B12 Vitamin

[cheeseflavoredpudding]

I am new to the forum, but I decided that it was time for an online support. I suffer from GAD as well as OCD. There are lots of things going on in my life as of lately, and it seems that I am caught in a perfect storm of anxiety. For the last 5 months I have been a vegetarian for ethical and health reasons, however, I have read that lack of B12 vitamin found in red meats can cause increased anxiety. I never would have suspected it, but lately I have been experiencing a type of anxiety that I have never felt before, and was wondering if B12 supplements may be necessary. I really do not want to go back to meat, but if necessary, I suppose I will have to.

[LindaRK]

Well, B-12 is the "stress" vitamin, so it certainly goes hand in hand with anxiety, which can be greatly caused by stress and definitely exacerbated by stress.

I take vitamins regularly - a super B-complex.  I go through periods where I stop taking them and notice a difference.  I did this before Christmas .... add the basic Xmas stress in and I definitely noticed a HUGE increase in my anxiety.

It definitely wouldn't hurt taking a B-12 supplement, but make sure it's of good quality.

[cheeseflavoredpudding]

thank you!

[livelaughlove]

i take vitamin B12 sublingual (which means you melt it under your tongue) 1000 mcgs every morning and it definitely helps me. The sublingual is better than a regular vitamin you would swallow because it stays in your system instead of going to the bathroom with a regular vitamin and then gets flushed right out. My sister has perniscious anemia from lack of intrinsic factor (it's a type of autoimmune gastritis) so her body can't absorb B12 properly. She told me about this trick (but she also has to get monthly B12 shots as well). I don't have any type anemia but it helps by giving me energy, good energy. Don't take more than 1000 mcgs though or you will get ocular atrophy (eye pain and such). Once, i went for a month without taking it and my tongue was sore, felt like it was too big for my mouth or something. I started the B12 again and that stopped. The docs say my B12 level is fine, so is iron, but it helps. I also read if you tend to get fissures in your tongue you are lacking vitamin A. People that drink a lot of alcohol usually lack niacin. If your tongue is glossy and there is no silia (or whatever those little hairs are called on your tongue) then you are lacking a B vitamin, likely B12. If your tongue has a white coating on it, you are lacking vitamin C. You can tell a lot about a person by their tongue and what condition it is in.

[Skip4582]

I'm a guy, and have been taking a B Complex vitamin and Fish Oil since reading that both can have a positive impact on anxiety. My wife takes it because of an anemia problem - she gets the monthly shots.

I've noticed, over a couple of weeks, that it has a positive effect on me - it could be the power of positive thinking. One caution: one of my greatest triggers of anxiety is lack of sleep. If you don't take the B vitamins early in the day, they can keep you up at night - taking away many of the positive gains you can get from taking it.

Take care.

[thehiddencheese]

Can a doctor run tests for this?

Is there any bad side effects for taking it when you don't need it?

[AnxietyJoe]

I would recommend magnesium citrate by Natural calm the price isn't bad but if you prefer capsules  besides a powder form there is solgar mag citrate 120 tabs for 12 bucks magnesium citrate does help with all anxiety levels

[sbl1234]

They can do a blood test and see what your B12 level is. Mine was just barely in the normal range. My dad's girlfriend, who is a nurse, recommended taking a supplement even though I was not technically deficient. She said it did not hurt to take it. My Vitamin D was also low, and I take a Vitamin D supplement too. My physical symptoms and anxiety are better now, but I don't know to what extent that is the Zoloft and to what extent that is the vitamins.