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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on July 30, 2005, at 18:20:04
I've never had much of a problem with depression (until I was on SSRi's) but in general, I'm not a depressed person.
However, I have struggled with severe anxiety and panic attacks the past year. The anxiety was just overwhelming at one point-- if anything the anxiety caused me to become depressed becuase I could not rid myself of it no matter what I did or how much I prayed.
Anyway, I am doing SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better with this anxiety issue now. I still have it (but it's manageable and it doesn't run my life).
A few things I have done that I think have been very helpful and wanted to share are:
1) Learning how to breathe properly. I was a chest breather and breathing WAAAY too fast and too hard. I have learned that the breathing techniques are NOT just crock (which is what I initially thought) but they really do help.
Twice I have stopped a panic attack in it's tracks by my breathing.2) I've been on Mannatech now for 3 months. When I started them, I was very sick (fevers, fatigue, anxiety, blood sugar issues, etc..). I'm not a big believer in all these vitamins/herbs/minerals but I can definitely tell that my energy has increased, my moods are lighter, and I sleep much better. They aren't miracle pills in the least but they have helped. (don't worry, I don't sell them!). ROFL
3) getting back on my treadmill and exercising.
After being so sick, I had totally stopped running. I just couldn't do it physically. So about 3 weeks ago, I just started out slow and have just been walking 2 miles a day. I've already noticed a difference.4) drinking LOTS of water. I mean about 70-80 ounces per day.
These things have helped me. I always attribute any good thing in my life to God so I don't want to leave Him out of the equation- I know prayer has had lots to do with my recovery as well so never underestimate the power of that.
Anyway, just thought I'd share my 2 cents.
Posted by nolvas on July 30, 2005, at 19:29:45
In reply to a few things that I know have helped me; anxiety, posted by spriggy on July 30, 2005, at 18:20:04
You get ups and downs with anxiety, some days I feel confident and great and other days the anxiety comes from nowhere and makes me worried and nervous. It's a strange condition this anxiety. I think even eating the wrong things can trigger your body's anxiety response.
I don't really understand how I can feel confident one day and think I'm fine I can go and do things easily that normally make me anxious and then the next day I feel like I'm back to square one. This can even happen in the course of day.
Learning to relax helps you. Learning to think differently will help you, learning to distract yourself from the anxiety is obviously helpful as well.
Even though there's a definite biological component to anxiety and panic, the power of thought seems to be able to overcome the anxiety. I've seen hypnotherapy in conjunction with NLP techniques rid people of phobias in less than an hour. The psychological component of anxiety seems to be the part that has the most effect on the condition.
You can inject an anxiety prone person with Sodium Lactate and bring on an anxiety attack which negates the psychological component of anxiety if done in a double blind placebo test, but conversely you can think of a situation in which you feel anxious and bring on anxiety or even a panic attack. Anxiety is a double edged sword.
Basically I feel that this condition is best changed by having the techniques to think differently and this will eventually weaken the condition. Sometimes looking for supplements or pharmaceuticals can be an excuse not to deal with the anxiety. At present they are a way of dealing with anxiety.
Posted by spriggy on July 30, 2005, at 23:35:41
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxi, posted by nolvas on July 30, 2005, at 19:29:45
*makes mental note to self to stay away from Sodium Lactate*
ROFL
Posted by Declan on July 31, 2005, at 16:01:43
In reply to a few things that I know have helped me; anxiety, posted by spriggy on July 30, 2005, at 18:20:04
Hi Spriggy
Are you taking Ambrotose or what?
I'm still taking some Ambrotose AO, a couple in the morning.
Declan
Posted by spriggy on July 31, 2005, at 17:11:04
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxiety, posted by Declan on July 31, 2005, at 16:01:43
I take Ambrotose, Glycentials, and Plus.
I take 1 1/2 Ambrotose, 1 Glycential, and 1 Plus per day.
I give my autistic son the other half of my Ambrotose pill per day as well (and he seems to be really improving in all sorts of ways as well).
Posted by nolvas on July 31, 2005, at 20:06:30
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxiety, posted by spriggy on July 31, 2005, at 17:11:04
I notice you mention your son is autistic. It reminded me of this study. It's quite interesting and there's more info regarding Carnosine and autism on the internet.
Posted by MM on August 5, 2005, at 2:24:09
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxi, posted by nolvas on July 31, 2005, at 20:06:30
I've never heard of most of the supplements? listed here so I'm curious if they are not from the US? And also, spriggy, have you ever tried L-theanine? I'm thinking of trying that one but all this supplement stuff is sort of overwhelming for me...I'm not sure if I have to take an amino supplement with it etc. Breathing has helped me and honestly panic attacks are just something I kind of accept although I really wouldn't want to have a full blown one in front of people, but the constant keyed-up anxiety stuff is just exhausting and I'd love to find something instead of Klonopin to use. Sorry if all this stuff is mentioned on the board, I'm working my way through.
MM
Posted by nolvas on August 5, 2005, at 19:58:50
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxi, posted by MM on August 5, 2005, at 2:24:09
L-Theanine is very mild it doesn't help me with panic attacks. Phenibut is much stronger you notice that work, but it's not nice like being heavily stoned and dizzy.
You are probably wondering what does work? Well the only really effective thing I've found is benzos. Lecithin and Omega Oils seem to help a bit. I'm trying chelated magnesium, only started today so too early to tell. I would think a decent extract of Kava Kava would work. I will get round to trying some from konakavafarm.
This site lists a lot of the supplements that have been tried for anxiety
http://www.netriceuticals.com/articles.asp?id=16
I have Panic Attacks with avoidance (Agoraphobia), what I'm learning is that the only way to overcome this disorder is down to the person. They must be determined and it's down to you and no one else, if you can't rid yourself of the problem then no one else can do it for you. However it's entirely possible to beat this disorder from what I read :)
You may find this site helpful >
http://www.anxietycoach.com/index.htm
One thing to remember with a panic attack is no matter how frightening it is, you won't faint (your Blood Pressure rises, it needs to fall for your body to kick in it's survival response which is fainting and lower your head and protect you to keep blood flowing to the brain) and you won't go crazy, you won't get psychosis from panic attacks.
A friend of mine recommended this book >Panic Attacks Workbook A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick.
So Im gonna buy that.
Posted by MM on August 5, 2005, at 22:26:50
In reply to Re: a few things that I know have helped me; anxi, posted by nolvas on August 5, 2005, at 19:58:50
I have panic/anxiety/agoraphobia too and I'm currently going to a therapist (I've tried it before and didn't like it so I didn't go for very long with any one therapist) so I'm hoping that will help. I am currently using a benzo (Klonopin at night before bed) but I think it's causing some memory problems and maybe depression so hopefully in the future I'll find something else that works. I guess Lecithin is something I need to try as I've seen it on here quite a bit. I just kind of wanted to say I'm Agoraphobic too so I'll be looking out for your posts. Thanks.
MM
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