ok i have a mental health question to ask regarding herbal supplements for help?

i have never had anything like this before. almost 2yrs ago i went in for a surgery and it was my first and i was terrified. ever since i have been dealing with scary scary unwanted thoughts and just not feeling like myself. the scary thoughts started after i was having just little panicky times so i put myself back on lexapro that i took just for anxiety for work. i had been off for about a year because i had quit my job and was waaay better. well i started back full force and didn’t half them the first week and felt sooo bad. had horrible side effects as well where i didn’t before. i had my gallblader out so i didn’t know if that is why i was having the side effects because it was hitting my stomach and not being filtered. i then called dr. and he said i was just having anxiety due to the surgery . another month went by and same thing. it got to where i was terrifed to be around my kids because i was sscared i was going to hurt them or myself. i never would i was terrifed of that thought. i basically lost myself somehow and became this scared paranoid little girl again. that is how i felt. everything i read i took to heart that it was going to happen to me. i eventually went to a counselor and she diagnosed me with severe anxiety caused by a trama (surgery) i know that is crazy but it happened. my problem today is that yes i am way better then i was 1yr ago but it is still there waiting to come back and i know how to ignore it now but i want it gone. i love my life my kids and my family so much. i don’t know how this happend to me but it did and i just need to get past it. every day has gotten better but i still remind myself of this daily but it is way easier to forget then it used to be so i know it is getting better. i was wondering if there was a herbal supplement that anyone has tried. i bought sam-e and was scared to take it. i just started 2 nights ago taking 5-htp in 50mg and don’t really notice anything yet. i don’t want antidepressants again. i am scared of the suicidal warning and to a person with anixety like i have that scares me really really bad. it makes me think it will make me feel that way. i am terrifed of eveing thinking about feeling that way. i just want my happy go lucky self back . please if you know of any information i can read or any other supplements i can try that would be great.

thanks

Hey, I’m so sorry to hear about what you’ve been going through. Anxiety is a nasty thing to have to deal with, especially on top of other medical concerns.

I asked my nurse practioner something similar, about what I could take to help with my moods (I’m bipolar and can’t take antidepressants because of how I react on them, so I need to find other ways). Here is what she said:
Vitamin B
Vitamin C
Folic Acid
Omega-3 fatty acid
Melatonin

Apparently, all of these, in one way or another, facilitate the production of serotonin. An anti-depressant just gives you a burst of serotonin. The supplements I listed will help you make more serotonin, naturally.

Other than Sam-E, St. John’s wort is another supposed mood elevator. I’ve tried it before and it didn’t have much of an impact, but you might want to give it a shot.

I hope things get better for you soon… Keep your head up.

Edit: Melatonin is taken at night to help regulate circadian rhythms and will therefore help you go to sleep and wake up more easily- if you have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep because of your anxiety, that would be the 1st thing I’d try.

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