A GREAT alternative to Zoloft - Bikram Yoga

I started doing Bikram Yoga about two months ago. At the time I was on Zoloft and had gained 30 pounds in 8 months- like most other people who take it. I was 130 when I started the med and quickly went up to 160. Zoloft worked really well for my mood swings but I slept much more than I should. At one point 15 hours a day. I'm not an infant so this didn't work out with my schedule very well. When I started Bikram I started lowering my zoloft dosage. After a month and a half I completely stopped. I feel wonderful now. The guy who invented Bikram is insane so don't bother reading about him until you've actually tried the exercise because it will prevent you from going. The practice of Bikram is amazing. I've lost 13 pounds (147.5...can't believe I still have 17 to go), have no mood swings whatsoever and no PMS. It's better than any anti-depressant I've tried. It's daunting because the description of it makes it sound horrible. It's yoga in a super-hot room. I am temperature intolerant and decided to try it anyway because I was feeling so big and unattractive and while the first two times were hard - after that it became an addiction, and believe me, I'm not an exercise fanatic. I hope this helps someone get off Zoloft as it's changed my life.
----
My idea of sports is art.

Thanks Kitt
Took the words right out of my mouth
As said what works for some DOES not mean it will work for others
There is NO shame in having to take meds .......

I've suffered horrible panic and anxiety for over 20 yrs. I did tons of therapy, some meds and lots of suffering.
NIne years ago when I joined a gym and lifted weights 5 days a week, I didn't even recall what anxiety was.
I have to say I was 95% anxiety/stress free when I worked out
My anxiety is back now b/c I'm sick with lyme and cannot work out.

Exercise if the cure to anxiety/panic and depression. Meds have their place to get over the hump, but should not be the cure.

So I agreee, yoga or ANY exercise if the key to well being.

Types of qigong can be done from a chair, which could replace the yoga component. If done correctly, qigong can be a good workout, because of the focus it demands and the isometric style.

I cannot take anti-depressant meds - I could describe the long list of side effects - but it ain't pretty!! haha! Anyway, I use yoga as part of my emotional stability protocol along with qigong and meditation. Then I use herbal sups to get through the real bad times or the humps. Took me a while to find what works for me...but I didn't have the choices most have.

I guess its because i believe that they should only be used to get over the hump, as said before, and not as a life long choice.

Food is another thing that people don't realize make make a huge change. They actually do studies on this, especially for ADD kids.

Hi, You mentioned qigong.  I am not familiar with this, can you explain more.  Thanks  :)

Hey all,

I picked up a video from my library a while back to try out qigong. Pretty interesting stuff. Here's some background info and video.

Qigong or chi kung is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine, some forms of which involve the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but there are also some who teach it as a therapeutic intervention or practice it as a medical profession. Various forms of traditional qigong are also widely taught in conjunction with Chinese martial arts, and are especially prevalent in the advanced training of what are known as the Neijia, or internal martial arts where the object is the full mobilization and proper coordination and direction of the energies of the body as they are applied to facilitate all physical actions.

Qigong relies on the traditional Chinese belief that the body has something that might be described as an "energy field" generated and maintained by the natural respiration of the body, known as qi. Qi means breath or gas in Chinese, and, by extension, the energy produced by breathing that keeps us alive; gong means work applied to a discipline or the resultant level of technique. Qigong is then "breath work" or the art of managing one's breathing in order to achieve and maintain good health, and (especially in the martial arts) to enhance the energy mobilization and stamina of the body in coordination with the physical process of respiration.

Attitudes toward the scientific basis (or lack of it) for qigong vary markedly. Most Western medical practitioners and many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the Chinese government, view qigong as a set of breathing and movement exercises, with possible benefits to health through stress reduction and exercise. Others see qigong in more metaphysical terms, claiming that breathing and movement exercises can help one tap the fundamental energies of the universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-aDENlHWA

Sadsong
Thanks so much for the explanation of this for us all
I find it to be quite interesting and I think I will look into it as well

As a Native I do go to the Healing Hut once a week and I am with the Elders as well that helps me too to go back to my roots and Mother Earth.......I have not stuck with Yoga but I KNOW I am going to be as my daughter has now taken to doing it and I do like doing so many things with her ...she has picked up the a/p at a young age just as I did ( although I was much younger) .....and she was on xanax .05 for a wee time BUT told the doc she wanted to try to work it thru on her own
Her a/p is not that bad yet so I am hoping an dpraying it will really benefit her with the yoga and CBT .....

Thanks again for sharing all of this with us ........
YOU are doing so great ...Kudos to you ....Luvs
LYN

Hey, this is a great thread and right up my alley.

I've not done yoga but would love to. I would probably not be good doing the Bikram yoga since heat makes me ill, but my story is similiar.

I've suffered anxiety and depression for over 20 yrs. For the first 10 yrs of my troubles, I never took meds but then eventually took xanax as needed.
But then one day 9 1/2 yrs ago, I decided to join a gym to lift weights. After the first month, my anxiety and depression was down by 95%. My whole world opened up. After 4 months I had gone from a size 14 to a size 3 and looked and felt awesome

Bottom line, moving in any way, whether it be yoga or weights strengthens the body as a whole which includes the mind.

 

The one opportunity I had to try yoga for a few weeks really was nice. We were all middle-aged newbies, so the instructor let us take things at our own pace. What I really enjoyed was the "winding down" mentally at the end of the hour. I had thought I was only doing things for my body, but the nice, restful, peaceful feeling I got as she had us lie down, eyes closed, and just release thoughts and muscles for 10 minutes was surprising.

There's another class starting up soon, but I think it conflicts with my work schedule again. *sigh*

percycat

Stari,

You are very welcome and I am always glad to help any member looking for information so please just ask.  Also my email is always open.

Gentle Hugs to you

Kitt