Posted by Lao Tzu on September 26, 2012, at 13:09:13
In reply to Best combo for Depression/Anxiety/Insomnia?, posted by Agomelatinehope on September 14, 2012, at 19:27:12
The ones you listed are worth trying. Some of them can be very helpful. What is your diagnosis exactly? Before you take any supplements, it is necessary to know what your official diagnosis is.
For severe depression, you may need some kind of antidepressant medication or antidepressant like supplement, say St. John's Wort or SAM-e. Next, you need good nutrition, which means eating well, or if you don't eat well, then getting the whole range of vitamins and minerals will really help. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can help as well. B vitamins, in the right dosages, are very helpful for depression. For anxiety, there are some herbs out there that can help. Avena sativa is good for nervous exhaustion. I take it everyday, and it doesn't seem to interact with my medication. Ashwaghanda might be good too, and to help with sleep. Minerals like magnesium and zinc might help a little with anxiety, but I don't think it is a cure. You need a balanced, holistic approach. Good nutrition, perhaps a little medication, vitamins and minerals, certain herbal tonics. I take GABA at night, and although it doesn't help me sleep by itself, I feel better the following day. A little melatonin, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B1 may help you sleep better, but there's no guarantee. There are a lot of reasons why people don't sleep well, and it's hard to say because there are numerous mental health conditions as well as tons of physical ailments that cause insomnia. You may need a sleep med like a lot of people. I know one thing that helped me sleep better---don't smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol excessively. Try and go to bed the same time every night, including the weekends. Your circadian rhythms will get used to a predictable schedule, and you may sleep better. I've heard Ashwaghanda may help with sleep. I've never had a lot of success with herbs, but I suppose this is one you could try. Also, drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bed might help. For me, 1mg of melatonin, 200mg magnesium citrate(or glycinate), 400IU of natural vitamin E, 100mg of Vitamin B1, and 500mg of GABA is the concoction that helps me get a more restful sleep. There are some OTC sleep aids that have hit the market recently. You could try one of them too if the vitamins don't work. Benadryl can be used occasionally for sleep. It has diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Also, a sleep machine with soothing sounds always calms me down. You need a quiet, dark, and cool place to sleep. Good luck!
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:1025667
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20120530/msgs/1026721.html