9 replies to this topic

[orangish]

Just wanted to tap into the advice of this board again. I've written here before about anxiety, PCOS, attention and most recently heart symptoms that I'd developed. Fortunately, my heart tests were normal (and hopefully going off wellbutrin was the reason). The symptoms have made me reconsider being on medicine and I'm trying to gradually switch off. At the moment, I'm trying to figure out a combination of supplements that can help me get through my days until I can develop a new set of cognitive discipline and habits. For me, supplements are not a replacement for good exercise, stress management and diet. They are something to use since the latter have at times a frustratingly negligible impact.

What combination of supplements would be useful to:
1. Cluttered thoughts
2. Help with attention.

At this point, I don't know what symptom is what. I've developed quite a few different issues and it's hard to really pin down any biochemical mechanism to supplement accordingly. And clearly the toss up is that if I take care of my attention symptoms, my anxiety symptoms often exacerbate. I'd do trial and error but I don't want to be testing things for the next decade.

So far, I've tried:
1. Inositol
2. grapeseed extract
3. multivitamin
4. lemon balm
5. Fish oil

If it would be helpful to describe the nature of my attention problems, I can do that as well.

Thanks.

-O

[Zoroaster]

If you're having attention and anxiety problems then I'd probably work on the anxiety first, since anxiety can often cause attention issues. Its hard to focus when in the back of your mind you're fretting about all kinds of useless crap right? I would highly suggest meditation for this kind of situation. I have similar issues and it's worked wonders for me.

If you're looking for supplements I definitely recommend theanine for anxiety relief that doesn't make you tired or hurt your focus. Rhodiola is good for that too. Also PEA, which is actually slightly stimulating while still being anxiolytic. I've made supplements before that combine 1,3 dimethylamylamine and caffeine with theanine, PEA, Rhodiola, and Ashwaghanda, and it has done a great job, for me, of speeding me up without making me really anxious.

[csrpj]

zoroaster, what medication did you use for anxiety?

[lynx]

If it would be helpful to describe the nature of my attention problems, I can do that as well.

Thanks.

-O

See a Dr and ignore anyone who tells someone with anxiety to try meditation. Cognitive Therapy/challenging your thoughts is empirically proven as are meds. Meditation is often detrimental to people who have thinking disorders.

[csrpj]

If it would be helpful to describe the nature of my attention problems, I can do that as well.

Thanks.

-O

See a Dr and ignore anyone who tells someone with anxiety to try meditation. Cognitive Therapy/challenging your thoughts is empirically proven as are meds. Meditation is often detrimental to people who have thinking disorders.

indeed cognitive therapy is proven to work. but "ignore anyone who tells someone with anxiety to try meditation"??? meditation is great just sit straight up, close your eyes, relax, don't respond to your thoughts, listen to some relaxing music if you'd like...

[Zoroaster]

See a Dr and ignore anyone who tells someone with anxiety to try meditation. Cognitive Therapy/challenging your thoughts is empirically proven as are meds. Meditation is often detrimental to people who have thinking disorders.

No offense but you clearly don't know what you're talking about. Mindfulness meditation is also very well studied and has been shown to be very effective. At my medical school they not only teach us to recommend meditation to those with mild to moderate anxiety, they also use mindfulness meditation as first-line therapy for med students with anxiety problems. I know, having been through their program. I have been in the room for plenty of patient encounters involving anxiety at several different hospitals and discussing meditation is standard. If you have psychosis or major depression, then by all means avoid meditation. But it is the single most effective non-pharmacological thing you can do for mild to moderate anxiety.

But I'll admit its tough to do on your own. At least when you're just starting out. If you can find a good group in the area it would be better. I'd check your local hospital, many of them hold classes.

@csrpj - In the past I've used a few different meds. I was on paxil for a while and also on one of the benzos, I think it was bromazepam. I've also done talk therapy periodically. Right now I don't take anything or see anyone for my anxiety. I just use meditation. This is sufficient 90% of the time. If I have days where my anxiety is bugging me I'll take some theanine and add some phenibut for more severe days. I also take a beta-blocker (atenolol) for social/performance anxiety and as a prophylactic before situations that I know will be especially anxiety provoking.

Incidentally, I got the beta-blockers because of the frequent PVC's (heart palpitations) that I was getting (and still get sometimes). They got pretty severe. But all my heart tests were normal and they are likely due to my anxiety. I also have some moderate attention issues. So I know what the OP is going through here.

[REGIMEN]

Just wanted to tap into the advice of this board again. I've written here before about anxiety, PCOS, attention and most recently heart symptoms that I'd developed. Fortunately, my heart tests were normal (and hopefully going off wellbutrin was the reason). The symptoms have made me reconsider being on medicine and I'm trying to gradually switch off. At the moment, I'm trying to figure out a combination of supplements that can help me get through my days until I can develop a new set of cognitive discipline and habits. For me, supplements are not a replacement for good exercise, stress management and diet. They are something to use since the latter have at times a frustratingly negligible impact.

What combination of supplements would be useful to:
1. Cluttered thoughts
2. Help with attention.

At this point, I don't know what symptom is what. I've developed quite a few different issues and it's hard to really pin down any biochemical mechanism to supplement accordingly. And clearly the toss up is that if I take care of my attention symptoms, my anxiety symptoms often exacerbate. I'd do trial and error but I don't want to be testing things for the next decade.

So far, I've tried:
1. Inositol
2. grapeseed extract
3. multivitamin
4. lemon balm
5. Fish oil

If it would be helpful to describe the nature of my attention problems, I can do that as well.

Thanks.

-O

orangish: I beseech you... read my PMs... quit the supplement hunt. No one here can help you. No special combo of supplements you choose yourself will help you. Read my PMs.

Edited by REGIMEN, 16 January 2010 - 06:03 AM.

[cougar]

orangish: I beseech you... read my PMs... quit the supplement hunt. No one here can help you. No special combo of supplements you choose yourself will help you. Read my PMs.

When it comes to depression (including bipolar) and anxiety, supplementation is definitely helpful. At least for myself, I'm now totally under control by simply using my supplemental stack without using any pharmaceutical medication. Extremely effective!

Edited by cougar, 16 January 2010 - 08:12 PM.

[biochemie]

orangish: I beseech you... read my PMs... quit the supplement hunt. No one here can help you. No special combo of supplements you choose yourself will help you. Read my PMs.

When it comes to depression (including bipolar) and anxiety, supplementation is definitely helpful. At least for myself, I'm now totally under control by simply using my supplemental stack without using any pharmaceutical medication. Extremely effective!

What are you taking? Large dose fish oil? Inositol? Taurine?

Interested in knowing.

[cougar]

orangish: I beseech you... read my PMs... quit the supplement hunt. No one here can help you. No special combo of supplements you choose yourself will help you. Read my PMs.

When it comes to depression (including bipolar) and anxiety, supplementation is definitely helpful. At least for myself, I'm now totally under control by simply using my supplemental stack without using any pharmaceutical medication. Extremely effective!

What are you taking? Large dose fish oil? Inositol? Taurine?

Interested in knowing.

I just started a thread in "Supplement" forum asking for help with possible grapefruit interaction in my stack. There I listed my full stack, here is the link: http://www.imminst.o...ion-t37261.html
Within this stack, the following address my depression, anxiety, tiredness and concentration:
1. ALCAR: This gives me lots of energy. I can feel it every time when I was physically tired.
2. SAMe: 400mg, energy and mood.
3. Rhodiola Rosea: Cycling with SAMe, Energy boost.
4. Aniracetam: 750mg in the morning + 300mg in the afternoon. This one at this dosage really helped with my ADD symptom
5. CDP-Choline and Alpha GPC: For Ach, support racetams.
6. L-Tryptophan: For serotonin
7. L-Theanine: Relaxation, focus, mood, anxiety and even energy.
8. Magnessium: Relaxation, anxiety and blood glucose
9. GABA or Nature Factor PharmGaba, Glycine, Ashwagandha, Tauring, OptiZinc, Magnessium Malate and Vitamin C as my sleep stack
10.Lithium Orotate: 5mg a day for bipolar
11.Vitamin D: 4000IU a day. My mood was noticeably better after I started this one.
12.DHA/EPA: I'm taking it everyday just because it suppose to be necessary though I've never felt anything from it.

Edited by cougar, 17 January 2010 - 04:43 AM.