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.
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!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sober (Anonymous, Usa) on 07/09/2011
★★★★★
Awhile back I was dating a heavy beer drinker. I started heavy drinking beer with my buddy. 'bout a 6 pack of exotic beer a night. 'round that time I got horrible panic attacks for the 1st time in my life. So bad I'd go to the hospital. They gave me drugs but the drugs didn't help. They'd give me more drugs util I was a zombie. My family complained & I was taken off. I had also stopped drinking beer cuz your not supposed to drink while on these drugs. So even I stopped the drugs I didn't get panic attacks that sent me to the ER. Lots of sugar can also bring them on a lil' bit. I've been readin here & other places that alcohol & even sugar can deplete the body of nutrients like magnesium. When I rub some magnesium on I feel calmer. No panic attacks. Also helps with my leg cramps and speeding heartbeat I sometimes get at night. IDK why the hospital doesn't look for such. There tests don't seem to pick up borderline deficiencies. My shrink tried to tell me I got me a chemical imabalance and needed the drugs. When I stopped the drugs that made me nutty in a different way, the attacks were gone. Cuz I quit the drinkin as well.
Metabolic Conditions That Cause Anxiety
Posted by Carolyn (Milford, Ct) on 01/28/2011
★★★★★
For those suffering from anxiety and depression, please investigate the condition known alternatively as Pyroluria, Kryptopyrrole and/or Mauve Factor. Debate is raging as to the underlying cause of this metabolic disorder, but the body loses massive amounts of B-6 and Zinc, as well as the omega-6 acids. Moreover, copper begins to build up to toxic levels in the body, causing everything from depression to anxiety to seizures to schizophrenia. The degree of symptoms has everything to do with individual biochemistry and the degree of essential nutrient deficiency. The treatment is simple: high-dose daily suplimentation with niacinimide, B-6 (in the form of B-6 and P-5-P), zinc, manganese, magnesium, chromium, biotin and omega-6 in the form of evening primrose oil.
PLEASE NOTE, however, that this suplimentation should NOT be done without blood monitoring by a qualified medical practitioner. The doses required to see results are extremely high for each of nutritional components, and poisoning can result, particularly In the case of zinc. Moreover, a patient can reverse copper toxicity to the point of too-low copper, which results in its own, unwanted Medical complications.
This metabolic "disorder" is seen in 85% of all autistic spectrum individuals. It is speculated, in this case, that heavy metal poisoning initiates the oxidative stress that, in turn, results in pyroluria. The resulting low B-6 levels result in the inability to properly manufacture serotonin, the "happy nuerotransmitter". Thus, a myriad of psychological "disorders" can result. Conversely, the depleted zinc levels manifest themselves in the gut, leading to coeliac disease and other Malabsorption disorders, as well as leaky gut syndrome. This, in turn, allows various fungi, like candida, to thrive in the gut and, later, the entire body. This, in turn, leads to various types of cancer later in life.
This same biocycle occurs in non-autistic individuals, but to a lesser (slower) degree. Thus, testing for and treating pyroluria involves more than "just" treating anxiety and depression.
Those properly treated have experienced nothing short of miracles. But do note that it can take up to 12 months (although most see some improvement after 3-4 weeks and most see significant gains in 3-6 months) to restore the body's proper balance and that treatment must be adhered to each and every day, for the remainder of one's life, barring any new discoveries as to the underlying cause of pyroluria.
5-HTP
Posted by Me (San Diego) on 07/30/2017
I had the same side effects as you experience...migraine headaches. I no longer use the product.
Peanut Butter
Posted by Adam (Tucson, Arizona) on 12/19/2009
★★★★★
Add another Yea! to peanut butter --and bananas too! I am currently overcoming my anxiety, very successfully using natural foods, medicines, and remedies. I have to add that, sitting down and eating 2-3 bananas with peanut butter is one of my all-time favorite past-times. It's like ambrosia, so I say go for it!
I only recently began eating bananas again, because I was allergic to them for several years.(?) I missed them, so much, especially with peanut butter. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Feeling calm and being healthy has never tasted so good.
I'd also like to reply to 'Joyce from Joelton, Tn', that the arginine found in peanuts is very very healthy for you. There is no link between herpes and the arginine found in peanuts. That is a fallacy.
There IS a link between consuming LESS arginine in your food intake for people that have herpes and spreading their herpes during an outbreak. This is limited to people with herpes, it does in NO WAY cause herpes. I just wanted to point that out so no one gets scared and quits eating delicious peanuts and peanut butter, because I LOVE it and it's AWESOME! Thanks E.C.!
Cold Showers
Posted by Igor (Moscow, Russia) on 02/21/2009
★★★★★
Dear Earth Clinic,
Thank you for this excellent forum on cold water therapy. I had an anxiety which seemed to 'come from nowhere'. Cold baths work on this much better than cold showers. Also swimming in the sea or lakes. There is a tradition of doing this in Russia and also northern China: but in modern times people think it is madness. In this time of credit crunch (2009) this is a practice which everyone can afford.
I have a question to people on this forum: what about time? I do it for 1-4 minutes, 2 times a day, before and after sleeping, every day, as my uncle showed me, like the brushing of the teeth. (The washing with warm water and soap I do before or after this: it seems not to matter which.) It seems that a longer time is not beneficial at all. So I am interested to know other people's ideas about timing.
Another question: I work sometimes in Arabia where it is very hot in the Summer times. There is no problem to make a bath of water, but it is not very cold. So do people know of any device/machine which can be put in a bath to make the water cold? Putting ice from the fridge is OK but this method needs a lot of ice.
Kind regards,
Igor
Rhodiola
Posted by Barbara (Minneapolis, MN) on 05/13/2008
★★★★★
Rhodioal works within an hour. I have outrageous anxiety. Glad I found this web site for an herbal remedy.
5-HTP
Posted by Peter (Seattle) on 06/04/2015
Why are natural alternatives like 5htp better? Anti-depressants work by shutting down the receptors that rid your brain of serotonin, in a sense forcing old serotonin to be recirculated constantly. Your serotonin receptors then shrivel up.
5htp gives your brain the raw materials to build serotonin. When it needs it, its there. But only what it needs, when it needs it.
Pete
5-HTP
Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 02/09/2017 46 posts
wellbutrine is known to change personalities. I say it opens a path to demons, hence the personality change. The same goes for similar drug counterparts, they can enable a path to the spirit world. But many don't get that, but I do. Just a word to the wise.
5-HTP
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 09/11/2017
I was on Citalopram 20mg., a common SSRI for ten years and found that it didn't always work. I found it very easy to switch to 5HTP 50mg. by just cutting the Citalopram in half for a few days while starting the 5HTP simultaneously. I find I get a much better sleep while taking 5HTP and wake up feeling rested even on less than 8 hr. sleep.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Liz (Ny ) on 07/25/2020
If you add pure organic raw honey it helps with the upset stomach. It also adds to the benefits as well. Honey is a natural tranquilizer and has a lot of other great qualities too. Hope this helps.
Knitting
Posted by Sarah (Romulus, Michigan) on 03/20/2007
★★★★★
My therapist recently taught me how to knit. I was in her office one day and she said that knitting calms her down and she's taught many of her patients how to knit. So she started up the process for me, handed me the needles, and i took off like a natural. Since then I've become a knitting fiend, and whenever i get anxious or panicy, i pull out my yarn and knitting needles and it takes my mind off it, all the while making something useful...mostly scarves.
L-Theanine
Posted by Michael (Adelaide, Australia) on 12/17/2006
★★★★★
L Theanine in Black Tea cured my Chronic Anxiety and Minor Depression. I have suffered the above symptoms for a large part of the past 15 years. Have been prescribed a host of SSRI's and other drugs during this time. For the past few weeks I have been drinking a lot of black tea (6 cups per day) and the results have been amazing. The depression has lifted and i am more relaxed than i have been in years. I drink the tea straight (no sugar or milk) and let it settle well before drinking. Interestingly i used to drink a lot of green tea but did not get as good a response. Im very encouraged by my experience of black tea and hope it continues to work.
Cold Showers
Posted by Laura (London) on 10/18/2005
★★★★★
I tried John's below cold shower method to stop panic attacks and i was very surprised at the result it had on my mental state. It totally distacted me from the attack and I have now made a promise to myself that anytime i feel an attack coming on, i will put myself under a cold shower. By the time i'm about to get in, my mind is off the attack and thinking more about the coldness instead! Thank you, John i think you saved my soul!!! Anyone that reads this, try it please!!!
Cold Showers
Posted by John (Arlington, TX)
★★★★★
I started taking cold showers after I developed panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, and moderate depression. Cold showers have been the best distraction out of any other distraction to get a panic attack to go away. It feels so good when I take a cold shower that it is like an addiction to me. I feel instant gratification both physically and mentally when I take cold showers. They our the best to get rid of negative thoughts, minor physical pains from within the body, fear from a panic attack, and anger. At first I tense my muscles together so I can get use to it and then I let them untense and let the water flow and it feels so great. Also I feel that my body is working better and I am a lot more alert and awake. I always feel like I am regenerated afterwards no matter how much I am going through. It is an intense body high. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from anxiety, depression, or addiction problems. Remember when you take any of these three away you need to replace them with something else and cold showers is a great safe alternative that works wonders!
Rocking Chair Therapy
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 09/10/2022
★★★★★
I have had a significant flare up of my bursitis, which has led me to a help that I have never considered.
Yesterday was a lovely day and I went out to the porch to swing and crochet in the sunshine for a little bit. I realized my pain was not bothering me as much. Certainly sunshine and something to do with my hands was a pleasant distraction, but then I considered the rocking.
Parents and caregivers naturally rock and sway to sooth babies and little children. Perhaps rocking is soothing for humans of all ages!
I did a little research and found that studies have found that rocking in a rocking chair has many health benefits.
It helps to decrease cravings of addicts in rehab facilities. It improves balance among the elderly in care facilities, it also reduces requests for pain medicines, and reduces agitation. Rocking can release endorphins, which can help with pain.
For the elderly, rocking in a chair improve blood flow and gives a bit of exercise to muscles.
Rocking chair therapy has also been used to improve outcomes after some surgeries.
My take away is that it makes sense to ensure that the elderly have an available rocking chair. And that anyone, no matter the age, may benefit from some rocking chair time to relieve anxiety, pain, and cravings.
Maybe rocking chairs are a way to restore some calm to our society which has become increasingly frenetic.
Happy Rocking,
~Mama to Many~
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.
Rhodiola
Posted by Timh (KY) on 09/20/2014 2042 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
