As most of you know my son Dominic has been seeing Dr. C since May 2003. Next week will be my fisrt visit and I am scared.

Dominic thinks I have lost it and my husband says I think to much but I can't help it.

I am scared and for the first time in my life I have a tightness in my chest and feel like I can't take a deep breath, but it doesn't "hurt".

I remember feeling like this on my way to Dominic's first appt that scared/excited feeling sorta.

My biggest fear is I am very, very active in Dominic's school, work, ect. How am I going to keep all this up with treatment.

I guess the "unknown" about treatment is scaring me more then anything else. I know what I have seen Dominic go through and I wonder how am I going to make it taking care of 3 kids too?

I have said many of times that I admired the moms that were taking treatment and taking care of kids, ya'll are amazing, I don't have a clue to how ya'll do it.

Anyway, I was wondering if there is anything natural to help you calm ya'll nerves?

I was on Lexapro last Oct to March (when Dominic relapsed) due to depression but felt a ton better in March so I stopped them.

I don't feel depressed just extremely anxious.

Any Suggestions?

If you can't find it at a local store, you can get it online. DON'T try to save money by buying the cheap "whole herb" kind, as it is not as effective.

I know that feeling of anxiety and dread. Thank goodness you'll only have it for a few days. After your doctor appointment, you'll probably be laughing at yourself for being nervous. I hope so, anyway!

In the meantime, a "nice hot cuppa tea" might help you relax.

Good luck with your appointment.
Carol

You can go down to your local walmart/target/drugstore and buy any one of the pre-packaged bath salts, or you can make your own.

~~~~~~
Relaxation Bath
1/2 cup fresh or 1/4 cup dried lemon balm
1/2 cup fresh or 1/4 cup dried German chamomile blossoms
2 cups boiling water

Add the herbs to the boiling water. Cover and infuse for 20 minutes. Strain and add to your bathwater.
~~~~~~~~~~~

I like lavender or eucalyptus infused products, myself.

Good Luck with your appointment.

~Barb

Baths and application to spine, neck, temples..

These are also great for kids of all ages (even babies)..especially Lavender.

Also..Bach Flower remedies are wonderful for stress relief, both these things can be easily on hand anytime.

Starr..you'll be fine. Taking care of young master D has been very rough on you, I think taking care of you is in order now, and you will be great.

You WILL have to put recovery first and maybe drop a few obligations temporarily ..which I suspect will be hard for you who always wants to do and help!!

If you focus one tenth the energy you do to help others on you, you will be a very fine patient. You know allot about these illneses by now as well.

I won't kid you, at times things will need to be taken day by day..or hour by hour..but..you get through, and come out the other side.

Bur..ya gotta make yourself take good care of you. It's part of getting well..is essential as any other part ot treatment..no bones about it..ya hear!!

Mo

DR C will tell you....

5-HTP...for the anxiety, etc.

Melatonin...for sleep

Relax sister...you've made it this far...now its time for Mom to get her much needed care.

I can see I will be upsetting alot of people in the family when I start saying NO I need to take care of myself now.

Guess we will see just how many come to help me now....hummm. Time will tell.

My hubby just called to see if I had chilled since we met for lunch. I told him about some of the things ya'll told me to try.

He said if all else fails he is getting a fifth of teliquila and getting me drunk tonight..lol This might be interesting..he hasn't done that in about...10 years lol.

Tonight we are going buy winter clothes for our trip to MO, we don't use winter clothes down here we run a/c all year round. I will pick up the stuff ya'll said and try it.

I know I know alot about treatment, expecially for kids but I feel like a newbie when it comes to adult stuff.

3 halloween costumes, and a ton of sweat suits later. I escaped to the mommy section.

I got some stuff called the healing garden lavender perfume (sprayed my room and bathroom) and a bunch of lavender bath stuff.

Three boxes of herbal tea. I got Celestial Seasonings Natural Herb Tea. I use to drink this when my dad was dying and I was up all night stressing over him.

One is called Tension Tamer (my dad's dr told me about it) and another is Sleepytime and the final one is Honey Vanilla Chamomile.

Can't wait for kids to finally fall asleep and I am going to my home made spa.

Hopefully I get so relaxed I drift right off to sleep no 3 a.m. again.

I am going to go look for the other stuff ya'll told me about tomorrow from a health food store.

Thanks for all ya'll incouragment and support.
Starr

That's a good one! The Healing Garden Lavender Bath stuff is strong enough to soothe yet delicate enough so that it doesn't over power your nose! And I luv Sleepytime.

Now go take a positive pause and wash those worries away!
www.positivepause.com <--------Very soothing site for the mind.

Keep taking the "Big X"...it will help that anxiety also! Woo hoo!

This had come to my mind earlier..and, well the e-mail came after my post above.

Increase it a little girl.

The next long chunk of time needs to be devoted to you and your son getting well.

"My biggest fear is I am very, very active in Dominic's school, work, ect. How am I going to keep all this up with treatment."
- please don't EVEN try to do it all. Your health is the most important thing right now.

I was very active and had to drop out of almost everything. I worked less, took a two hour nap and was in bed by 7pm, for months.

The school survived without me. I only focus on MY children's education now. I washed the first windows in 4 years yesterday and will have to use a chain saw to prune the bushes in my yard.

Focus on your health and family and do something that makes you feel good. The rest will either go way or still be there when you can be more active.

Have been there-

It is expensive. A box lasts 15 days at $24.00 a box. It works and it is one less RX I am on.

I have tried other antidepressants / anti-anxiety meds and did not like them.

Hope this helps....

BTW thanks so much for the Handouts......I am busy reading all the great info......will drop a chack in the mail for postage and a litle extra.

Slept from 12:30 all the way to 6:45 this morning without waking once..yeah!!

Nakka that is such a beautiful site makes you dream of being in some of those places.

I will finish the with the fall bazaar at school that is Nov 12 and then that will be it for now. (I am the head of crafts so I really can't back out now).

I can hear Dr C saying: Mind, body, spirit all have to work together to get better.

Is a hot lavender bath considered detoxing?

Thanks for sharing
Starr