I wish medication would work for me, but any anxiety medication I've taken has wrecked my memory, which is a side effect I just can't deal with. So I'm looking for more ideas for ways to cope without medication. 

My current favorites are exercise, chocolate, and slow breathing. 

Also, anxiety tends to creep up on me and I don't notice it unless I'm having a full-blown panic attack. I'd like to learn to recognize it sooner so I can manage it more effectively. How did you guys learn to recognize your anxiety before it exploded?