Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

[Virgil]

Hi Folks,

I am currently weighing up the pros and cons of complementary medicine specifically for treating anxiety disorders. In particular, I am interested in shiatsu and reflexology. For some reason, I find that when my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are high, I get a throbbing/tingling/burning sensation on the underside of both feet. My OCD and GAD are what drove me to drink alcohol in excess.

So, my question is - does anyone have any experience of shiatsu or reflexology for dealing with severe anxiety? Or, indeed, any other type of complementary medicine - for example, acupuncture, reiki, etc. All these approaches seem to work on the mind-body connection and, unless I'm mistaken, is sometimes referred to as psychoneuroimmunolgy (PNI for short). PNI is a new, emerging field of science. I first discovered PNI as a result of reading Candace Pert's excellent book Molecules of Emotion.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

V.

[eight days a week]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

A very interesting topic V, I look forward very much to reading what experience others can offer, as a sufferer of GAD myself

[NewOne]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

I'm a Reiki master & have also tried acupuncture for alcoholism & anxiety. When I first began Reiki, I could barely leave my home. It's still uncomfortable but now I work & maintain some bit of normalcy.

I really liked the acupuncture, but it didn't do much for the binge drinking.

What seems to be helping me feel more centered these days is the B vitamins. I take the B100's twice a day. They have a 100 mg of niacin, which is very calming for me.

[RedThread12]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Hi Virgil:

Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz has done extensive and successful work and research with mindfulness meditation and OCD. His (jaw-dropping, IMHO) book that introduces the subject and his work is "The Mind and the Brain: Unlocking the Power of Mental Force."

I just found a website, either his or based on his work: Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders

I you like Candace Pert's book, I think you'll be excited with this. Dr. Daniel Seigel's latest book, "Mindsight," has tons of information, case studies, and suggestions for practice.

Mindfulness meditation is emerging as a frontline therapy for a vast array of conditions. Of course, I also love and respect all of the mind-body therapies and know that different approaches are good for different people. I hope that you find a hint or a help in the work of these two men.

And there are many others doing beautiful work in this cutting edge between neuroscience and contemplative practice. If you get interested, I can bore you to death with far more information that you would probably want to know!!

Best of luck to you.

[Virgil]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Hi RT12,

Many thanks for your reply.

I am familiar with Dr Jeffrey Schwartz. His book Brain Lock is recommended reading on the website OCD-UK: The advisory panel, which I use from time to time. I had not heard of Dr Daniel Siegel, so I'll check him out. I do like Dr Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion. Thanks to her, she alerted me to the whole fascinating and genuinely-helpful field of mind body medicine.

I was recently introduced to mindfulness by my therapist and am now actively using this powerful technique on a daily basis.

V.

[luke2010]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

great thread everyone, I am going to work my way through those links.

It seems there is a lot of us who have used Alcohol as self medication for the anxiety disorder

I have been looking for holistic methods to combat my anxiety disorder & subsiquent depression

I am looking into hypnotherapy , I have found a therapist who seems like he knows what he talking about and combines Mindfullness meditation some CBT & hypnotherapy into his sessions.

If anyone has tried these especially hypnotherapy I'd love to know more,

Hope to be able to add some of my postive experiences soon

[sapphire1]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Virgil;811535 wrote: Hi Folks,

I am currently weighing up the pros and cons of complementary medicine specifically for treating anxiety disorders. In particular, I am interested in shiatsu and reflexology. For some reason, I find that when my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are high, I get a throbbing/tingling/burning sensation on the underside of both feet. My OCD and GAD are what drove me to drink alcohol in excess.

So, my question is - does anyone have any experience of shiatsu or reflexology for dealing with severe anxiety? Or, indeed, any other type of complementary medicine - for example, acupuncture, reiki, etc. All these approaches seem to work on the mind-body connection and, unless I'm mistaken, is sometimes referred to as psychoneuroimmunolgy (PNI for short). PNI is a new, emerging field of science. I first discovered PNI as a result of reading Candace Pert's excellent book Molecules of Emotion.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

V.

Hi Vitrgil,

Just a quick jump in here:welcome: The throbbing/tingling/burning sensation in your feet may be some sort of peripheral neuropathy, which as you may already know is common with alcohol abusers. If this is so, vitamin B12 and Folic acid can help restore proper nerve function. I will join in with this discussion soon as I am very interested in mind-body science. Regards Saffy

[hopeful lady]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Holistic Therapist

Hi

I found this post interesting. I am a qualified practitioner with a drink problem!!! says it all really... The therapist from hell!!! I also studied nursing, but most nurses and doctors I worked with were far worse than me!!!!

I often wonder if in me treating others with severe disorders as I did work for a long time in a terminally ill environment rubbed off on me. As my anxiety levels soared.... They were calm and relaxed I was severely crushed. I did not really drink too much then and remember a works Christmas do where I only drank water. Then wham bam I began to drink and could not for the life in me stop until I got so off my face that I collapsed.

So professionally. Yes, anxiety can be helped, not cured. It can also bring out many emotions that you really have locked away. A good therapist will work with you, it is probably better to seek someone out with real life experience, as it is easy to live in a mung bean world, miso soup and water. The real truth is tackling emotions. Why you drink in the first place... says me who drinks too much but is getting better.

Drink just masks emotions. I am a 100% believer, and had hepatitis b and c and cured myself so I did something right. I just think, I got to this point of helping others I neglected my own needs, if that makes sense. Wine helped me relax and I used to make tonics with essential oils and then drink the whole bottle!!! NOT GOOD

Shiatsu and Acupuncture are wonderful treatments. Very deep and you must take the water afterwards and not eat junk. If you drink afterwards it is as good as shooting yourself. Holistic Therapies are a lifestyle and a choice. As is drinking like we do. Good luck but reflexology can help but it takes a minimum of 8 treatments and also a good diet and nutrition regime.

If it is so good then why am I here. Alas, I am human!!!!!!!!!!! with many failings, but a total believer......

NEUROLI AND LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL COULD HELP YOU. AS WILL FRANKINCENSE AND ROSE OIL. ALWAYS DILUTE.....

[Kimberley]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Hi,

I had Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) for nearly ten years - it got so bad I became agoraphobic and couldn't do things like eat in front of people - oh yes, and I became an alcoholic!

I had hypnotherapy combined with EFT and NLP - one 90-minute session and it was as if my life had changed. I walked into the therapy centre shaking, sweating, head bowed and walked out of there and skipped down the street with my head held high. Best day of my life bar none!

I still get little bits of anxiety around eating and going into new shops and things, but I am unrecognisable from the person I was. I would never have even attempted to tackle my alcohol problem without having conquered the all-consuming fear about daily living. If anyone wants to know more in-depth, please do PM me - I am happy to share.

I have been reading up on Mindfulness - an old alcohol counsellor introduced me to it and I believe it can definitely be of some benefit for a multitude of things. I need to do more research on it - if anyone has any useful info, please do post it.
Thanks,
K x

[Caroline Elizabeth]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Hey Kimberly,
May I ask, what is EFT and NLP? I have done this program and take the Topamax and it seems after a while I have to take so much for it to work or it just really doesn't work any more. I would like to find a more natural plan.

Thank You. Have a great Sat.

[Kimberley]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

Hi Caroline,

They are both therapeutioc psychological systems in short.

NLP is neuro-linguistic-programming. In essence it is a series of techniques that can be used to re-program your mind. I would google it to find out more as it's quite hard to explain, but it works through language and your neural system. There are bound to be some vids on Youtube about it. It was invented by Bandler and Grinder for therapeutic/self-help purposes, but has been popularised by the likes of Derren Brown for entertainment purposes.

EFT is Emotional Freedom Technique, similar to TFT (Thought Field Therapy), (google both) works by tapping points on your body, somethings along with a script or a visual picture in your head. It can be used effectively to let go of bad memories and asscoaitions which cause anxiety. There are def some good videos on YouTube of people being 'cured' like this. Paul McKenna uses elements of this in his coaching.

I would just see what you can find out about these things from google - I wouldn't recommend the Wikipedia articles as I think they are unhelpful. I was very sceptical of NLP and had never even heard of EFT until it was done to me, but they both worked where ALL else had failed!

After you've had a look at thm, if you are interested in finding out more, I can probably send you some specific exercises to try if you PM me.
All the best,
Kim

[peacenik]

Complementary Medicine For Anxiety Disorders

i recently heard that saffron is helpful for treating anxiety!
who knew!?