New to the Crew

[Jessabee80]

Hello! I am looking for any natural alternatives to medication (which is a last resort for me) as I was recently prescribed Zoloft and reading the reviews for that particular medication caused a lot of concerns. If anyone has their own personal experiences to add with whatever medications they are taking for a panic disorder that are also hypertensive, I would enjoy reading that as it pertains to my own situation. I've had Generalized Anxiety Disorder for the last 5 years with Agoraphobia as well as mild PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I'm just trying to find ways to get my life back and not just mask the symptoms with medication but honestly find ways to break through all this.

[Loveydovey0519 Ambassador]

Welcome here! I myself am on medication so I cannot really give pointers to other herbal remedies per say. But reading self help books, talking about it, therapy can all be great ways to cope.

[Bebetterme]

Hey! I was recently prescribed Zoloft and Vistaril for my anxiety and panic attacks and have refused to take either of them. The thought of having to depend on meds to make me feel like myself scares me. I'm on the road to my first therapy appointment next week, I'm hoping that she can teach me some ways to cope. I hope you can find something that works for you. It's frustrating how most doctors love shoving meds down your throat. hang in there.

[AngelAmy1111]

Hi JessaBee, I have had anxiety on and off since I was in college. It recently came back really badly when I broke up with my husband of 25 years. Being aware of the triggers are key. Here I was at 42 with a daughter, a house, dog and a stressful job. It was too much. And no family to help. I do have to say, that some of us need a prescription, whether long term or short term. And when you find the right one, it really helps to get you back to a stable place so we can function in life and take care of ourselves, our children, and go to work.

I had a prescription for Ativan (low dose .5mg once in morning and once at night). That kept me going when it was really bad the first couple of months after he left. Every morning I had anxiety attacks. And every night I hated going to bed alone. Totally triggered by childhood abandonment. But anyway,that RX works well for short term panic attacks. (Valium and Xanax are in the same class, Benzodiazepines. Only thing I didn't know, ifs after a year, it's harder to get off of them. You have to taper off slowly over 8-12 weeks.

My regular doctor prescribed Lexapro first when i said I wanted to get off the Ativan. Took one Lexapro and had a panic attack... no good. Then I got a RX for Zoloft and read the side effects, and talked with my naturopath who knows me sooo well and she said, don't start the zoloft, it's even harder to get off of than the Ativan.

I wanted to mention a number of other supplements and things I do to stay in balance that have been really working well the past year. With the help of my naturo-pathic doctor, she has me on:

B12 1000mg /day

L-Theanine

Niacin (Niacinamide is better) 100-400mg a day, reduces anxiety

(All B vitamins are good for the nervous system).

5HTP 100-200mg a day

Lavela (natural Lavender oil pills. $35 for 2 month supply. works pretty well to calm the system!)

Then at night I take

600 mg Inositol

500 mg GABA (boosts serotonin in brain)

I do yoga weekly. Meditation on Sundays for an hour at a local yoga studio.

I journal every night, write out my fears, then I ask "what do I really want?" I know I don't want the fear and worry about stuff I can't control. So then I write what I want to create in my life. And keep going into my "New Story" and start the sentences with 'I AM..." I am feeling more postitive everyday. Good things are coming. I release the past and move into the new. I am surrounded by good friends. I love...." If you cna make a list of 15 things you love that starts to switch the brain as well.

Alternate nostril breathing (look up on google) is great. And smelling lavender essential oil. I carry one with me in the car and by my bedside.

What you think about before you go to sleep stays with you for the next 8 hours! So i choose Youtube videos on "meeting your spirit guide" or hypnosis for positive thinking,

or Ekhart Tolle is really good, author of A New Earth, he explains the ego/unhappy self and how to find happiness and peace from the fearful thoughts we all have. Just search his name on Youtube and browse the videos. They are all great.

And I try to walk outside about 20 mins after work. Or when I can. I have a dog so that's a good thing- then I have to walk.

I also have a therapist- get a good one- someone you really like and can trust (and can afford!) I talk to her weekly and we don't sit and talk about the negative things, or the past (I did that 15 years ago with another therapist for a couple years digging up the childhood stuff). So my new therapist is more like a life coach, and helps to make the connections between the thoughts we think and how to re-train the brain so it doesn't keep taking those neuro-pathways down the track to fear and worry. Not easy to rewire a brain that has been over thinking for years! You can look up EMDR. I am doing 'Havening" which is another form of rewiring the brain.

Good luck! Hope this helps other people too!

Amy

[Jessabee80 in reply to AngelAmy1111]

This is awesome information. I've been taking Magnesium 400mg in the day and 400mg at night, which I'm sure is more than I should be, but so far it's been helping with palpitations (major trigger for panic attacks) and helping me sleep. I will look into the B-Vitamins, I recently bought B Complex which has all of them and only recently have learned about GABA and 5 HTP. I'm in therapy but it doesn't seem to be doing much lately as she keeps canceling our appointments. I've even gone as far as to buy Psychology books on the Shadow Self. It's definitely a journey but I'm trying everything I can before getting on any serious medication.

As for the agoraphobia, the only way to get through that is exposure therapy which I keep putting off lol, but I think now that the weather is getting warmer I'm going to do it. Thank you for all this information and I wish you the best in your journey as well.

[gogogirl]

I tried 5 htp and gaba for anxiety and depression. I know that everybody is different.

[Bluswife]

Hi everyone I have had anxiety and depression and panic attacks off and on my whole life and when I was 18 I had horrible episode so I tried some meds dident work so Dec of 2016 started with another episode the Dr put me on xanax and that's the best thing he could of done I was so bad I could end get out of bed for bout three weeks and now I only take them as needed I Still have bad days but I am dealing but I know I'd it gets to bad I do have a med and I like the fact that it dosent last all day it comes in dos it job calms me I rest sometimes and in a few hours it's gone