Hello to everybody. I've started this topic a long ago.. (21 May 2012).. now it's 5 years of continuous use of ashwagandha so it's time to describe how I currently feel in my life...
What to say... I own my life to this plant. This is how I felt before I started to take it:
- lack of confidence, lack of self esteem, heart palpitations, everyday headaches, anxiety, situational panic attack, increased sweating, fear to speak in public, fear to go out, fear to go to the party, to the shopping mall....constant feeling like everybody is watching me.. I just wanted to be alone at home (where I felt safe), I was unable to sleep, lack of energy, fear that something bad will happen, fear that my parents will dye, thoughts about death, aggressive, lack of patience, couldn't stand loud noises, chronic fatigue... and so on... the list is huge. What else to say.. my mother is suffering from bipolar disorder... and whole family from my mother's side is having 'problems with nerves' so I always thought that I have all genetic preconditions to end up on benzos. As a kid and in my teen age I was completely opposite and was one of the perfect and intelligent that everybody liked, and I was so happy and positive.
Let me come back.. the worst that happen was this bad feeling like I cannot start to talk, that I will start to cry. Without known reason. This feeling was so strong and I can say that I fully understand people in depression. You cannot understand this feeling if you have never experienced this. There is nothing you can do, its. just like that and no matter how hard you try not to be depressed or in fear, you can't fight against this, there must be some wrong chemistry that keeps you constantly away from this worlds. I wanted to visit a doctor but luckily I didn't. I was always the one who was trying to live 'healthy way of life' without smoking, drinking, drugs or bad food... I never tried marijuana in my life. I was naturally muscular type and it was easy for me to be in perfect shape...sadly, my body was perfect, but my brain or soul was so far from perfection. I saw how many effects my mother had during the treatment of bi-polar and I was so afraid of hospital, doctors and pills and due to this fear I was constantly searching for a cure in nature and after trying all kinds of natural stuff I found one that made a change and I again started to live my life....
At the beginning ashwagandha caused headaches but in the same time I felt great so I didn't wanted to quit... I will not speak again all that was previously written, just want to share where I am at the moment and what is the regime that I'm currently following. There are only 2 things that I'm taking at the moment and after 5 years of experience any trying of all kind's of different supplements I found out that, to function completely as a normal person (fully optimistic, lot of energy, positive, sleep like a baby, just perfect....) I only need this (will explain,):
- Ashwagandha (I take this one: https://goo.gl/poYFc3)
- Yohimbine HCL (and this one: https://goo.gl/7NcggI)
- Mint tea
- 3 cups of coffee per day
- 5-6 hours of sleep (never more!)
- follow the same routines
I get up early, at 5 or 6. Even during the weekend I get up at 6 or latest 7. Start the day with strong coffee (without sugar) and first ashwagandha pill. I can immediately feel that coffee wakes me up but ashwagandha also kicks in and gives that perfect stable feeling and completely kills negative sides of caffeine. I really enjoy drinking coffee, it is a must for me and it boost my energy and confidence but only in combination with aswhagandhga. I always read that people who are suffering from anxiety of panic should avoid caffeine. Well... maybe yes but in combination with ashwagandha - no way and I will never stop coffee. I also drink one cup of mint teat at work in the morning because I found that it relaxes me a lot and works positive. It is a must for me at work but can also be used as a sleep aid. The next ashwagandha pill is at 12:30 or 13:00, again with second cup of coffee. I can really feel the need for a second ashwagandha so I take this every single day. In the morning and later at 12:30-13:00.
At work I function perfectly, I can make so many tasks at once and I can be under huge stress without the feeling that I can't make something. I have this feeling like I can do anything in the world and I'm stress resistant, motivated, talkative, positive and happy (like I was in my youth). My career went up high. I need to mention that 5 years ago I was thinking about quitting my job because I had a feeling like it's too much for me...like I cannot do it anymore, I was suffering a lot. Now I see that I can and I'm one of the best workers and always with the biggest projects
After all day work it's normally that I become tired and there is a lot more in front of me...Gym, meeting friends/ working at home (garden..., taking care about my wife .., and this is where Yohimbine HCL jumps in... For me it work's, for some people maybe no, we are not the same, keep that in mind. I started to take this as a pre-workout and realized that it make me energized the whole day and there is nobody who can follow me in this energy rush (friends, wife...). I take yohimbine at 16:00 with my third and last cup of coffee (black without sugar). I only take one pill (2,5 mg) , never tried more because I don't need more. It takes one hour to feel the benefits. Just to mention...on the bottle is say that yohimbin is not for people who are suffering from anxiety, panic, bipolar... I don't care When I have ashagandha in my blood I can only feel the positive side of yohimbine (like I have with caffeine) . There is no better pre-workout supplement for me. I can stay in gym for 1:30 hours, come home and do a lot of things and still stay with a lot of energy for going out with friends and enjoy life, or to have amazing sex at home..
My wife is telling me everyday how I changed and is almost impossible for her to follow my rhythm. Now I'm the one who cannot stay at home, who wants to be somewhere and who initialize all activities. I'm the one who organizes the parties with friends and invites people, I'm the one with a smile on the face, who speaks a lot, who is always happy and positive, I'm the one who makes other people smile. I always want to meet new people, enjoy traveling, trying new things... feels younger, likes to dance in public...I'm a new person and this is why I said at the begging that I own my life to to this plant and I will never stop taking it. You cannot believe that. I can also see that people can feel this positive energy that I share and the want to be close to me, they wont to be my friends or in my company. It's just amazing and I really enjoy this role as an alpha.
So... to make this short:
- does ashwagandha still works - a big YES!
- any side effects? - zero, no, none
- did I raise my dose? - no, the dose is still the same (2 per day) and I never had a need to raise the dose
- do I feel better? - yes, I enjoy being alive better then ever
- am I cured? - probably no but I don't care, I'm a winner
- am I afraid for my future? - no, because I'm constantly changing to a better person (huge difference in the past 5 years)
Good luck to everybody. This is my personal experience and I'm not saying that this will 100% work for you, we are all different.
Will come back with an update after a while... I hope again with positive experience
I love you all...
Andrey