GABA

[sassyfras]

Hey, I take GABA Calm-sublinguals. theyre 125 mg but I probably take about 8 a day. They're about 7 bucks at sprouts or whole foods. I ran out of GABA and 5HTP the other day and all my symptoms came back full force. I didn't even realize how much they were helping me until I didn't have them. At the same time I felt sad though because I thought I could do okay and was getting better on my own.

 

[seedling]

Using the supplements is getting better on your own. It's nutrition your body/brain needs to heal and re-build the damage.

It would be the same as starting to eat a lot of junk food and not feeling good. You hadn't given your body the best fuel.

Someday you can do without the "high octane" extras, but not now. Keep yourself fueled up if it's something that helps you feel better.

Take care, thanks for the info.

 

[sassyfras]

Thanks Seedling,

My parents were giving me crap about taking supplements the other day and I almost started crying right there in front of them. They hate medicine of any kind yet they take vitamins and have even tried the supplements I had when I first got them. They're better than anti depressants and other pharmaceutical drugs BY FAR, and they just don't seem to understand that. They're afraid I'm getting dependent on them. Well, yeah, I am. If I don't take them I'm ten times worse than I was before. Even with GABA and 5HTP I STILL have awful symptoms! They're just a little more under control is all. Basically it comes down to where I feel they don't care. They've always been somewhat neglectful though. I just want a job, but first, I need to be able to work.

 

[Sasa]

I have been prescribed Gabapentin, which is a GABA analogue. I works very well for keeping my mood level, and has few if any side efffects that I can see.

 

[seedling]

Sassyfras,

In some way they may not be able to care in the way you wish they could. Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe lower your expectations of what you will get from them and remind yourself of the simple things they have done for you - a place to live for now. Maybe not perfect, but...

Also, if you can, just give them the short simple facts when you are feeling up to it. "This helps me with my sypmtoms for now", period. Don't know how they react to your crying in front of them, but if it would help them see where you are at you could try letting it go sometime. I find when I cry, I am at my most honest and other people see that. Don't know how it is in your family though, you would know what was safe.

Would they consider going to therapy with you at least once, just for the info?
They may think you are going to get over this right away and all will soon be fine. They are on their learning curve too - they just don't know it yet:).

Take care, can you get yourself some more supplements?

 

[Dylan]

Great to see a thread about supplements. I hate the synthetic, pharmacologic drugs. I was on Zoloft for about a year this last go-round, have been off for about 2 months and am still getting the "brain zaps".

I've taken Zisyphus and found it to be helpful when my symptoms are low(er).

Right now, I'm taking 1000mg L-Glutamine (precurser to GABA in the brain) 2x daily and 500 mg L-Phenylalanine (acts on epinephrine and norepinephrine) twice daily. I was also taking L-Tryptophan (acts on serotonin) but it was too much trouble (empty stomach, take with juice or something...etc etc.).

I had no idea about a sublingual and am going to look for it the next time I'm at the health food store!

-Dylan

P.S. I've read bad things about 5HTP and that, instead, L-Tryptophan should be used. You can google it...I think WebMD has an article.

 

[sassyfras]

Hmm interesting Dylan! I'll definitely take a look. Zizyphus has been extraordinarily helpful for me too, I just started taking it. Thank you Seedling for your kind words, I'm sure everything will pan out in time and somewhat neutralize. I hope so anyways. Great thread!