Depression | Depression Information

Question: Can vitamin supplements cure severe anxiety & depression?

(Posted by: Jon on 2008-12-31 01:17:55)

I worry about everything constantly from the moment I wake up to the minute I go to bed. Ive had so much hair loss from stress. And when Im not worried, Im depressed. I have suicidal thoughts everyday. Right now I cant sleep because Im worrying about a bunch of things that may be nothing to you, but it makes me feel like Im going to die. I dont believe in taking medication since when I last took meds for my depression it didnt work, but Im running out of options. Would meds work or do you know of any other ways to help cure this disease?

Posted by: student202003 on 2008-12-31, 01:21:01

Go to your regular medical doctor and tell them what's going on. They can provide you with medications. It sounds like you have depression and General Anxiety Disorder. They commonly go together. Doctors are always prescribing anti-depressants and anxiety meds. If your depression meds didn't work last time tell your doctor because not all meds work for all people and another type of anti-depressant might work more effectively for you.

Posted by: The Instigator on 2008-12-31, 01:31:30

Sounds bad; you probably want meds for that. It can take a few attempts to find the right one for you, and things can change over time, too. Just be patient with it. Alternative methods and supplementation can also be very helpful. I recommend researching them heavily. Be skeptical. I recommend purified fish oil. You won't notice a dramatic impact, but it is a very good gamble in the long term as it also treats some other common diseases. Vitamin D, certain B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and some others can be very influential with depression and anxiety. With most vitamins, it is both possible to have too much or too little. Both are of course bad. Taking in too much of one vitamin can cause a deficiency in another; as one example, calcium and iron don't absorb well in the same meal. Different people absorb nutrients at different rates. I point this out just to demonstrate that micronutrients are a complex subject. You might try reading around on acu-cell.com. I think the site is very interesting and it sounds like the guy knows what he is talking about. It is a good idea to use a nutritionist and try to get most of your vitamins from correct diet. Correct diet is crucial. Get some sun and lots of vigorous exercise. Over time it helps. Use my email anytime you want. Good luck. Oh and one more thing - i read your question again and you said you can't sleep from stress - buy some melatonin and some 5-htp and play around with them a little. They aren't very expensive. Perhaps they will help you. They both help me sleep, and proper sleep works wonders for these things. A mild sleep disorder can lead to depression/ anxiety over time.

Posted by: Ryan R P on 2008-12-31, 01:50:59

Regularly take xanax.

Posted by: GoodQuestion on 2008-12-31, 06:43:21

Mind, body, and spirit is what you will have to work on and supplements and herbs can help. No, you are not running out of options. I don't how well you take care of yourself. There is a long list of things that can result in anxiety and depression and it takes patients to figure out what is up and what will work. Also, everyone will not be lacking the same or have the same issues. ? How much water do I drink? I can change this if I do not drink enough water because it results in dehydration which causes many problems that makes me feel tired. How healthy do I eat? If I'm older, processed food beware. Children even have troubles with too much junk food. Am I laying off stimulants such as caffeine, especially right now, and cigarettes? Do I walk, stretch, or get exercise of choice and get fresh air? Do I, at minimum, take a quality multivitamin? Where am I hormonally? Am I constipated? When I have excessive worry, how do I handle that? Knowing what anxiety is, how can I replace racing thoughts to start positive thinking so I don't get so wore out? Do I have disturbed sleep patterns? Do I problem solve or avoid solution, even if the issue is "past " can I accept that I live today and can move forward? Do I breath properly? Consider starting with the above questions and work on solutions to those that might be an issue. Yes, there are also supplements and herbs that work. Many of them are documented on the internet by people who take them, there are books availabale, and this site has quite a bit of volunteered information on it. There are also Naturepaths, Homiopathic doctors, etc. Spiritually, if you feel you don't have the ability to concern yourself with these things, please call someone today.

Posted by: Julie B on 2008-12-31, 08:32:35

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact 911 or go to a hospital for assistance ASAP. Severe anxiety and depression, like all medical conditions, should be treated by a doctor. Vitamins and supplements don't "cure " anything - they are valuable in providing important nutrients that are sometimes depleted because of our diets or because we are on other medications that might deplete healthy levels. Some supplements, like vitamin B, fish oil supplements, St. John's Wort, SAM-E and others are helpful, but you should never take any vitamins or supplements without checking with a doctor or pharmacist.

Posted by: lol21t on 2008-12-31, 09:37:12

I went through this too. I finally saw a DO and had my neurotransmitters tested showing they were low and I'm on a supplement of amino acids-Neuroreplete (I told him no medications) and got the book The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Dr. Bourne to help me to learn ways to counter all the anxiety. Both things have worked tremendously well including Cognitive Behavioral therapy with a Christian counselor (helped me with trust and my faith). These are the things that worked for me-I'm 27 and my problems were from stress as well as trying to be a perfectionist at my job. I agree that you should avoid medication because it makes things worse often, only recycling the seratonin but not increasing it, thereby causing unwanted side effects, dependency and relapse in many people. The Neuroreplete supplement I take has no side effects on me at all and it is gentle. See a DO (doctor of osteopathy) if you are interested and have them run a simple urine test to test your levels (don't know how accurate but in my case it sure was!) It also helped me to sleep better and have pleasant dreams and got rid of my OCD thoughts-in my case fear of hurting myself- and panic attacks and it's starting to help the shaking and anxiety I get when I wake up. I just want you to remember that whatever you tell yourself has a huge effect on your feelings. You are 100% in control of your feelings. This book is awesome and makes it easy to understand and gives you all kinds of steps to take. I even had little index cards that I carried in my purse to help me and I no longer need to do this anymore. Here's the book: amazon.com/ Anxiety-Phobia-Workbook-Fourth/ dp/ 1572244135/ ref= pd_bbs_sr_1?ie= UTF8 &s= books &qid= 1230744730 &sr= 8-1 Here's the supplements: neuroreplete.com/ And here's the info on DOs (mine is an MD also) osteopathic.org/ index.cfm?PageID= ado_whatis Good luck as I know what you are going through! It WILL get better. I promise! EDIT: I forgot to add, yes yes yes keep taking vitamin supplements. Vitamin B-complex (all of them) help against stress, calcium and magnesium (there's a powder drink called Natural Calm) helps against stress and CALMS YOU!! Good news right? But in the end supplements will not CURE you. Oh yes against depression and 100% safe is fish oil capsules. Take a few a day as needed. Carlson is the best brand of this-no mercury-good stuff. I read what someone else posted-DO NOT take 5HTP alone or it will upset your dopamine levels. If you take anything, go with the Neuroreplete because it balances them all out properly. St. John's Wort has side effects in many people-avoid it. Again, please see a DO in your area-my insurance doesn't cover it but it saves me the nasty side effects of meds. Go go go!!

Posted by: Jasmine808 on 2008-12-31, 20:48:05

Depression manifests itself as an emotional, spiritual and physical issue. I suffered from depression for many many years. The only thing that really helped was prayer, retraining my mind to think more positively and realistically by stopping negative thoughts as soon as it happens and... believe it or not... serving others. As soon as I began to help others, my focus was less on myself and more on the world around me. I felt compassion for others and understood their pain. In some way, it healed me. Whether or not you feel like it, exercise and eat well. Whether or not you feel like it, think more positively. Listen to uplifting music. Journal. Pray.

Posted by: My name is my business on 2009-01-01, 16:40:00

Yes for some people. No for other people. Everybody is different and do not react the same way. For some people, it's vitamin supplements that helps them. For others, it's medication that helps them. Others simply overcome their anxiety/ depression through therapy without ever having taken medications or supplements. Also remember that no one ever actually cures at 100% from major depression and/ or anxiety disorders. But you can cure at 95% with long lasting permanent results.