Look up mindfullness meditation, it's a technique recommended and taught by more and more therapists. One great thing about it is that with practice it becomes more effective. Just the opposite of tranquilizers.

Although I understand where many members of this thread are coming from recommending psychedelics I believe it would be unethical for us to do so in this situation. Nathaniel I don't mean this as an insult because you are obviously a very intelligent individual, but you seem to be a young man. Your will hasn't turned to steel yet. A full dose of a psychedelic could very well make things worse for you. At the end of the day, only you can decide whether it's a good idea or not, not me nor anyone else on this thread. If you were to do it, try microdosing. It's a much more safe alternative and you still get many of the therapeutic effects of the drug in question.

Nathaniel, you mentioned to me that your anxiety is taking form of a monster that watches you as you go to sleep. I've had experience in this and I overcame what the hand I was dealt. I would like you to go into more detail with what you meant. Feel free to pm me if you don't want to talk about it publically.

Other members on this thread recommended a therapist, it's a very good idea. If you manage to find a good one he/she will help you get to the bottom root cause of all of this. I can recommend some meditation techniques to help you release your anxiety and stress. I dealt with a lot of it myself at one point in my life

Focus on your breath and nothing else. The way your lungs feel when you pull in air and the release when you exhale. Try to be mindless as in, don't think many thoughts. But realize that a completely mindless state is unnatural and counter intuitive to meditation. Thoughts come and thoughts go. Let them come in and our naturally and don't reflect on them. You will find that the rate at which they come will decrease with time and experience. Eventually when you feel you understand the specifics of this technique add in another layer. Visualize when you breath in, a soothing blue light. Lets call this pure energy and when you exhale, a black light. This is representative of the anxiety and stress you feel. You don't have to actually see the lights, but know they are there. Remember playing make believe as a kid? You should be devoting a good 15-20 mins to this exercise if you want to get anything out of it.

This conversation started in 2013, seems the OP is doing well these days guys based on post activity and such?

-peace

Hi Dread,

Sounds like a right bugger!

I noticed the post started in 2013, but I thought I'd chip in just in case it's still bothering you.

If we were to go with the somewhat expected approach of suggesting psychedelics, I think perhaps something with legs but not completely overwhelming (LSD, Mesc, Shrooms, with a strong suggestion on Mesc) and someone there to talk the issue through. Alternatively, you might even want to knock out the psyches, and go with MDMA and word. Take the Mandy, and then sit there, and write. Talk to yourself about all these issues, and write about how they make you feel, and where you think they come from. Once you are done, go back over, think about what you've written, and edit it where you think is appropriate. At the end, you should have a written account of these fears, what triggers them, what you know about them, and hopefully a better understanding of what you face.

Another way is to read into cognitive fallacies (You are not so smart is a great book to start with), and learn how to outthink the issues you face.

There's also the more classic response of valium, which you should be able to get on prescription. I normally keep a supply of valium about for psychedelic emergencies or to close off a night of stimulants, but I also used them when I encounter stress (like this month, I have a move, two mags to put together, an event to organise and a trip to US to speak, with a ton of other moving pieces to consider). If you are unfamiliar with them, while it doesn't so much as remove or resolve the problem, it definitely helps you not care, and is essential stuff if you are feeling anxious before having to go into social situations. I used to have them for anxiety attacks, but they kind of fell by the side after my dabbling with LSD and Mescaline.

The other one is simply more exercise. One of the best problem solvers I have involves a cycle, padded shorts, and a 25 mile ride on a day where it spits warm rain. You end it feeling too much like a boss to care about anything else

As for the condition itself, it sounds like a psychosis that could be attributed to numerous mental health conditions, so it'd be impossible for me to give you any sort of suggest what the underlying condition is (if there is one!).

Also, figure out how you beat it in the past, and learn how to contain it. That way, you can mentally sidestep it in the future.