moving from pharmaceuticals to Herbs to combat depression and anxiety

[Guest guest]

Hi; I'm new to the group and I'm sure this has been touched on but the

keyword " depression " yielded over 3000 messages - the ones I looked at

did not answer my question..so I wondered if I could ask:

 

I've been off and on antidepressants and anxiety pharmaceuticals for

several years and at the moment am working my way off Effexor (down to

35 mg from 170) also starting birth control pills - the combined

reduction of the venlafaxine plus the hormones in the pills is giving

me anxiety shakes and low grade depression.

 

Really hoping to hear from people

who have had success overcoming depression and anxiety with the help

of natural supplements.

 

I really want to quit with the pharmaceuticals for good if possible

but my moodswings and anxiety attacks can be bad so I am hoping herbs

will help.

 

Thanks - Becca (I'm 31)

 

 

 

 

(Moderator's Note: Dear Becca, I would recommend that you find support and

help/guidance in withdrawing from mediciations to make sure that you do it

safely. I believe that some doctors specialize in this. There are support groups

also which focus on SSRI issues.

 

 

/search?query=antidepressant+ssri

 

This brought up a whole list of groups. I didn't list or copy them here.

 

 

Here are a few others found just randomly. These are just some that I searched

for and found. I do not personally know which are any good or not.

 

 

This group owner seems very knowledgble about SSRI's. You might ask her which

are good support groups.

 

SSRI research -

about SSRI type drugs like Prozac, Paxil, etc.

ssri-research

 

 

 

 

Safe Harbor Group

Safe Harbor is a non-profit agency which was formed to help find alternatives to

traditional psychiatric methods in relieving mental disturbances or distress.

safeharbor2/

 

 

Quit Paxil, Prozac and other SSRI type antidepressants safely

SSRI drugs covered. Quitting safely.

http://www.quitpaxil.org

 

 

Prozac Survivors Support Group

www.pssg.org/index.shtml

 

 

I think that there are probably many others. )

[Guest guest]

i.lovemybrent wrote:

>

> Really hoping to hear from people

> who have had success overcoming depression and anxiety with the help

> of natural supplements.

>

 

> When I used to visit and depend on allopathic physcians I was sick

> much of the time.

> I began to draw a connection, in my case, between lifestyle, exposure

> to illnesses, and illness. It was a no brainer to figure that if I sat

> in crowded rooms with folks who were sick of various ailments, then I

> would increae exposure needlessly. It really opened my eyes working

> in a health care setting for geriatric folk: every patient just about

> who came back from a hospital had either developed decubitus ulcers or

> MRSA.

> Beyond that, however, the pharmaceuticals that I was taking were

> admittedly hazardous- a long list of side effects was given with each.

> I read a few article by physicians and asked about some of the

> theories about MRSA. Many physicians who has thought about this said

> that overuse of antibiotics had caused the developement of this

> strain. The more I studied it, it appeared that really there wasnt a

> " new deadly virus " ; but rather a new weakness of the immunie system.

> Where does such a weakened immunine system derive from?

> My own opinion was that years of taking pharmaceuticals with known

> side effects, and genetic changes that occour with immunizations alter

> the immune system, weaken it.

> Certainly it is logical that if one has poor health from injesting

> toxins, and then has his cellular nature changed or altered by

> substances that can modify a virus, then he is at risk potentially.

> And since a virus acts in side the cell, then the only way for these

> medicemes to work is for them to work inside the cell- to alter the

> DNA or other structure of the cell. This cannot be a positive

> developement for the individual, or for offspring.

> I stopped the pharmas years ago; and one has to endure some illness,

> repeatedly, to re develope immunity. It takes years.

>

As for the depressive problems; ditto. I had taken zoloft, ativan,

xanax, etc for recurring anxiety and deep depression. What is more

effective is to change lifestyle, remain productively busy, and stop

eating junk food. The diet is essential to good health, both physical

and mental.

Exercise of walking or some other activity is important.

Changing things that tend to result in depression or anxiety is essential.

Good interior or mental outlook is important; thats why things like

Church or support groups or visiting friends is also important.

 

Supplements help: but one must remember to NOT deliberately put more

toxins into the system, whether pharmaceutical or herbal.

 

I cannot tell you what will work for you; but what seemed to help

tremendously for me, for many reasons, was Niacin. I took 500mg of

release assured Niacin thrice daily- to control high cholestral (and it

worked quite well!). Over the years I have taken less.

 

Other supplements help at times: Kava Kava is a good antianziety herb.

Valeriana, skullcap, passion flower, and hops make a relaxing tea.

St Johns Wort is a good tea, along with Verbena for depression.

 

Just my story and opinion; and certainly not intended as any kind of

medical advise...

 

Michael

[Guest guest]

For my family, I find that Omega 3 fish oil is very helpful in doses

of 1500mg. I also like Gaba, Theanine and Taurine, they are very

relaxing and have a positive effect on my mood. B-6 and Magnesium

are also helpful for us.

Hope you find the right combination to help your body get over

depression and anxiety.

 

Nagla

 

 

, Michael <mwood

wrote:

>

> i.lovemybrent wrote:

> >

> > Really hoping to hear from people

> > who have had success overcoming depression and anxiety with the help

> > of natural supplements.

> >

>

> > When I used to visit and depend on allopathic physcians I was sick

> > much of the time.

> > I began to draw a connection, in my case, between lifestyle, exposure

> > to illnesses, and illness.