The Mental Wellness Summit 2 aired online September 25 – October 2, 2017
Whether challenged by depression, anxiety, stress, addiction or another mental health challenge, every single person is impacted and affected – you, your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers -either directly or indirectly every single day.
This Mental Wellness Summit 2 will provided the information you need to:
- Overcome the silence, isolation and fear of your struggle
- Transcend outdated, prescription-based healthcare systems
- Find holistic practitioners and natural solutions for your pain
- Implement expert practices, tools and tips into your daily routine
My interview covered the dangers of benzodiazepines and why GABA is a more effective option for anxiety.
Here are some snippets from my interview where I discuss benzodiazepines which are
- a class of psychoactive drugs / tranquillizers with sedative, sleep-inducing, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties
- they target the GABAA receptor and enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA
- the common Brand name/drug name are: Xanax/ Alprazolam, Klonopin/Clonazepam, Valium/ Diazepam, Ativan/ Lorazapam
These medications are commonly prescribed for:
- Anxiety, social anxiety, panic, pain/dental pain, insomnia, fear of flying, Lyme disease, ER visits for back/neck spasms
- Children with autism
- IBS
- pre-surgery anxiety
- ICU patients needing ventilation
- during chemotherapy for cancer treatments – for anxiety, nausea and anticipatory nausea
I share this true benzodiazepine horror story:
Been totally disabled by benzos for over 3 years. I have been off meds for 17.5 months and the impact of these meds makes any anxiety I ever felt a cake walk. Please run from the poison.
When I turned 21 I went to the doctor for dizziness and they put me on xanax. I started to feel anxious and they then added Zoloft. That was the start of a long journey. I was shifted from one anti-depressant to another. At 34 I was told I was treatment resistant and they added lamotrigine. Then my world crashed at age 37. I have been on xanax, then klonopin, then Ativan, then back to xanax, then valium to taper. I had also been given ambien to sleep in early 30s.
I tapered off meds over a period of a year. I was on 1.5 mg xanax and tapered off valium as prescribed. I have tried many supplements but I react poorly to all of them. I get very agitated and revved up.
I have locked shoulder muscles, neck, jaw; I have internal vibrations, I get bad headaches, jelly legs, distorted vision like floaters and squiggles and fireworks, my teeth all feel like they will fall out but they are not loose, it feels like adrenaline or cortisol rushes through the body. Sometimes my arms go numb. I am pretty tortured every day. These meds are truly causing chemical warfare on some of us.
This is one of the many reasons I do this work – so more people don’t end up in this situation and so everyone knows about the dangers of benzodiazepines and that there are nutritional solutions for anxiety. One of them is the amino acid GABA and I discuss this in the latter half of the interview.
My story is different and therefore you may not publish it. Klonipin has saved my life so many times and I have always been able to get off it, even after years. The reason that I stay on it is because it stabilizes my mind
I have been following your site for almost two years. I have listened carefully to various summits, blogs and read many of your articles. I followed your advice using supplements as advised after weaning off meds.. Not only were they ineffective but they were so very expensive.
I have never had to increase my dosage of klonipin. It works immediately. I sleep well, have no anxiety and feel normal.
In June my Dr. put me on Viibryd and although the klonipin helped me to sleep and not be anxious I still had bouts of rumination and terrible self esteem. I have been amazed when I stop to realize that t I am feeling so normal for the first in 12 years and my mind is still.
I am 67 and after trying so many times to do it holistically I realize that we are not all wired the same and I have accepted this. I believe that the quality of life is more important than anything else. I am happy and I will stay tbis way.
Thank you for all the help that you offer. I believe that you must receive other stories similar to mine. The social stigma associated with mental illness is sad enough without making people feel that “natural” is the only way to sanity.
Mary
All stories need to be heard and I’m glad you shared yours and have found what works for you. My intention in sharing my benzo concerns is not to further stigmatize folks like you and I should be more vocal about saying this so thanks for calling me out on this.
As I said to Hildy it’s the horror stories that compel me to share my concerns with benzo prescriptions. About 1/3 of benzo users have a really bad time with tolerance, withdrawal and tapering, and another 1/3 have a bad time but it’s less severe. You are correct, we all wired differently but when someone is given a benzo prescription they have no way of knowing how they will respond.
I do still have concerns about other side-effects of benzos like impaired ability to drive (this is one of many papers on the subject https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27544927), increased risk of dementia (here is one paper reporting an increased risk https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28145025; there are mixed reports on this) and issues with concurrent use with opioids (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25526233)
I would love to hear what supplements you did try and how you responded? and also if you also did everything else to be nutritionally sound first? Like eating real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotrasnmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium, niacinamide and vitamin B6, and precursors like GABA and tryptophan. I would love to understand why the nutritional approach doesn’t work for some people so it can be adjusted so it does work.
My story is similar to yours, Mary. Without going into so much detail, I am on 2 of these medications: Klonipin and Lamotrigin. They SAVED my life. 30 years of multipal hospitalizations in critical condition. I was diagnosed as Bi Polar. My world fell completely apart many times. Relapse after Relapse! I tried supplements under a controlled environment by a Nutritionist just before my last relapse and it was more than A nightmare!! I ended up in the hospital again. During this time, my daughter was taken away from me, my husband left me and my family was crippled by it all. I wanted my life to end! Months later and after ECT treatments I was introduced to an AMAZING DOCTOR who prescribed these two medications. Since that time, my husband returned to me and together he helped me to get my daughter back. Today, 20 years later with the same doctor and these same medications, I never went back into the hospital, my daughter had a healthy upbringing and is currently in college. Eventhough, I still (occasionally) have anxiety, depression and sleepless nights. I would Never get off my meds without my doctor’s close supervision. I don’t know if my story helps you or others. But, I felt compelled to tell you.
Hi Lori
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear what you went through and very glad to hear the wonderful outcome.
As you saw from my feedback to Mary, I share the horror stories because of how many people end up in trouble when using them as prescribed (with tolerance, withdrawal and tapering) and have no way of knowing how they will respond, and due to the concerns about other side-effects.
As I said to Mary I would love to hear what nutritional approaches you did try? Like eating real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotransmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium, niacinamide and vitamin B6, and precursors like GABA and tryptophan? Looking into Lyme, heavy metals, SIBO, candida etc?
I’m simply trying to understand why the nutritional approach doesn’t seem to work for some people and until I have all the details I have to question if perhaps not everything has been considered? I talked about the 60+ possible causes (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/60-nutritional-biochemical-causes-of-anxiety/) on one of the Anxiety Summits and would want to see each one checked off before I’d say food/nutrients/functional medicine approaches are not going to work for someone.
I am really sorry if my response upsets you but as you can tell from my original post I feel so strongly about this that I feel compelled to ask these questions in order to protect those who are harmed and in order for me to learn and grow myself.
I was Also on Klonopin and am now 3 years off.Still having withdrawal symptoms and some waved and some Windows periods.Everyday is a different feeling.Still terribly depressed.But I refuse to take meds.Gaba doesnot help me.I am 69 years old and All I can do is continue to pray hard.The periodic dizziness and urge to eat eat eat and no sleep at all are the worst symptoms .Supplements donot seem to work.Please keep doing what you do and God Bless you .
I don’t think stories like your are all that common. I have been on Clonazapam for many years, no problems with it and it helps. I like Buspirone for anxiety, helps me a lot and is not a narcotic, not habit forming. I also take Lamotrigine and it saved me. I take others as well to keep me stable. I found changing doctors made all the difference. Some things I react badly to but some I tolerate. I do wish I didn’t need any of these but without them I’d be on the moon. Every one’s body chemistry is different and some can take something that another will have a reaction to. It took me MANY years to get the right mix.
Articles like yours are misleading and they scare people who might benefit from medication, some absolutely must have something to keep functioning and not become dangerous to themselves and others. There are conditions that need to be medicated. Meditation and kale doesn’t cure all, certainly helps but isn;t the sole answer. Your article will keep some people off medication who really can benefit from them.
Hi Hildy
Unfortunately stories like Antoinette’s are very common which is why I share stories like hers and my concerns with benzo prescriptions. About 1/3 of benzo users have a really bad time with tolerance, withdrawal and tapering, and another 1/3 have a bad time but it’s less severe.
You are correct, we all have our own unique biochemistry but when someone is given a benzo prescription they have no way of knowing how they will respond.
I am really glad you have found what works for you but I still have concerns about other side-effects of benzos like impaired ability to drive (this is one of many papers on the subject https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27544927), increased risk of dementia (here is one paper reporting an increased risk https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28145025; there are mixed reports on this) and issues with concurrent use with opioids (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25526233)
Finally you say “meditation and kale doesn’t cure all.” I would love to hear what dietary and lifestyle changes you have implemented? I don’t say this to call you out but rather with a desire to help and encourage you to have an open mind about the power of nutrition.
Hi Antoinette
I am sorry to hear what you are going through. As I mentioned to Julie I have my clients get into a good place nutritionally before starting any taper and it often makes things easier – real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotrasnmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, and precursors like GABA and tryptophan. Niacinamide is also often very helpful. Often very very small amounts are tolerated better (like a pinch of GABA instead of the typical 125mg starting dose). It’s better to do all this before starting to taper but even doing it once the taper has started can often help.
When someone is still too sensitive we look at essential oils, meditation, yoga, exercise, nature and even float tanks.
I am finding that folks who experience adverse effects when using benzodiazepines as prescribed or when tapering have some of these contributing factors:
Taking Valium/ diazepam and have the CYP2C19 polymorphism (about 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP liver enzyme superfamily)
Taking Xanax/ alprazolam and have CYP3A5 polymorphism (about 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP liver enzyme superfamily)
Taking any benzodiazepine and also
Taking oral contraceptives
Taking a course of antibiotics
Taking a course of one of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics
On an SSRI prescription
Taking a course of antifungal medications
Drinking alcohol on a regular basis
On an opioid such as oxycodone
Drinking grapefruit juice on a regular basis
Trudy
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Trudy,
Can you take GABA while tapering off klonopin? I think I wrote you about this 2 months ago but never got a response. Please respond if you can. I would like to talk to my doctor about this when I see him. I’m not sure he really knows.
Thank you, Mickey
Hi Mickey
I have clients use GABA when tapering and they do discuss this with their doctors. They often need to educate their doctors on this. But it’s more than only using GABA. I have my clients get into a good place nutritionally before starting any taper – real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotrasnmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, and then using precursors like GABA and tryptophan. Niacinamide is also often very helpful. Often very small amounts are tolerated better.
Thanks Trudy,
My diet is actually pretty good, and I have just been eating free range, antibiotic free eggs for breakfast, but my cholesterol sky rocketed 65 points. My doctor retook the test because we thought it had to be a mistake, but it wasn’t. My cholesterol is 278 and he wants to put me on statin drugs. I tried those before and became very ill so I stopped taking them. He told me to give up the eggs every day, but honestly Trudy I don’t know what I can have in place that has protein. Could you please give me some suggestions? I’ve been eating a banana every morning instead but that just seems to make me tired and jittery. Thanks
Mickey
Eggs don’t raise cholesterol – Dr. Mark Hyman says it well here http://drhyman.com/blog/2014/02/07/eggs-dont-cause-heart-attacks-sugar/
Other protein options are dinner-for-breakfast and shakes from whey, pea, beef etc as tolerated
Hi Trudy ~
I would strongly urge the woman in the benzo horror story to look into the possibility of having lyme. Her symptoms could def be lyme related. (Not suggesting that the benzo withdrawal couldn’t contribute as well.) Testing in the States is woefully inadequate; the regular test would likely come back negative.
Thanks for the great work you do.
Melinda
Melinda
Thanks for mentioning this and yes it’s something I always consider and refer out for. It can be challenging when we have complex situations with similar symptoms. Unfortunately many people are not familiar with the list of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms as reported on Benzo.org.uk http://www.benzo.org.uk/FAQ1.1.htm#9
“The following is a list of symptoms. As they have been reported by enough individuals they are statistically likely to be legitimate withdrawal symptoms. Keep in mind that there are a wide variety of other symptoms that have been reported that may be legitimate withdrawal symptoms as well, but have not been reported by enough individuals to be statistically significant. The determination of statistical significance is not based on hard data, but on the observations of this author in reading through thousands of posts from people in withdrawal, as well as several books and articles on the subject.
This list is broken down into psychological and physical symptoms. The double asterisk (**) indicates symptoms that occur to some degree or another, at one time or another, in virtually every person experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal. Single asterisk (*) are symptoms that are common, and occur in most people. Others are symptoms that are common enough to be verifiable withdrawal symptoms, but probably occur in a minority of cases.
Psychological symptoms: anxiety** (including panic attacks), depression**, insomnia*, derealisation/depersonalisation* (feelings of unreality/detachment from self), obsessive negative thoughts*, (particularly of a violent and/or sexual nature) rapid mood changes* (especially including outbursts of anger or rage), phobias* (especially agoraphobia and fear of insanity), dysphoria* (loss of capacity to enjoy life; possibility a combination of depression, anxiety, and derealisation/depersonalisation), impairment of cognitive functioning*, suicidal thoughts*, nightmares, hallucinations, psychosis, pill cravings. Note that it is far more common to fear psychosis than it is to actually experience it.
Physical Symptoms: abnormal sensitivity to sensory stimuli* (such as loud noise or bright light), muscle tension/pain**, joint pain*, tinnitus*, headaches*, shaking/tremors*, blurred vision* (and other complications related to the eyes), itchy skin* (including formication, ie sensations of insects crawling on skin), gastrointestinal discomfort*, electric shock sensations*, paraesthesiae* (numbness and pins and needles, especially in extremities), fatigue*, weakness in the extremities* (particularly the legs), feelings of inner vibrations* (especially in the torso), sweating, fluctuations in body temperature, difficulty in swallowing, loss of appetite, “flu like” symptoms, fasciculations (muscle twitching), metallic taste in mouth, nausea, extreme thirst (including dry mouth and increased frequency of urination), sexual dysfunction (or occasional increase in libido), heart palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, breathlessness.”
I’ve been under mental heal care since I was 12 years old (I’m 45 now) for major depression, anxiety and was diagnosed PTSD a year ago. I think doctors have put me on every benzodiazepine and antidepressant available. It wasn’t till researching all my current medical and psych meds (14 in all) that I found there is a protocol for benzodiazepines. 2-4 weeks. I’m going on 2 years on Xanax. While it takes the edge off the horrid anxiety it doesn’t work all the time or but a few hours and the flashbacks have been on a constant replay mode. With most of the side effects listed here it discribes me exactly. I’ve started a slow taper and was prescribed Busparone to help with the increased anxiety and symptoms. Even though I appear to be highly med resistant I am hoping this craziness won’t go on forever and now I know I’m not the only one.
Julie
I am sorry to hear what you are going through. I have my clients get into a good place nutritionally before starting any taper – real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotrasnmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, and precursors like GABA and tryptophan. Niacinamide is also often very helpful. Often very small amounts are tolerated better and if not we look at essential oils, meditation, yoga.
I am finding that folks who experience adverse effects when using benzodiazepines as prescribed or when tapering have some of these contributing factors:
Taking Valium/ diazepam and have the CYP2C19 polymorphism (about 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP liver enzyme superfamily)
Taking Xanax/ alprazolam and have CYP3A5 polymorphism (about 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP liver enzyme superfamily)
Taking any benzodiazepine and also
Taking oral contraceptives
Taking a course of antibiotics
Taking a course of one of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics
On an SSRI prescription
Taking a course of antifungal medications
Drinking alcohol on a regular basis
On an opioid such as oxycodone
Drinking grapefruit juice on a regular basis
Trudy
Thank you Trudy for your response and I wish I was in a good place any which way including nutritionally. I have tried talking to my doctor about the GABA and Tryptophan and I showed him your book but I was speaking another language because he wasn’t interested in anything but trying to stabilize me. When going through this for as long as I have you hope for normal in any way. I have taken so many meds over the years I really don’t know what has helped or hurt. That is why I would like to get off the meds and work more naturally. Of the list of things you discribed I recognize several in my regimen. Does things like gastric bypass affect any or all of this? Osteopenia? I’m very interested in your thoughts.
Omeprazole 20mg 2 tabs in AM for Gerd
Evekeo 10mg 1 tab at am & noon
Adderall 20mg 1 tab at am & noon
Lithium 300mg 2 tab in AM
Lexapro 20mg 1 at AM
Pravastatin 40mg 1 tab in AM
Hydrocodone 10/325 1 tab 4x day
Alprazolam 1mg 1/2tab AM and noon and 1 tab at bed for anxiety
Buspirone 10mg 1 tab AM and bed
Trulance 1 tab AM for constipation
Ingrezza 40mg 1 tab at bed
Zaleplon 10mg 1 tab at bed
Sumatriptan 6mg injection 1 as needed for migraine. No more than 2 in 24hr
Supplements:
Calcium 1000mg 3 tabs daily
Multivitamin
Melatonin 10mg at bed
Hi Julie
I can’t offer you any specific advice here but I would recommend finding a functional medicine doctor to work with. I see dietary changes and a functional medicine approach allow many folks to start to reduce many of their meds.
What is your diet like? just eating real whole food and getting off the junk food has an impact in so many ways.
And yes gastric bypass can be an issue with nutritional deficiencies and mood issues too
Judy I’m surprised you didn’t mention a magnesium deficiency testing and supplement protocol for this collage of symptoms. Also GABA dosages need to be monitored very carefully as it inhibits dopamine and this has become a problem with GABA now a big trend and people thinking “more is more”. As for the benzos issue, I stopped into a Promptcare clinic a few years ago with dizziness, and after a brief intake and “read these letters on the eye chart” I was offered a Valium script! Being an addictions counselor and mental health nutritionist I said to the MD “You’re kidding, Valium? Uhmm, no thanks.” I felt like I should have called the cops on her because in fact I had just witnessed a crime. I’m thinking, wow so it’s really that easy, huh? Just walk into a clinic and say you’re dizzy, and you can start your descent into hell. I have dedicated my life now to helping people out of this downward spiral of benzos, heroin and all the junk food, pollution and heavy metals that disturb and destroy the specific brain chemistry known as the dopamine cascade…that calm, content and creative state that we all want and deserve.
Layla
Thank you for the work you do – addictions counselor and mental health nutritionist is a wonderful combination! And thanks for sharing the Valium story. I had a similar story with a family member in ER for neck spasms and asked about the issues (knowing the answers) and was told it was not a problem.
Thanks for bringing up magnesium – it is always a nutrient I consider together with a full workup to look for all possible imbalances, and recommendations for dietary changes and being nutritionally sound BEFORE starting any taper.
Re the GABA comment I assume you’re referring to Dr. Kenneth Blum’s “Reward Deficiency Syndrome” (which he says affects about 1/3 of people)? Please share more about this: “GABA dosages need to be monitored very carefully as it inhibits dopamine.” I always have my clients do a GABA trial and start very low as some folks do think more is better. I cover all this in the second half of the interview.
Do you have any advice, not looking for anything you can’t share, for someone who has weaned already? My son weaned last January and they put him on Gabapentin (through an addictionologist) and lamictal. He has a lot of insomnia and OCD after weaning (some has been on going). He had a GeneSite test and showed the medications they put him on after an adverse reaction to Vicodin caused him to be awake for 3 days, Prozac and then Zoloft, were the ones his body couldn’t process. That moved to Klonopon and we got him off as I said. After 5 years of trying. (He was on the Klonopin less than 2 thankfully). Do any of the supplements such as GABA or tryptophan Interact wth the Gabapentin (which I’m guessing yes) and/or limitcal? I am going to have him ask his doctor but always concerned they don’t have a clue. Thank you.
Colette
I’m sorry to hear what your son has been through especially because Gabapentin can be as problematic as benzos. Working with a functional medicine doctor is the best approach when there are multiple medications involved. But that doesn’t mean dietary changes can’t be implemented – starting with gluten-free, no caffeine, no sugar and quality animal protein at breakfast.
Thank you. We are still looking for the elusive functional medicine doctor. Too many doctors have started to use that “word” and it isn’t really true we have found through research and asking others. He is going to have some blood work done very soon to see where his chemical imbalances lie and I am working with a doctor that hopefully will be able to give us some help. The Gabapentin was better than the benzos when he was weaning but its time to get him off that as well.
Hi Trudy,
Thank you for all you do. Finding your book was a turning point for me. I have been tapering off Ativan for the past year and a half (Ativan in AM, Zoloft in PM). I have been working with a functional doctor since April. I am now at the point in my taper where I will start having days where I take no Ativan. Do you have any suggestions in helping this process? Or anything you can direct me to? (I’m going from 1/8 of a .5 mg pill to zero). I’ve done the taper extremely slowly, but now I have to stop taking any and the anxiety is troublesome. Thank you so much!
Julie
Hi Julie
I’m glad to hear you are working with a functional doctor. He/she should be able to help but if he/she is not familiar with tapers benzo.org.uk is very helpful and so is benzobuddies.org (although they will say no supps – I love the support they offer but don’t agree with this aspect). Many people use liquids to taper really slowly.
I always have my clients get into a good place nutritionally BEFORE starting any taper but it’s never too late to make changes – real whole nutrient dense food, no gluten, no caffeine, healthy fats, quality animal protein especially at breakfast, addressing the adrenals and gut health, and supporting neurotrasnmitter production with co-factors like zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, and then using precursors like GABA and tryptophan. Niacinamide is also often very helpful. Often very small amounts are tolerated better.
Some of the people in the comments make it seem like the horror stories don’t matter because it’s “rare” to get bad withdrawal from these drugs. Well let me tell you, I AM A HORROR STORY! We actually exist! And for those of you complaining about that they would “die without these drugs” and that “these drugs saved their lives” are the very people who do not know what hell is! I had horrible anxiety and depression before these drugs. But guess what!? Those issues are a walk in a park compared to the mental torture these drugs gave me! I literally scream and roll on the floor 24/7 from the neuron emotions! I hide under beds, hide in corners and even hit myself from the AKATHISIA these drugs gave me! I lost all my love and creativity! My brain burns 24/7 and I can’t even lift a toothbrush to brush my teeth! I have no happy memories because I lost connections to EVERYTHING! I have to have my sister take care of me because I lost my job from these toxins! I cam’t go outside ever because I now have agoraphobia! I now have food sensitivities that I’ve never had in my life! I pace because of the akathisia torture! I have thoughts of suicide every second of the day and I even suffer in my sleep!
I was put on over 16 drugs because my clueless doctors did not recgonize I was in withdrawal and as a result I got EVEN WORSE! They cold turkeyed me off of 5 drugs! I am insane now! I hope my story scares the hell out of people thinking about taking these mind altering drugs!
Boy do I wish I had your peoples “horrible anxiety and depression” If you want to take these drugs, be my guest. That’s like playing Russian Roulette with your sanity! Go on! But don’t you ever tell people to ignore stories like mine because I AM REAL and it can happen to ANYONE! I am suffering pain that most humans will never experience unless they get damned in their next life because this is as close to hell as it comes!
Gemma
Thank you for sharing – stories like yours make me so vocal about the harm being caused by benzodiazepines. I am so sorry to hear what you have been through and how you continue to suffer.
Is there anything that helps? Dietary changes like eating gluten-free and no caffeine, quality organic food, healthy fats etc, supplements like GABA, tryptophan, Seriphos (for high cortisol https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/seriphos-original-formula-anxiety-insomnia-cortisol/), magnesium (although I know supps are often not often tolerated), essential oils, heartmath/meditation, yoga/tai-chi, being in nature (if you can’t go outside a giant poster of a forest has been show to help those with anxiety), massage, and even using a daily moisturizer (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/could-a-daily-moisturizer-help-to-lower-markers-of-inflammation-and-reduce-anxiety-panic-ptsd-phobias-and-social-anxiety/)