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October 2011 Moms
s/o Antidepressants: crunchy alternatives
I have anxiety, and have now had two awful experiences with meds. I did a bit of research to see if there was any hippie bullshits pan flutes method and I thought I'd share in case anyone is interested.
I am now taking somewhat large doses of B Complex vitamins and EPA Omega-3s. this article pretty much sums it up, but there is tons of info out there in google land.
**B-Vitamins are necessary for the production and regulation of neurotransmitters connected to depression. B-vitamin deficiency has been linked with mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Elderly patients are at particular risk of B12 deficiency; and women on oral contraception or estrogen replacement are at increased risk of B6 deficiency. Thus, although long-term prospective studies have not been completed, it seems beneficial to take Vitamin B complex, with 100 mg each of the major B vitamins.
**Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, or an imbalance with omega-6, correlates with an increased rate of both anxiety and depression. Dosage range has not yet been clearly established, but studies have shown improvement in depressive symptoms with as little as 1 gram, or as much as 6 grams a day. Begin with 1 gram a day of fish oil, and go up to 6 grams a day if desired. Flaxseed oil, or ground flaxseed meal, (2 tbsp daily) is a vegetarian alternative.
I have definitely noticed a difference. The only thing is that the B vitamins do give me crazy energy so I have had to really limit my caffeine or else I get super jittery and anxious. It's only been a couple weeks, though, so ask me again in a month.
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Re: s/o Antidepressants: crunchy alternatives
Eta: ah, thiamine = B1. :
BFP #1 - 11/16/10 CP 12/1/10
Our team green turned into team pink!
BFP #2 17dpo - 47, 19dpo - 114 Chart
Thanks for the info. I've been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks for the last few years and part of that has been that even moderate caffeine intake makes me very jittery and anxious. Did you know that a 16 oz cup of Starbucks Pike Place brew has 330 mg caffeine! I'd be interested in trying this B vitamin and omega fatty acids regimen, as I've had no success with long term buspar in the past and haven't been able to take benzodiazepines because of pregnancy and nursing.
Yep, Thiamine is a B vitamin.
I'm the same way. I can only have one 8 oz cup of coffee, and it has to be before 11am. I am guaranteed to regret any deviation from this routine.
Yup, caught that after the fact. :] but thanks for this post. Need to get some on hand.
BFP #1 - 11/16/10 CP 12/1/10
Our team green turned into team pink!
BFP #2 17dpo - 47, 19dpo - 114 Chart
just be careful if you take the pill with that. It makes it less effective. Don't know why but it does.
If you suggest exercise...so help me. Kidding.
I've put myself on an every-other-day regimen of Lexapro. Without my doctor's permission, which probably isn't a good idea, but I noticed that when I forgot a day I felt just as normal, but without the emotional numbing that kind of makes me feel like a robot. Seriously, even when my uncle died, I could not cry. I could barely even feel sad. Or anything, really.
No you're not!
I've heard of others doing that as well. It was suggested on some of the "how can I climax?" threads on the discussion forums.