HELP

[muffett42]

Hello, I just want to ask a question? ? How is someone supposed to live there life like this. I have had GAD for ten years now. I have lost jobs, friends, family etc. I have been put on every med you can think of, seen therapists, read every self help book I can get my hands on. Prayed daily, talked to other's, begged for healing, you name is I have done it. I do not understand how I am supposed to continue like this, this is not living, it is a prison, full of pain and fears. I am 47 now, and do not see myself existing in this mind set for much longer. How is someone supposed to survive like this? How can you possibly have any kind of a life. I am so very tired, and mentally exhausted from this. I keep asking why? The heart palpitations, the skipped beats, the ear noises, and hot flashes, the tingling and stomach problems. Doctor's tell me I am fine physically, I have had so many ekg's, echo cardiogram's, and still no help for people like us. It is all so overwhelming, how do you go on? What is left? I want to know if anyone else can offer any kind of help. Please, I am at the end of my rope.

[Hope4tomorrow]

Did you ever find help with sleep?  I've found that LESS than 1 mg of melatonin helps me.  If I take more than half a milligram I get wired instead of sleepy.  

[FitOverForty]

I think it's wonderful to give out suggestions that may help a person as I too am still researching natural herbal remedies to see if those can take the place of Ativan.  I strongly believe in my case that this are peri-menopausal symptoms (www.womentowomen.com) states that anxiety is ONE main symptom that woman begin to experience during their hormal imbalances.

I feel for you Muffett42, peri-menopause starts as early as late 30s and you may now be experiencing that due to this time period.  However, if you are not equiping yourself with a multi-vitamin/supplement like Klanac recommended that might be one of the issues.

I for one am a fitness consultant and do my multi-vitamin, protein (which contains taurine), fish oils, B-complex, yoga, herbal teas that are soothing, etc.  I have found that still with my healthy lifestyle, I have not found anything that takes my anxiety away other than my sedative (Ativan-mildest prescribed sedative).  However, I am going to see if passionflower will do the trick as I tried Valerian root and that helped for sleeping and relaxation but did NOTHING for tightening of chest, throat and, in fact, I wound up getting a gastro doc. sticking a cam down my throat because I could barely swallow milk.  He knocked me out and when I came too, I NEVER FELT BETTER.  Basically, it was the sedative that they used that CALMED MY NERVOUS SYSTEM and he immediately said it's the anxiety that was causing that feeling.  He said my esophagus was in remarkable shape.  Nonetheless, I finally got my doc. of 11 years to prescribe Ativan for me as she hesitated because she feels these drugs are addictive.  I think I am struggling still with the THOUGHT OF DRUGS...because I HAVE NEVER done drugs.  I think that I need to let go and recognize that sometimes we just need drug, hopefully temporarily, until our body adjusts to whatever hormonal or stress level.

Muffett42, you said you tried everything...and my heart goes out to you because it's been a year that I've been researching and trying natural methods and thus far I have not found anything to take the place of my Ativan.  I am a prayer warrior and trust God Almighty...therefore, this anxiety period will go away when HE allows it.  My ex-pastor said to me just today, HE did put doctors and medicine on Earth for a reason.

If anybody has the same symptoms I have and HAS TRULY found a natural herb that can replace Ativan, PLEASE LET ME KNOW...I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

[klanac]

I forgot to mention that I also take a 500mg taurine along with the Lewis Labs Brewer's Yeast. Begin by taking it in the am and pm but then once you feel better take once a day. Taurine is the most important & abundant free amino acid in your heart and contributes to your heart muscles scontractibility and regulation of its rhythem. It also prevents brain cell overactivity. With oatstraw tea   the disturbances in your heart rate such as palpitations and tachycardia will diminish or disappear. This was in a book by Susan Weed. I took it only one day and my palpitations quit and I continue the bag of tea and the heaping tsp. of the mag. every night. It helps your to sleep better also. Billie Sahley who started the Pain and Stress Center in TX because she had anxiety cured herself by feeding her brain amino acids. She says that the brain needs these to function properly and and not the drugs being prescribed.The yeast has all of these in it.

[muffett42]

Thankyou so much for replying. I will try this. I can't tell you how much your opinion helps. I will get these things and try them. Will let you know what happens. Thankyou again.

[CaliGirl48]

WOW something new....

...I may have to try this myself.

[klanac]

Please try this. I also had the same thing since 1998 and the exact same symptoms. Stay on this for at least one month to see if it works. It helped me in a little over a week and now I feel peaceful at last. After doing a lot of research I came up with the following. Take two well-rounded tbls. of Brewer's Yeast in the morning when you get up plus a vitamin/mineral suppliment. Lewis Labs is the best  tasting. Whenever you get the symptoms take more of the Brewer's Yeast. In the evenings drink a cup of oatstraw tea before bedtime with a tsp. or two of powdered magnesium mixed in. It  is called Natural Calm at the health food store. Oatstraw tea will take care of the heart palpitations and skipped beats and so will the mag.  Try this, it worked for me.