Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
So I started on this new treatment about a week ago - basically vitamin therapy after getting a blood test to learn what I need. No xanex, no anti-depressant.
One of my HUGE triggers is any sort of stomach issues. ANother huge issue is being alone when I have a stomach issue.
Well, I had a salad tonight which sometimes triggers stomach problems and it did tonight - and my kids are out with friends right now.
Normally, I'd be shaking, crying, thinking the worst thoughts about how sick I'm going to get. And I'd be in a fit wondering if I should ask my kids to come home, call a friend or my therapist to just talk me through it, etc.
Tonight I'm listening to my stomach growling up a storm and I'm hitting the bathroom when needed and telling myself, "Well, salad was not the right choice tonight." And I can think clearly about what to do to make it better.
That's it.
It might sound silly, but this is a tremendous step for me. I have never in my life had a stomach issue without a trace of anxiety but here I am. And while I'm thinking - "I SHOULD feel anxious...but I don't" - it's just a fleeting thought.
Heaven.
One of my HUGE triggers is any sort of stomach issues. ANother huge issue is being alone when I have a stomach issue.
Well, I had a salad tonight which sometimes triggers stomach problems and it did tonight - and my kids are out with friends right now.
Normally, I'd be shaking, crying, thinking the worst thoughts about how sick I'm going to get. And I'd be in a fit wondering if I should ask my kids to come home, call a friend or my therapist to just talk me through it, etc.
Tonight I'm listening to my stomach growling up a storm and I'm hitting the bathroom when needed and telling myself, "Well, salad was not the right choice tonight." And I can think clearly about what to do to make it better.
That's it.
It might sound silly, but this is a tremendous step for me. I have never in my life had a stomach issue without a trace of anxiety but here I am. And while I'm thinking - "I SHOULD feel anxious...but I don't" - it's just a fleeting thought.
Heaven.
This IS indeed a huge step. Now hold onto it and remind yourself the next time it happens how you made it through victoriously. It will become a pattern when you continue to treat it the same each time.
You are on your way to freedom from anxiety.....and that is wonderful....heaven for sure :)
So the vitamin therapy.
There is a gene mutation that predisposes people to anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, arthritis, IBS, auto-immune problems, migraines, some cancers and heart disease - among other things.
It's called the MTHFR gene.
This gene mutation means that I can't process folic acid. The folic acid builds up in my system and becomes toxic and I'm missing out on the folate I should be getting from it.
Sure enough, my Folate levels were low as was my B12. Both are ESSENTIAL to good mental health. And most of the time they're not testing in routine blood tests.
Also, when your tests come back, doctors may feel if you're "in range" you're fine. But the low end on the B12 test is too low for good mental health according to a lot of experts.
Folate is so incredibly crucial to health - physical AND mental - that it is added to most wheat products and a lot of other things - as folic acid. But I can't process it. So I have to avoid anything "enriched" or "fortified." That means no wheat, no flour, no pasta, no bread, no cakes/cookies/pies, etc.
Mostly I eat lean meats, veggies and fruits. I can have brown rice and quinoa as well. Whenever possible, I stick with gluten free and organic.
And I take a special sort of methylized folate and B12 shots (I'm starting with the liquid under the tongue and then will get monthly shots). Total cost is like $30/month. Less than the copay on most of my meds.
I was skeptical but I started researching and sure-enough, there are studies going back to 2005 talking about this gene and the vitamin therapy I'm using.
It's been about a week now that I've been on this and I haven't had a headache in 3 days (I usually get bad headaches every single day). My IBS is better so my stomach feels better than ever. My joints don't hurt as much.
And I'm not obsessing over things. The thought comes up, passes through and that's it. I find myself not worrying. I feel more confident and have greater peace of mind. I feel like I sleep more deeply too and in my dreams I'm more confident which impacts how I feel during the day.
Here are some studies and more information. They can explain it better than me:
http://doccarnahan.blogspot.com/2013/05/mthfr-gene-mutation-whats-big-deal.html
http://chriskresser.com/b12-deficiency-a-silent-epidemic-with-serious-consequences
http://kellybroganmd.com/article/b12-deficiency-brain-health/
If you want the test and your doctor or alternative health person can't do it, the first link has information on how you can order the test. Not sure that's the best place/price so maybe look around.
Over the past few days I've noticed my headache either doesn't arrive at all or it's not bad at all and resolves with just one Motrin.
Kind-of updating on here in case others have similar symptoms this vitamin therapy could help.