Re: Aconite

[Guest guest]

Dear Debbie,

You said:

<<I've tried the Aconite homeopathic pellets for five days now. I've

taken them several times a day for panic/anxiety attacks and made up

the water bottle like you said. So far it hasn't helped. Do I just

keep on with it? Do I need more time?

Also, I noticed someone posted with the obsessive thoughts. I have

them too; to the point they make me panic. I wrote in my first big

story that I went (unknowingly) cold turkey off of Zoloft and

Klonopin in 2001 and 4 months into severe withdrawal had my first

full-blown panick attack and have had them ever since. Even going

back on the medication didn't stop them. Any disturbing thought that

pops into my mind, however real or imagined starts the stomach

churning etc. Yesterday, my husband said he may lose his job. That

didn't help the panic, of course, yet the obsessive thoughts started

and so did panic.>>

** Is the panic mostly tied into the obsessive thoughts? If so, it is

the obsessibe thoughts we should be going after. Aconite is most effective

in sudden onset panic seemingly out of nowhere. Let me know which of these

fits your experiences most closely.

You said:

<< I tried to discuss (again) with my husband what was

happening to me and that I was panicking. He got real angry with me

and told me I had to STOP this panic! He said I've been doing this

for 2 1/2 years and I had to GET OVER IT! How does a person just stop

this? Isn't it obvious I've been trying? Is this panic really, really

due to the drugs or something that just " happened " to me and I'll

never get over?>>

** If it didn't exist prior, you can blame it on the drugs. These drugs

cause many changes to your neurochemistry including changes to hormones and

your adrenal system.

You said:

<< I'm very, very frightened about this. I thought for

awhile I might be a little better, but I guess not. I just find it

hard to believe a drug could possibly destroy any inner peace of mind

that a person is trying to achieve. If it truly is the drug(s), then

I'm presuming that someday, somehow the panic will subside. Could

this be true? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated>>

** In my experience, the body has to be fortified in order to heal from

the damage caused by the drugs. This takes time.

What else are you taking right now? Don't worry; there are ways to at

least take the edge off this in the short term ,and in the long term

eliminate most or all of it.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Dear Debbie,

Immediately after I responded to you a post came in that explains in

detail what tends to happen after people have taken most psychotropic drugs.

This article does not come from this topic but explains what is going on

with your chemistry. It saves me the time of explaining.

The article states:

When we are in stressful situations, our bodies make hormones such as

cortisol http://stress.about.com/cs/cortisol/a/aa012901.htm that help us

take action. " If we have some sort of challenge in life, these stress

hormones actually help us produce energy that we can use, and energy that's

available immediately, " explains Cavigelli. " So, if you're in a challenging

situation, for example, the stress hormones help you respond to that

challenge by giving you the energy necessary. "

Cortisol: The " Stress Hormone "

This critical hormone is released in response to stress.

The hormone cortisol, which is released in the body during stressed or

agitated states, has gained widespread attention as the so-called " stress

hormone. " But this hormone is more than a simple marker of stress levels- it

is necessary for the functioning of almost every part of the body.

Excesses or deficiencies of this crucial hormone are also lead to various

physical symptoms and disease states.

Background

Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, which are small

glands adjacent to the kidneys. Among its important functions in the body

include roles in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular

function as well as regulation of the body's use of proteins, carbohydrates,

and fats. Cortisol secretion increases in response to any stress in the

body, whether physical (such as illness, trauma, surgery, or temperature

extremes) or psychological. When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown

of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids (the " building blocks "

of protein) into the bloodstream. These amino acids are then used by the

liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis.

This process raises the blood sugar level so the brain will have more

glucose for energy. At the same time the other tissues of the body decrease

their use of glucose as fuel. Cortisol also leads to the release of

so-called fatty acids, an energy source from fat cells, for use by the

muscles. Taken together, these energy-directing processes prepare the

individual to deal with stressors and insure that the brain receives

adequate energy sources.

The body possesses an elaborate feedback system for controlling cortisol

secretion and regulating the amount of cortisol in the bloodstream. The

pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain, makes and secretes

a hormone known as adrenocorticotrophin, or ACTH. Secretion of ACTH signals

the adrenal glands to increase cortisol production and secretion. The

pituitary, in turn, receives signals from the hypothalamus of the brain in

the form of the hormone CRH, or corticotropin-releasing hormone, which

signals the pituitary to release ACTH. Almost immediately after a stressful

event, the levels of the regulatory hormones ACTH and CRH increase, causing

an immediate rise in cortisol levels. When cortisol is present in adequate

(or excess) amounts, a negative feedback system operates on the pituitary

gland and hypothalamus which alerts these areas to reduce the output of ACTH

and CRH, respectively, in order to reduce cortisol secretion when adequate

levels are present.

=============================================

** Antidepressant drugs damage the pituitary and hypothalamus. These

then cannot respond as they should at various times. This leads to the

kinds of experiences you are having.

In some cases, it is the misfiring of neurotransmitters that precipitates

the rise in cortisol. In others, it is actual stress itself . I would

address each of these differently.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Dear Debbie,

I read your post and account of what happened. I'd like to try to get to

the root of this and get it taken care of. I appreciate your patience with

this process. I re-read it again tonight and now will 'sit with it'

overnight. This helps me to really zone in on the wholistic view of what

happened and is happening. I will be in touch tomorrow.

Regards,