Amino Acids

This is what I take. It is a double whammy because you get the amino acids and collagen! It is flavor-less and it mixes with anything. I have no problem with caffeine so 2 scoops go in my coffee every morning.

www.proteinessentials.com/protein-essentials-home-page-1/!/Hydrolyzed-Collagen-w-Peptan%C2%AE%E2%80%93Unflavored-1lb-Bag/p/58969302/category%3D0

My anxiety was relieved with treatment. I also did some calming teas, but not before bed. I did my comfort foods too. I love soups and they comforted me. I did a lot of soups.

At one time I was doing half a tab of left over valium every once in awhile. I think I only had 3 tablets from when my daughter died. I don't think they really helped me.

Meditation, soft music and clearing my mind of "have to's" really helped. I quit making commitments to anything. I stayed away from people that I didn't like. And my housework went to heck. I decided not to put so much pressure on me. No one else was putting pressure on me, I was doing it all to myself. So I sat down and had a nice little talk with myself.

I treated ME as if I were someone ill that I was taking care of.

Stephen Buhner has this to say: I relied on him for so much. Maybe something he suggests will help you.

lymeaware.free.fr/lyme/Websave/buhnerhealinglyme/buhnerhealinglyme.com/reactions/waking-in-middle-of-night/index.html

and he says this about depression which I had along with anxiety -

Dear Stephen,
A lot of my symptoms seem to be mental depression. I am currently only taking lomatium. I have ordered your book but have not read it yet. What do you recomend for depression from lyme?


Stephen’s response:
Primarily eleutherococcus tincture by Herb Pharm. Also: Pasque flower tincture, coral root tincture, motherwort tincture, skullcap tincture.
Stephen

Oh gosh, I just found this -- http://www.tiredoflyme.com/anxiety.html

I love Kava Kava. Warning if you do the tincture. I put a couple of drops in a glass and add some water. It will turn milky white. And when you drink it, it will numb your throat for a few seconds. Don't be alarmed, this is normal. Kava is an "every once in awhile herb." It should not be used more than 3 months because of side effects. I did it about 3 times a week for about 3 months and had no side effects. I also got up to doing about 1/4 teasp in water.

Valerian Root - it stinks like dirty socks so hold your nose and chug it fast! It is very helpful. Sometimes in the health food stores you can find a bottle of soothing herbs and valerian will be an ingredient along with passion flower, California poppy, lavender, magnolia bark and ashwagandha.

Also essential oils are wonderful if they work for you. You can find a spritzer of lavender oil and spray it in the bedroom and it is such a soothing smell. Very relaxing - unless you are allergic to it or smells.

I love eucalyptus also.

I forgot about the Xanax. There are mixed views on Kava use when you are withdrawing from Xanax. I always error on the side of caution and I would not try it. It would horrible to be the 1% that has a problem.

I just read and copied it --

Yes, depression and anxiety are worse in the morning. That is when your body's cortisol level is the hightest(cortisol is stimulating) and that accounts for probably part of what you are feeling. Cortisol is the stress hormone, your body produces when you are under stress.

The paradox of stress/cortisol is that anxiety produces cortisol, which produces anxiety which produces more cortisol, which causes you to feel more anxious...etc....

Soon you find yourself in this never ending cycle of anxiety and depression.

What you must do to get well is ACCEPT your anxiety. You must ACCEPT your feelings and not try to fight them. Do this long enough and an interesting thing happens, the anxiety goes away."

Deanne Repich from her article Understanding Early Morning Anxiety says,

"Another reason why symptoms can be worse in the morning is because your blood sugar is low when you first wake up. You have gone all night without food.

It's important to maintain a constant blood sugar level because the brain uses sugar, also known as glucose, as its fuel. If blood sugar levels are too low or drop too fast, then the brain starts running out of fuel.

This causes the brain to trigger the "fight or flight" response. The "fight or flight" response sends a rush of adrenaline, cortisol, and other neurotransmitters through your body to prepare you to fight or flee the perceived threat (low fuel).

This process can trigger physical reactions ("symptoms") such as trembling, rapid heartbeat, sweating, panic attacks, fatigue, insomnia, mental confusion, nervousness, dizziness, and more.

Maybe you need some food by your bed to take instantly when you wake up?

PeteZa said...
I forgot about the Xanax. There are mixed views on Kava use when you are withdrawing from Xanax. I always error on the side of caution and I would not try it. It would horrible to be the 1% that has a problem.

I just read and copied it --

Yes, depression and anxiety are worse in the morning. That is when your body's cortisol level is the hightest(cortisol is stimulating) and that accounts for probably part of what you are feeling. Cortisol is the stress hormone, your body produces when you are under stress.

The paradox of stress/cortisol is that anxiety produces cortisol, which produces anxiety which produces more cortisol, which causes you to feel more anxious...etc....

Soon you find yourself in this never ending cycle of anxiety and depression.

What you must do to get well is ACCEPT your anxiety. You must ACCEPT your feelings and not try to fight them. Do this long enough and an interesting thing happens, the anxiety goes away."

Deanne Repich from her article Understanding Early Morning Anxiety says,

"Another reason why symptoms can be worse in the morning is because your blood sugar is low when you first wake up. You have gone all night without food.

It's important to maintain a constant blood sugar level because the brain uses sugar, also known as glucose, as its fuel. If blood sugar levels are too low or drop too fast, then the brain starts running out of fuel.

This causes the brain to trigger the "fight or flight" response. The "fight or flight" response sends a rush of adrenaline, cortisol, and other neurotransmitters through your body to prepare you to fight or flee the perceived threat (low fuel).

This process can trigger physical reactions ("symptoms") such as trembling, rapid heartbeat, sweating, panic attacks, fatigue, insomnia, mental confusion, nervousness, dizziness, and more.

Maybe you need some food by your bed to take instantly when you wake up?

I use to do that until I went on NatureThroid. Now I have to take that when I first wake up. I eat as soon as I can and make sure I get enough protein. It is crazy how you can be fine one day and the next day you are almost incapacitated. I use to get up, get ready for work, and then eat breakfast and did that for years without any issues.

Things are really so much better than they were, but I still have that "not comfortable in my own skin" feeling that I hope goes away with more and more Lyme treatment.

I am getting my thyroid rechecked, so I will know if I need to increase the NatureThroid or not. My estrogen and progesterone levels are at the bottom of the barrel as well, so that is not helping. UGH! I want off this merry-go-round.

astroman said...
Your symptoms were similar to mine in the past. (Maybe I was worse.) With out taking anything I was : Shaky energy in the AM. I was then tired after noon. This was debilitating. Awake at night.

My energy cycle was a mess. The peaks and valleys were to far apart.

Early AM I used calming aminos and herbs, then mid afternoon energy boosters if needed.

The adrenal herbal adaptogens - about 8 of them (goggle a list), are different, some calm, some energetic.

There are MANY Aminos, this guide helps http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/amino-acids/

The different ones have diff effect on say / body, energy (menatal and physical), muscles or brain.

I have tried many for diff purposes.

Many people dabbling in this area do not get specific when they reley should be.

So you are looking for brain aminos, which are usually in calming mixtures not body building / muscle stuff.

Many of the anti-stress calming mixtures are great for this- they all ready put the best aminos and herbals together in the bottle for you. I took these in the AM.

Later settled on holy basil, it calmed cortisol but did not tire. I love it.

Common single use "camlers" - GABA- makes many feel drugged though, many brands
5HTP - cheap and easy to use
L-theanine- steady thinking, no drugged effect

Extreme energy anziety is just as bad as major fatigue, just the opposite.

I am going to guess you were in a worse place than I am now. It was pretty awful for a long time, but going on NatureThroid has helped a lot.

I have heard/read good things about Holy Basil. I have not tried it yet.

I see my doctor next week and hopefully we can talk about some of these things. He has given me his blessing on trying L-Theanine and so far I am doing well with it. I don't take very much though.

You doctor should help you with this. From my understanding it is a long and slow process because rapidly done you will suffer.

One of the effects of withdrawing from Xanax is anxiety, so keep that in mind.

Best of luck on that. It will just take patience. You slowly want to let your brain have less and less of the Xanax.

Ask your doctor is marijuana won't take the edge off?

You can do this Sissy. I am so sorry you were put on the drug.

You sound so smart and in touch with yourself. I feel confident you can do this.

Remember we are all here to help each other.

Oh- all this with thyroid too. Welcome to the club. I take my NP (its similar to NT brand) first dose in the AM, then 2 nd about 3 pm.

I pays to try different thyroid dosing times. Some people do better with all in the AM. I need afternoon energy though.

I take mine sublingually -with a rinsed out mouth. . Food, less of an issue then. I proved this with testing to. But my stomach is still empty in the AM dose(while in the shower). NP dissolves a little easier than NT or Armour brands- those need a little chewing, then leave in cheek STTM will have this into.

Even though I need T3, (I found out I was born with liver issues T4to T3 in the liver), synthetic T3 Cytomel, hits me like a rocket blasting off during an earthquake.

Ask your Dr about Lithium Orotate usually in very small amounts 5 mg - every other day at night. Needs to be away from thyroid med. Its good for real high anziety days. Its an element we all need and get through the dirt.

NOT to be confused with the other high potent Lithium (non - orotate) for major mental issues. There were several posts on this here, Georgia Hunter knew a lot about it.

Sissy,

Hi. I'm sorry you are going through this. I use 5-HTP and I also do a scoop of CALM/magnesium. I forget who makes it but it's a powder and it works instantly. At night I use Yogi Bedtime tea or Sleepytime Xtra. There is a company called Neuroscience and their Kavinace and Calm PRT are great for calming, Pure Formulations has something called Bedrest which is also good but I prefer Neuroscience.

Peteza, I am so sorry about your daughter. I don't know the right thing to say but I'm sending hugs for you. You are one special and inspirational woman. You always give hope to us with your positive attitude. Now I'm even more impressed that you have it.

Sissy,

This is common. It is me. Last week I felt so good I thought "this is it I have turned a corner and starting to feel normal." Today I feel so bad I have already cried. I don't even mind that I have different symptoms (well I do mind) but what is worse is that I feel depressed, which is unlike me. So I know it's lyme. You mentioned feeling needy. I was the same way. I am very independent and resourceful. In the beginning of lyme I was on here every moment posting a question and sometimes I would forget I asked and would repeat the question. This board was so patient and understanding. I know everyone is different but I think it's a big part of the process (the anxiety, the ups and downs, the two steps forward, two steps back). Hang in there.