SandraLHo...What does everyone think of using SAMe for mild anxiety and stress?
Thoughts on using SAMe?
- Posted:
- 20 Aug 2012 by SandraLHoutz
- Topics:
- anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, same
Details:
Responses (2)
HeadStarter20 Aug 2012
Hello Sandra - Personally, I don't think much of it at all. If you are dealing with "mild" issues... then perhaps a change in your routine, eating habits and types of food, changing your daily routine and sleep habits. I think changing things you can control might work better for you, in that instance, than supplements. You haven't mentioned anything about your daily routine, how you eat, do you exercise at all, walk or swim, do you give yourself time at time to unwind before trying to sleep. Stuff like that is also very important. For instance, it has been shown that doing things late at night that keep your mind active will interfere with quality of sleep. Doing such things as your checkbook, taxes, bills, arguing, talking on the phone, action movies and the like are things that shouldn't be done at least 2 hours before bedtime.
Just adding some stuff here and I answered your other question as well. I hope you find something that works for you and that you can stick with.
Mary
Anonymous 21 Aug 2012
You know, it's worth a try. Different people respond differently to various medications and supplements. Everyone has a different genetic make-up. I thought that SAMe was an antidepressant more than for anxiety and stress. There are other supplements used for anxiety and stress also. My 'bible' is swanson vitamins.com, which has a very long encyclopedic research area about all the supplements. I would try there. they are also standardized, and very reasonably priced, and also natural.
SandraLHoutz
22 Aug 2012
what do you recommend as a natural alternative to the anti-depressant family? I"m open to suggestions :)
Anonymous 23 Aug 2012
I would research it yourself, as you know the problems that you are dealing with yourself. Some sites to check are: Dr. Weil, Dr. Mercola, Roger Murphree, and Swanson Vitamins. All have extensive research libraries. Some of the antidepressant supplements that I know of are: SAMe, St. John's Wort, 5HTP, etc. You have to watch out what you are already taking so that there is no interference. FI, if you are already taking a pharmaceutical antidepressant, I would NOT suggest that you add a natural one to your supplements. Supplements are very powerful also, just safer (for the most part), and with MANY less side effects. But, you have to know what you are doing also. Dr. Weil is really good at explaining all this to you, the rest you have to just read all the choices, and then decide for yourself. Also, Dr. Weil's site, you can actually talk to someone on the phone, or online about their vitamins and supplements, to get advice on what is the best for you.
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HI Mary, I try not to do any thing stressful after 9 pm ... just veggie time in front of the tv ... I try to get out as much as I can as far as exercise ... I have had 5 major surgeries on one foot and also have a metal implant in my left knee cap ... not a total knee replacement ... so I have to be very careful with how much I am on my feet ... so it makes exercise very difficult :(
I think I should have used the word "movement" verses "exercise". Because I couldn't exercise either but through my 92 lb. weight loss, I just kept walking, slow but I was walking... and then water walking because it was easy on my joints. I have had cervical and lumbar surgeries plus knee, elbow, foot and shoulder repair. I get that exercise is hard but I didn't mean like aerobic kind of stuff... more like what Jack LaLaine used to promote on his very old TV show. He used a chair for his exercises and it was geared to older people and people who really couldn't do much. Gosh, I loved that show as a teenager and so did my mother. Just movement... or hanging in the water to decompress. There are lots of things that one can do to simply unwind and relax.
Thanks for the feedback and I'm sorry about not explaining what I meant more clearly.
Mary
I agree with the others that have replied. SAM-E is a big expense too,and I have NEVER heard of anyone raving about it.I'd do what has already been advised if your anxiety is mild.Exercise and eating RIGHT,ie: cut out sugar and caffeine, as both of these are known to actually contribute to anxiety.You should taper them slowly during a 2 wek period.I just read a book about foods that can help. It's The Doctors Book of Healing Foods. 2 tips I got from that was 1. Eat a bowl of nutritious cereal each morning, there was a study done on this and the people who ate a healthy cereal,cold or hot,had lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that raises stress and is the culprit in weight gain as well.2.
Expand this post...
Omega 3, Nordic Natrauls did a study and found that Omega 3 helps your nerves and therefore lower your anxiety, I realized this long ago and tried the Omega 3 supplements,but did not notice a big change in anxiety.I started eating fish, like Talapia and Salmon, 2-3 times per week( if you want to try the eating fish idea go with wild salmon and wild talapia rather than farm raised, the packaging will tell you this information) Exercise can do wonders and it can be something like yoga in the early evening. .And it is common knowledge that doing anything other than calming things, such as reading something light,or watching a old favorite sitcom.I shut down the computer at 9:00PM ,maybe have a cup of hot green tea with honey and lemon.
Wishing you wellness and hapiness,tejas129
As far as exercise have you tried the bands? A finess ball can be used as well, and both of these types of exercise are easy on joints and other areas as well.
thanks Mary and tejas :)
Hi tejas - I hope you are referring to "oatmeal" as the cereal thing because it actually is the best type of cereal to eat. It also played a major role in my 92 lb. weight loss and lowered my cholesterol by 50-60 points. Just saying... Most "cereal" is loaded with sugar and actually have next to no nutritional value. I am only talking about those grocery store cereal boxes. The cardboard has more nutrition than most of those cereals per a study that was done and I actually believe it!
I also balance on a big palates type ball and it is hard but so good for developing core strength. Always wear sneakers when doing these balancing tricks on the ball. You need good traction or you can slip off and hurt more than pride.
Thanks for the feedback, too... very interesting...
Mary
My pleasure, Sandra...
Hey Mary, actually I was not talking about oatmeal(though that IS the cereal I eat),but the study that I referred too was cold cereal,whole grain and natural,no preserves,no sugars of any sort.
And you are right about wearing the sneakers for the fitness ball!! LOL The first few times I used mine I wore no shoes. I was slipping and sliding.Then I snapped,you know, as in that ah ha moment... And realized what the problem was. Now me and the fitness ball get along fine. I use it in the evenings while watching TV for core building.
Hi tejas - I do "bridges" on my back using the ball. That really works the core muscles. I just can't do it very long but it doesn't take much to get those muscles burning either. I like to do my exercises in front of the TV, too, as long as I keep my focus on what I am doing...
Steel cut oats are what I use for the oatmeal and only the steel cut oats. I love a good, hot and nutritious oatmeal in the morning with bananas, raisins, sea salt, raw honey and an apple with an egg. Breakfast is our best and largest meal of the day... if you don't "break the fast" from the nighttime rest... you just don't function optimally for the best of your day.
Mary
Yes, the steel cut Old Fashioned Quaker Oats is what I eat too.I have never been a big eater,and do have an eating disorder, so it was really beyond my imagination that I could actually eat a small but healthy breakfast,lunch,afternoon snack,dinner,and an evening snack,and actually feel better,and loose weight.It was a real eye opener and I realized how badly I had abused my body and my brain just by NOT eating more than once a day,and of course, sometimes not eating at all.But there IS no doubt that eating a good healthy breakfast sets your metabolism for the day.And, of course you are right on the cold cereals,but the cereal they used in the study I mentioned in my earlier post,was an all natural,unprocessed one,high in protein and few carbs with no sugar.I think I left out the fact that this was a Swedish study.They eat differently,with few processed foods. Guess that's why so many Swedes have no weight issues.I do a lot of my shopping at a health food store, but even then you have to read those labels!!!