SO I’m really hoping this will be seen by like anyone, cause I don’t have many followers (shout out to the porn bots) - but I’m looking into Ashwagandha capsules or powder to help ease anxiety and stress and I’m looking for any advice or stories on whether it helps or not.

Condensed backstory, even though it seems long: I’ve technically dealt with anxiety since I was 14 but as of last year (maybe longer, who even knows 🙃) it’s actually impacted my health even further. I now deal with high blood pressure, as a result of the anxiety. I had consistent readings ranging from 130-150 over 90-115. My doctor obviously wanted to put me on blood pressure meds after my 2nd visit with high readings, but I was like uhh, nah. I’ve never had an issue with this, and I can almost guarantee you it’s anxiety related.

Instead he put me on Hydroxyzine Pamoate to ease anxiety and also lower the BP. I bought my own monitor as well and took readings all throughout the day, and had it checked at the doc to be sure it was accurate. Shit was totally normal at home - get to the doc office, and it went sky high. I went back and forth with appointments for a solid month and half and eventually he prescribed me Prozac. I’m honestly terrified to take that because A N X I E T Y tells me something will go totally fucking wrong and my brain will be fucked up forever so here we are.

FAST FORWARD - I’ve been lacking on even checking it, but it was high as hell again yesterday after work. normal before I left for work this AM, high AF at work, and normal about half an hour after I got home from work. and why I know (not a doctor, but I know my body) it’s anxiety related is because I have symptoms most of the time which you typically don’t w hypertension. I get flushed in the face, my heart races, I’m irritable, I wanna run away, chest feels full, etc - same exact shit I deal with during anxiety spells/attacks.

SO THIS SHIT SUPER SUCKS, and I gotta do something. I can’t just quit my job. Now I’m terrified to ever go to the doctor because they’ll see a high reading and literally make me stay there until it goes down, WHICH IT WONT. I’ve had to stay in the office for like 4-5 hours on multiple occasions because it’s all fucked up. I’ve read that Ashwagandha helps ease anxiety and stress and I’m hoping someone on here has tried it or takes it consistently and can let me know if it made any kind of difference.

Also kinda needed to vent if you couldn’t tell.