional capabilities.
So what do you think I should do?
I think something on the subconscious level is bothering me or perhaps im suffering from a mild anxiety disorder.

[Funkapotamus]

not nervous about a particular issue. Just feeling nervous in General without justification. I am keeping up with my daily routines to an extend but anxiety interferes with my functional capabilities.
So what do you think I should do?
I think something on the subconscious level is bothering me or perhaps im suffering from a mild anxiety disorder.

Yeah I know where you're coming from. Unfortunately I too suffer from anxiety from time to time. No way near as bad as I chronically used to. But when it comes, it comes around hard and it doesn't go until I'm finished with the thing I'm feeling anxious about.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/depression/anxietydisorders_000017.htm

Those self help books help a lot, I've used 1 which I can't remember the title of off the top of my head, and the helped me a lot.

You might have a disorder. It sounds like I might have Panic, but I don't really know. You just need to meditate/pray and relax and keep yourself company with some hobbies. For me, nothing makes me happier and more energised than listening and playing guitar to my favourite songs. That's like a personal anti-depressant right there.

But man, I know what you mean about things not getting done and routines getting screwed up though. It's because it's crippling. It attacks your energy levels and then you feel sort of sick and don't want to go or anything.

But just get yourself a failsafe. An art or craft you'll enjoy or a band you love that can life you out of an attack.

[Shenron]

It is very possible that there could be something going on with your subconscious. It may be that you have a chemical imbalance which can cause anxiety. Has anything happened in your life recently that was major? How about depression, are you experiencing any of that?

Edit: Just thought of something else, have you been experiencing a lot of stress recently? What about addicting substances like caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine? Have you stopped using any of these things recently?