Advice about alternative medicines for anxiety please

[feathermucker]

I've tried pretty much all of them at one time or another. Just wondering people's experiences on supplements such as 5Htp or similar or diets that help.

Gone up to 100mg of sertraline about 6 weeks ago and my paranoia has gone through the roof!

Anyone?

I'm sorry you're struggling with anxiety. 5Htp has been beneficial for my sister in the past. For me personally, I've found epsom salts in the bath can help - something to do with the magnesium I think? I also notice an increase in my anxiety symptoms if I don't get to the gym enough. As for diet, decrease your sugar and caffeine intake? I'm sure you've probably already tried that though. I've also heard postive things from people who have gone gluten free.

As far as paranoi goes, have you done an audit on the kind of media you are watching? Dramas, thrillers, depressing daily news, these are all things that can affect our mental health, sometimes with out us even realising it.
I don't have any magic answer sorry, just didn't want to read and run. I hope you feel better soon.

There is some evidence that omega 3 is useful. Also, I think maybe the B vitamins.

Have you tried chamomile tea? The act of drinking it slowly and calmly and mindfully I find quite helpful.

I hope things get better for you soon.

5-HTP didn’t work for me, I didn’t try it for long as I think it made it worse. But maybe it’s a case of getting worse before better, I didn’t stick with it to find out.

Valerian helps me. It’s supposed to act in a similar way to the GABA neurotransmitter.
www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/gaba-what-is-it
Magnesium, vit B6 and vit E are needed for its synthesis so might help.

Ruby Wax’s books (started with Sane New World, now reading How To Be Human) have helped convince me that I’m not going crazy and to do regular mindfulness exercises.

Exercise helps but I could never get going with it until I started cycling to work (saving money on parking makes me do it, having a destination means I don’t give up after 5 minutes) and that’s really helping too.