Posted by blueberry on January 1, 2006, at 15:41:41
In reply to What Do You Do If Your Mind Won't Quit Racing, posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2006, at 14:08:57
So sorry Phillipa. That's so uncomfortable. To me it is just as bad or worse than depression when I've felt that way.
Have you started cymbalta yet? Is that causing it? If so, maybe reduce the dose, or wait it out. But really, you shouldn't have to suffer that kind of stuff.
You already know what the medication options are for either short term or long term relief...benzodiazepines or antipsychotics. I know you don't want to go that route and I wouldn't either, though I keep xanax on hand for emergencies.
Behavioral techniques could help. But from people I've talked to that have done that, they don't really fix the problem, they just allow to cope with the problem more comfortably.
Natural options exist at the health food store. I found that GABA supplements by themselves do absolutely squat. Nothing. But they have some mixtures that actually work pretty well. There is a sublingual GabaCalm that has gaba, taurine, and glycine. There are other brands that have these also with inositol added. When I was suffering from intense anxiety or akathisia or mania, whatever it was, I found magnesium glycinate worked wonders, even in miniscule doses far below the RDA. It wasn't a permanent fix, but it definitely got me through some real scary times and allowed me to cut my xanax dose in half immediately and wean off of it completely in just one week with no problem.
Some people who treat themselves naturally for bipolar or anxiety use just taurine supplements. That girl in Superman treats herself that way instead of using prescription meds.
Along the calming magnesium route, try a warm bath with lots of epsom salts in the water...the magnesium will absorb through the skin and calm things down, not to mention the temporary help of a warm soothing bath.
Hang in there! Just some thoughts to ponder.
poster:blueberry
thread:593978
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051231/msgs/594005.html