New and need help

[JuliaM]

I hope I can get some help. Have had three very difficult years and basically have changed into an anxious person. I have pain behind my eyes which is almost tear like and knots if my stomach. I get fearful all the time, and feel very down. I hate being alone because of how I feel.

Is this cyclical - have had it before or is it basically the straw that broke the camels back. Any advice as I don't want to go onto anti-depressants - taking St Johns Wort but no change after 7 days.

Help please!!!

[Nowuccas]

Hey Julia,

St. John's Wort takes around 4 weeks to begin reaching maximum effectiveness with most people, even if they are using a standardised brand containing sufficient hyperforin to balance the hypericum content, such as Perika, Jarsin, or Kira (many brands don't). Vitamin or health food stores should have some, or Google supplies. It should be taken with meals, at least at first, to reduce the chances of stomach upsets. Check out hypericum.com & sjw.info There is a book called St. John's Wort, by Dr. Hyla Cass at Amazon.com. I read a book of the same name by a different author.

5-htp works much quicker, but I caution against taking more than 50 mg daily, if also taking SJW. There are a number of threads about it here at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/search.php?searchid=1041411

You may be interested in my following previous posts about herbal and non herbal anxiolytics, as well as anxiety:

HERBAL ANXIOLYTICS: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34269-5-Powerful-Tools-You-Probably-Haven-t-Tried-Yet&p=225415#post225415

NON HERBAL ANXIOLTYICS: (5-htp, etc.) http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34355-Help-Please!!!/page2

GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33964-New-to-the-site-and-looking-for-help&p=223989#post223989

I suggest that you also learn and become proficient in both progressive muscle relaxation ( http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html ) and acupressure tapping / EFT, then employ whichever you find most effective.

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. It is free via mercola.com or www.tapping.com (13 free videos), or www.eftuniverse.com or www.emofree.com or one of the many YouTube videos. Google: "YouTube; EFT videos".
Professionally instructed is generally preferable (Google: therapists; EFT; [your location] ). - There is a version for use in public places at http://eft.mercola.com (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you employ the acupressure massage / tapping on your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind: "Even though I have an anxiety disorder, I deeply and completely accept myself)."