i have had anxiety on and off - crowded places / bright lights / when focus becomes on me - i have fainted twice from this- in public i fear it reocurring - deep breaths no good causes further dizzy - sip water is better... any suggestions to help ?

Hi Just-asking,

It sounds like you may have symptoms of social anxiety disorder. It is not unusual (with this disorder) to feel dizzy and anxious when you are around a lot of people and particularly if the focus is on you.

You mention that deep breaths don't help you. If those make you more dizzy then you probably aren't breathing correctly. My guess is you are taking shallow breaths or hyperventilating and that is making the dizziness worse.

Deep breaths, when done correctly, can be very helpful towards calming feelings of anxiety. The next time you start to feel this way, if possible, find a place to sit down and breathe very slowly and from your diaphragm (deep within your abdomen) - breathe in on three slow counts and then slowly let the air out (on three slow counts). Do that for a few minutes and your symptoms should lessen a bit.

If these symptoms persist and cause you significant distress (e.g., you start avoiding certain places and situations, or always feel anxiety when in a crowd) you may want to consider working with a therapist. There are many techniques you can learn to help manage your anxiety so that you won't have to always be fearful that your symptoms will reoccur.

Thanks Cheryl, i previously had similar anxiety 8 or so years ago befor i went back to uni. My GP put me on some anti-depressent mediaction (can't remember the name) but it releived the anxiety, i only used it for about 6 months or maybe less before i stopped taking it & everything was fine - i think the simple calmness that put onto me helped me to remove those anxiety feelings mentally. BUT 8 years later it has come back, maybe 7 really because it has resurfaced over the past 9-12 months probably as personal stresses have increased - financial, things in proffessional life not going to plan etc. I was thinking of going back to my old GP and getting her to prescribe the medication again with my personal view a short period on this will re-build my mental perception of situations as it did previously eg - less than 6 months on the medication. Obviously a clinical pysycologist may also be a good idea.

What are your thoughts on going back to the medication that quickly change my mental perception of it over a very short period ? I'm certainly not one to rely on drugs over extended periods.

My apologies for not getting back to you sooner!

As a general rule, I almost never recommend medication as the only treatment for most disorders. The reason for this is because while medication may reduce or alleviate the symptoms for awhile, they almost always return once the medication is discontinued. Also, medications have side effects - some mild and some more troubling - for most people. Also, many disorders are triggered by underlying issues and aren't simply caused by biochemical imbalances alone. Medication won't address the underlying issues or help people find ways to manage their symptoms.

In your case, it is definitely worth considering going back on the medication for a short period of time as it was very effective for you.

However, I would also recommend that you do other things to help your anxiety (and overall mental health) including regular exercise if you aren't doing that already (cardio exercise like jogging, brisk walking, biking, swimming) (of course, get your doctor's okay before you start); yoga (excellent for anxiety); meditation; and / or relaxation exercises (e.g. progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery). Each of these help reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress if done regularly. They are also beneficial to anyone's overall mental and physical health, regardless of whether or not they have a specific disorder.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the very best!