Kalms for anxiety and depression

[Bloolikeyou]

Has anyone tried Kalms or Kalms Lavender capsules for anxiety and or depression?
I've read some good things about them but does anyone think they help?
TIA

I think they have helped me with short periods of stress, but if you have anxiety and depression please see your doctor. They will be able to prescribe something that will work faster.

Kalms do not seem to do anything for me. I agree that ADs work better, ask your GP for advice.

Thanks, they're not for me. A friend who is struggling has been to GP but refuses point blank to take AD
I was thinking what else could she try?

Keeping active, drinking chamomile tea and decaf drinks,and looking after yourself, talking therapy helps. I even have a Himalayan salt lamp which is fantastic. The NHS try to put talk therapy before prescribing anti depressants. I was on anti depressants for 13 years of my life. Im no longer on them.

I keep busy and stay away from things that stress me out. I found that changing to decaf drinks help as caffeine can boost anxiety.

Thanks, I'm not sure how much caffeine she drinks (she knows I'm asking on here) she likes a can of coke a day and a cup if tea.
She drinks at the weekend (lager,ale,shots) but not to excess
Lots of takeaways, she always jokes she has a blokes diet.
She is slim tho, works long days and finds her job stressful.
We do have chats and sometimes she opens up. I just want to help her.

Do you know why she doesn't want to take ADs? If it's because she's had side effects on them before, it's worth trying a different type. I tried lots that had really bad side effects, but eventually found some that worked for me. The ones I ended up with also helped me sleep which made a massive difference.

as far as I can make out she doesn't want them to make her sleepy, she sleep a loads! she needs to be right on her game at work, think hcp
she hates even taking paracetamol so I can understand her fear. I think she's heard some horror stories about AD and wants to try something else first. Another thing she mentioned was St John's Wort, but I know nothing about this .

Ah ok - she could try the one that I was on that you take in the evening - it doesn't make you sleepy during the day. Tell her that I totally get where she's coming from - a lot of ADs made me feel like a zombie during the day, but the ones I ended up with honestly didn't. Can you also tell her that I highly recommend "Depressive illness, the curse of the strong" by Dr Tim Cantopher. I originally didn't want to accept my diagnosis and certainly didn't want to take ADs, but it was reading this book that helped me accept everything. One of the best bits is where it explains that depression is a PHYSICAL ILLNESS that happens because you have tried to be too strong for too long. ADs can help to heal the part of your brain that has stopped working properly for the moment because it's been under too much stress.

Thankyou, I will send her the info about the book, I might actually buy her it. I think she's very much not accepting she's depressed even tho her GP has diagnosed it!
She's adamant she's not going to take AD however much anyone tells her, so I was asking if any supplements are work a try, she likes 'natural'

Theyre useless. I had much better results from L-theanine - really helps anxiety and focusing the mind better.

I have taken Kalms for years, for limited periods of time, for specific events. I am the worlds worst traveller, hate going on holiday, and I take Kalms for a couple of weeks before I go, and they work for me. They help me sleep, and take the edge off the anxiety. I will literally shake and retch with anxiety, if I didn't take them. I also take them for a week every month for PMT, and again they seem to help. I am the first to admit it may be all in the mind, but I also took something similar in Switzerland, a herbal remedy with similar ingredients, and that helped too. I seem to remember that had Passiflora as well as Valerian in it.

I won't take ADs, either. I hate being beholden to doctors, having to go back every fucking month for scripts. I was prescribed one over the phone, the GP swore blind it doesn't cause weight gain. It's top side effect is massive weight gain. So no, I'm not willing to deal with side effects and weaning and changing round (not to mention when the GP doesn't believe that is it the drug causing you to gain weight or other side effects and won't change you) trying to get appointments.

I also keep busy. St John's Wart is definitely worth a try. Although some find real from CBD oil or HTP.

Thanks that's helpful, I'm just going to have a read about St John's Wort

OP- just to mention you shouldn't take st johns wort AND ADs - they can interact and cause serotonin syndrome.

Am following along out of my own interest- am in a similar boat as a HCP- I know I have bouts of depression as a result of unresolved PND two years ago but don't want to risk having a diagnosis on my medical file in case it hinders me in my career progression down the line when I feel myself again. Plus our GP practice aren't known to be particularly sympathetic or helpful anyway. I have started taking St John's Wort in the meantime in the belief that it won't do me any harm and I only stand to benefit, even if it is as a result of a placebo effect.

I took them for a while when I had issues that were making me anxious (rather than suffering from anxiety IYSWIM). They might have helped a bit but at the end of the day I had a real come down - a bit like that feeling you get late into a good night out and are starting to sober up! That feeling was much bigger than any help they offered.

Is she able to self refer to the local well-being team? I filled out an online form and then had a phone call assessment, I'm now doing a CBT course online

Maybe looking at a healthier diet?
I had stopped eating breakfast and lunch, and the progressing to just picking at dinner.

I've committed to eating regularly for a month now and the CBT and feel so much better, very occasional down days, before Xmas my gp was recommending ADs

L-tyrosine, rhodiola rosea and ashghawanda (Indian ginseng in case I've spelled it wrong) are all very useful supplements, OP.

It will take a little while to kick in, but there's none of the side effects/other interactions you get with St John's Wort and 5HTP.

Kalms did nothing for me but CBD has been a godsend. Check it online so far the best ones I found was Love cbd sublingual spray and ECS CBD oral drops I started off at 300mg 3 sprays/drops a day and increased to 500mg same dosage a day I also use cbd muscle balm for aches and pains due to exercise. My DP also uses it to help with his thyroid.

Thanks some good tips I will pass on

She can go and see a qualified herbalist- they will prescribe a herbal mix especially tailored to her. They have a professional body and a website of ones that are registered.

oh that's interesting Geraniumblue I think that will be right up her street. Although it would scare me a bit what they would be putting in it.

It’s pretty much like going to a doctor tbh. They take a full medical history. It’s just that what they give you is tailored specifically to you and is herbal. Qualified and registered herbalists have a degree.

I find taking vitamin B complex helps reduce my anxiety symptoms a bit, there's various research supporting this I think

None of these herbal alternatives have ever worked for me. Probably because I never believe that they will. I like a nice dose of a proper pharmaceutical. 😄