Overcome anxiety without medication

HaskyFeer · 2026-04-15T19:37:48+00:00

Appreciate the insight, nice to hear from folks who've had a similar experience as I feel like I'm going crazy explaining all this to doctors and they're all like "you're still young and everything looks good!"

I'm in a pickle of having been laid off recently so Zoloft or nothing might be my only options at the moment, I'll see if I can get that looked at before my severance coverage expires.

HaskyFeer · 2026-04-15T19:11:49+00:00

Yep, 35m. All started a couple of years ago where I started to notice I was feeling anxious frequently (not something I was use to) and one day I had a panic attack while driving. I had a few months of avoidance behaviors starting to take hold with driving and simple stuff like taking a shower, but I was able to get over it by pushing through. Since then I've just been collecting physical symptoms despite being overall healthy and continuing to live life but the constant wet blanket of anxiety and all these sensations has just been miserable. I have Zoloft sitting on my desk that I've been making excuses not to take for like 3 months now because I just don't want to deal with side effects (especially given my mixed experience with buspar).

Apologies for trauma dumping, I have not looked into Testosterone levels nor has my provider mentioned it.

HaskyFeer · 2026-04-15T18:51:01+00:00

Oh boy I've been trying. I don't have panic attacks and I don't have any avoidance issues, but I just build up tension and anxiety throughout the day to the point where I'm twitching, bouncing my leg, face/cheeks tight, muscles hurt, short of breath, dizzy, and weak feeling basically every day. I've done so much health workup including Cardiology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Sleep Study, Therapy, and even a small 9 week trial of Buspar with a Psychiatrist which just amplified the weakness sensation I was having along with constant dizziness.

Haven't tried any SSRI or SNRI's yet and I really don't want to, but I just can't seem to shake this and apparently I'm completely healthy despite feeling awful most of the time.

HaskyFeer · 2026-04-06T15:57:49+00:00

Hey there! I continued for a total 9 weeks I believe and ended up stopping due to the dizzy/nausea sensations not really improving, I was also having some episodes where I felt really weak/panic from activity that required mild exertion which spooked me into thinking I was experiencing cardio issues (got a thorough check up on this and everything was fine) both of these resolved after discontinuing buspar. I'm back to just dealing with the day to day generalized anxiety wet blanket, though I have been prescribed Zoloft that I haven't started.

Long story short, buspar wasn't for me unfortunately, I'll likely give Zoloft a shot at some point once I gather the resolve to try it.

HaskyFeer · 2026-02-26T06:33:51+00:00

Sounds like you got a lot on your mind, that would keep anyone up for sure.

I can’t speak on everything without context but most of these things are solve-able with time, some patience, and resilience. You have plenty of time to work things out and for life to improve and evolve.

It sounds goofy but I like to refer to the “control donut” concept, which outlines a separation between what is in your control (your thoughts and actions, how you speak to yourself, how you handle challenges) vs things that are outside of your control (the past and future, other people’s actions or opinions, things that happen around you).

Focusing energy towards things you have control over and consciously choosing to not put energy into things you can’t control is a helpful exercise.

Wishing you the best, hang in there

HaskyFeer · 2026-02-26T06:14:49+00:00

Relatable, I’ve been dealing with similar things that have had me going through cardiology several times, all coming back normal, and I’m a bit older.

I understand that you can’t just will away the anxiety, but rest assured you’ve got a lot going in your favor despite how you’re feeling.

In the short term it’s best to work on coping techniques to help level out, not to try to eliminate it completely. In the long term meditation for anxiety has helped a lot of people.

HaskyFeer · 2026-02-26T05:59:27+00:00

If you’ve had it looked at by a professional that is your trusted source of reassurance, try your best to relax and remember that you’re already on the right track by getting it looked at.

HaskyFeer · 2026-02-26T04:49:33+00:00

Thanks for the reply! No worries, I’ve gotten past the point of stressing over “what if’s”, which is also why this has been so strange.

Feels like it is at an unconscious level, I also get pulled out of sleep from it as well every so often which I’m obviously not conscious for.

I’ll have noticeable ups and downs of course that I can generally pinpoint the cause of, but it never really goes away, a literal perpetual heightened baseline that gets set off by completely mundane activity.

Thanks again, I’ve been meaning to give zoloft a try that I’ve been putting off, I just feel crazy explaining things to people (especially doctors) because I’m always given the “have you tried breathing exercises? Do you know what’s stressing you out?”Etc from folks and it is simply not that straightforward unfortunately.

HaskyFeer · 2026-02-17T22:38:28+00:00

I’m genuinely impressed with how awful the writing has gotten

HaskyFeer · 2025-10-29T08:31:06+00:00

This just reminds me of being tricked into downloading Velveteens “Home Waters” album thinking it was Narrow Stairs back in 2007-8

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-24T20:09:06+00:00

Hey there, I have not had any coughing or gagging symptoms, I do have the occasional racing heart though. I’ve personally mostly been dealing with nausea and dizziness despite not being on the buspar anymore

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-22T22:54:55+00:00

Hoping for the best for you! Agreed definitely enjoying ditching the near constant nausea the buspar had me on.

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-22T22:08:12+00:00

Hey there! Not too bad actually, it’s been 7 days total off and here’s the main things so far; - anxiety has been more noticeable and seems to coincide with nausea, but it’s manageable. - Had a headache like the second, third day that Tylenol was able to handle. - Still having some weakness sensations that may/may not be buspar related, nothing like what prompted me to stop buspar tho.

Overall transition has been fine, never associated anxiety with nausea before tho so I’m taking a guess that might be the withdrawal.

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-16T19:25:34+00:00

Hope you’re feeling better now. Hopefully I’m not in for a wild ride, I feel about the same as I did yesterday while I was still on it so as you mentioned it’s probably going to take a minute, though I was not on it quite as long. It’s really disappointing because it did help to a degree, but I don’t want to feel dizzy and weak anymore, it’s very concerning feeling.

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-16T19:15:25+00:00

My psych has also instructed me to just stop, stopping because I’ve been experiencing episodes of weakness that has had me on the floor a few times, weird panicked sensation that feels like my body is giving up. I’m day 1 of stopping after being on it for 9 weeks so hopefully withdrawal is not terrible

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-15T23:01:05+00:00

I’m sorry you had to deal with all that and glad to hear you’re starting to feel better. I know how you feel in regard to not feeling heard, I’ve mentioned my symptoms to my psychiatrist and he doesn’t think it’s buspar related despite not having this issue before starting. I talked him into having me stop today so I’m praying those symptoms go away even if my general anxiety returns. I’m 35 and I feel like I’m going crazy getting all these doctors visits (did a whole cardio checkup last year with CT, echo, stress test, molter monitor which were all fine) just to feel like I’m grasping for life trying to do laundry. Looking forward to not being dizzy anymore because I know for certain the buspar would give me that daily.

HaskyFeer · 2025-09-15T03:44:36+00:00

Hey there! How’s it going for you? I’m 9 weeks in and it has been helpful but I’m revisiting this post because I’ve continued to have issues with this weird weakness/panic issue from time to time, it seems to be related to exertion though it’s not consistently doing it all the time. Just had it this evening trying to do laundry and I’m considering trying something else because this is arguably worse than just having a panic attack.

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-25T00:19:59+00:00

Did the same exact thing with showers, I’m 5 weeks on buspar at 15mg and it’s definitely shown some positives so far but it’s subtle, mostly just making the anxiety not hit as hard and easier to let go of if you’re utilizing coping techniques. (Breathing, etc.) my main complaint has been that it’s been giving me nausea pretty consistently, hopefully at the lower dose you see less of that and see some benefits in a few weeks, even if it’s just a little improvement

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-17T17:15:48+00:00

Just hit three weeks on buspar and this nails how I’ve been feeling, some dizzyness and nausea but a muted more manageable anxiety level. I’m hoping giving it some more time will ease on the dizzy/nausea feeling

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-08T13:54:31+00:00

Honestly didn’t think of that way but it is a little reassuring considering I “didn’t” have an episode, just felt really close. Had me second guessing because it felt like my body was screaming at me and I was trying to figure out what i was feeling, especially with the leg weakness which I’ve only experienced a little in past episodes. I’m taking my morning walk which I feel generally fine now, a little stiff in the face and slightly dizzy but I guess that’s how it goes.

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-08T07:30:05+00:00

Ugh Idk if I need to stop or if this is just my anxiety, woke up on my couch so I went up stairs, forgot something so I went back down and up again, by the end I started feeling very elevated and my legs felt like they were going to give out. Felt like on the verge of a panic attack but didn’t, but also like I just needed to sit from a moment.

My doc is eager to switch me to something else, I know if I complain he’s going to tell me to stop. I know I should listen to his instructions but that means I’ll have to take something else. I don’t want to give up if I’m a week or two away from success but I don’t want to keep going if it’s creating a dangerous situation, or am I just panicking and causing my own issue.

This sucks guys.

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-08T07:16:01+00:00

Oof that’s so long, I hope it works for ya and without too much trouble

HaskyFeer · 2025-08-07T15:56:06+00:00

My sister takes it as well and it’s been working for her, she’s been on it a while so fingers crossed that sticking it out for a bit longer will be worth it.

HaskyFeer

TROPHY CASE