I'm new to natural meds, please help

just_imagine · 12-18-2005, 10:25 PM

Hi everyone...I've done lots of searching on this board for the answers I'm looking for, and I know there is lots of information out there - I just felt I needed to tell my story too.

I'm 23 and have been moody and prone to anxiety my entire life... I suffered from mild depression in my teens but never identified it as that, I just pretty much lived in misery thinking something was terribly wrong with me, and that nobody else felt like I did. When I was 18 I sank into a major depression that lasted several months, where I had thoughts of suicide, anxiety attacks where I honestly thought I was going to die. I barely slept and stopped eating and lost 15lbs. I ended up dropping out of university for a semester, went to therapy for a couple months and was given the AD Effexor XR...I believe I was on that for 3 months or so. It did help.

Anyways, I've been feeling pretty decent for the past couple years, but this winter season I've felt it creeping back...I recognize the signs and I'm concerned. For the past month I've had a loss of appetite again, and I've been crying SO much, often for no reason, several times a day...sometimes hysterical can't-stop type crying, sometimes just a little bit before I fall asleep... there are a few things going on in my life that I know have triggered my sadness, but this is feeling a bit extreme for the situation. I'm just feeling really sad, and I want to be proactive about it. BUT...

I don't want to go back on prescription meds. I'm really interested in this alternative medicine stuff. I've heard of St. John's Wort and I'm willing to try it, but I'm concerned about it's interaction with birth control pills. I've also been reading a lot about the Omega oils, B vitamins, potassium.. it's a bit overwhelming. It got the point where it seemed like any deficiency of anything could cause depression. I'm not looking to take like 10 pills a day!

I love to drink tea and would love to try some natural teas, too...I'm not sure which herbal teas would be the best to try for depression and anxiety. I have also noticed that exercise really helps me, as I guess it does everyone.

Anyways, if you can relate to my situation, I'd love any help I can get...I just feel like I have this chronic depression in me that creeps back every once in a while...I want to be in control of it. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks so much for listening.

Take care,
M.

6foot3 · 12-18-2005, 11:13 PM

Hi there ! First dont feel your the only one out there on this we all get down in life at times. Im a health nut to the max , take every vit,min,essential fats,herbs etc...yet when it gets overcast for more than a couple of days im very depressed. The one thing that really helps me is excersise and i mean high intesity. Example when i ride the excersise bike for 45 min at high speed or pump iron for 45 min i feel the endorphins flowing. Im higher than kite naturally.You may also want to explore Yoga. Though i never have tried it i know people who do and swear by its mind / body connection. Yes Fish Oils can help but these supps do take time. Im sure others have some say on these things !! Be strong !!

gort · 12-19-2005, 03:15 PM

Hi guys. I've been down that road you speak of. A dozen supplements, only helping a little. Always wanting to quit meds and get my mind back. I was on Wellbutrin SR for a few years and also mega doses of B-complex, Ester C, amino acids. Then I found an orthomolecular doctor. They're M.D.s who treat illness with natural substances all ready in the body: essential fats, enzymes, vitamins/minerals, pro-biotics, natural hormones. Drugs are used as a last resort and only drugs that have the most minimal side effects and are mostly not known by today's doctors. The drugs they use are usually old and very cheap now, so drug co.s don't make them due to lack of profit since they have to share the patent with original manufacturer. One of those drugs is Dilantin, developed for epilepsy but works miraculously for depression and anxiety and a host of other brain disorders.

I'm creating a thread for Dilantin if you want to read more about it. Now to the natural stuff. My orthomolecular doc got me to take EPA from fish oil after several weeks of mentioning it to me. First I bought the wrong one. Omega Extra Strength with 250mg EPA, 250mg DHA. I didn't notice much over 2 weeks. He told me that was the wrong formulation, that the studies used higher amounts of EPA--500mg and no DHA at all because it interfered with the mood elevating abilities of EPA. He told me to take Omega Joy with 500mg EPA and next to no DHA-25mg. You take the 500mg twice a day or both at once for 1000mg shot of EPA per day as in the studies. This was the most effective amount in the studies. More than that wasn't better, and DHA alone did not do anything. I have found this to be true for me as well, since I have tried 4000mg EPA daily with no increased effect. Bottom line, if you don't want to take a bunch of stuff, just use the omega 3 in the 500mg of EPA formulation. It is the one supplement that works the best. I have greatly simplified what I take and spend a lot less money.

Here's more info on the fish oil studies:
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