Topic Title: SJW did not work for me.
| |  "SJW did not work for me."
, Fri 18 Oct 14:41
I am prone to anxiety and was depressed.
The first tablet of Nature Made SJW was a revelation. Within minutes I felt "better." I could feel the "floor" SJW puts on anxiety that many SJW users write about. I could feel the anxiety starting to form in my gut but it simply didn't progess any further and quickly disappeared. I couldn't make myself anxikous even when I tried. It was as if my body was a car, my eyes the windshield, and my mind was the driver." Surrounding noise even sounded muted like the inside of a car. For the next few hours I did what needed doing without drama or qualms. My thinking felt in control for the first time in months.
I must have imagined the effects because the experience never repeated. SJW doesn't work within a couple of minutes does it? Over several months tried different brands, increasing the dosage, and using it in combination with other herbal remedies. I just felt a little more nervous, a little more gassy, and very hungry. I gained a few pounds.
It's been more helpful to me to eliminate the everyday drugs that make anxiety worse like caffience, nicotine, and alcohol. It isn't easy and it isn't fun, but it helps a little.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Fri 18 Oct 2002 13:51 |
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| | "Re(1):SJW did not work for me." , Sun 20 Oct 07:29
eric, I have generalized anxiety disorder, which has lead to periods of depression. I have been taking sjw for almost a year and its worked very well for me, no side effects I can notice. However, not everything works for everyone. Even on this site, I have read posts of people who had problems with paxil, zoloft etc. and posts from people whe found these same meds worked very well.
Posts: 43 | | Registered: Wed 13 Mar 2002 8:58 |
| | | "Re(2):SJW did not work for me." , Sun 20 Oct 16:13
Leo,
Good for you! Like you, I am very anxiety prone myself. I was desperate for some peace. The side effects were minor. If the side effects had been worse, it wouldn't have mattered as long as SJW worked. But, four months was long enough.
Before trying SJW, I read a lot about SJW including the experiences people have generously shared in this discussion forum. The widely different reactions to SJW gave me some hope but also prepared me for the possibility that it might not work at all.
I don't regret trying SJW. SJW represented the first time that I explored the possibility that my anxiety was not a character flaw or a moral failure, but a biological condition. Some people are simply more prone to anxiousness than others. That's the one reason for taking SJW or Prozac isn't it? To provide temporary support while the user learns coping skills?
Now, I couldn't care less about prejudices surrounding anxiety and attempt to treat it rather than endure it. No more coffee. It's funny but I never saw the similarity between the trapped, heart racing feeling of a caffeine high and anxiety. It never occurred to me the ache for a cigarette was a form of desperation and the nicotine high a cause of nervousness. I thought they calmed me down but really they just kept me going. I am also trying to reduce anxiety by learning how to handle and reduce threatening situations with better people skills (people seem more cooperative now that I'm less tense) and the acceptance of reality.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Fri 18 Oct 2002 13:51 |
| | | "Re(3):SJW did not work for me." , Mon 21 Oct 06:25
Thanks eric, I should also say that I am involved in community activities, camping, hiking general outdoors and, most of all, got books out of the library-the world's greatest resource - use it first. The books helped with relaxation exercises and other information on how to cope with anxiety. One other point - I did find that valerian root works to head off anxiety 'attacks' and helps with sleeping. I have had no problems with using both sjw and valerian, but, valerian does make me drowsy. Also, I found that, with sjw, I don't get the attacks as often nor as severe so I don't need to use valerian as much. Note: when I say anxiety attacks its not to be confused with panic attacks - in my case its a period of uncontrolable worry over what I objectively know isn't as big a deal to be worth that amount of worry. It is NOT a panic attack, but most md's won't listen and so treat the wrong thing.
If you find that herbals don't work, by all means see an md (if you haven't already), just make sure that s/he listens and offers support, not paxil/prozac,zoloft etc. as 'office candy'. Get the positives and negatives and ask for cognitive therapy as well as meds - its proven that BOTH are the best method of treatment for most people.
Anyway, I hope you do well, and remember, there is help, don't shun traditional medicine it really works - just be SURE that the doctor gives you all the information, answers your questions, and is available should you run into problems, side effects etc.
All the best, Leo
Posts: 45 | | Registered: Wed 13 Mar 2002 8:58 |
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