Quote:
Originally Posted by kkrrhh
Thank you all for the replies! 
LucyG - It's funny you posted that. I've recently been really considering, looking into, and trying to start natural treatment and using supplements/amino acids. And I actually remember seeing a post from you on the other treatments board and finding it very interesting. I always doubted that it would be "strong" enough to treat my anxiety and depression, and am still hesitant but feeling more open-minded.
I've been trying to do research but just kind of overwhelmed with the options. I know it may take some experimenting but can't afford to spend a ton buying too many different things to try, and it seems the opinions on the best or most essential supplements to start with vary. I've been taking vitamin d, occasionally (but not as often as I should) fish oil and a vitamin b complex, and more recently added NAC and l-lysine. The others that have stuck out to me are 5-htp, DLPA, phenyl-something (I get the phenyl- supps mixed up), St John's Wort, and a few others. Not quite sure which to pick. I'm also worried about the fact that I'll be starting a few things at once and won't know which could be helping, but ah well.
Thank you for the links!
justafriend306 - I go back and forth on that. Lamictal has been very helpful for me and I'm not sure whether that could be why. A therapist recently told me I probably don't have it, but still not really sure. |
I've never tried St. John's Wort so I can't speak to that other than I saw that it increases serotonin levels which is why it helps depression. My husband and I take a lot of herbs, and have done well with them.
DLPA is the DL version of phenylalanine. I'm not a chemist so I don't fully understand the difference between it, L-phenylalanine and plain phenylalanine, but I can tell you that DLPA is what keeps my mood stable. Even with 5-htp, I get some low grade depression, but so long as I take DLPA, my mood is remarkably good unless something happens that upsets--like happens to someone who doesn't have a mood disorder.
I buy my supplements through Vitacost.com that is a private labeler of other top brands of supplements. The last bottle of DLPA I ordered was a buy one, half off the second so I got two bottles of 300 capsules of 500 mg each for $30 as it's $19.99 each. I take 2 a day [1,000 mg] unless I'm severely depressed for three days or more as it's stimulating so I don't take extra during the day like I do with other supplements as it can cause insomnia. At that cost, the DLPA costs me $0.14 a day which is nothing to keep my mood stable.
With reading stuff, my philosophy is to read stuff with an eye to what applies to me. It's impossible to read everything so I scan books and articles for what applies to me, and then read that in detail. If something doesn't work or I can't tolerate it, I move on.