So I should start to take some of those B vitamins basically? I don't really know much about any of them. I've never taken a vitamin in my life.

I watched a wee bit of game of thrones tonight on my laptop using earphones and I think it did seem a bit better. I didn't manage the whole episode but it feels like an achievement of sorts. Thank you for the suggestion.

Poetry mom - thanks for explaining that. I think I understand. I was watching my cousin play a game and he was flying a plane, making it dip up and down. I felt so sick watching it. Also when watching a 'relaxing' video on YouTube of the ocean, the waves made me feel sick. How strange.

Another thing guys, all day yesterday and today and I've had the feeling of not being able to breathe properly. Kinda like I really need to take a deep breath but can't and I'm having to consciously think about each breath I take. Any notion of that kinda thing? I have to admit, it's a bit scary.

Thanks again.

Take the whole vitamin regimen. Your brain needs nutritional support.

Do not try to watch a show or video game with a lot of movement, flashing lights, sounds, etc. You need to seriously moderate your visual and auditory stimuli. No sneaking peaks or testing your ability to handle stimuli.

Wave movements are not relaxing to a challenged visual processing system, especially when they are on a small screen.

I have a problem with High Def video. The sharpness of the video stimuli has too many pixels for my struggling brain to process. A good optometrist knows to detune the sharpness of a prescription of lenses to allow the eye and brain to relax. You need to take the same efforts to not over-tax the visual processing with high def stimuli.

Give it a try. You will see it helps.

My best to you.

Since I last posted there, I checked the nhs website about all the vitamins you listed, particularly the Bs. What it said has kinda knocked me for six now. I fully intended to take them but the dosages you suggested and what's listed on the nhs site are freaking me out. If I remember correctly you suggested 500-1000mg of B12 daily?

From the nhs site:

"Adults need approximately 0.0015mg a day of vitamin B12.

What happens if I take too much vitamin B12?

There is not enough evidence to show what the effects may be of taking high doses of vitamin B12 supplements each day.

What does the Department of Health advise?

You should be able to get all the vitamin B12 you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin B12 supplements, do not take too much because this could be harmful.

Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm."

I'm too new to the site to be able to post the link.

I have too much anxiety to be able to take 500-1000mg without absolutely freaking out now. I once to a herbal sleeping remedy and kept myself awake for two days straight because I was convinced if I fell asleep I would never wake up again. I'm really not sure how I'd react if I thought I'd ODed on vitamins.

I think you are mixing up milligrams (mg) with micrograms (mcg)

B12 orally is not well absorbed. It has to be taken on an empty stomach, for passive absorption at all.

1mg =1000mcg. In a one milligram (1000mcg) dose orally there is a study showing absorption of 13 mcgs.

The FDA has not set an upper limit to B12 ingestion, because in all the years it has been researched NO toxicity has been demonstrated.

The amount of B12 in food is normally 1-2mcg ....and the way it is absorbed, it must be in stomach acid for the special carrier in the stomach called intrinsic factor, to work, and carry the tiny micrograms thru to the intestine where they are absorbed and carried off by transcobalamin.

Many people have this delicate system broken and therefore oral tablets are quite high seemingly, but in reality very little is actually absorbed.

This is my B12 thread, and it includes the link to NIH you read.
But you need to read more slowly and carefully, and perhaps more than once to understand it all. This is why doctors don't "get it" as well.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

B12 is essential for maintenance and repair of the nervous system. Any tiny error in its absorption and transport, and you will suffer. Low acid in the stomach is one common cause, because people take the OTC acid blocking drugs too much. New estimates are that about 40% of people are therefore low in B12 today.
In the link I gave you above, in the first post, is a video on YouTube... I suggest you watch it first of all.

I just restocked my B-12. I was shocked to find it hard to get a small dose B-12 . the smallest dose I found was 500 mcgs. The common sizes were 1000, 2500, and 5000 mcgs. The packages promote these larger dosages as needed for proper metabolism.

The methyl version of B-12 is now readily available. It comes in capsules for swallowing and in lozenges for sub-lingual consumption. I decided to change my routine a bit. Now, I take my B-12 lozenge on an empty stomach with my morning L-Tryptophan. I chew it and let is dissolve in my mouth.

Weyhey,

You could ask for a B-12 blood test. It does not tell you how well your body is absorbing B-12 but it will likely tell you if B-12 is present in your blood. The goal is to have a blood level of about 1000 pcgms/mL.

Getting your folate (folic acid) level checked is also helpful. B-12 and folic acid are necessary for nerve repair. Folate levels should be greater than 20.

Regarding government web sites about vitamins. The pharmaceutical industry has tried to negate any value to vitamins as a health aid for decades. This attitude greatly influences the NHS and other government health sites. They established the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) as a guideline. It is more of a bare minimum level to prevent malnutrition, not to promote best health.

Very few vitamins have a toxicity level. Vitamin A is the only vitamin with a serious toxicity issue. Nobody is suggesting high doses of Vitamin A. There is a large field of work regarding mega-nutrition or high dose vitamin supplementation. The dosages in my regimen do not come even close to these mega levels. Too much vitamin C (10 grams a day or more is common ) will cause loose stools but not a health risk.

You will likely see a great benefit to your anxiety levels. The B vitamins are important for helping the brain tolerate stress. Being able to sleep without having to lay there worrying about whether you will wake up will be a great benefit.

As you look at these issues, keep in mind:

1 gram = 1000 mgs ( milligrams ) = 1,000,000 mcgs (micrograms)

1 milligram (mg) = 1000 mcgs (micrograms)

1 gram of liquid (water) is 1 cc (cubic centimeter). This is about 12 drops of water. (some people take B-12 in liquid drop form)

The NHS comment was "Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm."

They are saying, 2,000 mcgs or less a day of B-12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. My regimen suggests 500 to 1000 mcgs per day. I actually consider my regimen to be very conservative. I do not believe the 'more is better' concept. I follow the take enough to get the good benefit. Taking more than is needed tends to get expensive, too.

So, please try to relax and give supplements a try. Supplements have changed the life of many people as their malnourished brains are given proper nutrition.

btw, Organic foods are not necessarily any better at providing necessary nutrition than non-organic. Organic farm soils can be just as depleted of vitamins as non-organic soils. Plus, environmental toxins (in the air and water) put an extra burden on the body's systems so supplements are more important.

My best to you.

Are you on meds?

I was once in your shoes, it will gradually get better. Right now your body/ brain is in flight or fight mode. As Mark said eat healthy foods, follow the vitamin routine.

B complex 100 vitamins were important to my healing as well as other vitamins and supplements

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread181974.html <-- Mark's thread on helpful vitamins / supplements

Audiobooks and podcasts have been my way of staying sane without exacerbating symptoms.

If you can and do watch tv, remember to stop before your symptoms come on. Otherwise your next sleep/recuperation period will be to get your brain back to where it was before you watched tv rather than one step closer to recovery.

Good luck.

MrsD - I did mix them up, thank you for pointing that out to me. I've bookmarked your post and am reading through it. Also started watching the YouTube video but it will take me some time to get through it. That's pretty terrifying what the deficiency can do!

Mark - if I asked my GP could I get my B-12 and folate levels checked or would it have to be a specialist?
Anything to reduce my anxiety would be amazing. It's getting worse and more irrational to be honest. I've decided that I will take your advice and get some vitamins. Would the B-12 and a multi vit be sufficient to start off with? I would love to try everything you suggested but unfortunately I'm living out of my parents' pockets at the minute. They're already paying all my bills so I'm reluctant to add anything more to the list.

Arty - I'm taking cymbalta and very occasionally co-codamol for my headaches. Thanks for your words hope! I just wish the getting better would hurry up a bit lol.

Black - thanks for the suggestion. I've never really been one for audiobooks unless I've had the physical book to follow along with but I'll give it another try. Being unable to read is one of the most heartbreaking things I'm dealing with! I miss the escape and that is something I could really use at this time. Could you suggest any good sites for them?

Thanks for all the replies. How are you all doing by the way? I've been so busy being selfish and moaning about myself I haven't asked a single one of you how things are for you's.

Weyhey,

I'd start with a B-12 500 mcgs, a B-50 complex, a good multi like GNC MegaMen, a Vit C, Vit D, and Vit E. My regimen costs me about $1.50 per day. A Cymbalta costs $3.00 or more a day. The vitamin regimen may make it so you can stop the Cymbalta.

A GP can order a B-12 and folate levels blood test. Get D3 checked, too.

Instead, don't waste your parents money on lab work and just start the vitamin regimen.

My best to you.

How much would all that cost roughly to buy in one go? I forgot you were in the States. I live in Northern Ireland so all my health care and prescriptions are actually free. When I said bills I meant phone/pet insurance/credit cards, etc.

Thanks.