I would recommend you familiarize yourself with EFT emofree.com and there are many good videos on youtube for EFT for the anxiety and even the bipolar disorder. Megadosing fish oil works for me (3000-6000mg/day in divided doses with food). Also, I had A LOT of anxiety and panic attacks during nursing school and I used l-theanine (brand called Theanine Serene is the best imho) 200mg/day in divided doses. I concur with LuellaMay that examining the diet would do well. See if you may have food allergies ,etc. Mostly rawfoods, fresh greens salads (greens are very balancing) fresh fruit (not too sweet) and fatty fish (salmon,sardines,etc) if you eat meat. I've never taken ativan personally but I have taken zoloft and hated it. Stopped it right away because I couldn't work and instead I went and had a lot of talk therapy at a bible church for free. If you are worried about the cost of scripts Walmart has a four dollar program and my husband gets his meds for $4! Anyway, please do not discontinue your meds without your doctor's guidance. You can do it! I'll be praying for you.

Have you looked into using Bach Flower Remedies? By helping you rebalance your energies, they treat the root of your troubles rather than trying to cover them up or alter your feelings with drugs. Each of the 39 essences treats a different emotional condition - and when those conditions are in balance, physical healing often follows.

Many people have been able to wean themselves from those life-threatening drugs with this simple and inexpensive treatment. There's no worry about drug interactions, allergies, or addiction - and they are safe for everyone from babies to pregnant ladies to the elderly.

Go to http://www.feelbach.com
to read about how they work, and to get a formula made especially for you.

I wish you success!

The other responses listed good things to try, but you could add to them a parasite cleanse like humaworm or Miracle-Mineral-Supplement , whole body cleanse, cleanse everything and alkalize your body, master cleanse. A parasitic infection can cause depression, anxiety, and your symptoms probably too. Who could feel good with invaders and 85%+ of people have them so de-worming annually/bianually is essential. With Miracle-Mineral-Supplement , work your way up from one drop upwards and follow the protocol, i-amperfectlyhealthy.com has it and the folks there are very helpful if you call with your problem, they'll tell you what you need to order and nothing you don't need. God bless.

Check out this website http://www.truehope.com


They have a product called EMPowerplus. It works for a lot of people with bipolar Depression and depression. It is about $70 per month, if you order a whole years supply. But I would just start out on one months supply at first, just to make sure you dont waste your money and see if it actually works on you. It is slightly more if you order one months supply. And once you are on it for a few months you can see if you can reduce your dose. (which a lot of people do)

It just full of vitamins and minerals. You have to take it 3 times a day. I have Depression and it has worked for me. Also, there has been 2 medical trials that have been published in the medical journals about this stuff. There is currently more trials on this. Lastly, a doctor from Harvard tried this (by accident) and prescribes it t his patients.

This is only a small portion of my experience, and thank you for "listening", and I hope it helps you. Not everyone is the same, but everyone has to take their health into their hands:
I have suffered from Depression for the past 7 years. I took anti depressants, Wellbutrin300mg, Zoloft, Prozac60mg, Paxil, and more-- you name it, I’ve taken it, and even all on the same day as prescribed by my Dr. (Looking back, that was irresponsible and even insane I think on the part of my doctor and alot of Drs. Actually, I think it’s medical malpractice.) Antidepressants made me feel numb. Literally numb. Brain dead. I would just there with my mind in blank–words could not even come out of my mouth because I could not think, that's why I avoided people--I did not want anyone to see me brain dead. My memory went blank, I had none. I was sleeping 24/7, had to quit my job, just got up to drop off my kid to school and pick him up in the afternoon. Yet, so weird, that other days I was able to go shopping and spend money where I did not have, as I was unable to work due to the depression, that’s when my Dr told me a slight possibility of me being BiPolar. There, I knew he was full of it. I knew I wasn’t getting any better with the medications. I was getting worse, and the worse I would get the more medications he would prescribe. I changed Doctors and the same thing, changed some for more meds. I don’t think there is a medication that cures depression, at worst, these medications are “carcinogens.” Look at their own “medication warnings” in their fine print that causes cancer in rats. I think everyone should take their health on their own hands, either medically prescribed or natural, you need to take your health on your own hands. The third
doctor that I went told me that my problem was that I was over medicated and that he had to wean myself out of the many antidepressants I was taking that was making me feel worse. I was able to do it in two weeks but seeing him every other day (expensive!! But I was desperate for a cure). He lowered the dose until I was with zero meds. Then he told me next time when you come back we will start you on a new program. (Ha ha ha) He thought I was going to fall for that again and start ‘drugging’ myself again with no improvement. No way. I never went back to him. Although I appreciated how he helped me wean myself out of the anti-depressants. But, he was not going to take me for another ride.
WHAT HAS WORKED FOR ME:
I’ve tried many, many, natural alternatives, too, like holistic doctors, iriologists, diet, etc., to receive only 10% improvement. (Better than what the drugs did anyway). But, the one that has helped me at 50% improvement are the Natural Hormone Pellets. I drive 1-1/2 each way (total 3 hours) every month, but it’s worth it. At least I am not sleeping during the day and all day any
more, and I’m cleaning my house, etc. For the remainder of the 50% left, I am doing the parasite and Candida right now. I already did the Liver Cleanse and during that week I had no Depression feelings at all for the entire week, and am planning to do it again next week, and again, and again, until I find the “cure.” Certainly the cure is not in the “drugs.” I, however, am honest and can tell you that I cannot wean myself off the anti-anxiety medications. I really wish I could. My goal is to repeat these cleanses over and over again until I am able to do so. Thank you for listening.