All Anxiolytics Are Not Drugs

I do not take benzodiazepines like Xanax, Ativan, Valium, etc., yet I suffer a form of constitutional anxiety. I don't use cannabis either, but I do use the amino acid L-Theanine in 100 mg doses. It is not a drug, but it takes the edge off my anxiety, which can raise my blood pressure. I would have rapid heart beat like you do, but I take a medication for a mitral valve prolapse, the symptom of which is rapid heartbeat, so that symptom is controlled. I am familiar with the vicious cycle of one level of anxiety giving rise to a whole new level of anxiety replete with more specific fears of heart attack. Ask your physician if it's cool to try L-Theanine. A friend of mine who had used benzodiazepines, sometimes to excess, has replaced that habit with 200 mg L-Theanine, with good results.

Aside from this amino acid, I suggest calling around to hypnotherapists in your area, and asking them if they have had good results in treating anxiety. I do, and I can usually uncover the source and remove or greatly diminish it in 2-3 sessions. There is more than one way to skin a cat as the expression goes, and CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another often effective technique, but hypnotherapy is a briefer intervention. Here is the board I belong to: www.natboard.com . Consider looking for a practitioner in your area, and don't be shy to ask questions. Be sure to check with your physician before using OTC substances.