Home » » Herbal Therapy » New Hope for Depression and Anxiety

New Hope for Depression and Anxiety

© Kathern Welsh

I just found new hope for the "chemical imbalance" in my brain! I'm really excited. I'll try to make a long story short and fill you in on what caused it.:

In May, 1998, I had my third major operation since June, 1997. This was my second spinal fusion as the first didn't heal. I had a severe reaction to the anesthetic and medications and was incoherent and delusional for 10 days. I had a number of hallucinations and surprised the doctors and nurses by remembering them in detail. My family began to think I wouldn't ever be myself again.:

When I was finally released from therapy, I wrote a book about the experience called, FROM HALLUCINATION to HALLELUJAH. I don't have a publisher as yet, but still have some work to do on it. Anyway, I'm sure this happens to many people after surgery and experiencing it without any warning beforehand is terrifying to both patient and family. The reason for this book is to inform people of this possible phenomenon before they go into surgery.:

Of course, it is very likely that it won't happen to most, but I feel certain, if I had known there was even a remote "chance" that these hallucinations might occur, I would have been able to react somewhat differently, even in my altered state of mind. Needless to say, my family would have been able to understand much better also. Much of the fear of the unknown could have been eliminated.:

In any case, it was an unforgettable experience. I wouldn't give it up for anything, but I wouldn't want to go through it again, either.:

After I was able to move around more I began having severe sweating spells, anxiety attacks, chest pains, fatigue, breathlessness, restless leg syndrome and insomnia. Numerous tests were performed by several doctors, yet no physical reason for the symptoms could be found. I did have a positive reaction on the tilt table, and was put on an antidepressant.:

The tilt table is where they wire you up to machines, lean you against a table vertically, and watch your vital signs as you stand there for 20 minutes. At nearly 15 minutes, I experienced all the aforementioned symptoms and passed out. That was a positive reaction.:

Still the symptoms continued, then grew less noticeable for about six weeks, then reappeared again. Last week, I had terrible muscle spasms in my legs which no medication would touch, and ended up in the emergency with a mental loss of eight hours.:

The copyright of the article New Hope for Depression and Anxiety in Herbal Therapy is owned by . Permission to republish New Hope for Depression and Anxiety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.