New to RR...having some trouble

[mccjg]

Hi all:

I am on my fourth day of taking RR for anxiety. I have already taken both pills for today. I am taking GAIA brand liquid phyto caps (200mg 2xday). My problem is that I am noticing that my anxiety is not getting better. I feel quite antsy during the morning after taking the RR, I get a few hours of calm in the afternoon and then my anxiety returns for a while in the evening. I've been having trouble getting uninterrupted sleep. My question is, is this a fleeting thing that may go away in another week and a half, or is the RR not agreeing with my system? I'm looking to those of you who have been on it for a while for some guidance here. I went and bought some SJW to start, but want to give the RR a proper shot. Maybe I should begin a combination therapy? Thanks for your help.

Justin

[mccjg]

Well, I eliminated the 5-HTP 50mg(AM & PM) that I was taking with the RR and wouldn't you know it...the anxiety went away. I slept really well (relatively speaking) last night. I am also taking a mineral supplement, multi-vitamin, l-glutamine and fish oils. I actually feel like I am making progress. Yesterday morning, I took the RR with 5-HTP and was very anxious and emotional. Just after skipping the 5-HTP last night, it was much easier to process my anxiety and remain calm. I'm not saying I've experienced a miracle yet, but things are looking up.

[taheya]

Hi there! I would be really interested to hear how you are getting on. I have just bought some RR and am planning on starting it tomorrow. I have been taking St Johns Wort for a couple of years usually over the winter periods then taking a break in the summer. However, the past couple of months I have become much more anxious (although this has tied in with a stressful new job). I was taking 300mg st johns wort three times a day although have cut down to 2 a day after reading posts on here and I do actually feel a bit better. I am planning on cutting down to 1 sjw and start 1 x rr 500mg. I am hoping this will make me feel better!! Anybody else have experience of this combination?

[VariableImage]

Hi taheya! I am doing "about" the same thing you are doing. I had started off with SJW only-900mg/day. I found that it made me so drowsy that I stopped it altogether and started RR 100mg/day at first, and am now up to 300mg/day....150mg when I get up, and another 150mg mid-day(I seperate the caps and take 1/2 a 300mg as each dose). I started feeling pretty good, and have now started taking 300mg of SJW again. All in all, I can tell a big difference. I still have to make myself do some menial tasks, but once I get started I'm fine for the day. This combo has definitely given my spirit a lift so I'm going to stick with it for awhile. Hope it works for you!

[maxie]

Hi taheya! I am doing "about" the same thing you are doing. I had started off with SJW only-900mg/day. I found that it made me so drowsy that I stopped it altogether and started RR 100mg/day at first, and am now up to 300mg/day....150mg when I get up, and another 150mg mid-day(I seperate the caps and take 1/2 a 300mg as each dose). I started feeling pretty good, and have now started taking 300mg of SJW again. All in all, I can tell a big difference. I still have to make myself do some menial tasks, but once I get started I'm fine for the day. This combo has definitely given my spirit a lift so I'm going to stick with it for awhile. Hope it works for you!

hi veriable image

How are you proceeding.. I have just started taking Rr 250 mg/morning.. nad 300 mg sjw/evening... I have not noticed any change - maybe a little drowsy.,.

how does it work for you now ?

thank you ...Maxie

[VariableImage]

hi veriable image

How are you proceeding.. I have just started taking Rr 250 mg/morning.. nad 300 mg sjw/evening... I have not noticed any change - maybe a little drowsy.,.

how does it work for you now ?

thank you ...Maxie

Hi, Maxie! Glad you asked, as I was about to respond to another post regarding where I am, and what has worked. First, I no longer take SJW at all. I found that it just fatigued me and gave me the most annoying, persistent headaches in the afternoons. If it ever did anything for depression, I would have never noticed due to the fatigue and headaches.

So, what am I doing? Well, I work in geriatric nursing. I take on 3 twelve hour shifts over three consecutive nights per week. Plus, I usually pick up at least one extra connecting shift per week, too. I have found that burying myself in gratifying work has helped tremendously with the depression. I can also name other things I am doing....eating a MEGA protien diet, getting 30 mins of outside excercise daily(sometimes twice) with my dogs(this also ensures up to an hour of "full spectrum" light exposure which I believe is awesomely helpful in dealing with depression), upping my Omega-3s via flaxseed in anything I can eat it in, eating tuna or salmon at least 2 times per week, and sleeping almost whenever I can has vastly improved my mental state. I also take one mega vitamin/day, plus a mega-B complex. Sleep does sometimes throw me off, but with the hours I work, I can generally sleep at almost anytime. Insomnia has always been a big issue with me, as it seems to be with many people suffering depressive states(staying in bed while vegetating was never an issue,I just wanted to do that all the time, "real" sleep was/is). I do an enormous amount of spritual/self-help reading, and usually find just a simple phrase in my daily devotions to catapult me through any day. I have learned how to pray/meditate instead of worry. Anxiety still haunts me, and I do fall back on a MINIMAL dosage of clonazepam about 3-4 times a week.....we're talking .25mg only. I am prescribed 1.0mg/day, but I just don't want the "buzz-out". I do try subbing this with valerian powder/chamomille beverages, but sometimes the "edge" just does not go away without the clonazepam.

Now for the RR part of this equation. I have found it unbelievably helpful. I honestly don't think I'll ever live without it again! I love it. If I'm feeling fatigued....which often happens when I'm facing "another" 12 hour shift, I'll take 150mg before going in at 630pm, and another 150mg about 1-2 am. It gives me the mood stabilizing boost, without the caffiene "drag-out" that gets me thru to 7am, and at least 6 hours in bed. I do avoid taking RR within 4 hours of sleeptime, as I have seen some evidence of it causing insomnia.

For me, it seems that putting other aspects of my life....work, diet, nutrition, spirituality, family, EXCERCISE, sunlight, etc.,... into a new perspective(and this has taken lots of work and diligence), just the mood stabilizing effects of RR, and it's ability to give me energy boosts when desperately needed have been the Rx I need to battle depression. For anyone who has not read the wonderful works of Dr. Susan Jeffers, I'd hightly recommend them. The two best known are of course "Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway", and (my favorite), "End the Struggle and Dance With LIfe". In the latter, her recommendation for keeping a "book of abundance"....a journal, has been great for me, as have many quotes, in particular I like "It's All Happening Perfectly"! I keep a card in my pocket at all times with those simple four words. I take it out and read it many times a day.

I ran the personal battle with getting myself off Paxil after a decade, eliminating sleeping pills, and now cutting my clonazapam to next to nothing. I no longer want nor need SJW. RR is working great for me. I do still do an occasional Chamomile, Valerian, Hops, or other herb tea when I want a natural relaxer. I drink mega amounts of natural apple juice, grape juice, home-made veggie drink, milk, and water. I have done my first semi-annual liver cleanse, and that helped tremendously with giving my body a "start-over". I know this is long, but I hope it helps. I read the board daily, and just wish others could feel the relief I feel from my efforts, and the direction I have taken. I truly do feel that for most people, the battle of depression....eventhough it IS physiological....can be overcome with dertimination to take hold of your life. Having said that, there have been a few times that I have relfected when down, and just said to myself "go back on Paxil"! It'll never happen! Do I have to grind myself into submission and a "turn-around" every once in a while? YOU BETCHA! But, I'd rather be battling it with the sun in my face, excercise throbbing through my body, and "purity" cleansing my soul. I can make it through things now that only 6 months ago seem insurmountable. I keep reading here becuase I KNOW the suffering so many feel, and I keep searchng my soul and the universe for ways to help. It will come. Kelley alone has done so much for so many, and there is much more to do. It can be done, too!

:dance:

Regards,
VariableImage

Now, if we could only find something helpful for Vulpix and curseisonme. I read daily, research, and pray!

[maxie]

Hi VariableImage

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thank you so much for sharing your experiences - I’m glad you are doing so well.. very interesting hearing how you are handling things. <o:p></o:p>
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I also practice healthy living - take omega 3, vitamins, protein supplements, read books etc. <o:p></o:p>
but I don’t excercise very much..which is absolutely wrong, and it inspires me a lot to read how much you emphasize the necessity of this,.,. unfortunately I don’t have any mountains and no dogs.. I would love to :smile: I live in the city and I will have to do something else.<o:p></o:p>
But it’s time for excercise - no doubt about it. <o:p></o:p>
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It seems that RR works wonders for you. I stopped taking RR and SJW at the same time, as I became too drowsy. However and I must say that I have been thinking of switching to RR instead of SJW. SJW works fine for me, I only take 300 mg/day but I could do with more energy… I’m a little too indeferent to things if you understand what I mean ? I’m not drowsy or tired – but just not energetic enough.. <o:p></o:p>
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How did you make the switch ? just like that : stopping sjw and starting on RR or did you let some time pass to get sjw out of your body ? <o:p></o:p>
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Thanks again – take care<o:p></o:p>
Maxie
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[BelleKelle]

I would also be interested in hearing about Variable Image's experience with regard to the fatigue brought on by SJW. I have had a terrible time with that, to the point that I can't tell if I'm just feeling utterly fatigued or depressed. I"m down to one tablet of SJW Perika daily, and it has improved, but only so much. Not sure what to do next.

I've added 500 mgs of Nature's Way rhodiola, but I can't feel any difference at all. Now I'm wondering if it's the brand (which is getting old, given my experiences with SJW) or if it just does not affect me.