. Waking up in the morning with high anxiety. I take Kratom to alleviate the anxiety.
Kratom might be making things worse, as it's stimulant properties can be anxiogenic. I would personally stay away from any stimulants, even mild ones like caffeine as there is a very clear relation between people with anxiety and stimulants serving as a trigger.
The most helpful thing for me, at least in the long run, has been form of talk therapy and group therapy. CBT and DBT in particular. They are far from an immediate fix, and although I did generally feel better immediately after therapy, it can't really be compared to something like taking a benzo that completely alleviates all anxiety. The goal of therapy isn't to remove all anxiety, instead, possibly change one's reaction to anxiety.
Anxiety is the fuel to life, and something that all people(and probably animals) will experience on a regular basis. If we never experienced any anxiety, we would be dead as a species long ago, for we wouldn't respond to danger or threats. If we never experienced anxiety, dangerous situations would appear just like safe ones. The problem becomes when we start experiencing anxiety that seemingly serves no function, and instead seems to inhibit function.0
Anxiety and panic disorders are something we are still attempting to fully understand. I personally think that giving someone medications like benzos without talk treatment is setting someone up for failure. I believe at the core of a lot of panic and anxiety disorders is a fear of anxiety and panic itself, that ultimately compounds upon itself and feeds itself. I know for myself, just the thought of social anxiety in a social situation is enough to set me off at times, and without paying close attention to my thought process and breathing, things can easily get away from me.
But by far the biggest relief from anxiety, for me, is interacting with someone who I truly consider a friend and know they consider me one as well. We are social creatures, and I think there is something innate about our physiology that promotes social activity, things like anxiety from isolation and joy from socialization with the right people.
