Suggestions on how to deal with anxiety? preferably not medication. bad experience with ssris. i have problems falling asleep and no appetite. thanks.

Therapy?: Have you yet tried any form of psychotherapy? Typically, the optimal combination of things to treat emotional issues such as anxiety or depression is medication (which, on your best day, is supposed to take the edge off symptoms) but the real gruntwork takes place in psychotherapist's consulting room.

Many choices: SSRI s are really antidepressants and may make anxiety worse Meds such as Xanax (alprazolam) are better alternatives Non medicinal options include meditation,yoga acupuncture sport hobbies including music and reading!?

Anxiety: Anxiety always starts somewhere with a true threat, although we don't need to search forever to find the source. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing could both be extremely helpful. Because anxiety has thought, emotion and body sensation elements, EMDR can often produce profound rapid change. Look up EMDRIA for a provider.

Two prong approach: While it is doubtful there is a physical problem, it is possible. You want to get a complete physical check up. You also should have a psychiatric evaluation. You and your doctor will consider if there are psychological issues causing these symptoms or whether you have a depression and or anxiety disorder that might have a biological origin. Treatment may require medication, therapy or both.