Loved this, Esther -- THANK YOU! And believe it or not, Elvis Presley and Kurt Cobain had similar myths going through their heads at a certain point. A story about how they triumphed: https://shorturl.at/EtahD
I definitely don't think 5-HTP is a placebo. It's one of the few supplements I take to which I can attribute a material difference in the way I feel. It can also be useful for sleep. However my understanding is that long term use can lower your natural levels of seratonin, so I try to use it sparingly and at the very least take breaks.
I wouldn't mind giving the 5-htp a go but I'm a bit afraid as I find that, conversely, some of these remedies increase my anxiety. I took St John's wort for a while, until my husband pointed out that I was absolutely off my head and ranting.
Sounds trite but a few rounds of wim hof breathing honestly takes the sting out of feeling anxious.
I also find some hard cardio helps to burn up some of the adrenaline/cortisol: just burpees or something equally hateful that can be done exactly where you’re sitting and doesn’t need any Lycra.
This is Extremely Timely for Me, too - THANKS Esther ! I have been taking Citalipram for 4 years, and increased the dosage when my Brother died in 2023. Recently my GP requested a ‘prescription review’ and I couldn’t manage to complete the google doc form/ ‘Accuryx’ survey thing, because I didn’t know how to take my own blood pressure (!) (Finally got it done at the chemist, but haven’t got round to getting back to the GP, yet) I have Also been - intermittently - taking the ‘Ankhway’ mushroom gummies, (for my - undiagnosed - but very probable ADHD) and I take HRT - So Something which is Not an SSRI, but which helps mitigate my occasional Mum Rage at small children and Grief would Really helpful X X
Have absolutely no idea, really ; I just eat 2 per morning- if and When I remember- and I ‘feel’ like they make me Ever so slightly more ‘productive’/ Focused… but I can’t think pf a way to ‘measure’, for Sure!
Oooh worth trying. I wonder if SSRIs are to be avoided on it. A medical professional recently recommended St Johns Wort but said as it works on serotonin, not to be taking it with anything else of that ilk.
Are you psychic?? I was about to ask which brand of 5-HTP you were taking, as I've recently broken my arm in 2 places and the debilitating effects of that (plus associated practical difficulties) have sent my anxiety rocketing... Lx
It’s so hard isn’t it, heartbreaking to see them like this :( Mine is similar. I really love Dr Lisa Damour. Just really wise, calm advice from a clinical psych specialising int eens (girls esp).
My daughter is in the middle of a bad patch at present and My approach, fwiw:
- Sleep above all else
- Food
- Recognise their reality (“I can see you’re having a hard time RN”)
- Reassuring it’s temporary and they’ve had bad patches before, they’ll have them again but it will pass. I try to lend my kid confidence that a) actually she can cope because she’s coped before and b) it won’t be like this forever
- Accept their reality (so avoid muttering / shouting ‘ffs why can’t you be like sibling/ cousin/ me at this age’). One of best things Our therapist said to husband and I was ‘imagine she’s trapped behind a window and you can see her but can’t hear her. You need to open that window and be in that room with her, what it feels like, to her’. That really affected me, because we all want to be truly understood
Sorry this wasn’t meant to be an essay and you probably know this stuff already
Just … it’s hard as a parent. You’re clearly doing the very best you can
Hard agree on the Lisa Damour recommendation - she’s written a few books but her podcast is especially helpful. I have a girl in year 8, it’s so tough for them! Lisa always has something useful to contribute x
Thank you so much for your words of comfort. It's so hard to know what to say without sounding like a cliché. She's a bright girl and sometimes looks at me like... Seriously, are you really telling me it will get better! I can see her pov.
Hi Lorna. I bought my daughter the book ‘ You Don’t Understand Me. The Young Woman’s Guide to Life’ by Dr Tara Porter when she was having a tough time at school. I know she’s found it useful. She read it initially and I think she often dips into it as I find it in different places around her room. She’s also lent it to a friend. Wishing you and your daughter all the best.
Same with the Beta blockers and a really low heart rate - my Fitbit thinks I’m capable of great things because of it when the reality is I’m on the brink of fainting every time I get up. My anxiety sometimes centres around taking medication at all as any side effects would just fuel my overthinking so taking something believing it to be a placebo would potentially circumvent that. I’ve been prescribed antidepressants for pain management before and I was scared of getting trapped in the adjustment period and feeling out of control of it so just couldn’t.
Loved this, Esther -- THANK YOU! And believe it or not, Elvis Presley and Kurt Cobain had similar myths going through their heads at a certain point. A story about how they triumphed: https://shorturl.at/EtahD
I found https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-shift-with-sam-baker/id1527442768?i=1000695673984 a really helpful conversation around the structural and social causes of anxiety and other ways to address it
I definitely don't think 5-HTP is a placebo. It's one of the few supplements I take to which I can attribute a material difference in the way I feel. It can also be useful for sleep. However my understanding is that long term use can lower your natural levels of seratonin, so I try to use it sparingly and at the very least take breaks.
"The tyranny of what-ifs" - god, this is so apt.
I wouldn't mind giving the 5-htp a go but I'm a bit afraid as I find that, conversely, some of these remedies increase my anxiety. I took St John's wort for a while, until my husband pointed out that I was absolutely off my head and ranting.
Sounds trite but a few rounds of wim hof breathing honestly takes the sting out of feeling anxious.
I also find some hard cardio helps to burn up some of the adrenaline/cortisol: just burpees or something equally hateful that can be done exactly where you’re sitting and doesn’t need any Lycra.
Thank you for this Esther x
This is Extremely Timely for Me, too - THANKS Esther ! I have been taking Citalipram for 4 years, and increased the dosage when my Brother died in 2023. Recently my GP requested a ‘prescription review’ and I couldn’t manage to complete the google doc form/ ‘Accuryx’ survey thing, because I didn’t know how to take my own blood pressure (!) (Finally got it done at the chemist, but haven’t got round to getting back to the GP, yet) I have Also been - intermittently - taking the ‘Ankhway’ mushroom gummies, (for my - undiagnosed - but very probable ADHD) and I take HRT - So Something which is Not an SSRI, but which helps mitigate my occasional Mum Rage at small children and Grief would Really helpful X X
Ooh, I'm intrigued by these mushroom gummies - do you find they work? How long do they take to have an effect?
Have absolutely no idea, really ; I just eat 2 per morning- if and When I remember- and I ‘feel’ like they make me Ever so slightly more ‘productive’/ Focused… but I can’t think pf a way to ‘measure’, for Sure!
Thanks - sounds like they're worth a try x
*Be really helpful. I always love going to Holland & Barrett anyway !
Oooh worth trying. I wonder if SSRIs are to be avoided on it. A medical professional recently recommended St Johns Wort but said as it works on serotonin, not to be taking it with anything else of that ilk.
st john worth’s definitely not to be mixed with SSRI as with hormonal contraceptives, effect reversed or going berserk
Are you psychic?? I was about to ask which brand of 5-HTP you were taking, as I've recently broken my arm in 2 places and the debilitating effects of that (plus associated practical difficulties) have sent my anxiety rocketing... Lx
I take SSRIs for monthly hormonal insanity. Has been life changing
But a friend also tried and they made her near catatonic with dread
Not for everyone, but worth trying various to see if anything can help
Xx
It’s like Dr Shaker looked into my head. Especially the constant feeling of emergency. Will give 5-HTP a try. Thanks Esther, so timely.
Brilliant depiction of anxiety. That fear of the fear.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend books on anxiety for my teenage daughter. She's in the middle of a massive whirlpool of school anxiety...
Any books anyone has found helpful for teens- aimed at them reading it.
She's already seeing a fabulous therapist but any other help would be great as a normal school day seems a lifetime ago..
It’s so hard isn’t it, heartbreaking to see them like this :( Mine is similar. I really love Dr Lisa Damour. Just really wise, calm advice from a clinical psych specialising int eens (girls esp).
My daughter is in the middle of a bad patch at present and My approach, fwiw:
- Sleep above all else
- Food
- Recognise their reality (“I can see you’re having a hard time RN”)
- Reassuring it’s temporary and they’ve had bad patches before, they’ll have them again but it will pass. I try to lend my kid confidence that a) actually she can cope because she’s coped before and b) it won’t be like this forever
- Accept their reality (so avoid muttering / shouting ‘ffs why can’t you be like sibling/ cousin/ me at this age’). One of best things Our therapist said to husband and I was ‘imagine she’s trapped behind a window and you can see her but can’t hear her. You need to open that window and be in that room with her, what it feels like, to her’. That really affected me, because we all want to be truly understood
Sorry this wasn’t meant to be an essay and you probably know this stuff already
Just … it’s hard as a parent. You’re clearly doing the very best you can
Xx
Hard agree on the Lisa Damour recommendation - she’s written a few books but her podcast is especially helpful. I have a girl in year 8, it’s so tough for them! Lisa always has something useful to contribute x
Thank you so much for your words of comfort. It's so hard to know what to say without sounding like a cliché. She's a bright girl and sometimes looks at me like... Seriously, are you really telling me it will get better! I can see her pov.
But thank you I'll check out the book rec.
X
Hi Lorna. I bought my daughter the book ‘ You Don’t Understand Me. The Young Woman’s Guide to Life’ by Dr Tara Porter when she was having a tough time at school. I know she’s found it useful. She read it initially and I think she often dips into it as I find it in different places around her room. She’s also lent it to a friend. Wishing you and your daughter all the best.
Thank you Fi, I'll give the book a look. Anything to help her is always good. I feel quite helpless tbh.
This is something I can't just fix, which is super difficult. X
Same with the Beta blockers and a really low heart rate - my Fitbit thinks I’m capable of great things because of it when the reality is I’m on the brink of fainting every time I get up. My anxiety sometimes centres around taking medication at all as any side effects would just fuel my overthinking so taking something believing it to be a placebo would potentially circumvent that. I’ve been prescribed antidepressants for pain management before and I was scared of getting trapped in the adjustment period and feeling out of control of it so just couldn’t.
Will try this!
That description of anxiety is 💯
THIS IS SO VERY TIMELY THANK YOU 🙏