Alternative help for mental health

[Alwaystheoddoneout]

Please go easy on me as I'm having a difficult time.

I've been taking propranolol since January and it does help but I'm still feeling terrible. I've been through a few periods of anxiety or depression in the past and it usually lasts a few months and then resolves. But this has been going on for six months. In the past I've taken St John's Wort which has worked every time, so I tried again this time but I've become allergic to it so I had to stop. I don't want to take antidepressants as I've tried them in the past and they are awful. Also I keep feeling really hungry so I've put on weight, not comfort eating but genuine hunger. I'm so hungry all the time.

My GP didn't know much about St John's Wort, she's also a new GP who doesn't know me as my old one left. The other day I went to see the nurse and she just wasn't interested, she just sat there with her arms folded and seemed annoyed with me for not wanting to take antidepressants, she just wanted me to do things "properly". She refused to talk about alternative to St John's Wort. I've tried CBT in the past and found it useless. I do go to private counselling but it isn't a magic wand.

I feel quite let down because I know there are people on here who say things like their GP advised them to take magnesium, which I do anyway after reading about it on here. But I've been offered no such discussions, all they want to do is give you antidepressants and send you on your way.

Is there anyone else I could go and see about this? Some kind of consultation for nutritional help or who knows about alternative to St John's Wort? I know a nutritionist is a controversial thing but maybe there's someone else? Someone who knows what they're doing.

Btw I am well aware that I need to deal with the source of the anxiety but that will take a long time. I need other help in the meantime.

Sorry just to add, I have a GP appointment this afternoon but I have no idea what to say. I don't know what to say to her, or what to ask for, it how to explain that I want to see someone else but I don't know who.

How old are you?

I'm in my 30s.

It was suggested that my sudden onset anxiety type symptoms and inability to cope with my very stressful job could be put down to my ridiculously low vitamin D levels, so that could be worth investigating? I had never heard of anyone having low vitamin D before, but it comes up all the time on MN. It could have also been to blame for my extreme tiredness and aches and pains but I don't know if it could cause hunger. Unfortunately, my issues weren't all down to the vitamin D levels, because I have now treated those with very high dose vitamin D for a couple of months and am now on a maintenance dose and everything is not all better, but it might be worth asking your GP for a range of blood tests to see if you are deficient in anything that might be linked to your symptoms. My anxiety and not coping at work coincided with my DH suggesting I needed blood tests to see if I was anaemic or vitamin deficient or something to explain my exhaustion., and the GP agreed to test. I think she tested full blood count that would have included iron level, HbA1c for diabetes, thyroid levels as well as vitamin D, everything else was fine. Hope you get a helpful doctor and find some answers so you can feel better soon.

Have a look at 5 htp

www.hollandandbarrett.com/search?query=+5-htp&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&isSearch=true#gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=CjwKCAjw3azoBRAXEiwA-_64OnprVMmrUYzMrdGugHbzdmIpykvAIUgtQbEz_wcp3Nv6POxit9wrQBoCp-QQAvD_BwE

I took vitamin D for a few months over the winter but I don't think it made any difference.

Do you exercise? It has been found to be as effective as anti-depressants for some people.

Also - lots of people claiming good results from CBD oil

And as happypotamus said - have you had thorough blood tests?

I don't know what you can ask your doctor other than if you could have test to see if you could be lacking in any minerals/vitamins and a full blood count will show up problems.
I don't think you will get much support or encouragement to go down the complementary therapy route and I doubt any referrals to a nutritionist will be forthcoming.

I don't mean that I think my GP would refer me to a nutritionist. I'm just going through all the options. I want to go and speak to someone about it properly rather than just buying something from a health food shop.

Can you really ask for a blood test just to ask them to test your vitamin levels?

Yes, I've asked GP if I can have blood tests. Not when depressed, but suffering from tiredness and other stuff.

Maybe if you say you are trying to be proactive in dealing with this and would like to know if you are deficient in anything which you could then address by taking supplements or changing your diet.

That's a good idea, thank you.

Just seen my GP. She's sending me for a blood test for a long list of things including vitamins, allergies and hormones, menopause. Which is very nice of her, but I get the feeling she's only doing it to humour me. I mean I'll get the tests done but I don't know what to do with it all.

I just don't understand how she can say there's no other options, when several of you have suggested other things like 5HTP and so on. There must be some kind of holistic doctor I can go to who knows about this stuff.

Blood tests might highlight something or if not, you can at least rule certain things out.

NHS won't recommend alternative therapies to you, you'd have to do your own research on that. Bear in mind there are a lot of people willing to take your money for crazy treatments and supplements.

Which antidepressants have you tried? Not all have the same side effects.

NHS won't recommend alternative therapies to you, you'd have to do your own research on that.

That's part of the reason for writing my post, to ask if anyone can recommend anyone

if you google "holistic therapists" in your area, you will probably find tons who can advise you. But I don't really blame the doctor for not wanting to go down that road.

I personally wouldn't spend the money on a holistic therapist and would just go for trial and error re health food shop.

Try an alternative antidepressant? There are loads, all with different side effects.

If you have tried several for months to no avail, ask your GP to refer you to psychiatry.

Try finding a qualified herbalist who can put you together a personalised prescription without St. John’s Wort.

I've suffered from an anxiety disorder since childhood.

Had therapy to get to the source and opened a massive can of worms when I confronted it which I needed further therapy for, tried hypnotherapy (really thought I could be hypnotised out of it ), anti depressants, acupuncture, reflexology, massage, herbal stuff but the only thing that consistently helps is hard exercise (cardio, weights) along with good nutrition. It has to be hard enough to end up very sweaty afterwards so you get the endorphins.

Feeling strong in body makes me feel strong as a person iukwim! I really notice a difference in my anxiety levels on the days I don't exercise.

@Geraniumpink thank you, this is the sort of thing I was looking for. www.nimh.org.uk/whats-herbal-medicine

I’ve had three different herbalists from that website - all of whom were very helpful. I initially went with mild pnd many years ago - they take a full medical history as well as let you talk about how you are feeling and ask about diet etc. They then make up a personalised prescription and do some follow up appointments (which are cheaper than the initial one).