Topic Title: not sure if its working for me
| |  "not sure if its working for me"
, Sat 2 Aug 07:27:
Hi all
I was wanting to write to kelly, but I don't think its possible maybe you can all help me. A couple of years ago a relationship ended and I never really recovered. It caused my first bout of depression. I was agoraphobic, I constantly thought I was going to eventually lose the plot, lose touch with reality and was very down, it especially got worse because I took off overseas for 6 months thinking it would do me good, but thats when my depression came out. I was with family in europe however left them to go to london where I lasted a week before running away back to my aunties house in europe. Basically being alone in london depressed was not good, I had a lot of anxiety and the agoraphobia was shocking, I did not feel safe until I was back at my aunites place. When I eventually got back to australia, I was pretty depressed, even though seeing a pyschologist overseas helped a bit. I couldn't get better when I got back home to aust, and finally went to see a doctor had a huge cry and he prescribed aropax (paxil in america, seroxat in the uk). It worked, I was on only half a pill for six months, and I improved a great deal. Till today I'm not sure if I improved because of aropax (since it was only half a pill) or if it was the fact that I was taking something and I knew it. Anyway I got better, and that was a while ago. Now I've been off aropax for a year, however in the last few months I'm not feeling quite so well. I feel like I've brought it upon myself.
I can't decide if its depression or anxiety or a bit of both, Basically I have had a few scares in the past, and now its left me with this huge fear of mental illness, and that one day I'll be tipped over the edge lost forever in my own insanity. Its basically what depresses me now, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac and so i worry a lot about being menatlly ill, even though I've been tolf I'm far from it. I see a counsellor, as I don't want to get back medication. And both my gp and counsellor don't think its necessary. However I still have this anxiety of being menatlly ill that depresses me, i lose motivation and my self esteem has suffered. i'm quite an outgoing person, but lately I just put on acts so that everyone thinks I'm fine.
Now, I know to be diagnosed as clinically depressed, you have to be depressed for a period longer than 2 to 3 weeks. my problem is that its up and down. One week I'm ok, things are better and my depression woes are behine and then the next week my life is falling apart and I panic.
I'm sick of feeling this way and just want to get on with my life but these fears stop me. So i have turned to SJW however I don't know if I should be on it. I took 1 three days ago, then the next day I took 2 then today I took 1, (i'm scared to take more) And in those last few days I've lost sleep, I'm more anxious, I'm a bit restless, had a horrible headache last night and I'm not sure the SJW is working. Help me what do you guys think? Should I persist? should I get off it? Am I "depressed enough" to be taking SJW? And if I persist Can i be on it for six months like aropax and then get off it? and is rhodiola rosea something different?
[this message was edited by mei25 on Sat 2 Aug 07:33]
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 7:11 |
| Replies:
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| |  "Re(1):not sure if its working for me"
, Sat 2 Aug 19:02
Forgot. Kava Kava was actually mentioned by a Doctor as an "as needed" natural was to releive anxiety. Really works. Brands vary but I found that Kroeger Herb brand form Boulder CO is pretty good, About 20 bucks a bottle but worth it. Sorry to pimp a company but it works for me.
Posts: 7 | | Registered: Wed 9 Jul 2003 19:27 |
| | "Re(1):not sure if its working for me" , Sat 2 Aug 18:53
Maybe its just because you are so descriptive, or maybe its all of the bells that went off on my own head. You are describing a large portion of my life for the past 4 years. Not to sound like a psycho but I printed it out so I would have a reference. Relationship that blew up, on/off agoraphobia, moved away from everyone I know, depression in wildly varying degrees from almost non-existant to calling in to work and locking myself in the house. On top of all that, to the outside world, my life is all roses. I supplement my idle time with travel anywhere that takes me away from home (I didn't change countries, though) Paxil, Celexa, Xanax, etc, etc... the usual. Unsure of "real source" of feeling: Depression or anxiety. Whatever the source, it has made me feel physically as well as emotionally shredded. But I have a good job, Few people who know me really have a clue what I am dealing with. I don't feel that I am hypochondric though...I hate being sick. I work and function pretty well in whatever situation. I have "snapped" on one occasion. Scared the hell out of me. That was when I was taking Paxil and was going days with no real sleep due to insomnia. Total mental wreck. Real world, I am pretty outgoing: I outwardly deal well with the world in general. I was never satisfied with anything. I push myself too hard.
Anyway, back to why you are in this forum. This was a last-ditch-effort thing. I began reading the forum purely out of desperation months before I actually posted anything. Don't worry lots about what it does to you. Its pretty tame as anti-depressants go. I have reacted very badly to a few of the other prescribed drugs. Trazodone actually made it difficult for me to breathe. So, since I enjoy breathing, I gave SJW a shot. Why not? the so-called good "prescribed drugs" were sure not "curing" me. Cutting to the point. Side effects for me were a slightly upset stomach, burping tasted like grass clippings. It made me thirsty, and a little more anxoius for the first week I started taking it. All gone now. I just notice an overall feeling of better. I skipped a day on purpose once, I even took a bit too much. Tempting fate if you will. (just being honest). No harm done. I stick to 3 pills, .3% hipericin daily. Same time religiously. I have also supplemented with GABA, check it out too. I can feel the difference in my motivation factor. You might want to give it some time. It didn't kick in immediately. But keep a positive mood, and if you drink, might want to watch it. I have read on this forum that it causes problems. It gives me a raging migraine to drink just 3 beers. Funny thing is, I don't really feel like drinking since I started SJW. All I know is I am feeling better daily. Keep looking foward, can't change anything you have already done. SJW won't cause you to lose your sanity or change reality. And seriously, check out GABA. Since taking that, I feel both more energetic and I sleep better. Sounds strange, but, as you can imagine by the length of this response, I REALLY research medications. Any medication I have taken is after I checked it out thoroughly. Check in if you are still taking SJW, wonder how it works out. Best of luck.
Posts: 6 | | Registered: Wed 9 Jul 2003 19:27 |
| | "Re(1):not sure if its working for me" , Sat 2 Aug 08:09
Its me again, just wondering i know I've been on SWJW for too short a time to realy make a decision, but I was wondering about other peoples thoughts on Kava Kava. I was just reading about it on another site and its sounds more like what i need, anyone tried it??
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 7:11 |
| | | "Re(2):not sure if its working for me" , Sat 2 Aug 20:29
I'm glad you could relate, its good to know you are not alone in these feelings, So i guess I should persist with SJW? You say the anxiousness it brings will pass.. I mean aropax brought anxiousness as well and it passed. My worry is that I might not need to take SJW and it might make me feel worse.. Because not long ago I thought I needed aropax, I didn't and it made me lose motivation so after a month i got off it.. basically, If a healthy person took sjw what would happen?
and to take kava kava, aree you saying that you only take it when you feel anxiuos and on edge and so it works as a quick fix? on is it an everyday thing like SJW?
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 7:11 |
| | | "Re(3):not sure if its working for me" , Mon 4 Aug 06:53
I will definately keep in touch thru your email.
Kava is not available in Oz, I rang therapeuctic goods assoc. and it was ridculous, we basically had an argument about kava and a few other herbs, not being available in aust. I told her we were behind the times and she told me america was behind the times. So I told her most of the world then would have to also be behind the times. She basically called it poison, and I said "thats funny, that poison seems to be working miracles for some".
Anyway I am persisting with sjw, and I just bought executive b, which is a combi of the b vitamins especially formuleted for stress, I just scared to take the 2 together. And I have started taking flaxeed oil for the omegas it provides.. is it mormal to be sensitive to artificial light, and I copped a bit of anxiety in the car today while driving, I didn't feel too good..
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 7:11 |
| | | "Re(4):not sure if its working for me" , Mon 4 Aug 09:51
Hi.
Are you in Sydney? I will be there visiting my brother in 2 weeks, I could bring some Kava kava and drop it in the post. If you are close to Wentworthville or Parramatta, I will be in that area. I can load up on whatever I can get here (US)
You had an attack driving? Sorry. I don't know about artificial light sensitivity but SJW makes you sensitive. Also, if you are taking B complex, look and see if it has B3 (Niacin). That can add sensitivity as well as making your skin turn red and itch and burn in large amounts. Found that out the hard way. Let me know if you want me to "smuggle" in some kava kava, not a problem.
Posts: 9 | | Registered: Wed 9 Jul 2003 19:27 |
| | |  "Kava kava"
, Sun 3 Aug 08:01
Hi there.
Yes, Kava kava is sort of a quick fix. It doesn't make me tired like Xanax, its pretty mild by comparison. The bottle says under dosage "take 1 or 2 capsules as needed" Thats it. I'm not sure but it doesn't sound real dangerous. Only real warning is about asking your doctor if you are pregnant or operating heavy machinery if you take large amounts. Xanax just wipes you out, no question. I keep Xanax in case I need it, but I prefer kava kava.
Give SJW a chance, I have had success initially with Zoloft as well as Paxil. Zoloft caused me to have an irregular heartbeat after a few months, so I quit taking it. Paxil seemed to be working the best (initially). With both of these, I felt better; not right, just better. Something was always a bit off. I stuck with it on Doctors advise. After getting so many conflicting opinions and only spiraling further down mentally, years on different medications. I felt the real me slipping further away. I was at the end of my rope. Although I haven't been taking SJW for a long time, I don't feel "compromised" mentally. I feel like myself again, but I am pretty cautious.
I am otherwise healthy physically so I don't feel like I am medicated on SJW, kava kava, or GABA. All I know is I feel better than I have in a long time. Give it time, stay on a steady amount of whatever you try. And if its not working for you, try another brand. I switched up 3X before I found a brand that was right. Not all brands are the same.
Keep in touch, like to hear from you, It is good to know I am not the only one feeling this way.
[email protected]
Posts: 8 | | Registered: Wed 9 Jul 2003 19:27 |
| | | "Re(1):Kava kava" , Tue 5 Aug 21:09
I'm melbourne, lucky for you going on a holiday... I'll write to you email, cause I like your idea.. its [email protected]... I'll write now..
Posts: 8 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 7:11 |
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