The book The Edge Effect really helped me.

[Cadence]

I struggle with severe PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, memory problems etc. from extreme trauma. I came upon this book by accident and it's been a lifesaver. It's a lot of information about the four main brain chemicals, Serotonin, Acetylcholine, Dopamine and Gabba. It describes deficiencies and the effects- plus talks about what types of foods, amino acids/supplements and medications will help.

There is a test in the middle of the book that you can take to determine which brain chemical dominant personality type you are. There is a a second test for deficiencies.

Inositol (for Gabba deficiency) really does help with anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I was really low on three of the brain chemicals so I'm doing a huge regimen of the things he recommends and all I can say is I've had dramatic results and I'm really grateful to have found this information.
I could write a huge post and list everything I'm doing and how it has worked but I think I'll just say... if you're struggling.. go check this book out and see what you think.

[DemExpat]

1. This is great, Cadence...

I have spent many, many hours in bookstores and on the Internet trying to find more info on the brain chemicals and how to balance them naturally.

HTP (books in the 90's) did not work for me, and I have been taking inositol to help me sleep sometimes.

I will definitely look into this - thanks for sharing!

What have helped me the most so far are daily walks, diet, vitmains and minerals, some herbs, and Homeopathy. But there is always room for improvement...:D

DemEx

[Cadence]

2. Let me know how it works out for you.

If you get the book and take the tests- you'll be able to see which chemicals you are low on. It was really accurate for me and two other people I know.

If you come out low on Serotonin... you might want to look into Sam-e 400 mg a day.. it's worked for me.

Gabba is what tells the brain to stop firing.. like if we have a flight or fight response to something.. Gabba is the brain chemical that will say o.k. stop firing now. I was looking for this information because I could tell that my brain was stuck in flight or fight and wouldn't stop firing. I kept thinking I need something to tell these neurons to quit firing.. that's when I came across this book and there was the information I needed. I started doing pretty much everything he recommends for Gabba deficiency .. 1,000 mg a day of inositol in addition I'm taking L-glutamine, Glutamic acid, Gabba, B6, Thiamin and Passion Flower.

I started eating a lot of bananas, almonds, cottage cheese, granola, oat bran. Bananas have a lot of what the brain needs.

Serotonin helps the left and right brain to sync. It helps with sleep.
I'm taking Sam-e, B6, fish oils, B12, and 5-HTP.

Acetylcholine is for memory. I'm taking Phosphotidyl choline, phosphotidyl serine, Acetyl-L Carnitine, Choline. This has helped me tremendously in processing trauma memories. It feels like it's helped link things back up. I can think clearly and remember things again!

Here's a link with a short excerpt from the book.

http://www.edgeeffect.org/edge_effect.htm

I know how hard it is to live with all of the symptoms and issues having unbalanced brain chemicals can be so when I find something that really does work, I feel I should share it with people. You just never know who might be looking for the same information.

Of course aside from this the most important thing a person can do for healing is to get their narrative but that's another topic.

[DemExpat]

3. Thanks for sharing......

lots of expensive supplments there, though....how long do you think you will need to take them all for maintaining balance?

As I mentioned, I take inositol (sporadically), along with vitanins and minerals, B vitamins, magnesium, fish oil (just started this a week ago), and some herbs (Passionflower/valerian mix, one for menopause)
Homeopathy also has helped me more than any ingested treatment for my fight or flight panic disorder as well as for depression...
I also remember reading about bananas through the years....maybe a banana a day....? :D

Thanks, I will look into this more and see if I think it is something for me at this point in my life.

:hi:

:hug:

DemEx

[Cadence]

4. I don't know how long

I will need to take them. Right now they are helping me process what I have left of the trauma and I improve everyday. I think I will continue to do the diet the rest of my life because I have read so many good things about almonds and bananas in particular. A banana a day is a really good idea.
A banana milkshake at night made with ice milk is a good serotonin booster because of the tryptophan production.

As far as the expense.. some of the them are expensive particularly Sam-e and the phosphotidyl choline or serine... but if I compare to the cost of not having my health or what a psychiatrist (with little actual benefit) would charge it seems like pennies.

I'm not a big believer in anti-depressants.. it's fine for people that do believe in them but I have a strong gut level reaction against them. I use intention and my own inner healer to guide this process and I'm actually healing... not just feeling slightly better short term.

I've heard good things about pregnenalone (sp?) too.

Good luck and I'm glad you understand the concept of take what you need and leave the rest!

:)