Nick,

I totally agree with the benefits of exercise.. without it, my mood and energy plummets. I need to feel strong and I need that energy rush from working out as hard as possible, nothing else like it. I'm also sure that I would be 2 sizes bigger at my same weight if I didn't have muscle tone.. it's another addiction.

I do a mix of cardio and weights but not running though maybe I should give it a try. You make a strong case for it..

Virgil, I am delighted you've found the book so interesting so far, and am really looking forward to both what you think of it as you progress further, and how your supplementation regime helps when you begin it.

Something is DEFINITELY happening with the ones I have been taking for a short while now. My mood was lifted after just a couple of days, despite a huge spike in my drinking recently, and the resultant crippling anxiety. Today I actually felt HAPPY this afternoon. Now, I have had clinical depression before, and did have one bout of feeling desperately low, but in general I am not clinically depressed, I am just not happy like I would be without my drinking and anxiety problems. But I've just returned from a supermarket trip where I was walking round happily, whistling to myself, really, truly smiling for once. I do believe these naturally occurring amino acids are having a real impact so far on my mood (though not yet on anxiety).



Mike, I've bolded the part of my post you quoted, just to make the point, if I wasn't already clear, that although Holford's book addresses alcohol addiction that is NOT my interest in it, nor the purpose of this thread. I am certain it's possible to taper alcohol consumption, and if I understand correctly Holford's book describes supplement support that would help to make that easier. But I don't need to do that because I am 100% following and believing in yes, scientifically proven TSM.

I mention Holford because I have to quit benzos in a different fashion, and everything on his website that I have researched elsewhere makes sense to that end, and already seem to be helping me. I am NOT suggesting that people try to taper with supplements and end up abstinent, when TSM works for around 90% of the population to cure (some don't like that word but I'm happy with it).

All the supplements that I have started taking seem to be having results AND have scientific support as I understand it.

I also believe that as alcoholics we may need or benefit from extra supplements (the recent thread on Milk Thistle is an excellent example, and perhaps other specific supplements deserve their own thread - but I just threw this one open to other discussion of those if people wished).

Thank you though for the link on Holford. I'll take a greater look, and especially once I have the book, but I had a decent browse earlier and it seems that he's made one or two calls that are hotly disputed, and may well be wrong, but not much more than that (yet). You are right - scepticism is key in all of these sorts of things, and I will be just as sceptical about his book and the website you've presented as I am about anything doctors offer to prescribe me. So far everything on Holford's website about benzos checks out, I believe.

Nick, I completely agree about exercise. Many thanks for a very encouraging - inspiring even - post. I know I have to get more exercise. Unfortunately my GAD has been crippling at times recently, even to the point of not being able to do simple things around the house that are essential. For people in those sorts of situations, I believe supplements may be a first step to help alleviating symptoms and hopefully enabling a return (eventually) to a normal life. Well, it's either that or meds. I tried those and now I have a benzo dependency on top of everything else! So I believe natural supplements could be an alternative.

I also think that exercise is more of a a longer-term answer, as you quite rightly explained in detail how to build up exercise participation and fitness levels. But, aren't some of these amino acids we've been discussing derived from foods? If so, exercise is only one part of the picture, and really it's exercise + diet that's the answer. I believe personally that that's the case, well the ideal scenario. Definitely something for me to aim for. Slow changes in the short term, and hopefully progress and further benefit in the medium/long. Thank you.

8

Hey 8.

Yes, I entirely agree that hand in hand with exercise is proper diet. I found that one led to the other. I started out exercising first and then realized that diet is just as critical, if not more so, to the overall health equation.

By the way, you can exercise at home. Start with pushups and sit-ups and walking up and down stairs. Try five minutes on day one and progress. You will find that the adrenaline rush does wonders for anxiety reduction. I find that whenever I'm about to do something that makes me really nervous, I just go for a run right before the event and then I'm good to go.

My best,

Nick

Thank you Nick. I'm deeply interested in diet too (who could believe that someone who is slow-to-quickly killing himself with booze and cigarettes could care so much about all this stuff? ) Perhaps 'diet' could be a topic of a new thread, or people could just chime in here if they wanted.

I know most of these vitamins/minerals/amino acids/etc can and should be obtained by food, but I also know that alcohol affects every organ in the body, destroys vitamins and undoes some (a lot?) of the good of great nutrition, which is why I believe supplementation is important for me right now. And my goodness, add my smoking in with that and I'm not onto a good start!!

At least I'm following TSM, and so have a great deal of hope, and have found other things (these promising - to me -amino acids, amongst others) that will hopefully lead me eventually back to the full and rewarding life that I deserve.

And, I've taken your posts on exercise as a big inspiration. Cheers!

Well, I have posted this elsewhere, but I am definitely feeling benefit from the supplements I have been taking.

5-HTP 50 mg twice a day
Taurine 500mg three times a day
Glutamine 500mg three times a day
Omega 3 1000mg twice a day (double my previous level)
Multi-vitamin and mineral twice a day (ditto)

I am definitely feeling brighter and more positive most days. I wish now that I'd introduced the supplements gradually so that I knew which one in particular was responsible for this, but from the scientific accounts I have read it's most likely to be the anti-depressant properties of the 5-HTP. Introducing them gradually would also have let me assess any other exclusive effects. <edit> I have realised that I can cut certain supplements out on certain days, and see what differences I feel.

Despite a large upturn in my drinking levels over the last few weeks I am feeling much better in mood than for a long time. On Tuesday I had possibly the most productive and motivated day I have had for possibly two or three years. I don't think this can be any coincidence.

Also despite my increased drinking, I have not noticed a particular upturn in my anxiety levels, which I would expect.

This may be coincidence, or it may be due to TSM extinguishing certain behaviour, but last weekend I fell into 24/7 drinking again for a few days. In the past this has been a very difficult/impossible vicious circle for me to break, but this time I did it relatively easily. <edit> Actually, the first time I got into this vicious circle, which ended up lasting for five months apart from detoxes, was when I faced ongoing daily trauma, and that is absent now, so I am not actually sure about this one.

Interesting stuff.

I now have Holford's book and have only read a little, but look forward with great interest to reading more.

Now, I do know I need to try to add in more exercise as Nick has quite rightly recommended. I know my diet also can be improved, something I am trying to work on steadily.

8

Hi 8,

Thanks for providing details of the supplements you are taking; out of interest, how did you arrive at the specific dosages of each? Was it from Holford's book? You certainly appear to be deriving benefit from them. I intend to make a start on supplements next week.

As always, all the very best.

V.

Here's another book worth taking a look at: The Mood Cure (The 4-Step Program to Take Charge of Your Emotions - Today) by Julia Ross. From just a quick look it's pretty solid, targets all the usual stuff, including sleep which is important to me, and uses the amino acid and other supplements approach.

Questions on exercise: would not our endorphin rush through vigorous exercise be stopped by Nal? I'm an old, injured, long distance runner who can barely walk for more than 1/2 hour without pain, and that slowly. No way can I get the rush of old. Is exercise still of benefit for mood without the rush?

Hi V, I found the dosages on Holford's website. After reading up on the supplements elsewhere, seeing that there were proven benefits for many people, and that those levels were safe, I decided just to jump in while I waited for my copy of the book to be delivered. I haven't digested enough of the book yet to think about changing what already seems to be working for me, but no doubt I will look to tweak things. There are also things I haven't added in yet that I probably will (like Lecithin).

BGH, many thanks for the recommendation! I have a lot to look through at the moment already, but hopefully I'll remember to come back to check that one out I've seen a lot of people on here say that they still benefit from their exercise, and I think there are threads on it somewhere, but perhaps someone who knows more about the topic will chime in here

8 I am delighted for you that the amino acids are working. Given where you were a short time ago it is wonderful to read about your improved mood. i can relate to the bit about not being sure exactly what is doing what. I am wondering about the same thing.
BGH In the book it suggests waiting for the 2nd AF day to participate in activities that lead to endorphin rush. As i never was an everyday drinker i have tended to wait for my 2nd AF day before particularly enjoyable stuff like sailing and yoga but many people on this site are very active exercisers and 7 day drinkers and have kept it up throughout with no ill effect.

For anyone in the UK buying vitamins, minerals, other natural products etc, I've just discovered that Holland and Barrett store managers may use discretion to price match the internet offers. My local store DOES so I get the best of both worlds - the internet and in-store offers (which are different)

(You need to take in a printout of the internet offers you're interested in.)