xanax!! need something natural that will work! please help

[Gricinda]

Hello, i am new to this, i am 29 years old, female and i have been struggling for 2 years now with severe anxiety, i take all online classes because i cant deal with being in the class although right now i do go to one class cause i have too but it is torture! I have been on xanax for a year now daily, only .5mg once a day and i dont take it twice even though i get tempted to on classs days, instead i sit there and i suffer or skip class or walk out and cry. I want to know if anyone has had luck with anything safe and natural that actually works? Ive tried anti depressants but they make me worst. Plus im very cautious with meds,a s most of us are when we have a severe anxiety disorder. today i just left class and i have a headache, tightness in stomach muscles, chest pressure pain under ribs and nausea, felt so much anxiety and now im drained. Im also a smoker...yes i know very bad...everything just hurts and i want to start to feel better i always wonder if something is medically wrong.

[mamascrazy1985]

hi yes i know what you are going through i am the same im 26 and take online classes but i can tell you that i have never taken meds for it not even xanax. i have horrible symptoms everyday but have tried to defer my thinking. that helps alot because the more you think about anxiety the worse it gets. a friend of mine takes melatonin which is natural and then theres Kava tea as well. i will ask her what else she does but i know that melatonin works best for her. i dont know because i have developed a phobia of taking anything. hope you are doing better

[JaneB]

I've had some success with a combination of B Complex, passion flower, GABA, valarian and tryptophan - anything that helps the brain make more serotonin. Sorry to contradict you mamascrazy, but I heard that prolonged use of Kava can lead to liver damage. I think you'd need a lot for that though.

[DaneV]

I wouldn`t use kava either as is it is believed to be hepatoxic (although there is some discussion about that). You could try l-theanine and/or valerian allthough my personal experience is that the effects of these natural substances are not at all comparable to a benzodiazepine like xanax. I wouldn`t spend my money on GABA, as it is probably useless because it doesn`t cross the blood brain barrier. Also i can`t see how B-vitamins will help your anxiety, unless you have a deficiency of course (which is rare).

Which antidepressants did you try and for how long?

[essjay]

Gricinda!, hi there hun... i understand exactly how it is being in a class room and experiencing this... Ive done so much to 'heal' myself and as a nurse one would think i know what to do but it all comes down to research and what works for you.... All of the above mentioned are good for some but not for others. Besides from taking Xanax, what else have you been prescribed if any?... For me i recently came off Lexapro and it was the worst experience of my life... I went on them under the advice of my doctor who believed that it would treat my panic disorder and underlying depression which stemmed from the passing of my father but after 6 months on the drug nothing changed, but i gave it a good go... Coming off them was horrible and i still have my little bottle of Xanax in my bag .5 also.... but i also take omega 3, Vitamin B complex, there are so many B groups, and it can be common for a woman to lack 'some' of these especially through high times of stress and worry (natural normal worry that results from studying). Although it was mentioned that it is rare to be lacking in VitB12, i see it only too common now in my profession. The best advice i can give you is research, research, research.... the most important thing to add to that is ensure you eat well, keep up your fluids and electrolytes, and exercise. and shock horror, i also smoke!!! most nurses do... lol! Look at your environment and remove as many stressors from it and have time to yourself. When you start to feel chest pain and tightness Remember to breath, taking a breath in taking 3 seconds and holding for 3 and exhaling taking 3 seconds, it may take 5 minutes, it may take longer but the more you do it the better it works, it helps to reset the brain.... Chest pain is due to muscle constriction (fight and flight) and vaso-constriction which is narrowing of the blood vessels. it is not dangerous but a natural response to perceived threat... If you remember to breath and concentrate only on your pattern of breathing the chest pain will diminish, also remember that chest pain can be a result gastrointestinal upsets, reflux, esophageal spasms (caused by anxiety).... I'm in Australia so i take the liquid form of gaviscon/mylanta, basically a liquid antacid and see if it also helps..... Works for me!! Sorry for the long winded reply.... Hope you are feeling better mate!

[284284]

I wouldn`t spend my money on GABA, as it is probably useless because it doesn`t cross the blood brain barrier.

I've heard that picamilon may prove to be effective. It is a combination of Gaba and Niacin. Supposely, this allows it to cross the blood brain barrier more directly. created in Russia during the USSR. It is sold here (US) as a dietary supplement and not sold a lot in stores, I would think because it has the notation of the USSR. It is sold on many online sites though. If anyone knows of any stores you can get it from, please let me know.

[Tiny Dinosaur]

I use Skullcap herb to try to calm down. It helps sometimes. It seems like the more I use it the less it helps, but it's totally natural and I've been taking (sometimes daily, multiple times) with no side effects or anything like that. In other words... It can't hurt. I have that same sort of thing... I can't sit at work in big meetings & being around a lot of people (especially people who know me) makes me kind of freak out. I get that stomach/chest/rib pain a lot too... I've ruled it down to being an ulcer or a "knotted up" stomach from stress. I've had the heart tested several times with nothing wrong there. I had one MD tell me that chest & rib pain can come from stress due to "bracing" yourself and being tense all the time.

Here's a link to the skullcap I use... I buy it at a whole foods store here locally so you might be able to find it in your area also & not have to order it.

www*dot*gaiaherbs*dot*com/products/detail/363/Skullcap-Herb-Certified-Organic (sorry the forum wont let me post a link)

I also take 1/2 a benedryl tablet instead of Xanax. If you can get over a small amount of drowsiness it works great. Benedryl blocks adrenaline so you don't have those sudden panic moments.

[Eduardo]

I know what you're saying.
If you want a natural non-meditative solution I can recommend you of one I used.

[PittsburghCounseling]

I have also tried Kava root...and believe it helps a little. But, overall I am trying to exercise regularly, which REALLY seems to help when I experience anxiety. The target is to get to 70% of your maximum heart rate, 20 minutes a day, 5-7 days a week. It is a lot of work, but it helps more than anything else I have tried. Additionally, it seems like all of my clients with anxiety who begin exercising regularly experience less stress overall.

[John K]

I stumbled upon this spray claiming anti-anxiety and relaxation called 1hour break on amazon. I thought id give it a try since it was made with only natural ingredients, Kava, passion flower, st. johns wart, Lobelia herb, Lobelia herb. The taste takes getting used too, but I havent stopped using the spray. You do, however, need to take about 25 sprays to feel the full effect. Hands down best alternative I have tried so far. Hope this helps.


John

[alankay]

Gricinda, Hi. Have you tried more than 1 ssri and if so(since they can temporarily increase anxiety before lowering it) just up the xanax dose(JUST until the ssri starts to help) and then taper back down on the xanax? Some folks just start an ssri, feel the temp increase in anxiety and drop the ssri. Many docs are OK with a temp. increase in the benzo just so you'll continue the ssri which in the LONG RUN will/should help reduce your anxiety and xanax use will be lowered. Another thing to try is to start the ssri at a lower(say 1/2) dose and in a couple weeks go to the full dose. Or divide the doses to 1/2 the dose at breakfast, half at dinner to less side effects All this would be to give the ssri time to work but start with minimum side effects(one of which can be temp. increased anxiety). Message me anytime. Mute point if you've given a couple ssri's at least a month each and still didn't help.

[jeremyfresno]

I was on Xanax and found a natural herb supplement called Holy Basil! It's comes In a capsule form and get it at whole foods or GNC...I was pretty quick to substitute my Xanax with holy basil! Which is better cause it's an all natural herb that really works! It helps regulate your cortisol and glucose levels which brings your anxiety to an ease! I strongly suggest it! It has helped me a lot and hope it does the same for you!