Posted by Geoffrey R. on January 18, 2004, at 4:04:04
In reply to Re: GABITRIL (tiagabine) new anti-anxiety drug??, posted by further on November 9, 2003, at 21:05:31
Hello,
I am new to this group, and I apologize if this question is way off topic, but I was just wondering if anybody has tried supplementing his/her pharmaceutical medication(s)with anything like certain vitamins (eg. B-vitamins), minerals (eg. Magnesium, Calcium), Omega-3 fish oil, methylating agents (eg. SAMe, Trimethylglicine[TMG]), adaptogenic herbs (eg. Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha), amino acids/anti-depressants (eg. 5-Hydroxy-L-Tryptophan [5-HTP], DLPA, Tyrosine), and/or adrenal hormones (eg. DHEA, Progesterone). And has anybody noticed any mood/anxiety effects related to diet (eg. hypoglycemic conditions)? And what about stress-relieving activities (eg. "conventional" exercise, Yoga, meditation, psychotherapy, journaling/"creative activities," body work [massage, acupuncture, Reiki, etc.], etc.)? Again, I know this is off the topic, but I was just wanting to get a sense of other factors that might be involved in the lives of the people on this list, and what things, besides pharmaceutical medications, might be helping relieve your psychiatric symptoms. I have been severely depressed and anxious for YEARS, and I have had a terrible time finding any kind of relief from medications or anything else for that matter. "Finally" I have recently been able to start getting some light exercise, and I am realizing, with the help of "Eastern" medical practitioners and increased self-awareness and honesty, that I have serious energy blockages in my (energetic-level) body due to coping with traumatic experiences in very dysfunctional ways from early on in my life. I have experienced so much traumatic loss in my life, but instead of seeking support and learning to accept and experience the grief and move through it, I have constantly dissociated from this painful and overwhelming emotion and have (unconsciously) let it get stuffed and stuck in my heart (chakra). I am realizing that with all the medications I have tried through the years, nothing could have helped me as long as I was in denial of the reality of this toxic build-up of painful emotion, and was stuck in the fearful/anxious habit of avoiding awareness of this stuff and engaging in addictive-escaping-numbing behaviors. Wishfully and desperately seeking medication that could relieve me of all this agitation and depression was actually feeding in to the pattern of avoidance, because I was seeking resolution without having to do anything Willfully. I guess I'm writing this to say that I am realizing that medication cannot be expected to resolve the entire psychiatric dysfunctionality. Maybe this is obvious to most or all people. I don't know. But, in any case, I see that ultimately-- even when I hopefully find some significant relief through medications/supplements/etc. from the horrible suffering that my doctors have diagnosed as PTSD, Dissociative/Depersonalization Disorder,and Major Depression-- I must face myself and my losses and pain and grief, and dig down deep for the courage and strength and faith to accept it and let it go. For so long I was seeking numbness and emotional amnesia. I was wanting to believe that I was strong because I could endure major blows and move on like it was nothing whereas others would have totally collapsed. I had to go to the brink of spiritual death itself to finally realize that I had not escaped unscathed, and that the empowerment I thought I had was actually based in a most cruel delusion. I am so grateful to have a second chance at life despite how unbelievably difficult my life continues to be. Though I am still terrified of the painful feelings and awarenesses inside of me, I hope to return to that place in me... the place of true self-empowerment. I realize now that the numbness was actually the worst hell possible. It was lifelessness.
Anyway, I just wanted to share these thoughts. I think I am wanting to say that it seems that perhaps "we" can become a little too caught up and over-focused on medications as the ultimate solution to our psychiatric disabilities. I'm not saying they are bogus, just as I wouldn't say that putting a cast on a broken leg is a bogus treatment. Debilitating anxiety is just that, 'debilitating.' I have been taking Klonopin and Seroquel, and I just started on Lamictal. But for once, I am not expecting these medications to save me and cure me. I am just hoping that the Lamictal (along with the other stuff, etc.)can help free me up enough so that I can gain some control and strength so I don't have to constantly be living in a state of fear and terror and avoidance.
Anyway, thanks for letting me say these things. I hope it makes sense and is appropriate (to some degree) to this discussion. Good luck to all.
poster:Geoffrey R.
thread:86944
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/302228.html