Anxiety/low mood - best natural treatment

[Canshopwillshop]

I'm early 50's with still regular cycles but I'm pretty sure that my anxiety and general low mood are menopause related. The GP has suggested SSRI's but I would prefer a more natural approach. There seems to be a bewildering choice of supplements - any advice on what the best thing to try would be?

Thanks.

[ssd]

am the same but no period for a few months here

any advice welcome

[Booboo27]

5htp has done wonders for my anxiety. It's a natural boost of seratonin (the happy chemical) and I bought mine for about £10 from holland & Barrett

[ssd]

just googled 5htp, they are half price in H&B just now, I'm definitely going to try them. Thanks for that recommendation boo and for starting this thread canshop.

I can't actually imagine life without anxiety.

[Booboo27]

It took a couple of months until I noticed a difference but I feel so much happier now and things don't overwhelm me as much anymore.
Take them before you go to sleep as they also help you sleep deeply too

[Canshopwillshop]

Thanks Booboo - 5htp is one I've heard but I wasn't sure how effective it was. Think I'll give it a try.

Ssd - thanks for letting me know about the Holland and Barratt deal.

[PollyPerky]

Instead of supplements have you considered exercise? There is a lot of evidence showing that 30 minutes exercise in green spaces works as well as drugs for low mood. (eg a walk in the countryside or a park.) You could also try mindfulness, meditation, CBT and yoga.

I appreciate you seem not to want HRT. Your GP ought not to offer ADs for low mood caused by meno (this is the advice of NICE) and they suggest HRT if women want something for moods.

[ssd]

thanks pollyperky, your advice on the peri meno is always excellent

[PollyPerky]

This is from Mind - exercise and mood- studies done.

www.mind.org.uk/media/273470/ecotherapy.pdf

[Blackbird82]

Magnesium is very good. The powdered form is the best for absorption

[Canshopwillshop]

Hi Polly. Thanks for the suggestions. I am fairly active - do bootcamp in the forest twice a week and walk the dog for around an hour every day. Dr said she wouldn't recommend HRT because I don't have any other menopause symptoms like hot flushes etc. You are right though, I don't want HRT or anti d's! I'll have a look at the Mind link.

Blackbird - thanks for advice on magnesium. I'm going to look for a good vitamin/mineral supplement which includes that and also going to try 5htp.

[Booboo27]

Another good vitamin to take is vitamin d as we definitely don't get enough of it in this country with the generally crap weather. A lot of us are deficient which can lead to low moods

[Canshopwillshop]

Thanks again Booboo - off to H&B tomorrow to stock up and need to be disciplined about actually taking the damn stuff!

[PollyPerky]

Can I know you say you don't want HRT - that's fine- but I wanted to point out that mood swings and low moods are part of peri meno / meno and NICE suggests HRT. Your GP is mistaken if she believes HRT is only for women with hot flushes.

There seem to be many women posting this on forums- GPs not giving HRT unless the woman has hot flushes. It seems as if some GPs are rationing HRT based on their own misguided beliefs.

[Canshopwillshop]

Polly - I get your point and you are right that women should be allowed access to HRT for all menopause related symptoms, not just those they deem appropriate or acceptable.

[ssd]

that link is interesting reading

[TrippyMcTrapFace]

Canshop, I know it's not quite been a week yet, just wondering how you're getting on?

I'm suffering with the most awful anxiety. This is something new although I've been plagued with low mood for the past year or two. I'd learned to put up with that (!) but this anxiety is hard to cope with.
I think I've tried 5htp previously for low mood and unfortunately it didn't agree with me.

[PollyPelargonium52]

What sideeffects did you experience Trippy? I take a mild AD already but am interested in 5htp as further boost.

[Canshopwillshop]

Triply - sorry, I've only just come back on this thread and seen your message. I am feeling much better at the moment but I don't know if that's the 5Htp as I've been a bit hit and miss with taking it!

I can definitely link my anxiety with my cycle and notice that I am far worse a few days before my period so it's obviously hormone-related. I am going to try and keep a diary as I think it will help if I at least know why I am feeling anxious. I have been a bit more consistent with the 5htp this month so I'm hoping to see an improvement this cycle.

[Canshopwillshop]

Of course I meant that was meant to say Trippy!

[bara88]

5-htp is definitely your go to if you're dealing with high stress, low mood, mood swings or depression... I'm personally taking one from UK based company called brain feed - found them thanks to this article and thought worth a try ... brain-feed.com/low-mood-5-htp-benefits-depression-does-5-htp-work

[bara88]

hi there, if I wouId be you, I would definitely look into a 5-htp supplement.. Not sure where are you from - I'm in UK and the one which worked the best for me is from company called brain feed... look them up on face book -> brainfeed.health

for more info read this: brain-feed.com/low-mood-5-htp-benefits-depression-does-5-htp-work

hope this will help...

[IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday]

My Dr suggested Magnesium for low mood. I've just started it.