Ignore all these people going on Tom Cruise style rants against SSRIs. If it makes you a complete zombie or you hate how it makes you feel, just try a different one, Jesus Christ people.
My two cents as someone who’s also struggled with bad anxiety (and still sometimes struggles, despite it getting better and easier with time and practice…)
A: stick with therapy. Especially if and when you start to feel better. Don’t bail at the first sign of improvement.
B: don’t be prideful about taking SSRIs. While I agree with the overall sentiment of over prescription etc, if you feel you need them (and let’s be real, you’re posting on let’s run about this, you probably do) just do it.
C: MINDFULNESS. Echoing what a lot of previous commenters have underlined. The biggest help for me was teaching myself to not resist or try to reduce anxiety when I noticed it.
It’s like a Chinese finger trap, the harder you resist and pull against whatever unpleasant feelings you’re experiencing, the tighter they will grip you.
Anxiety is basically an emotional response (overreaction) to a thought you’re experiencing. It sounds very Buddha/zen, and frankly like BS at first, but don’t judge your thoughts. Let them pass like cars on a highway. It’s more to do with attitude than you’d think. There’s no right way to address anxiety thoughts other than noticing them and letting your brain keep chugging along.
Give yourself a pass to feel bad when you do and keep up the running! Best luck.