The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
5-HTP
Posted by Susanne (Indianapolis, In) on 11/30/2007
★★★★★
I began taking 5-HTP for depression and anxiety and sleeplessness during a very emotionally stressful breakup. I have Not had an anxity attack since 3-07 which I had suffered from off and on for several years. I sleep so much better. I am able to think clearer and stay focused and concentrate so much better as well as improved my memory. I am thankful for this. My dr. wanted to put me on Wellbutrine. NO Thank U!
5-HTP
Posted by Kathryn (Toronto, Ontario)
★★★★★
I am taking 5-HTP to help me with sleeping. My 16 yr old daughter is also taking it to help with stress and weight control as well as sleeping. We have found it has helped a lot and I don't have to take it every day . My kids call them the turkey pills because the amino acid they contain are the same as the one found in turkey, milk, bananas etc. We both take 100 or 200 mg a day.
5-HTP
Posted by Charlotte (Richboro, PA)
★★★★★
My 6year old grandson was diagnosed with "Select Mutism" 2 years ago and rather than put him on "Prozac", my daughter did some research and learned about 5HTP and chose to try it first. He started on 50mg every night. His psychologist saw the same results with the 5HTP as children on prescribed drugs. It's been a miracle for him. I have since then also taken it since our family seems to have anxiety problems and ADD runs in the family and it has helped very much with these problems. I usually take 100mg to 200mg daily depending on my stress levels at the time. We are so grateful our little grandson did not have to take Prozac or a similar drug. I would highly recommend it as a first choice to try at least.
EC: Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child's inability to speak in select social settings, such as school. These children understand language and are able to talk normally in settings where they are comfortable, secure and relaxed.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amber (Portland, Oregon) on 03/27/2009
★★★★★
Elsewhere on this site someone wrote that drinking Apple Cider Vinegar (1-2 tbsp) in a glass of water (8oz) helped to alleviate stress/anxiety. I recently started to try this, as I was practicing drinking ACV a few times each day already. I noticed immediate improvement in my mood, and the ability to calm down and feel at ease. EWhen my boyfriend upset me yesterday, instead of speaking my mind, I went and made the ACV drink and felt more balanced before we discussed matters. : ) I will continue doing this, along with taking an extra B vitamin, when under stress or feeling upset. Sometimes I also take a GABA sublingual supplement for calming effect, but i think the ACV actually worked just as well!
Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha
Posted by Megan (Chattahoochee) on 06/13/2018
★★★★★
I also take ashwagandha for stress. It helps very much but you need to be careful with it so read up on all the side effects. I bought a different brand with more potency and it lowered my blood pressure like crazy. I stopped feeling the effects after a while so I take a 2 week break from the supplement. During that time I use tryptophan.
Replied by Bowtieman
(Richmond, Virginia)
10/17/2022
Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha
Posted by Galaxy (Boston, Ma, Usa) on 05/19/2013
★★★★★
I have found that one 450 mg capsule of Ashwagandha at bedtime helps to lower my overall stress level A LOT. My friend prefers to take one or two capsules in the morning. It is an "adaptogen" herb that helps to even out cortisol levels, and it really works for us.
Replied by Galaxy
(Boston, Ma, Usa)
05/20/2013
Replied by WENDY
(OH)
03/20/2022
B Vitamins
Posted by Coco (Teaneck, Nj) on 05/13/2011
★★★★★
This is for Connie from Salt Lake-Utah. Thanks so very much for all your help and info. It is about a month now , I started with liquid B complex made as a live culture. The progress was minimum and I was sceptical... But after a month O'''h Dear Got what a difference. Today I saw my dentist an unpleasant guy who is just conveniently close to my home. Normally I would sweat and shake like a Jello. Today for the first tome in years I was totally calm. AMAZING!!!!! It looks really like my nerves needed this protection, so I am going continue.. 20 drops at the morning and 20 at the afternoon. Thanks Connie again for your advice....
B Vitamins
Posted by David (Titusville, FL) on 06/07/2007
★★★★★
I just turned 60 and I still have my brown hair. I attribute this to taking B vitamins in a 50 mg. complex (50 mg. of each B vitamin in one capsule), and two or three 800 mcg. of folic acid tablets. The B vitamins are known to be a stress reliever. Remember the old saying how kids can give you gray hairs? It's true! Stress can make the gray come in! The B vitamins inositol and choline are important for the color of your hair. Did you know that some wool companies deliberately make their sheep deficient in these two B vitamins so that the wool will be much whiter?! Folic Acid also helps with hair growth and had been named after the word Folicule, meaning hair! Looking younger than your age and knowing that you didn't dye your hair to look younger makes people ask if you found the fountain of youth! Try the B vitamins and folic acid for at least 6 months and you make notice a great change!
Replied by Ann
(Bastrop, Texas, Usa)
07/29/2011
Chamomile or Green Tea
Posted by Veronika (Frankfurt, Germany) on 04/07/2008
★★★★★
I use dayly 4 bags of chamomile tea, sometimes green tea. Just to calm my nervous system while fighting with the sharks of 21st century.
Dhea
Posted by Seaangel (Colorado Springs, Co) on 05/11/2010
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Hi Ted, I took your advice a couple of months ago regarding the dhea during a period when I was under high duress. it was amazing how it turned me around, un fortunately now i had to stop due to a horrible breakout in acne, i cut my dosage down to 25mg a couple of times a week, but ended up having to stop still. Would keto dhea have the same effect (as far as acne) or would it be the solution?
I have been a user of the ACV and VCO for a long time, so ive tried everything to pinpoint the acne probblem, including starting and stopping dhea. thank you, have a blessed day!!
Dietary Suggestions for Stress
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 12/20/2012
Hi Everyone, I am posting this because it's relevant to the holidays. It is an audio interview of David Wolfe speaking on foods and ways to help reduce stress. He's also speaking on reducing cortisol in our bodies. It is full of valuable information and what is causing stress.
http://theawareshow.com/s8/offer/wolfe#Replay
I hope you take the opportunity to hear what he has to say. I am always amazed at how I learn something new every time I hear him! Best to everyone, Lisa
Dietary Suggestions for Stress
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, U.K.) on 05/04/2008
★★★★★
stress and depression is caused when the nervous system becomes weak and starts breaking up similar to a phone connection. following are excellent cures for stress:
1 fresh pineapples.
2 cauliflower.
3 guavas.
4 bananas.
5 coriander soup.
6 barley,- soup, porridge or bread made from this is one of the best cures with a multiple arrange of other health benefits.
7 pistachio nuts, guarantee you smiling throughout the whole day and also increase facial beauty. more effective when taken with milk.
8 grapes, help you have really good dreams.
9 sheep's milk. eat these on a regular basis and enjoy life.
Please note some people are upset due to some tragedy and find it difficult to be happy. i urge those people to try these cures and promise them that by praying and asking to god they will have no reason to be upset. wish you best of health and wealth, love you.
Ginseng
Posted by Slusan (Townsville, Queensland, Australia) on 04/11/2009
★★★★★
I am 50, and have noticed over the years that whenever I take a course of GINSENG that Life is Fine. BC (before children) I didn't take it all the time, and always just for endurance and stress.... a month or 2 on then a month or 2 off. I seemed to know when it was time to start another course of it, because that's when I'd remember to buy it. I had my first child at 33, and started having extremely uncontrollable angry episodes each month, I could put my fist through the wall I would get so angry.....Ranting and raving over the stupidest things...it was like I was possessed, I could feel myself doing it but couldn't stop. But I noticed that if I was on Ginseng, I wouldn't get angry... Life was better. So I started to make sure that I took it religiously, 3 months on, 1 month off. The episodes stopped completely.
I have stopped menstruating now, and have had no (touch wood), menopause side effects. Except for the occasional hot flush when I have a glass of wine (that's a pain). Amazingly though, I would go without a period for 3 or 4 months, then when I stopped the Ginseng, I would get one....that night. It's now been 6 months since I had a Ginseng tablet, and I have just started another course. It will be interesting to see if it still has the same effect when I stop. I will let you know.
Hope this is helpful to someone. The added benefit of taking Ginseng is that my energy levels increase, and people say I don't look my age.
Information
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, Ny) on 05/30/2011
Juice Fasts
Posted by Gabriela (Pahoa, USA) on 02/01/2008
★★★★★
I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis almost 25 years ago and was suffering on and off with painful inflammation in my hands. After taking all the usual prescribed medicines for about a year, I had enough and went on to cure myself. I did 4 weeks of juice fasting and afterwards ate only vegan and mostly raw foods (all organic). I also let the dentist remove all my amalgams. Over the years when my diet got poor and my stress levels high, I would get inflammation again. Whenever I went back to juice fasting (the ultimate detoxification, I would do this for all kinds of diseases) and eating RAVE diet (google it) foods, I get symptom free. Stress in life is often unavoidable, but we have power over the foods we eat. Juice fasting and RAVE diet are my cure for Rheumatoid arthritis. If I find myself eating too sweet (sugar is poison, I use Stevia and Agave syrup only), I counteract with greens. (alalize again). Industrial food (all prepared food) is poison. I don't eat it.
