Are there any methods to prevent anxiety, depression?

[garet87]

For the last few months I have started to feel constantly on edge, nervous and paranoid. I immediately jump to absurd conclusions (for example I think my partner is cheating on me or lying to me, even though she would never do such things) and I am starting to hate going out with my friends on nights out. I am only 20 and until now have had a great social life, many friends and a happy family. But despite this, I still can't shift the nervous or anxious feeling I have. I am starting to lose sleep and my heart beats fast an I shake uncontrollably and random parts of the day. Me and my girlfriend have started to argue a lot lately about trust and I feel as though I am becoming a controlling Jealous partner because of this.
I feel as though I need to calm myself down but am at a loss as to how to go about it. I have tried many relaxation techniques and meditation but so far I haven't came across any that have worked. Any help would be very much appreciated as I really need to shift this feeling before I wreck my social life and my relationship completely.
Thanks

[grosvenor89]

"I think my partner is cheating on me or lying to me, even though she would never do such things" suggests a level of insecurity to me.

Although you may have tried some relaxation and meditative techniques, I'll provide you with some more to try, because many people have difficulty maintaining focus, and dealing with intrusive thoughts.

Practice a relaxation method, daily, and when needed, such as: (free) http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html or http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/mindbody/a/Meditation.htm or http://www.wikihow.com/Meditate or Yoga Nidra, (a series of easy mental exercises only; no flexibility required) at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/l.html Tai Chi, yoga, or Qi Gong, suits others better. Give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. It is free via the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com "EFT" & "EFT therapists"

Professional is best. - There is a version for use in public places, (if you want to, you can claim to have a headache, as you employ the acupressure massage/tapping your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind: "Even though I sometimes have feelings of anxiety/insecurity, I deeply and completely accept myself."

The following EMDR variant came from a book on treating insomnia for the depressed; I use it every night, and it is well worth trying. It seems to reduce distractions during the mindfulness relaxation methods, so I use it first. Keeping your head still, move your eyes first to the far left, then far right, and repeat this another 19 times. Each full sweep should take around a second. If you like, you can either subvocalise, or repeat: "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand ... up to twenty.

After this, allow your body to go limp, and relax for a short time. Then repeat the whole exercise, limpness, and relaxation twice. This may well be all you need. Others may require another round of the above.

Go to: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623 & http://www.healthjourneys.com/free_audio.asp & http://www.meditainment.com/stress-buster/ & http://www.freehypnosistreatment.com/meditationtreatment.html & http://www.meditainment.com/free-meditation-content/ which are all free.

[maolmuire]

I've dealt with the same thing. If you can avoid it, don't go the route of medications, but instead try exercise and meditation. Try to remember that it's only an anxiety attack and it's not life threatening. If natural methods don't work you may need to go on a anti-anxiety / depression drug like Effexor. I took Effexor for my anxiety and it worked great. If you do choose to use meds try to avoid benzodiazapines like Valium and Zanax. They are very addictive and believe me from experience, you don't want to be addictied to those and run out of pills, it's the most horrible feeling ever.