Posted by Marc (Toronto, Canada) on 02/28/2007
★★★★★
I've been suffering from anxiety and depression for years, and recently I've started to get panic attacks. I finally got motivated to start researching my problem on my own because I've discovered that doctors (at least the ones I've been too) are useless.
I've discovered a lot of useful information on this website, but what really caught my eye is the cold shower therapy. I've never taken a cold shower in my life so I tried it today. Honestly, I've never felt so great. I don't know what it did to me, but I got a terrible fit of the giggles that lasted half an hour. I feel a lot better, and motivated, which is rare for me especially in the morning. I'll keep it up and see what else happens, but I definitely recommend trying it, for whatever reason. And Thank You for this great website!
Posted by Berry (Washington,DC) on 08/29/2005
★★★★★
a tablespoon of vinegar in a half glass of warm water is good for calming my emotions. if i drink it when something has gotten on my nerves. It takes effect immediately. Try it
Posted by Connie (Portland, OR)
★★★★★
I suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. I tried at least six or seven medications over a five year period but nothing worked. They all were just expensive and had bad side effects. A naturopathic biologist told me to take ACV and after a couple of days I felt much better for the first time. I believe there are people who need the prescription medications -and counseling is a great help to most of us- but for those of us suffering from occasional recurrent depression/anxiety I believe it is a fantastic cure. I have only taken it when my depression pops up and found relief every time. After reading the benefits for weight loss though, I believe I will begin taking it daily - and brushing my teeth afterward!
Posted by Clatterbuck (Beltsville, Md) on 07/12/2021
★★★★★
I had horrible anxiety and paranoia a few years ago. It seemed to come out of no where. I couldn't get any relief. My doctor ran some blood tests and discovered I was extremely low on vitamin B12. I was prescribed B12 shots because I eat plenty of meat so I shouldn't be deficient. Shots are the only way my body can absorb this vitamin. Well, after the first shot I felt a peaceful calm settle over me. The paranoia left at the same time. It was like a miracle.
I have to take monthly B12 shots or the anxiety and paranoia come back. Google B12 deficiency and see if your son has some of the other symptoms that come with this disease.
Posted by Ray (Memphis, Tn) on 12/11/2016
★★★★★
I found researched about anxiety and panic for years and have found that magnesium plays a huge role in adrenal system (as well as vitamin b deficiencies). Epsom salt baths, celtic sea salt are both very good for also getting magnesium into the diet. Since the soils are so depleted in minerals due to pesticides, etc, is one of the biggest reasons we are so magnesium deficient no matter how many veggies we consume. Everyone is so depleted in magnesium also because most diets are filled with additives, chemicals, processed sugar and flour along with coffee (caffeine depletes minerals esp magnesium- from our bodies making anxiety much more prone than ever before.). Stress also plays a huge role but diet is always number 1.
Posted by Bj (Michigan, Usa) on 05/26/2015
★★★★★
The best supplement that I have used for chronic anxiety is magnesium chloride. I use a pinch (about 1/8-1/4 teaspoon), I usually put it in juice or hot molasses tea that I make to take my pure powdered vitamins. But I have dissolved it in 1/2 cup of water and swallowed quickly as it tastes terrible. Other types of magnesium do not work for my anxiety. Magnesium chloride has removed the 'what ifs', the racing thoughts, the chronic worry and the insomnia, especially when I take it before bed. It has also worked well for restless leg syndrome. I have taken it up to 3 times a day but usually no more than twice.
Now I just take it a few times a week or when I feel I need it. It will cause diarrhea so if this happens just cut back. I get aquarium grade pure magnesium chloride as there are no additives and tropical fish owners are well aware of how sensitive and valuable their fish are and so the supplements they use are high quality. I hope you find relief soon, as I do understand the debilitating cycle anxiety can be. ~Bj~
Posted by Cindy (Orange County, California) on 09/04/2011
★★★★★
I was having terrible IBS symptoms along with extreme anxiety. I started taking 5-htp on the advice of my naturopathic doctor. Within 1-2 weeks, my IBS reduced substantially and my anxiety lessened dramatically. I felt great everyday with a more stable, consistent mood than I have ever felt in my life.
According to my doctor, a large proportion of serotonin either resides or is made in your gut (I forget which) so it makes sense that it helped my IBS. When I started, I was taking 200 mg each morning. It didn't help me sleep though, in fact it kept me wide awake. After taking for about a year or so, I started feeling very ill every morning. It took me a long time to figure out it was the 5-htp. However, my general health has improved much over the past year and I have now cut the dose back to 50 mg per day and can handle it fine. My doctor told me my system probably did not need as much now and this is perhaps why larger doses were making me so ill.
Posted by Angelika (Schaumburg, Il) on 09/09/2010
★★★★★
I take Rhodiola in instances where I feel anxious or a bout of anxiety is taking over. Rhodiola is amazing! I do not like taking prescription medication and this is a wonderful alternative!
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver) on 10/24/2021
★★★★★
I successfully transitioned from an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medication(Paxil) to 5HTP-50mg by gradually reducing Paxil by 50% each day while increasing 5HTP TO 50mg. The whole weaning process took about four days. Note: experts say an anti-anxiety ant-depressant should never be stopped suddenly and I agree. I tried that once and found myself doing some irrational things.
CAUTION: I did find when I increased the 5HTP to 100mg, it actually increased my anxiety. This happened when my health food store brought in 100mg strength instead of the usual 50mg strength. Fortunately I realised what was happening and split the remainder in half and everything was fine from there on.
Posted by Wendy (Barrie, Ontario Canada) on 10/04/2008
★★★★★
Anxiety/Panic Attacks/ph balancing
My dh and I moved 1000 miles away to the middle of nowhere (seriously) with 2 small kids, for him to take a job working 80+hrs a week...in JANUARY! The dog died, the car died, my daughter burnt her arm on the woodstove, we were isolated etc. and of course for 3 months I tried every natural remedy to save our dog to no avail. So when I suddenly went to emerg one night with a racing heart that I couldn't slow down, the sweats, shakes and dizziness, I thought for sure I was having a heart attack...heck I am 40 after all! They gave me an adavan that I didn't take and told me to go home and relax with all the stress in my life. Although everyone kept telling me I was in emotional turmoil...for me there had to be another concrete reason, I had handled way worse in my life and heck it wasn't like I lived in a war torn country or anything...nutritionally I mean, or lack thereof.
I had been drinking black tea again to cope with the dog, the move etc. so it was the first to go with the result being less frequent attacks. So with the help of a guy in Nova Scotia I learned about PH balancing and the work of Dr. Carey Reams. I started balancing my ph each day and if it was 7ish I felt awesome, if it was acid I felt awful. Any sweetener- even honey affected me greatly on the acid side. Then I added in a green supplement from a doctor in Barrie Ontario. On his advice I also started taking a concentrated mineral supplement (the most popular one on the market he recommended) and I started with 1 drop 2x a day, then 2 drops 2x a day and so on. He said I would have loose stools when I reached enough. He said rarely some of his clients could handle 40-60 drops a day. THIS was ME! I was taking 30 drops 2x a day with no loose stools- AND I felt like a million bucks....and NO more panic attacks- ever. woohoo. Then I moved on to zeolite which got back my 5 yr flagging libido and life was incredibly awesome... of course I ended up pregnant with my 3rd, but it's all good and i'm still feeling awesome with no return of the horrifying panic attacks. Incidentlly I tried homeopathics, herbal tinctures, herbal teas, acv, baking soda etc. nothing worked but the constant paying attention of the day to day ph morning and night of my saliva and urine and taking the concentrated minerals. Believe me, for anyone going thru these you'll do just about anything to make them stop!!!
Posted by Ryan (Lasalle, Quebec) on 02/05/2007
★★★★★
Peanut Butter cured a anxiety panic attack. When I am having a panic attack or feeling one coming on; I just eat 1 or 2 table spoons of peanut butter (right off the spoon) and I feel calm almost instantly.
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe) on 02/15/2023
★★★★★
Whilst visiting a family with a special needs child, we noticed that the child was very nervous and was acting up. The mother said: Be right back! And took the child to the bedroom to change her undershirt into the "newfangled 'compression shirt'" she had just received from the Physical Therapist to try out. The difference was astounding: the child became calm, friendly and happy, participating in whatever was going on!!
I had always loved undershirts that "hugged". And now I found out why! How does it work? I dunno. But it does.
Posted by Vee (London) on 11/02/2022
★★★★★
Rhodiola has really helped me with overall mood and has lowered anxiety.
Posted by Joseph (Stockton, CA) on 10/22/2021 73 posts
★★★★★
For Anxiety, calmness of the mind, insomnia, etc., please try Indian Ayurvedic Serpina (Indian Snakeroot) sold in India, and at USA Amazon. Dosage: 1-3 pills daily, if severe anxiety use 2 pills 3X daily or 3 pills in am & 3 pills in pm. Dosages are 4mg each. One of the Best products ever, helps mental illness, psychosis, high blood pressure. My comments are most likely meant for current members. Questions feel free to ask. Thank you
Posted by Tony (Tenn., US) on 09/19/2014
One word of caution for those wanting to try Rhodiola. I tried it for my panic attacks & anxiety but I got worse.
After doing extensive reading about Rhodiola, I found out the reason why. If you have adrenal issues the supplement will make you actually worse with these symptoms.
There is a way at home to test the adrenal glands. You ain't gonna get this from any traditional medicine doctor.
Take your BP 3 times within 10 minutes. Set down somewhere & relax for about 5 minutes. Take your BP. Wait 5 minutes & do it again. Immediately stand up & take it again. If your BP doesn't go up at least a few points for both top(systolic) & bottom(diastolic) then you have adrenal issues.
You need to do this for a few consecutive days though to get a good adrenal tests. Your BP should actually go up around 10 points for both. The less the numbers go up then the more serious the adrenal issues. If the numbers go down then you're in pretty serious adrenal crisis.
My adrenals have been in pretty bad shape for a while. I used this very testing to determine the seriousness of my adrenal issues. If you're in adrenal fatigue, taking rhodiola will only make matters worse.
First, you will need to take something for the adrenals like cortisol or hydro-cortisone(preferably bio-identical) to help support the adrenals along with Vit. C or find a supplement for the adrenals that have these nutrients. Let me just tell you straight up folks.
Once the adrenals get fatigued/in crisis then they are hard to get back the functioning. I'm a living & walking witness for this folks! Stress has taken a toll on my adrenals. We have to find ways to deal with stress properly because sooner or later the adrenals will crash & then you're in even bigger trouble.
Once you get the adrenals under control then you can add rhodiola for the treatment of panic attacks & anxiety. I too found out that theraputic doses of iodine caused me more trouble than benefit. This was because my adrenals were fatigued. Every time I tried higher doses of iodine I would get worse with anxiety & panic attacks.
Supplements can be good for a lot of things but there are factors that need to be addressed before actually diving into taking them. I've learned a lot here at EC but by investigating myself has helped me even more. Even though Bill here at EC advised me to take iodine in higher doses he didn't know how serious of an adrenal problem I was going through so we have to look into matters more thoroughly ourselves before making an even bigger mistake. Thanks & God Bless you guys!
Posted by Zander (Columbus, Ohio) on 07/26/2014
★★★★★
I have suffered from acute anxiety on and off for much of my life. Today and yesterday were especially severe and left me feeling helpless & hopeless, as well as agitated, no less. I had just received a Phosphatidylcholine formulation for liver and brain function which I took this evening with no thought to its possible effect on my anxious state. Much to my pleasant surprise, 20 minutes or so later I was feeling completely at peace and had regained interest in the book I had been reading and no longer had a feeling of hopelessness and dread. I did not make the connection to the supplement right away but I know myself well enough to know that this had been a sudden as opposed to the usual gradual improvement. I deduced that it might have something to do with the supplement. Sure enough, one of the properties of Phosphatidylcholine is its ability to tonify and support the nervous system. Yes, I'm capitalizing it. I'm very relieved and grateful--please make this available to others who may experience relief. I think that this Lecithin variant deserves its own heading in the anxiety section. Thank you, Earth Clinic!
Posted by Sarah (Dallas, Texas) on 09/13/2012
★★★★★
I've been having such bad anxiety, that the muscles in the front of my neck are in pain for days at a time from the tension. I noticed that taking a few drops of Lugol's iodine in water gives complete and instant relief from the tension and pain. It's weird how fast it happens--I mean AS I am drinking the water!! I think perhaps, since tyrosine and iodine work together to make thyroid hormones, that the deficiency of iodine causes excess tyrosine, which is known to cause elevated heart rate and anxiety. Also, I have been taking SAMe daily for six years, for depression, and I took my usual 3 day break from it, and felt complete relief from the anxiety, which came back when I took another SAMe pill yesterday. So, I guess it's time to exchange the daily SAMe with N-acetyl cysteine for the purposes of replacing methylation lost from mercury toxicity.
