Hi. since May of this year, I had been taking a certain supplement stack daily up until September.
The stack in question included:
artichoke extract
gotu kola
apigenin
rutin
luteolin
probiotics
gigartina red seaweed
arabinogalactan
dandelion leaf
dandelion root
ashwagandha
potassium
magnesium
phellodendron amurense
nettle root/leaf
vitamin D
elderberry
At the beginning of September, i experienced a HUGE anxiety/panic attack. I immediately ceased taking all the supplements in question, but since September, I have been experiencing daily anxiety attacks, catastrophic thinking, nervousness, and feel terrified for literally 24hours daily. my sleep is greatly disturbed.
it's approaching 3 months since stopping the supplements, and i have been researching endlessly to find the cause/reason, and the symptoms I'm currently experiencing are very very similar to people to are experiencing benzo withdrawals.
i started to research more in depth into the supplements i was taking, and have since discovered that
luteolin
apigenin
rutin
gotu kola
ashwagandha
probiotics
artichoke extract
arabinogalactan
all have some form of gaba agonist/GABAergic capability. even elderberry contains flavonoids that effect Gaba?!
this has shocked me as i had not realised at the time that so many supplements are gaba agonists.
i have since come across a post written by scienceguy regarding anxiety, who had made it clear to try to avoid any gaba agonist supplements if one wants to heal from anxiety. i always thought i had been, bar the inclusion of ashwagandha and gotu kola, which i was taking very small doses of.
i was taking very high doses of the artichoke extract, and the dandelion leaf/root with a view to helping my liver and kidneys etc and high doses of gigartina with view to bolster my immume system(antiviral).
the symptoms im experiencing at the moment are horrific. terrifying. I've become so afraid and anxious, and have had to sign off work due to the anxiety and panic attacks. but even being at home is unbearable, as my mind has started to become anxious about everything, from family to finances. it feels as though I've developed a severe generalised anxiety disorder, and i keep thinking the worst about every and any situation, with images and horror movies of worst case scenarios playing out in my mind constantly. waking up daily in a total panic driven state, with really irrational thoughts like becoming financially broke, loved ones dying, being alone forever, to even panicking about being unable to pay bills and becoming bankrupt and ending up in prison, or dying an early death from a heart attack etc. All irrational fears, but they seem so real. i have since discovered that thoughts like these are a symptom of severe generalised anxiety.
before September, i was absolutely fine. no anxiety or depression present.
i wanted to know, does anybody have experience with any of the listed supplements above? am i definitely experiencing a withdrawal of some sort? and if so, when will this nightmare end.
I'm in weekly therapy, and the doctor has prescribed me sertraline, which i am hesitant on taking, and i am too scared and avoiding all supplements for the time being. I'm not experiencing any relief from the psy therapy yet, and i don't know what else to take or do to help myself.
can anybody advise?