Hello from an American in Korea!

[thatgir1985]

Hi, everyone!

I've had anxiety since I was a kid. Been on multiple medications. Took Effexor until June of last year. It killed my creativity and made me not give a rat's butt about anything at all...even on 75mg!

I've survived almost an entire year of teaching elementary school students in Korea.

I leave for the U.S. in six weeks. I cannot wait to return home!!!!

Here's my problem: I'm still experiencing anxiety. I feel it is due to my workplace being a needlessly high-stress environment.

I've been taking Pepto-Bismol or Imodium almost daily since Halloween!!!! My anxiety manifests itself in my digestive system...causing severe IBS. NOT FUN!!!!!

The medicines are helping the IBS somewhat. I'm still in pain sometimes and my anxious feelings are still present. The TENSION is still inside me.

I ordered L-Theanine supplements last night. It's supposed to help calm you. It's an amino acid found in green tea leaves. It had great reviews online and I'm praying it will help me make it through my remaining workdays.

Anyone had any success without taking prescription drugs? I don't want to be dependent on Effexor for the rest of my life! It makes me too apathetic!!!!

[fyodor]

I have also had anxiety since childhood, but never took medications. I am too afraid of the side effects I keep hearing about. I have come a long way since childhood, but still have a ways to go. My goal is to one day be completely healed from anxiety and depression. I have also always had IBS, but I don't know if it's connected to anxiety or if I have some other bowel problem. I will look into theanine because I haven't heard of it. Kava Kava has worked for me hit and miss. I think I built up a resistnance to it maybe but haven't tried it enough to be really giving you an opinion. I think St John's wort is helping me a lot, although I need to increase the dosage. A really really good book I recommend is The MOOD CURE by Julia Ross. Talks about biochemical reasons for anxiety, depression, etc and how you can modulate them. Keep us posted on your progress.

[thatgir1985]

Fydor: I will check out the book! I almost tried Kava Kava, but it was banned in Korea. So I'm going to try the L-Theanine and see if it helps.

Forwells: What changes have you made? Any advice you can give would be awesome!

Thanks to you both! I wish you much success and health!

[lira]

Hi,
I also have anxiety & agoraphobia :(
I took valerian & vitamin B complex to help ease the fight or flight mode. I haven't travel in a year..and I stayed in house for 2 weeks..never go shopping, never go mall ...because of my anxiety. But I am trying to solve it. I also have sensitive digestion and it's hugely affecting my anxiety. I carry enzyme tablets with me when going out for lunch or dinner, also valerian pill for emergencies.

[thatgir1985]

My L-theanine supplements should arrive on Friday. I'll let everyone know if it helps my mild anxiety. I'm grateful for the replies and information. I hate that we are all fighting this illness, but it's good to know we're not alone.

Never, never, never give up!!!!

[lira]

Im trying to fight this also..I have been going out of the house for almost the whole week..it was so difficult in the beginning and now still adjusting. Never give up! Let's take our life back!

[thatgir1985]

OK, everyone! My L-Theanine supplements arrive from DHL as I was walking into work this morning. Hallelujah! Today was field trip day and as a teacher, it is usually very stressful! I did not sleep well the night before so I knew it would hell for my anxiety.

I opened the bottle and decided to take one 200mg capsule of L-Theanine. I also took some Pepto-Bismol, drank a bottle of water, and ate some saltines just in case the medicine caused any jittery feelings.

I felt a little scared at first because I had just taken medicine that I was unfamilar with. I noticed by the time I got on the bus with the kids, all the tension I had been carrying in my body had eased. It was the wildest thing. I didn't feel drowsy. I didn't feel wired. I didn't feel anxious at all. I felt COMPLETELY CALM for the first time in a very LONG while!

That was at 9:30am this morning. It is now 2pm in Korea and I am still as calm as a cucumber. I feel very focused and relaxed. It is AMAZING!

I am going to stick with taking 200mg in the mornings as soon as I wake up. That is when my anxiety is the worst. I am usually much more relaxed in the afternoons and evenings.

I will keep everyone updated on my progress.

[lawmomoftwo]

I had been taking Klonopin to help deal with my anxiety but I guess similar to Effexor it killed my mood. I was kinda blah and the lively outgoing person I can be is completly killed with the medication. I'm still on the hunt for dealing with my anxiety but remaining myself. I don't want medication to make me feel like a shell. The supplements sound like something I would like to try. I hate anything that makes me drowsy too.

[thatgir1985]

I took one capsule after dinner to see if it helped me sleep. Having just woken up after an extremely restful night where I dreamed a lot and can still remember them, I can say YES YES YES! The L-Theanine helped me feel very calm and relaxed. I didn't feel drugged or overly-drowsy. Just a normal feeling of being tired and ready to go to sleep.

I didn't wake up at all last night and my mind is very clear. I'm sitting here typing this after waking up about 5 minutes ago. Wouldn't have been able to do that as successfully with Tylenol PM or something. The L-Theanine seems to be working very well for me.

[fyodor]

That's exciting to learn about L-theanine. I had no idea. I think I may try it out. Since you posted this initially I have been using kava kava more consistently and I really thinks it's helping a lot. I have noticed a difference when I don't take it. However, my anxiety has a history of being seemingly random so I don't quite trust myself to make a final verdict yet.