Stress Relief

[miniaturelion]

Hello - I am new to this board, but have been lurking around
for over a year. I accepted the raw challenge & kept it up 100%
raw for almost a year...it was great - i had a lot of fun & felt awsome.
then all of the sudden I just gave it up? Well, now I am back - like
you hear from so many people on this board - I just miss feeling _so_
good... & food the the cooked world ain't all what it's cracked up to be.
Anyways - my trouble is that I am very stressed out (I know raw will
help with this) are there any other techniques/herbs/suppliments/foods
you use when you feel "fried" & "on the brink"... I'm finding it hard to really enjoy anything - so, menu planning & all that is out. Food wise I am just going to have to basically mono-eat - thats about all the planning I can handle. After I can get myself calmed down I know I need to get into
stress management - but, for the time being any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks -

[Laurina]

Yesterday I heard a first hand account of how 5 - hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) helps a woman avoid panic attacks. It is an amino acid. L-tryptophan is converted into 5-HTP by our systems, and from there eventually becomes serotonin, and when we are in the dark, melatonin is made for sleep. You can buy it online or at health food stores. It does not cause drowsiness and can be used in the daytime. Maybe this could help you. I don't know if it is outside the raw diet format. Just wanted to share information. Good luck in finding answers. Laurina

[exurb]

IMO exercise is the best way to blow off stress and anxiety. If you think of how we evolved the stress response, a fight or flight thing to give us a boost when faced with an immediate danger (like a lion or bear in our face). Now in modern society we get the stress for non-physical reasons, but we don't run away from a bear or lion and burn it off physically. Exercise IMO also balances many things. Deep abdominal diaphragmatic breathing evoking the relaxation response is also shown to be very helpful (takes some learning, but once you've got it you're there - lie on floor put one hand on chest, one on lower abdomen, try to breathe into your lower abdomen without breathing into your chest; only your lower abdomen hand should rise). There's also relaxation tapes, meditation, etc., but I think the first two are more effective. Yoga also!!

As for 5-HTP, two things I would say, do some research as to how it affects other tissues, in some places it's prescribed along with another compound to impede other non-target absorptions which are believed to cause harm. Also remember that one person's "testimonial" is not a study, maybe it works, but in general you have to be careful with testimonials of one person being a substitute for something well studied.

[earthhealer]

I have been a flower essence consultant for about 30 years and have found that using Rescue Remedy or Five Flower formula (the same as RR) to be helpful with acute stress. Their are specific flowers that are helpful for burn-out or feeling overwhelmed, e.g. Olive for exhaustion, Vervain for stress due to overexersion, Aloe Vera for true burnout, etc.

The essences are living except for a few of Dr. Bach's prepared by a boiling method and even those are vibrant with life. I prefer the Healing Herbs to Bach Flowers (personal choice) and use FES remedies as well. Anyway, the Five Flower Remedy can be very helpful in the short term.

I should mention that I am a psychologist and have training in stress reduction. Flower essences are at the top of my list.
Raw foods and exercise are also at the top!!!