Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Faith,

I was just kidding about your counselor. It least you recognize that there is something wrong and you are trying to find the fix. The fix has this program in it. I truly believe that.

The rescue relief really seems to be helping my cat. I have mentioned her on other posts but I don't know if you have seen them. Read this post on the thread:

http://bbs.stresscenter.com/ev...851014146#7851014146

Poor baby.

I don't remember if you mentioned that you were having insomnia and she is hopeful to help you with 5-HTP. Haven't you noticed how people get drowsy and sleepy after eating turkey. If you have insomnia, this maybe a be able to help.

But with women there is also the issue of hormones and that maybe what she means when she says it is a chemical problem.

Here is another thing you might throw her way:

http://globalnutritionalcenter.com/prod226.aspx

She can check the ingredients so that she can get a better idea, but they have other stuff that are specific for womens other issues.

I have noticed from my reading of the ingredients that it does have kava kava, but they insist on the safety of the product so the amount of kava kava must be just enough to be effect and safe. That is what you need to look out for, and don't self medicate. You have to undergo testing and the doctors need to know you are taking this. I don't think the Rescue Relief is of any danger to anyone. It is very mild, and may be too mild for some people.

Well, I have to go now. I need to take breaks, both from sitting and from the forum. So, I'll check on stuff later.

TC

I'm taking Melatonin for insomnia. . .so I have that covered.

The 5-HTP doesn't make me tired. It gives me panic attacks. Sorry. . . it's not just turkey. I have to agree to disagree with you on that part . Turkey may have some of that in it, but it's really not the exact same thing.

Anyway. . . I'll see how I feel about it in a few days.

GMAN,

I wrote to someone from www.painstresscenter.com because I've heard they have great products by an old counselor.

This was what she wrote back:

Too much 5HTP may cause an increase in anxiety ~ especially if a person is lightweight (up to 130 pounds) or is sensitive to things overall, as you've indicated you are.

Your friend is right in recommending a low-dose HTP10; and the nice thing about the 10 milligram dose is that you can increase by single capsules until you find an amount that works for you.

I am only 132 and really sensitive to things, so I'm thinking of trying the 10mg dose. We'll see. . .that brand has other ingredients with it though so. . . hopefully it would work well for me. Just have to be brave and try it!

Hi Faith,

I am glad to see that you are showing your pro-activeness. From where I sit, that is great progress!

I am also glad that you found this counselor to interact with. I am sure there are many things that you discussed in a continual dialog that is difficult to get in an on line forum setting that sometimes sets up misunderstandings. I think that is great.

Sometimes, many medical professionals do not know or believe in natural supplements or holistic healing remedies. Their busy schedules, limit the amount of time they can spend researching information, and get most of their information from pharmaceutical agents. Nutriceutical therapies are something they leave for their patients to bring up and study. If it is not brought by the patient, then out you go and NEXT. That's just the way it is.

However, as was the case I mentioned about me. Of course, the Doctors made a mistake in giving me a prescription of a medication that had such devastating contra-indications and they should or do know better. Sure the pharmacist should have caught the error, but they didn't until I went to fill the prescription for a third time and there was another pharmacist on duty. The damage to my liver was done, what can they say? My bad?

They nearly killed me. If it weren't for the different pharmacist on duty that day, I would have been killed from the destruction that was being done to my liver. Thank God for the pharmacist that caught the mistake.

When I brought it up with the Doctor, they went into denial. Can you imagine how angry that made me feel? I had to change my diet, and supplements until I was in the clear and that was nearly a year later. Can you imagine how much anxiety their irresponsible actions created in my life? But God is good, and the body does stuff to either limit or heal itself.

Faith, these prescription errors happen all too often, not just in my case. That is why we must all be diligent in our own research as much as possible to avoid situations like the one described. We can not just accept what doctors say or believe in what they prescribe, we have to be ready to challenge false or erroneous notions with accurate information.

I do not fill any prescription until I have done my research. I can't stop the doctor from prescribing what he thinks is best for the situation, and when I have the information I will either fill the prescription or place a call to their office and discuss the reasons why I will not take the prescription and give them a chance to gather their information to call me back with some other course of action that is safe.

If they get frustrated or angry at me, which has happened, I let them know of my findings, and tell them I am not being contrary, and give them an inference that I may go to another doctor (they would probably love to see go ). We have that discussion in a calm and rational manner, and they change their tune.

I read you other reply regarding melatonin and I found these ingredient facts on the site I linked you to:

http://globalnutritionalcenter.com/prod227.aspx#

It has both 5-HTP and Melatonin along with other herbs and a note not to exceed the suggested dosage.

I don't know if you looked into that or dug through in any research you may have done.

I'll leave it hear. I just want to say how proud you made me feel that you seem a lot more pro-active and digging through all to find something that may help you, in your quest for a decent nights sleep.

I think this was a good exercise for both of us. By your actions you have helped me feel more confident that you are going about things more proactively and that is a good thing for you and helps me feel less stressed.

Thank you. >:D<

You're welcome.

I am going back to my PCP today to get bloodwork results. I know he's going to be annoyed I haven't taken the antidepressants. Too bad. LOL

As for the psychologist actually I'm not going back to her. The reason is that the last time I went she said "I think you need to take this 5-htp, and if it doesn't work for you then that would mean I'm full of Sh^& and you need to see someone else."

I really don't like being talked to like that and I'm not sure that 5-htp is for me or it is not, but I won't be bullied. She actually also said to me that I don't need counseling. She said I just have a chemical make-up that makes me more anxious. So, I can figure that out on my own. I don't need her for that. It's good to know that I'm not bipolar or OCD or ADD. It's just anxiety and I can work that out by trial and error with herbs that are more mild like chamomile and Melatonin.

Although, I did read that the SSRI drugs and herbs will increase anxiety at first and that after a period of time the nerves that are ultra sensitive will be flooded with the drug and then that if you get past that it calms you. A friend of mine said that happened with her. She tool Zoloft and at first fealt like she was climbing out of her skin. Then after a week or two she felt better. The question is how do I make it through that first week when I have kids to take care of and a full time job. For me it's just too hard to think about going through a week of 10X the anxiety I normally have. At least with how I am on my own I still do all the things I want to do. I work, do things with friends, go to church. If I get 10x worse I don't know how that will effect me and I don't like taking that chance.

I'm feeling pretty good though. . . I have my head on straight and I'm going to just handle this with diet, exercise, and positive thinking.

Hi Faith,

Sorry that things didn't work out. I think she may have been referring to nutritional means of combating chemical imbalances that you may have going on. Shifrah, posted something, on going raw diet and posted many links you might want to check that out. I know that it is a good diet, it just might be too tough to stick to.

I don't like BROCCOLI

Another approach you may not have thought of is acupuncture. I am getting great results for my psoriasis and some relief of my back and spinal issues that have allowed me to be able to tolerate seating in from t of the computer for longer periods of time. And I have been making significant progress with psoriasis. This later one is unbelievable. I have had psoriasis since I was 7 and I am now near 60; so this is huge!

When I first registered here. I could go at it for more than 10-15 minutes. I go 30-40 minutes now. Hey, these is a small victories.

Anyway, my point is if you keep looking you are bound to find a natural cure that will help.

Ultimately, you really do need to have an anxiety response mechanism to deal with some things that come our way. It is a fight or flight thing, and you really do need that. It is, or are there underlaying reasons that justify the anxiety? if not then we are doing what we need to develop skills and learning how to recognize and cope with these false alarms.

Hope you find what you need to help you, and I hope that maybe I helped.

TC

Thanks for all your input!! It's nice to have other ideas.

HI I WAS READING YOU STORYS ABOUT THE 5-HTP...I AM NOT FOND OF PRASCRIBED MEDS MYSELF...PAXIL DID ME WRONG SO THAT KIND OF SCARED ME OFF...BUT I WAS GOING TO TRY THE 5-HTP...BUT I AM SCARED TO TEY THAT TO...IF I DO GET THE CUREGE TO TRY IT I WILL LET YOU NO...I JUST WANT SOMTHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKKE ME FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN...IF YOU DO TRY THE 10S WRITE AND LET ME NO...MY E-MAIL IS LISAMERRIWEATHER32@YAHOO.COM..OR JUST POST IT ON HERE AND I WILL CHECK.......

OK. I'll let you know. One of my friends tried the 5-htp 50 mg today and so far she's fine. She has more depression and less anxiety than me though.

Hi,
I read that 5 HTP helped along with synthetic melatonin helped you sleep. I plan on asking my Dr when I go to him. I take a daily multivitamin, calcium with Vit D, vitamin C 1000mg, and I started Magnesium chelate(3 daily) and I was surprised how I don't have any knee pain since I started it. I also take primrose oil, Probiotics, zoloft 200mg daily and xanax 2 times daily. I took it today and I am still anxious. mY cholesterol went up so I take Pravachol and Zetia. When I stated this program, they offered me the feel good vitamins and I agreed to try them. Is anyone using them and are they as good as they say? I am planning on writing down all I take and ask my Dr in March (internist)if i am on too much. i found a bottle of liquid anti oxidants that many recomment and it has several things in it and I have taken it for a few days. I sometimes wonder if we would be better off with no meds. Is anyone on Abilify? If so, do you like it? IO realize that each person is different and different meds for different folks.
Have a great day, June