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.
Alternatives to Benzos
Posted by Joe A (Stockton) on 06/13/2021 73 posts
★★★★★
Severe Anxiety relief, what helps for Benzo withdrawal/taper off symptoms?
L-theanine 800mg helps, mulungu 500mg helps (most people never heard of) psychedelic mushrooms, ketamine may help. What helps you when you must withdraw (taper off Benzo addiction)?
Alternatives to Benzos
Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 06/14/2021
5-HTP
Posted by ST (Oregon) on 12/22/2022
Lol, I've done that and also when reading product reviews. We know a good thing when we see it. =)
Vitamin B6
Posted by Bev (Oakland Park, Fl) on 03/12/2017
★★★★★
Vitamin B6 for Anxiety and Insomnia
Vitamin B6 will calm you down and if you take it with B12 in the morning, you'll feel energized during the day without any feeling of nervousness or anxiety. Do not overdo B6 because in large quantities it can be harmful. Some say that up to 500 mgs a day is the safe upper limit, but it seems like a lot to me.
I also take 100 mg of B6 at night to help me sleep. B6 is referred to as Nature's Sleeping Pill. I usually take it with inositol, and sometimes add a little L-theanine or Gaba.
Melatonin diminishes as you age, but do not take large doses or it will have the opposite effect. 3 mg works just fine for me, but 10 mgs may have you tossing and turning. With melatonin, less is more.
Probiotics
Posted by Good Advise Wife (Los Angeles, Ca) on 07/08/2016
★★★★★
The reason for anxiety is because the intestinal tract does not have enough good bacteria to create the B12 or serotonin needed to calm the nervous system. Taking probiotics will encourage good bacteria in the intestinal tract. Taking supplements or drugs are a temporary fix but they will work in an emergency situation. A good film to watch is: The Gut; Our Second Brain. It explains it perfectly.
Rhodiola
Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/20/2014 2048 posts
In cases of extreme free radical or oxidative stress I think it fair to say that it's more than hormonal problem. The very cell integrity is compromised all over the body. The need for antioxidant nutrition is critical, but one nutrient stands out in my mind as very effective in restoring cell integrity & energy production and that's Quercetin. Another nutrient that is gaining popularity for antioxidant & energy at the cell level is PQQ or Pyrroloquinone Quinone. Other nutrients for energy production are Ribose, DMG, Tyrosine, Inosine, CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and NADH or Coenzyme 1.
For adrenal glands specific, supplement Pantothenic Acid, Ginseng Root, Raw Adrenal Substance. I personally take either a Raw Pituitary Glandular or a Multi-male Glandular daily. Of course one can take Raw Bovine Adrenal Glandular for restoration.
Alkalize
Posted by Diane (Id, US) on 07/15/2014
★★★★★
I had some serious anxiety, stomach problems and raised blood pressure going on last week…I didn't know what it was so went into the Dr. who said it was anxiety and gave me a Rx for Lexapro and Zantac… I knew there was an underlying cause and hit the computer for hrs….I found articles on pH balancing and after testing my pH w/ pH strips I saw that it was so Acidic! I began an alkaline diet… It took a few days, but as of right now I feel back to my old self and very little anxiety. Such a relief. It may not help everyone, but it's worth a try and if it does, it's a cheap fix! Good luck!
Borage Oil, Magnesium
Posted by Claire (Mountain View, Ca) on 01/08/2014
★★★★★
I have been seeking remedies to help with anxiety and insomnia and wanted to share what's been working. Thanks to a post from Mama to Many, I purchased borage oil, the strongest I could find at 1200 mg per capsule. It has 3 times as much GLA as evening primrose oil, which I had been taking without noticing many results (except less menstrual flow). I also bought magnesium powder after reading someone's success story on Earth Clinic about taking at night, just before going to sleep. Remarkably, within 2 days taking 3 borage capsules a day and 1 teaspoon of magnesium powder in water at night, I could feel my stress and anxiety diminish dramatically. I also started sleeping through the night. It is a remarkable combination! Plus my skin is baby soft. I hope others will give it a go! Thank you, MAMA TO MANY!!!
Rhodiola
Posted by Mike 62 (Denver, Colorado) on 11/19/2013
Mary: Regular food does not provide enough nutrition for the tissues. Cells send signals to the brain via stress hormones. Cooking denatures many nutrients like B-6. B-6 activates B-1 and B-2. Conventionally grown foods lack special substances like humic/fulvic acids and xeronines. Raw food has enzymes. Organic and grass fed foods have more trace minerals. The body requires 80% carbs, 5%fiber, both insoluable and soluable, 5% oils by weight, and 10% protein. The carbs are for fuel. Raw sugar, from whole cane, honey, and fruit is superior to cooked starches. Oils are for the cellular walls. The proper ratio of omega 3-6-9 is 2-3-5. Half of the oil is saturated. Expellar pressed coconut oil is best. Protein is for structure, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. Cooking destructures many proteins like acetyl carnitine. 1/3 of the proteins are glutamate. Glutamate gives strength to the tissues.
Rhodiola
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 11/19/2013
To Mary;
Re your panic attacks...
My absolute first go-to remedy for panic attack disorders is MAGNESIUM!!!
Google: "Dr. Sircus magnesium deficiency symptoms and diagnosis" for a myriad of ailments that mag deficiency causes. Among them is panic attacks.
In fact, virtually everyone is deficient in magnesium unless on a supplement of the same. Magnesium is the King of minerals and controls much of the electrical interplay on the cellular level. The lack of mag is often associated with cardio problems and is a predictor of diabetic problems.
There are dozens of health issues relative to magnesium deficiency.
Really, this is a big deal.
Do not underestimate the power of magnesium. And....that we do NOT get enough in the diet of most every American given the state of agriculture...soil depletion.
I have seen dozens of medical problems reversed almost instantly with adequate consumption of magnesium.
Mary, am I saying that mag intake will cure your panic attacks. No, but I'd sure eliminate the low hanging fruit as a possible cause: Mag deficiency.
Dave
Soaked Chia Seeds
Posted by Rm Az (Sedona, Az) on 09/14/2013
★★★★★
Anxiety- Cure- Soaked Chia Seeds
Preparation- Soak 2 table spoons chia seeds in any beverage for 10-15 minutes, can be longer. Drink 3 x morning, noon, and night. Produces awesome calm in all situations, no matter where you are or what you are doing, job interviews, social situations, work. Just start loving life. Might have something to do with an actually assimable plant based form of L-tryphtophan with all it's naturally occuring co-factors? You can try it in water, or unsweetened ice-tea, or natural lemonade with Apple Cider Vinegar and stevia and lemon juice and water. You'll need to put it in a shaker cup or a bottle with cap that you can vigorously shake from time to time while they are soaking. Enjoy
Valerian Root, 5-HTP
Posted by Mama To Many (Middle Tennessee Usa) on 09/03/2013
Hi Lauren,
Regarding your son taking 5 - HTP, I don't know what the recommendations are for children. For me however, I would feel more comfortable with that than prescription medications. If you try it, You could do a half a capsule (empty half out) and see how he does with that.
I think you are wise to avoid prescriptions for his ADHD. I am guessing you have probably already tried a lot of things... Just in case, I will mention that food dye makes one of my children very hyper. So, there could be some things you might want to avoid if you haven't already.
An Epsom Salt bath at bedtime might be good to relax him. (1 cup per 20 minute bath - my kids love it. ) I put a drop of lavender in the bath for my one that is high energy (even without the food dye! ) Sleepytime tea is also great at bedtime - even 1/2 cup. My children love it.
Hope you both start getting better rest soon!
~Mama to Many~
Chamomile Tea
Posted by Michelle (New York, NY) on 07/16/2013
★★★★★
Chamomile tea with honey before bed will help to ease anxiety, and help you sleep better. More sleep will also help to lessen anxiety even more. Good luck!
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Posted by Robin (Rural, Va) on 03/18/2013
★★★★★
I take Acetyl L-Carnitine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it is fantastic. I take one or two 40mg capsules a day.
Valerian
Posted by Samantha (Abbotsford, Bc, Canada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
I've also had success with Valarian root for anxiety. I started having episodes of mania and rancing thoughts, with an inability to fall asleep. My brain just would not shut off and I thought I was going crazy; it was unsettling and felt like my nerves were totally shot. I bought another sleep aid (I was currently only taking melatonin) and it had valarian root combined with hops and lemon balm. It helped a lot and I could actually fall asleep again and stay sleeping throughout the night.
I then noticed during the day when it would wear off and saw how much it helped my general anxiety and took half doses as needed. It's incredibly calming and soothing and helps relax my muscles and all the tension in my brain. It's made a huge difference getting through an incredibly stressful time. I hope this helps someone else too!
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nv Nevada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
I have used EFT to cure my anxiety, fears, sadnesses, and all types of pain too numerous to mention. It's such an easy technique to learn and use you can try it for almost any issue. If you don't get results there are plenty of other energy healing modalities that will be helpful. Here is a chart I use and with the tapping points and also a chart that explains what each point does energetically:
http://www.freewebs.com/stevelevine/efttappingpoints.htm
Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation
Posted by Susan (San Francisco) on 06/04/2012
★★★★★
I posted this at Cure Zone a couple of days ago and thought I'd post here, too. I had panic attacks for decades (I'm 58) and didn't know what my problem was. I had my most severe ones standing in lines (bank, grocery store, etc. ) and would feel like I was going to faint, and my heart would race to the point I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I came to the conclusion that they were psychosomatic. I was watching the Sally Jesse Raphael show (years ago) and the subject of the show was panic attacks. I'm relieved (or sorry?) that I wasn't the only one. I never went to the doctor for it. Why? So he could send me to a shrink who would put me on pills? No thanks. So, I've stumbled around with this condition for decades. I started inhaling 3% food grade H2O2, for what I don't remember. I came home from the grocery store one day and realized that I hadn't had a panic attack. I wondered if it was because of the H2O2 and started inhaling this every time I went anywhere. I haven't had a panic attack in 2-3 months.
I must conclude that MY panic attacks were physical. Why 'were' and not 'are'? I don't need the H2O2 anymore. I came home from the store one day and realized that I hadn't had any H2O2 and hadn't had a panic attack. I then realized that I hadn't had any H2O2 in a couple of weeks.
Does anyone have any two cents worth on what might have been my problem? Did the extra oxygen molecule (if that was what fixed my problem) create a bridge (or something else) in my brain (or somewhere else), so now I am "fixed"? I'd really like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience. Thanks!
Calm Down
Posted by Cindy (Orange County, Ca) on 07/26/2012
★★★★★
When I first saw "calm down" above I scoffed -- because that's the hardest thing to do when you're really anxious!! After reading the post, though, I must admit it helps. I am prone to impatience and skyrocketing anxiety if I don't work on keeping it under control. I have trained myself to never respond immediately to really frustrating or anxiety-provoking situations or people. I walk away, take a break, let voicemail screen calls and put replies in email only after I have calmed down. This helps me immensely so that my responses are driven by rational thinking, rather than frantic, anxious thinking, and it goes a long way in preserving my good relationships with others :)
Lydia Pinkham Tablets
Posted by Dianec (Los Angeles, California) on 10/19/2011
★★★★★
What has helped me in the past for "nerves" is an old-fashioned help aid for woman known as Lydia Pinkham Tablets!
It didn't help me until 2 weeks of taking it so don't give up and continue to take the tablets everyday as directed. It got to the point of even if I tried to be nervous I couldn't get nervous for nothing!
Order them at your drug store or buy them on-line. (I am not affiliated with this product). I've only used the product. Brought to my attention by a friend of the family.
Deep Breathing
Posted by Lmp (Long Island, Ny) on 07/25/2011
★★★★★
There is no right or wrong way to meditate. So take what other people give you and find your own way. I have carved out a small corner in one of the rooms in my house as my meditation corner. I keep my stuff there and usually meditate in the same place every day - although I will meditate in other rooms or outside if I feel called to do so. I don't really need much - I have a pillow to sit on, a candle that I light, my journal and occassionally I use lavendar oil. I also usually set a timer so I know how long I've meditated for. I light my candle, open my journal to a fresh page, and sit in a cross legged position, upright, with a straight and long spine. I do maybe 5-10 deep belly breaths... First focusing on my 3rd eye (the space in between your eyebrows), then focusing on the rising the breath up from my belly to my chest. Then I release the breath and just breath normally. And I just sit there. If a thought comes in, I don't judge it, I don't fight it - I just let it be. I let everything be - my thoughts, my breath, etc. In most of our lives we do the exact opposite - we are never happy just being... We are always trying to strive for me, be different, change and control things, etc. So in meditation I focus on just being. In the beginning its hard. I would keep my journal handy bc inadvertantly I would run through list after list of things I needed to do or remember. So I would write it down during meditation so I could get it out of my head. I started off with 10 mins once a day and literally it was 10 mins of to do lists. But I let it be. And eventually made my way up to 20 mins twice a day. I started noticing the to do lists would fade and I would just be sitting there enjoying being in the present moment, when all of a sudden it was 20 mins later.
The theory is that the more stillness you can bring to your mind through consistant meditation, the more still it will become... Sort of like working out a muscle. Also the more you connect with your spirit, higher self, the Divine, etc - the more you attract good things and the higher emotions into your life... Rather than lettting the mind and ego run rampant with lower emotions and thinking bad things. I will also sometimes ask "what do I need to know" and see what messages I get. Or sometimes I will do visualizations of living life without anxiety. I always end my meditation with prayer - gratitude first, and then what I need to help me serve other people.
I have tried MANY things for anxiety - and this has hands down been the most important practice in my arsenal. I can only hope that it does for you what it has done for me. Please feel free to reply back with any questions - I would love to help in any way I can.
You also have to keep believing that there is hope and that you will get better.... bc you will.
Rhodiola
Posted by Nw (New York, Ny) on 02/17/2010
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Severe social anxiety
Dear ec, I love this site so much. Its helped me with so many things and I tell all my friends and family all that I learn on your site. I'm having such a problem with social anxiety, I don't know what to do. I'm so lonley and I want to be with people but I get such panic attacks. I was taking 150mg Effexor for a few years that seemed to work sometimes but I still had problems. About 2 weeks ago I had another attack when being introduced to someone and had enough. No matter who I'm around I immediatly get hot and my face turns bright red for no reason. I get so embarrased, I want to run away and it makes others feel uncomfortable because I'm so uncomfortable. So 2 weeks ago I read about Rhodiola on ec. I stopped taking the effexor and started the Rhodiola rite away. For the past 2 weeks I've felt good, more energy, depression gone but anxiety seems to be coming back and worse than ever. I went and got magnesium, l-theanine and b12. I was wondering if its safe to take the effexor and all these other things. I'm desperate and so frustrated I feel like I'm becoming a shut-in because I'm avoiding people. Please help me if you can, I feel so trapped. Thank you so much.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Posted by Zander (Ohio) on 07/26/2014
★★★★★
I agree with your assessment about acetyl l-carnitine. I experienced relief almost immediately today [about 20 minutes] after taking 500 mg. I had ordered a formulation for Memory & Brain but had no idea it would have the calmative properties it had. I experience fairly intentense restless anxiety from time to time. It produces such a helpless & hopeless feeling. I was not expecting this to provide relief for anxiety at all but there was no mistaking the calm which came over me.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Posted by Timh (KY) on 07/27/2014 2048 posts
Zander: I think your testimony about the two mentioned nutrients makes a fine illustration of how the modern western life w/ all the stressors and toxins can deplete our nutritional & antioxidant status.
I would recommend broad spectrum nutritional supplementation w/ extra antioxidants. Also, many herbs w/ many benefits for your health. I have been using nutrition (supplements for many yrs and am still learning new stuff and have literally spared my life from severe environmental illness.
Apples, Water
Posted by Spike (Orlando, florida) on 05/11/2009
★★★★☆
I had years of horrible irrational anxiety while driving. I discovered that something in apples releived much of my anxiety----maybe it was just the distraction, but it worked. Later, I read that dehydration (thirst) is a contributing factor in anxiety. I started taking a bottle of water with me in the car and that works great. Im not cured, but, way better.
Try it, hope it helps.
