Mr. Bigger 0 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I know magnesium is supposed to help relax you.Fish Oils help improve your mood somewhat..Is there anything else? Those of you who've had anxiety issues, what has helped?Thanks in advance! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Constantine 1 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I stopped taking fish oil and thought my heart was going to explode. I started again, and I feel more relaxed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alternativista 1243 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I was going to say fish oil. I'm sure there are others and they have been discussed here, but I don't have a problem with anxiety so never memorized anything on the subject. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryudoadema 3 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I'm definitely deficient in magnesium so I'm building that up to take care of anxiety and panic attacks. Until then, L-theanine is amazing and it's actually neuroprotectant. I take 50-100mg of Suntheanine brand and within 20 minutes I am the opposite of anxious and lasts the rest of the day. I only take it certain stress days...highly recommended! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tasha90 0 Share Posted April 21, 2008 I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this, but b-vitamins are very quickly depleted by stress, so I would suggest taking nutritional yeast or a b-complex. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
happiness1 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this, but b-vitamins are very quickly depleted by stress, so I would suggest taking nutritional yeast or a b-complex. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cdothatter 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'd give 5-HTP a shot.It reduces anxiety by increasing levels of serotonin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AltaPGT 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Dude who is the sexy chick who keeps letting you write on her and put picture on the internet lmao Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Bigger 0 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'd give 5-HTP a shot.It reduces anxiety by increasing levels of serotonin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
somebodyluvsu 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I've had some major problems sleeping due to anxiety and my mom gave kava kava me to try. It works great, but i don't know if you can take it during the day cuz i always just take it b4 bed. I would give it a try if you have any trouble sleeping cuz it's been a real life saver at times. She got them on e-bay:) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
3Days 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Started taking 750 mgs of GABA in November. It's an inhibitory amino acid already present in your body that slows your circuits down so that the alarm responses of anxiety aren't always cranking at 100%. I know of no interactions and the only side effects I've experienced are "pins and needles" and a brief shortness of breath--but only when I do not mix the capsule with a full glass of water. If I follow the instructions on the label, I get zero side effects.After about 4-6 days I noticed I was slower to become anxious or discombobulated. I was told by my holistic practitioner that after you supplement with this stuff for a few months and your levels become sufficient, it begins to produce the symptoms you're trying to treat (anxiety) as a way of letting you know you've had enough. This has not happened for me yet and in the meantime, I found that my personality has evened out a little bit and I am slower to jump to conclusions or overreact.Some of the literature will tell you that ingested GABA doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier. This does not mean that supplementation isn't effective--what happens is that since both your brain and your body use this amino acid, raising the levels circulating in your body means that more of your own (made in your own body) GABA remains for your brain to use. The rest of the info you need to know you can find on the web. Good luck.And PS--Kava is very hard on the liver. DO NOT TAKE IT WITH TYLENOL OR OTHER NSAIDS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
happiness1 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Taken from Wikipedia: Risks and Side Effects 5-HTP raises blood serotonin levels, and because of the risks associated with elevated levels it should only be taken under the advice of a medical professional (See Chronic diseases resulting from serotonin 5-HT2B overstimulation). For instance, elevated blood serotonin levels are associated with cardiac valve failure and acute or chronic pulmonary hypertension. Comprehensive clinical data on other side-effects of 5-HTP are not available. Nevertheless, some product marketers claim that it causes fewer side effects than traditional antidepressants. The basis for these claims are anecdotal and have not been verified scientifically. Side effects of 5-HTP may include nausea, constipation, gas, drowsiness, decreased sex drive, anxiety, numbness, paresthesia, breathing problems, palpitations, chest pain, hallucinations and insomnia. 5-HTP can also have adverse interactions with other natural and traditional drugs.What are your thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Bigger 0 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wikipedia is fun, but I'd double check more in other places too, although nothing is without side-effects, so I understand your concern! All I know is when I took some prescribed thing (Lexapro, I think) for the anxiety attacks I started having right after graduating college, my pupils were dilated all day, I couldn't concentrate, and it did nothing for the anxiety. My friends were asking me what was wrong because I literally couldn't keep concentrating long enough to have a full conversation. I suppose it depends what your other options are. I took it with B-12 and folic acid for about seven months and the anxiety eventually faded enough to stop. It worked beautifully, and I didn't notice any side-effects. That's just me though. Maybe B-12 and folic acid would just be enough? I also got results with those before adding in 5-HTP. Chalk another one up for supplements over prescriptions. Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Bigger 0 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 Started taking 750 mgs of GABA in November. It's an inhibitory amino acid already present in your body that slows your circuits down so that the alarm responses of anxiety aren't always cranking at 100%. I know of no interactions and the only side effects I've experienced are "pins and needles" and a brief shortness of breath--but only when I do not mix the capsule with a full glass of water. If I follow the instructions on the label, I get zero side effects.After about 4-6 days I noticed I was slower to become anxious or discombobulated. I was told by my holistic practitioner that after you supplement with this stuff for a few months and your levels become sufficient, it begins to produce the symptoms you're trying to treat (anxiety) as a way of letting you know you've had enough. This has not happened for me yet and in the meantime, I found that my personality has evened out a little bit and I am slower to jump to conclusions or overreact.Some of the literature will tell you that ingested GABA doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier. This does not mean that supplementation isn't effective--what happens is that since both your brain and your body use this amino acid, raising the levels circulating in your body means that more of your own (made in your own body) GABA remains for your brain to use. The rest of the info you need to know you can find on the web. Good luck.And PS--Kava is very hard on the liver. DO NOT TAKE IT WITH TYLENOL OR OTHER NSAIDS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryudoadema 3 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Stop talkin bout 5-htp and gaba fools! L-theanine bomb! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Biscuits 0 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I've been doing lots of research on nootropics. Its very interesting. This wiki page has lots of information. Lots of the nootropics are very good for controlling anxiety. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sweetcheri 0 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I know magnesium is supposed to help relax you.Fish Oils help improve your mood somewhat..Is there anything else? Those of you who've had anxiety issues, what has helped?Thanks in advance! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AltaPGT 0 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I would be interested in trying this, especially Theanine. I just wonder because I can take like 2mg+ of Xanax and it will barely phase me... I sometimes wonder if I'm resistant to downers or something.P.S. I am not advising anyone to take any Xanax or any other drug lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
somebodyluvsu 0 Share Posted April 23, 2008 damn...just found out kava kava has 5-HTP....haha now what. Let me know what you find and if it works:) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
happiness1 0 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Wikipedia is fun, but I'd double check more in other places too, although nothing is without side-effects, so I understand your concern! All I know is when I took some prescribed thing (Lexapro, I think) for the anxiety attacks I started having right after graduating college, my pupils were dilated all day, I couldn't concentrate, and it did nothing for the anxiety. My friends were asking me what was wrong because I literally couldn't keep concentrating long enough to have a full conversation. I suppose it depends what your other options are. I took it with B-12 and folic acid for about seven months and the anxiety eventually faded enough to stop. It worked beautifully, and I didn't notice any side-effects. That's just me though. Maybe B-12 and folic acid would just be enough? I also got results with those before adding in 5-HTP. Chalk another one up for supplements over prescriptions. Good luck!Thanks for all the info. One question, for what purpose did you being to supplement B-12 and Folic Acid prior to adding 5-HTP to the mix? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rakbs 1 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm throwing in another vote for GABA, but I would just take it directly, not from theamine.I've been taking it the last few days right before bed and whenever I wake up I feel as though it's from a perfect night of sleep. I wouldn't be surprised if it helped with anxiety as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryudoadema 3 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I would be interested in trying this, especially Theanine. I just wonder because I can take like 2mg+ of Xanax and it will barely phase me... I sometimes wonder if I'm resistant to downers or something.P.S. I am not advising anyone to take any Xanax or any other drug lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
