Question:
I've been suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and sometimes depression as
well for already three years (since my daughter was born...). I'm in therapy
and it helps to understand WHY I'm feeling so bad, but it doesn't help
me feeling phycically better. I've tried a lot of conventional medicines
(tranquilizers, antidepressants and beta blockers) but the side effects and
addictivity are worse than the help they offer.
Does any one as real good experience with any kind of alternative therapy/
drugs for my problem. I'm not able to live normally at the moment because of
the anxiety.
Answer:
Try to locate a copy of "The Anxiety Epidemic" by B.J. Sahley, Watercress
Press San Antonio, TX ($8.95). It's more about panic attacks than anxiety
really.
If you are a member of CompuServe, do a magazine/medical study search in
the Health Plus database on the subject of "GABA" and read up.
I, like you, suffered from weekly panic attacks for over five years and
was able to help myself (I hate to use the word cure) and put my panic
problems behind me.
Today my old Xanax bottle is busy gathering dust!
I have seen a few times your postings on GABA but also have seen others on
this and `alt.support.anxiety-panic' newsgroups. One thing said about GABE is
that it can't be assimilated through the digestive system because it is
destroyed during digestion. Have you seen a serious study about it (confirming
that claim or rejecting it)?
Since GABA is a `natural' (produced by the brain) neuro-transmitter inhhibitor.
Does anyone know a mean to stimulate its synthesis in the brain: drug, mind
machine, etc...
This is a placebo. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that this
works. It's actually a part of homeopathy.
Meditation/visualization/hypnosis/biofeedback do help. IMHO, something
like this should *always* be included in a treatment program for someone
with panic attacks. My Chinese MD would also strongly recomend Tai Chi.
He says that it's good for everyone. Yoga, taught by a competent teacher
(who doesn't lead the reversed poses like shoulderstand or handstand and
doesn't lead the Cobra and who has training in exercise physiology) also
is good.
Another thing that seems to help: cognative/behavorial psychotherapy and
conditioning. Both are behavorist techniques. A competent behavorist should
also teach you stress management techniques as well.
