[InfiniteSadness]

I'm not sure on this one.. I've tried a few different supplements, some helped, but not as much as certain medications... Wish there was a 'wonder' supplement.. like something to replace a medication

[Inedible]

It goes a long way to be very careful with your diet, to drink plenty of water, get enough exercise, learn new things on a regular basis, and to spend time with people who have positive attitudes. And sleep. It is harder to avoid mistakes when you are tired. A multivitamin can help. Ginseng and b-vitamins are usually good. The thing is supplements are only supplemental; they are not the main thing.

[InfiniteSadness]

I think some people can do all those things u mentioned besides "taking something" and still not feel a lot better... (like me lol) (poor social skills) and why Ginseng??

[Inedible]

Ginseng has things in it that are supposed to help with stress. It is an adaptogen, and one of the most common.

http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/FULL/...ic_Herbs.shtml

Maca root is another good one.

http://www.naturalnews.com/029101_ma...daptogens.html

And besides, the way to feel a lot better is usually to do a lot of things that each make you feel a little bit better.

[parksguy]

I have thought about the same thing. Actually going to a naturopath doc next week. Concerned they may suggest going off klonopin (up to 1.75 mg daily) and will it really help my GAd,OCD, and depression? If anyone is interested in what I find out, feel free to send me a message.

PG

[Perna]

InfiniteSadness, I would work out a good, "balanced" diet and exercise program, make sure I had good sleep hygiene and otherwise get my lifestyle as optimum as I could and see if that helped any. No drug or supplement can help as much as one's lifestyle being balanced and if it is not, if you are drinking/drugging/have dietary problems, etc., neither supplement nor medication will work very well and can be harmful, cause even great out of balance problems.

Parksguy, I would not stop taking what I take for something if it works/helps without thinking it through. I would make sure I was seeing a licensed naturopathic physician (ND). Even if s/he had suggestions for what to take instead or what else to take, it may/may not work for you (and you already have something you know does) and if it did not work as well as the klonopin, getting back on the klonopin and hoping it worked well again (you would have changed your body going off and then on to something else and then off of that, etc.) could be a long shot.

I would probably also make another appointment with my klonopin prescribing doctor and discuss the ND's suggestion and what s/he thought of it for my individual case. As it is, the doctor prescribing klonopin has more experience in both medicine and with you as an individual (blood tests, has seen how the klonopin works and, if you have seen him for other conditions, knows you a bit better, etc.). Only after I had information from several sources would I make up my mind which to pursue.

[parksguy]

Originally Posted by Perna

InfiniteSadness, I would work out a good, "balanced" diet and exercise program, make sure I had good sleep hygiene and otherwise get my lifestyle as optimum as I could and see if that helped any. No drug or supplement can help as much as one's lifestyle being balanced and if it is not, if you are drinking/drugging/have dietary problems, etc., neither supplement nor medication will work very well and can be harmful, cause even great out of balance problems.

Parksguy, I would not stop taking what I take for something if it works/helps without thinking it through. I would make sure I was seeing a licensed naturopathic physician (ND). Even if s/he had suggestions for what to take instead or what else to take, it may/may not work for you (and you already have something you know does) and if it did not work as well as the klonopin, getting back on the klonopin and hoping it worked well again (you would have changed your body going off and then on to something else and then off of that, etc.) could be a long shot.

I would probably also make another appointment with my klonopin prescribing doctor and discuss the ND's suggestion and what s/he thought of it for my individual case. As it is, the doctor prescribing klonopin has more experience in both medicine and with you as an individual (blood tests, has seen how the klonopin works and, if you have seen him for other conditions, knows you a bit better, etc.). Only after I had information from several sources would I make up my mind which to pursue.

You make some good points. Plan on taking baby steps with the ND, and consulting the med mgmt. doc. I'm hoping that by taking a complete view of my health, the anxiety/ocd will improve. Thanks and best to all of you.

[bipolarLady7]

STR-B is a combination herb that my husband and I bought about a year and a half ago from Good Herbs, Inc. I was taking it almost daily before I went manic and back into the hospital in February 2012. I talked to the psychiatric ARNP I see about it and she said I can try it on a low dose, and so far I haven't noticed it interacting with lithium or Risperdal (though I don't know what that interaction would look like).

I also take a big spoonful of blackstrap molasses almost every day to help keep my iron levels up. I need the extra iron for two reasons: I have anemia, and I heard that a deficiency in iron can lead to anger, which I really don't need around my husband and children.

Neither of these, however, will replace what the others have been saying or be equal to any medication I know of. They are just suggestions.

[shortandcute]

I find that eating healthy does help, but that alone didn't completly help me-I still needed the meds. However, I've noticed that when I'm not eating good, I might as well not even be taking the meds!

[bipolarLady7]

I second what shortandcute said. Eat right, drink plenty of filtered water, and don't forget exercise for weight control and regularity, not to mention positive mood.

Nothing has helped me like medications have, and believe me, I have tried every type of supplement I could over the years. Then I had a breakdown, was diagnoses with OCD and PTSD and was put on meds. Right from the get-go, my brain idler shifted down to a comfortable pace and has been "at ease" ever since. I would never want to be off meds again. Nor would my family want me to be!

[InfiniteSadness]

Originally Posted by inthismoment

Nothing has helped me like medications have, and believe me, I have tried every type of supplement I could over the years. Then I had a breakdown, was diagnoses with OCD and PTSD and was put on meds. Right from the get-go, my brain idler shifted down to a comfortable pace and has been "at ease" ever since. I would never want to be off meds again. Nor would my family want me to be!

What are you currently taking, if you don't mind me asking

[roseblossom]

There's a website which has articles on which supplements help:-

DoctorYourself.com - Andrew W. Saul's Natural Health Website

Originally Posted by InfiniteSadness

What are you currently taking, if you don't mind me asking

No, I don't mind your asking. Thank you for showing concern.

I originally began taking Citalopram, which worked quite well right from the get-go. Recently, however, I had to go on Erythromycin for an infection, which doesn't work well with Citalopram, so I had to wean off the Citalopram while taking the Erythromycin. Before the 10 days were up, I went from a wonderful sense of well being to my old dark feelings and a crying jag that lasted for hours. Two days later I began taking Fluoxetine (Prozak), which is supposed to work better with Erythromycin should I need it again, and have felt fine on this SSRI.

For the cPTSD, I have been on Gabapentin for the last year. This med has been used successfully for PTSD since around 2000. It recalibrates hyperarousal and boy, does it ever work well. And it is not addictive like Xanax, yet also works with the GABA in the brain. Between these two meds, I am doing quite well...stable mood, calm disposition and best of all, I'm no longer shakey inside like a quivering Chihauhau.

Valerian root (5 caps a day) was the best alternative that helped me years back, but nothing could get me un-revved like the medication has done. I've had no side effects worthy of mention. I wish so much I had begun medication sooner, but I was too anxiety-driven back then to think effectively. It took a breakdown for me to realize how badly I needed help.