9 replies to this topic

[Andrey_81]

Hi!

I think that I have some symptoms of social phobia but I would say that it is more like a situational panic disorder. This usually happens when I'm in a front of important people (managers, directors, seminars, important meetings). In my private life I'm completely normal.

A day ago, I had one important meeting in front of a customer. Then the representative of the customer sad that we need to introduce ourselves and they started, one by one, saying their names and functions. This is funny to say, but this was like a nightmare for me. Waiting my turn (just to say who I am) was like a death sentence. My heart started to beet like crazy, I was sweating a lot and I felt like I will start to cry when I will open my mouth. I wanted to run away. Finally, don't know how, I quietly sad my name (almost like crying, with my voice shaking). I can say that this was a real panic attack and this is something that happens to me only when I'm on a important meetings. Every single time. I'm completely blocked from speaking and I feel like I will cry.

I'm taking aswaganhda before this bad situations, and it really helps but I need to take 1000 mg of extract 30 min before this situations. A day ago I took 500 mg one hour before the meeting (my mistake, this was probably not enough). Few times I tried propranolol, 10 mg, and I was OK, but not perfect (maybe I should try 20 mg?)

Is there something (natural if possible), that I can take before this panic situations. Something strong enough that will help, but will not affect my talking skills or make me sleepy. I'm completely normal person with normal life. Happy and optimistic but on this meeting something is triggered and I become so afraid and completely without confidence that i'm not even able to speak.

I'm not talking about every day use since I have no problem in everyday situations... but just before this situations when I can expect panic. For me, ashwaganhda is the one and only that really helps (but the dosage must be cca 1000 mg). Is there something else??? I want to be 100% sure that this bad feeling will never come again (I'm thinking to try 1250 mg of ashwagandha 30 minutes before meeting).

Edited by Andrey_81, 06 September 2012 - 02:51 PM.

[jadamgo]

Theanine. I suggest you get chewable theanine tablets because they may work faster than others.

Be warned, it makes you sleepy.

If theanine isn't strong enough, you might look into MRM brand Relax-All with Phenibut. It contains only a low amount of phenibut, together with such good things as chamomile and hops. It is very safe if you use it occasionally; only when needed.

[Galaxyshock]

A glass of red wine.

[Andrey_81]

Once again, I would like to ask to the same. What is available and strong enough for situational panic attacks. I can say that I have anxiety problems, but this is something I can live with. Nobody can notice my situation. The problem is that I have this situations when I'm out of control. It's like I'm losing my mind and control.

It usually happens when I'm in the front of 'important' people, like directors of the company. I'm always scared and it is very hard for me to present something or even talk without fast heartbeat and sweating. When I'm waiting for my turn to present something my heart beats like it will explode and I get this panic attack. It's very hard to say my name. It's so bad.

I have excellent results with ashwagandha and it made my life easier and 'normal' but sometimes I feel like I need something much stronger. I also tried ashwagandha in combination with proranolol. Also good results but I can still feel this tension when it comes to presentations. But this is all written in my original post.

Things that I tried to take before situations that causes panic:
- valerian (before situations) - it makes me relaxed, but I can still feel the panic
- ashwagandha (long term + half hour before situations) - the best, but still not perfect, panic is still present but I can control myself and have more confidence
- rhodiola (long term) - gives me more energy and focus, panic still present
- l-theanine - used only twice, not so good. I had headaches and panic and anxiety was still high. It's good to get relaxed but unfortunately not good for situational panic attacks
- brahmi (bacopa) - sometimes good, sometimes no. After long term use it even increased my anxiety
- fish oil - very, very bad. I was anxious like never in my life. Stopped after two week of use. Never again!
- schizandra - I'm taking this stuff for the last one week and I can feel the benefits. I'm calm but focused. I feel like anxiety is completely gone and I'm not sweating like I used to do. It makes me feel really good but I'm not sure how will I react in panic situations (meetings...).
- benzodazepines (Lexaurine) - used to take this stuff before herbal supplements. It was good because I used it only occasionally before presenting something or before job interviews. Only once I had bad experience (probably took it in the wrong time and it stopped working), and I had to present something. I was completely blocked and unable so speak. What a shame.

I recently bought a bottle of 90 caps of 250 mg Phenibut (Primaforce) but, don't know why, I'm afraid to try it. It says that I need to take 500 mg, 2-3 times a day and it takes at least 3 hours to kick.

Not sure why I'm afraid to try it, probably because I read different experiences with phenibut (good and bad). Honestly, I'm afraid that it will make other supplements (like ashwagandha that works for me) less effective. Not sure if you understand what I mean.

I will have one really stressful meeting in front of the customers managing board and in front of the managing board of my company. I need to present the project, and I'm really afraid that I will have this panic attack. Considering that I have panic attack even if the 'big bosses' are not present, I'm afraid how the thing will go.

I think that I will open a bottle of phenibut and tray it. It is my only chance to make the presentation perfect.

Is there something else I could try or the phenibut is the one and only supplement available? Should I be afraid to take it? I'm planing to take it once in a 3-6 months. Please help!

Thank you

[Galaxyshock]

Phenibut is effective and if used only occasionally like once or twice a month it's safe. It does take a couple of hours to kick in after ingesting. It affects GABA-B receptor, Ashwagandha seems to target both GABA-A and GABA-B along with other things. When I messed too much with phenibut I found Ashwagandha vanished the withdrawals so they probably have some cross tolerance but I wouldn't be too worried. Another herb you could try is Gotu Kola which is very safe and can be even used daily if needed. Gotu Kola also has some GABAergic action but I believe it's best anxiolytic property is modulating Cholecystokinin, which in fact may be THE substance in human body that triggers panic.

Edited by Galaxyshock, 07 January 2013 - 11:28 AM.

[Deckah]

- schizandra - I'm taking this stuff for the last one week and I can feel the benefits. I'm calm but focused. I feel like anxiety is completely gone and I'm not sweating like I used to do. It makes me feel really good but I'm not sure how will I react in panic situations (meetings...).

I also get panic attacks to where it feels like my throat/tonsils is/are contracting/inflammed which results in a gag type reaction (no nausea).

Read about schizandra on here just a few days ago and never heard of it until then. Are you taking the extract or regular form? Was looking at a 45mg schizandrin extract form and was debating on trying it.

[Andrey_81]

I also get panic attacks to where it feels like my throat/tonsils is/are contracting/inflammed which results in a gag type reaction (no nausea).

Read about schizandra on here just a few days ago and never heard of it until then. Are you taking the extract or regular form? Was looking at a 45mg schizandrin extract form and was debating on trying it.

I use extract made by swanson, 9% schizandrins in 500 mg caps. I started a week ago with 500 mg per day (I split the content in two parts, 250 mg in the morning and 250 mg afternoon). Today I took 500 mg in the morning at 6:00 on empty stomach and I felt pretty well. I decided to take another at 12:00 (again 500 mg) but after that I started to feel strange and anxious. I needed to take ashwagandha to calm myself. From this I learned that 1000 mg in 6 hours i definitely too much for me. I will continue with 500 per day (250 mg in the morning, and 250 later during the day).

Again, ashwagandha is my rescue remedy.

Edited by Andrey_81, 07 January 2013 - 12:36 PM.

[Andrey_81]

When I messed too much with phenibut I found Ashwagandha vanished the withdrawals so they probably have some cross tolerance but I wouldn't be too worried. Another herb you could try is Gotu Kola which is very safe and can be even used daily if needed. Gotu Kola also has some GABAergic action but I believe it's best anxiolytic property is modulating Cholecystokinin, which in fact may be THE substance in human body that triggers panic.

So I should not be afraid to mix ashwagandha and phenibut. I'm happy to hear this. I was afraid that considering the strength of the phenibut I will not feel the benefits I feel after I take ashwagadha. I want to be sure that phenibut will not 'reprogram' my brain. Can it be like when you start drinking strong alcohol drinks? After that is very hard to get drunk from one or two beers because you get used on something stronger and your brain becomes resistant to low dosage. Ashwagandha is mild (but still work for me) and phenibut is strong substance. They both affect on GABA, so I need to be sure that phenibut (in low doses up to 500 mg) will not mess me up and I will not lose the benefits I'm getting from ashwagandha.

[Daniscience]

is phenibut OK for a job interview or Rhodiola would be a better approach?

 

I was thinking about a low phenibut dose like 500mg.

[psychejunkie]

CBD Oil and Propranolol