Posted by LOOPS on May 5, 2004, at 17:15:24
In reply to Re: Jury's In: GABA, posted by GabaGirl on May 5, 2004, at 13:06:26
Hiya again -
The stuff I buy I found out about from searching psychobabble - somebody recommended the site - not sure if I'm allowed to post it here, so maybe you do the search first on tryptophan and if that fails email me (LOUISA192@YAHOO.CO.UK).
It's like $12 for 4 ounces, 90% pure - really cheap and effective.
I'm so sorry about your past ordeal - these things really **** us up profoundly.
I have never been through what you have, but I have spent the last 28 years of my life suffering from anorexia, bulimia, social anxiety, low self-esteem etc etc and have made so many huge mistakes because of how I bad I feel. It all came to a crux about a year ago when my self-medicating with alchohol, pot, and endless nicotine gum and cigarettes just didn't work anymore AT ALL. This threw me into a mad panic as I just couldn't get a grip on anything. Nothing made ANY sense, and I felt so helpless. I was also completely alone due to my social anxiety - despite liking other people it would just stress me way out being around anybody, which was a shame, as people seem to like me too (how ironic).
I even have an amazing supportive husband, so felt really guilty for not doing better - although our relationship has been really tested due to my mood swings and impulsive behaviour. Sometimes I am not sure I can ever really learn to be loved.
Oh nothing like a good ramble is there!
I count myself very lucky I never got to go down the road of meds - actually that's wrong - when I initially started taking St Johns Wort, I ended up at my docs begging for emergency benzos to help me sleep. I knew they were dangerous, but the SJW had lifted me so far out of depression that I didn't want to give it up - but needed sleep. I never took them frequently, but did a few times a week (plus sometimes ambien).
Now after 2 weeks (is it more?) of being off these completely (and managing), I am wondering about re-bound anxiety I was getting after them (I would sleep, but wake up with ever-growing anxiety).
It has not been cheap going down this road of supplements. Lots of things worked a bit, then didn't, some worked better in combination (expense gaining) - and it takes ages to work out what is really WORTH it, and what isn't.
For instance, I tried L-theanine - it worked for a few weeks, but then I found I got ANXIOUS with it (?).
As I said before, the 5-htp was very weird, and never consistent in its effects.
I think after reading a few books I came to the conclusion to stop messing with my brain chemicals and focus on an orthomolecular approach - feeding with vitamins. This way I figure my body won't fight what I'm doing.
Today my GABA calm arrived. I note again it has l-tyrosine in it? If I want to take this in the evening will it stop me sleeping I wonder??
Well finally I am working again (I teach the piano but recently I have been trying to get some composition done as well and it's impossible with feeling so anxious).
Chile is an excellent place to live. I live in La Serena in the iv region (slap bang in the middle,above Santiago). If only the sea wasn't so damned cold!
Loops
poster:LOOPS
thread:319971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040418/msgs/343750.html