Controlling Anxiety the Natural Way

It is miserable being shy. I can imagine that it is just as miserable being excessively worrisome. High anxiety runs in my family. My father is a nervous fellow who has had a couple of ulcers. His sister was a worrywart and had cancer 4 times in her life. Their father was also a worrywart and had ulcers and stomach cancer which killed him at age 57. I had an aunt (in-law) that hardly left their house for about 30 years because it made her so anxious, and their son, who was very shy and nervous all of his life. He died at age 46 from liver problems caused by excessive drinking, self-medicating to combat his anxiety. She also drank alcohol every day to relieve her anxiety. Many of our relatives blame their problems on alcohol, but the anxiety was the reason for the alcohol intake.

If you suffer from anxiety disorder, you know how miserable it is. If you are reading this blog because you know someone who is shy, anxious or worrisome, then you have no idea how unhappy they are on the inside. I have always smiled in social situations in order to blend in, but I stayed in my seat or in the corner and didn’t engage in very much conversation because I was always afraid of doing something wrong or instigating a negative interaction. Shy and worrisome people are plagued with “what if” thinking that is emotionally crippling.

People who are shy isolate themselves from social situations. This leaves them feeling cheated out of a life. Other people tend to give up on them because it is hard to get them to participate or draw them out. Nervous or worrisome people are also cheated out of a good life. There is no room in all that negative, panicky brain chatter for good feelings, only “what if” thinking that never goes away.

I've discovered natural solutions to anxiety that work just as effectively as prescription medications that I have taken, but without the side affects.

What is anxiety disorder and what causes it? One source described it as: anxiety that is disproportionate to the stimulus, and sometimes in the absence of any obvious stimulus. The physiological chemistry that causes anxiety is what I am focusing on in this blog because that is something that can be targeted for change through holistic healing methods. The other route is to be aware of what anxiety is and how unreasonable one’s thinking processes are through counseling. Awareness and knowledge are important and helpful, but this doesn’t change any physical imbalances that cause the problem.

General Anxiety Disorder is associated with irregular levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry signals across nerve endings. Neurotransmitters that involve anxiety include norepinephrine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and serotonin.

These irregular levels of neurotransmitters can also cause anxiety, depression and obsessive thinking, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Plus, our bodies change as we age and these levels, especially serotonin, can change at any time in your life (especially during menopause). So, even if you were never anxious when you were young, you could start suffering from anxiety at a later age.

Norepinephrine is concentrated in the locus ceruleus (nerve cluster that lies near the brain's fourth ventricle). Increased activity in the locus ceruleus is associated with anxiety, and decreased activity in the locus ceruleus diminishes anxiety. Increased levels of GABA and serotonin seem to reduce anxiety. All of these neurotransmitters interact during heightened anxiety.

Serotonin is a chemical that serves as a neurotransmitter, which helps brain cells communicate. Serotonin levels have been implicated in anxiety, depression, migraine headaches, and many other ailments. Many of the drugs used to treat mood and anxiety disorders target the serotonin system.

There are many ways to combat physical anxiety; music therapy, light therapy, yoga, tapping, psychology, etc., but these are only short-term solutions because they don’t change your neurological makeup. The only thing that will rid you of your anxious feelings is something that will change your physical chemistry. I’ve tried a few things and I think that, short of laser brain surgery that has yet to be invented, I’ve found the best solution. At least for me.

MY HISTORY

I have always had an anxiety disorder which I grew up knowing as shyness. I am basically anxious, nervous, worried and fearful in general, but especially in social interactions. I did a good enough job of hiding it or at least not drawing too much attention to it when I was growing up, but it was always there and it always bothered me.

A few years ago Zoloft ran some ads on TV about social anxiety and how their medication can correct this, allowing you to be the person that you really are. This was music to my ears, so I went to my regular physician and asked for a prescription.

I took Zoloft for a few months and I loved it. I have to admit that it took a little time to get used to the real me, but it was nice not having that cloud raining on me all day. No more obsessing or constant fearfulness.

All good things come to an end, though. I started having side effects that were very stressful to live with, muscle cramps in my neck all day and a sudden (two month) 30 pound weight gain that I'm sure was caused by Zoloft. So, I decided to try life without Zoloft. I figured it couldn't be that hard, since I had lived with anxiety for 43 years prior to this.

It was hard. After finding out how my mind worked without anxiety, having the anxiety back again seemed to make me acutely aware of it. I decided to give Zoloft another try, but the side effects came right back, and I couldn't live with that neck ache. So I quit taking it again.

I gave Lexapro a try since the doctor recommended it as the medicine with the least amount of side affects, but this medicine is for depression and although it got rid of my anxiety, it left me feeling a little depressed. Next I gave Effexor a try, but it had about three weird side affects right away. So I quit prescription medicines and started looking for holistic solutions.

I gave acupuncture a try for one visit, which was followed up with herbs. It was mildly effective but cost too much for me, about $75 total. I was told that the effects are cumulative after several visits, but I’ll never know.

HERBS

I started experimenting with whatever I could find at the grocery store. First I tried 5-HTP, 50mg, which is described on the label as a mood enhancer. It made a difference and I had hope again that I could have a life without anxiety. After a little time on 5-HTP, the affects seemed to dissolve a little. I thought I was just getting used to it, but I’ve learned since then that it is ok to take as much as 100mg daily. In any case, I explored some more and added other herbs to my daily routine.

Next came St. John's Wort. St. John's Wort is a popular natural mood elevator. St. John's Wort helps with concentration and the energy to do daily tasks. St. John's Wort is the #1 physician-prescribed mood herb in Germany. The word "wort" is not to be confused with the wart on the skin. "Wort" is an Old English word meaning "root" or "plant". It took a couple of days before I felt any effect from this herb. Its effects are cumulative and it takes a couple of weeks before you are up and running.

I also added Gingko Biloba. Ginkgo is one of today's most popular herbs for promoting memory and concentration. It seemed to relieve my anxiety as well. Ginkgo Biloba promotes healthy circulation to the brain, which helps nourish brain cells.

I got some of my ideas on what to try by going to vitamin and supplement websites and doing a search for anxiety. Some sites have products that have a combination of ingredients that work on anxiety, but I compared the dosage in each ingredient with the dosage in an individual supplement and those combo capsules looked like they might be too weak. However, since I didn’t try them I can’t tell you if that is true or not, so you will have to experiment. If a combo pill is too weak, you can probably take a higher dosage than they recommend. Also, the combo pills have other herbs that I haven’t experimented with that might give you a better affect (such as valorian, rhodiola, licorice). I only have a limited amount of time to unravel this mystery, so you will have to explore that on your own.

HORMONES

Another route to combat anxiety is to boost your body’s hormone production. DHEA is produced by the pancreas and converted into a hormone. It can increase your mood and give you more youthful vitality. It was first sold as a prescription medication for weight loss, but didn’t work well for that. Later it was changed to over the counter and advertised as a fountain of youth pill, restoring energy and sexual vitality. I felt better the first day on DHEA. It is readily available at the grocery store or Walmart and is cheap. I figured it cost about .15 cents daily to take DHEA. You can find DHEA in 25 and 50 mg dosages. Generally, as long as you take less than 50 mg daily, you shouldn’t be creating a hormonal imbalance.

7-Keto DHEA is a more refined version that eliminates the sex hormones that may present a problem for people who already have enough. It if more potent than DHEA. 7-Keto DHEA will cost you a little more than DHEA and you will have to purchase it online or at a specialty vitamin/herb shop.

CELLULAR

So far, the holistic healing products that I have recommended will produce immediate results and you should notice a difference the first day after taking most of them. But, one annoying thing about the herbal route is the number of herbs plus my daily vitamins that I was taking each day. It added up to 12 big pills daily. Plus they still didn’t work quite as well as prescription medicine did.

I could kick myself for not discovering this next one earlier, though.

This is the granddaddy of them all. Correcting your chemistry on the cellular level produces the BEST RESULTS in eliminating anxiety. Today I feel better than I have felt since I started pursuing solutions for anxiety.

Every living organism has molecules that exchange amino acids billions of times a day. Each molecule releases 4 amino acids and absorbs 4 acids while morphing into a different shape. This movement of amino acids is vital to the function of every organ in our bodies. A healthy amount of amino acid creates fluidity and movement in the body chemistry which moves hormones so they can do their job.

Most people who suffer from anxiety have a lack of vitamin B in their bodies, and perhaps other essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin B helps our bodies to naturally increase the level of amino acids.

176 different amino acids have been identified in plants and animals, with different concentrations in various organs. In the brain chemistry one amino acid that influences anxiety is called GABA. A healthy level of GABA helps to regulate our seretonin and norepenephrine hormones.

Vitamin B will help your body to produce more GABA and other amino acids. The more amino acids you have, the better. A lack of vitamin B can lead to other physical problems as well. Below is basic information about vitamin B deficiencies from Wikipedia:

***

Several named vitamin deficiency diseases may result from the lack of sufficient B-vitamins.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency causes Beriberi. Symptoms of this disease of the nervous system include weight loss, emotional disturbances, Wernicke's encephalopathy (impaired sensory perception), weakness and pain in the limbs, periods of irregular heartbeat, and edema (swelling of bodily tissues). Heart failure and death may occur in advanced cases. Chronic thiamine deficiency can also cause Korsakoff's syndrome, an irreversible psychosis characterized by amnesia and confabulation.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) deficiency causes Ariboflavinosis. Symptoms may include cheilosis (cracks in the lips), high sensitivity to sunlight, angular cheilitis, glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), seborrheic dermatitis or pseudo-syphilis (particularly affecting the scrotum or labia majora and the mouth), pharyngitis, hyperemia, and edema of the pharyngeal and oral mucosa.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency, along with a deficiency of tryptophan causes Pellagra. Symptoms include aggression, dermatitis, insomnia, weakness, mental confusion, and diarrhea. In advanced cases, pellagra may lead to dementia and death.

Deficiencies of other B vitamins result in symptoms that are not part of a named deficiency disease.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) deficiency can result in acne and Paresthesia, although it is uncommon.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) deficiency may lead to anemia, depression, dermatitis, high blood pressure (hypertension) and elevated levels of homocysteine.
Vitamin B7 deficiency does not typically cause symptoms in adults but may lead to impaired growth and neurological disorders in infants.
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) deficiency results in elevated levels of homocysteine. Deficiency in pregnant women can lead to birth defects.
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) deficiency causes pernicious anemia, memory loss and other cognitive decline. It is most likely to occur among elderly people as absorption through the gut declines with age. In extreme (fortunately rare) cases, paralysis can result.

***

As you can see, a few of the B vitamins can cause problems in the nervous system including depression and emotional disturbances. When you add more B vitamins to your system, you are helping your body to produce more amino acids. The more amino acids that are being exchanged in your brain chemistry, the better your neurotransmitters can work (especially the norepenephrine which works to relax you).

Below is a optimum dosage of vitamins and minerals for correcting anxiety disorder recommended at www.holisticonline.com:
Vitamin B complex, 50 mg one to three times daily
P-5-P, 100 mg
Extra vitamin B-1 (thiamine) - 50 mg 3 times daily, with meals.
Extra Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) - 50 mg 3 times daily.
Extra Niacinamide - 100 mg 3 times daily. Caution- Do not substitute niacin for niacinamide. Niacin can be toxic in such high doses.
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids - 5,000-10,000 mg daily, in divided doses.
Vitamin E - 400 IU or as directed in the label. Use d-alpha-tocopherol form.
Calcium - 2,000 mg daily
Magnesium - 500-1,000 mg daily
Potassium - 99 mg daily
Selenium - 100-200 mcg daily Caution: If you are pregnant,
do not exceed 40 mcg daily.
Zinc - 50-80 mg daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg daily from all supplements.
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) - 400 mg twice daily. Caution: Do not use if you
have manic-depressive disorder or take prescription anti-depressants.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)- 750 milligrams three times a day after meals

When you start taking B vitamins and/or these other vitamins and minerals, it will take 4-6 weeks before you feel an effect. Don’t get discouraged, just keep on taking your vitamins every day. You can also take the herbs or DHEA for immediate results, but maintain your vitamins for the granddaddy result.

I didn’t take a high level of everything that is listed in the table. I found an amino acid and B vitamin mixture called GABA Relaxer which focuses on the two B vitamins (B6 and Niacinimide) that increase your brain chemistry’s level of amino acids, plus GABA. For a while I substituted this for a B complex vitamin twice a day in addition to a multi vitamin, then went back to the GABA Relaxer. I didn’t expect the increased B vitamins to really have any affect on me, so I wasn’t real encouraged about taking them. I only continued taking them because I had spent money on them and didn’t want to be wasteful.

My amino acid production kicked in at about 6 weeks, and the affect on my mood was much better than anything that was produced through medicines or herbs, and with no side affects. Plus it cleared up another medical problem I was having. I have had a recurring urinary tract infection for the last couple of years that required a daily dosage of acidophilus. When my mood leveled out, my infection disappeared also. Healthy B vitamins improve the flora in the stomach (which is where serotonin is produced).

It took a couple of days before I realized that my mood was the result of the B vitamin regimen I had been taking over the past 6 weeks. When I realized that my body was finally responding, I quit taking all the herbs and my mood was normal, no anxiety.

It has been a few months now and I am a great believer in a daily vitamin and mineral regimen. I am now taking the Gaba Relaxer, plus 5-HTP, plus 7-Keto DHEA. If I forget to take my DHEA, I can tell by the middle of the day because my mind can't stay focused as well. I'm not real clear about the 5-HTP but I've tried 50mg and 100mg and can't tell a difference.

The natural approach to good health is always better than the synthetic approach in my opinion. The real key is to be knowledgeable and aware of the subtleties of vitamin and mineral balance and your corresponding health.

Tissue salts is another area that some people are deficient in that can cause different neurological problems. I haven’t experimented with tissue salts, but it is another option that corrects the body cells on a basic level. Check out http://www.nativeremedies.com for remedies, some of which include tissue salts. Tissue salts also take several weeks before you can gage their effectiveness.


SUMMARY

Below are links to the DoctorsTrust.com website that I purchase my products from. At this time I am taking B vitamins daily (twice the daily dosage listed on the label to equal the dosages listed in the table above), a multi-vitamin daily, calcium supplement, medical-grade Omega Oils. (Note, at this time Doctorstrust.com doesn’t sell GABA Relaxer, but you can find it on iHerb.com or probably bodybuilder.com).

B-Complex Vitamin
http://www.tkqlhce.com/d481mu2-u1HKIQJNMMHJILQKONQ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT2431-1.html&cjsku=DT2431-1
Multi-Mineral Complex
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/nj121mu2-u1HKIQJNMMHJILQKONQ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FSH1661-1.html&cjsku=SH1661-1
Omega Oil
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/g266cy63y5LOMUNRQQLNMPUOSRU?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT1811-1.html&cjsku=DT1811-1
Vitamin E Oil
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/45103iqzwqyDGEMFJIIDFEHMGKJM?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT2801-1.html&cjsku=DT2801-1
7-Keto DHEA
http://www.tkqlhce.com/rt67biroiq586E7BAA5769E8CBE?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FTL0021-1.html&cjsku=TL0021-1
DHEA
http://www.jdoqocy.com/fk117efolfn253B48772436B598B?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT0722-1.html&cjsku=DT0722-1
5-HTP (50 or 100 mg daily)
http://www.kqzyfj.com/ij98qgpmgo364C59883547C6A9C?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT0011-1.html&cjsku=DT0011-1
Ginkgo Biloba
http://www.tkqlhce.com/n9121ar-xrzEHFNGKJJEGFINHLKN?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT1021-1.html&cjsku=DT1021-1
St. John’s Wort
http://www.tkqlhce.com/p3101qgpmgo364C59883547C6A9C?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorstrust.com%2Fitem%2FDT2231-2.html&cjsku=DT2231-2


Disclaimer: I am not suggesting that you use these or any other product for your anxiety. I am writing this for people out there who have decided not to use prescription medication for their anxiety and may not be aware of all of the products that are available or the complexities of anxiety disorder. If you decide to take a natural approach to anxiety treatment, please pursue it with common sense. Plus, it is wise to consult your doctor about holistic healing.

Good luck with your health and with life.

ANXIETY - Holistic control over your anxiety

Anxious - shy - worrywort - quiet - nervous. These are words that people used to describe me when I was growing up. For years we all just thought that this was my personality description, not a neurological disorder. This blog is for people who are experiencing anxiety, either life-long or recent, and don't want to take prescription-strength medicine.

Many people find themselves feeling anxious at some point in their lives, even if they never felt this way in youth. Or you might find that stressful situations cause more anxiety as you get older.

I've discovered natural solutions to anxiety that work just as effectively as prescription medications that I have taken. The prescription meds caused side affects that holistic (over-the-counter) herbs and other products don't.

I have always had an anxiety disorder which I grew up knowing as shyness. I am basically anxious, nervous, worried and fearful of most things, especially social interactions. I did a good enough job of hiding it or at least not drawing too much attention to it when I was growing up, but it was always there and it always bothered me.

What is anxiety disorder and what causes it? One source described it as: anxiety that is disproportionate to the stimulus, and sometimes in the absence of any obvious stimulus. The physiological chemistry assocated with anxiety is what I am focusing on because that is something that I can target for change through herbal, hormonal or otherwise means.

General Anxiety Disorder is associated with irregular levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry signals across nerve endings. Neurotransmitters that seem to involve anxiety include norepinephrine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and serotonin.

These irregular levels of neurotransmitters can also cause depression and obsessive thinking, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Living with these disorders all of your life is emotionally draining. Our bodies can also change as we age and the serotonin levels can be reduced (especially during menopause), so even if you were never a shy person or a worrywort when you were young, you could start suffering from anxiety at a later age.

Serotonin is a chemical that serves as a neurotransmitter, which helps brain cells communicate. Serotonin levels being too low have been implicated in anxiety, depression, migraine headaches, and many other ailments. Many of the drugs used to treat mood and anxiety disorders target the serotonin system.

Links for detailed medical information:
http://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000125/CH123.html
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web1/Applegate.html

*****

OK, some history about where I am at today (at age 46). A few years ago Zoloft ran some ads on TV about social anxiety and how their medication can correct this, allowing you to be the person that you really are. This was music to my ears, and the first time I ever thought of shyness as a physical disorder. So, I went to my regular physician and asked for a prescription, which he obliged.

I took Zoloft for a year and a half and I loved it. I have to admit that it took a little time to get used to the real me, but it was nice not having that cloud hanging around all day. No more obsessing or constant fearfulness.

But all good things come to an end. I started having side effects that were very stressful to live with, muscle crams in my neck all day, and a 30 pound weight gain that I'm sure was caused by Zoloft. So, I decided to try life without Zoloft. I figured it couldn't be that hard, since I had lived with anxiety for 42 years prior to this.

It was hard. After finding out how my mind worked without anxiety, having the anxiety back again seemed to make me acutely aware of it. I obsessed over all kinds of things and was more aware of the obsessive thinking than I was before I had discovered Zoloft. I decided to give Zoloft another try, but the side effects came right back, and I couldn't live with that neck ache. So I quit taking it again.

I gave Lexapro a try since the doctor recommended it as the medicine with the least amount of side affects, but this medicine is for depression and although it got rid of my anxiety and obsessing, it left me feeling a little depressed. So I quit prescription medicines and turned to holistic medicine.

I started experimenting with whatever I could find at the grocery store. First I tried 5-HTP which is described on the label as a mood enhancer. It made a difference and I had hope again that I could have a life without anxiety. After a little time on 5-HTP, the affects seemed to dissolve a little, maybe I was just getting used to it. So, I explored some more and added other herbs to my daily routine. Next came St. John's Wort which is probably the most effective herb I take, then Ginkgo Biloba, then Chromiuim Picolinate.

I got some of my ideas on what to try by going to vitamin and supplement websites and doing a search for anxiety. My favorite site is:

BotanicChoice.com - products are doctor recommended and always carry an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee.

I like this site because the products have detailed information, and the site has good cross-references to similar products. This site has one product with a combination of ingredients that you can use daily and not have to purchase items individually. I haven't tried it yet, but I intend to. I think this would be a good place to start if you haven't tried herbs to control your anxiety. My only observation is that the St. John's Wort dosage is lower (150mg) than the dosage if taken individually (300mg) and St. John's Wort is the best product I take.

Rhodiola Rosea is another herb, a root grown in arctic regions, that helps boost the seretonin levels. I discovered this herb when I tried a weight loss product that targets stress reduction which included Rhodiola as one of the ingredients. It really put me in a good mood. I ran out of the weight loss supplement (didn't loose a pound), but I have individual Rhodiola Rosea on order in the mail right now. Korean Ginseng is closely related.

Another mood elevator that I haven't experimented with is Kava. One concern I have is that the information on the website mentions the possibility of liver damage if used too much or in combination with other medicines, so I think Kava may be acceptable for special occasions only. People with anxiety problems who self-medicate on alcohol might have a problem staying away from Kava.

DHEA is another approach to mood control. DHEA is a substance that the pancreas produces which the body turns into hormones. The only problem is that it may produce too much estrogen, progesterone or testosterone than you need. Plus, you're kind of messing with mother nature, but in doses smaller than 50mg daily you shouldn't have problems. DHEA costs about 10 cents daily. 7-Keto DHEA works very well for me (better than DHEA). This form of DHEA is more potent and therefore more expensive (about $30/month), but eliminates the sex hormones.

One other approach is to control your anxiety with amino acids which work on the gaba hormone. I am using a produce called Gaba Relaxer which adds more of the amino acids concerning gaba behavior into your chemistry. This product also contains B-complex vitamins which helps your body produce a healthy amount of amino acids.

IN A NUTSHELL. I'll list the products that I have mentioned plus a link to my favorite website. However, you can go to any website and find anxiety/stress related products.

Stress-Ez™ 180 Tablets
Stress-Ez is the result of hundreds of years of herbal knowledge. It blends together eight herbs known for their ability to calm the body... revive the spirit... relax the mind.

St. John’s Wort (300mg) 60 Capsules - 300 mg. - Standardized Extract (0.3% Hypericin)
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) contains the active ingredient hypericin, which acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO). MAO inhibitors help maintain normal mood and emotional stability.

5-HTP 60 Capsules - 50 mg.
5-HTP is a natural extract that your body’s normal processes can convert to serotonin. Serotonin is the natural neurotransmitter that does some extraordinary things for you. It promotes a bright outlook, lets you get a peaceful night’s sleep, and even helps in weight control.
Korean (Asian)Ginseng 100 Capsules 100 mg. - Standardized Extract (5% Ginsenosides)
Studies indicate that Korean Ginseng stimulates concentration, supports menatal alertness and endurance. It also nutritionally benefits the body’s ability to resist stress and boost immune functions. This products is probably the closest item this website has to Rhodiola.

Kava Kava Root 500 mg 90 tablets
This tropical herb of Polynesia is an anxiety reducer and physical relaxant. It relieves stress, calms the body and promotes a feeling of well being.

Ginkgo Biloba 60mg 120 Capsules 60mg. - Standardized Extract
By now most people know that Ginkgo is good for memory. But Ginkgo has many more functions that can impact your whole body.

DHEA 100 Tablets 25 mg.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Almost 4,000 scientific studies have been published showing promising results for DHEA against many age-related conditions.

Currently I am taking Gaba Relaxer amino acid complex, St. John's Wort, Ginkco Biloba, Chromium Picolinate and 5-HTP every day, plus I have the Rhodiola Rosea on order. Of these, I suspect the gaba relaxer amino acid complex is the least effective. I got a good affect from 7-Keto DHEA, but I didn't replace it because I wanted to try cheaper products.

If I were starting out, I would try the Stress-Ez product, plus St. John's Wort if the Stress-Ez isn't strong enough. I plan to experiment with that when I start running out of what I have now.
I feel like I am very much rid of anxiety right now, my mood is as good as it was when I was on zoloft. If I run out of anything, I will wait a week to get more just to determine if that particular product makes much of a difference. It bothers me that I have to deal with this at all, but I'm thankful every day that I don't have any other kind of neurological problem that is harder to live with than anxiety - and there are lots of them!

In this blog I've mentioned the herbs, hormones and amino acid that I take (or have taken) to control my anxiety. Together, they work just as well in controlling anxiety as zoloft did. If you have lived your life feeling anxious, or find that you are starting to feel constantly anxious at a later age, these over-the-counter products can help you to feel OK again without having to deal with a doctor who doesn’t know any more about anxiety or obsessive-compulsive or mild depression than you do, just what his or her favorite anti-depressant medicine is to prescribe and what kind of side affects to watch out for every 3 months when you come back for a refill. In the end, you have to rely on your own assessment of how you feel and adjust accordingly.

Disclaimer: I am not suggesting that you use these or any other products for your anxiety. I am posting this blog for people out there who have decided not to use prescription medication for their anxiety and may not be aware of all of the products that are available. If you decide to take a natural approach to anxiety, please pursue it with caution and common sense.

Words of advice:

ALL THINGS IN MODERATION