I am not a Psychiatrist, but I am an RN. I suffer from PTSD with bouts of anxiety and depression that have made my life pretty much unbearable and completely unproductive / Non-functional. I am treatment resistant to meds. SSRI's make me sick to no end. After 1 or 2 doses of an SSRI, I get flu like symptoms that give me terrible body aches, chills, N/V, chronic diarrhea, and a foggy head with terrible headaches. I take Serzone 200mg bid for the past few months without any improvement. This is the only antidepressant I have been able to tolerate. The only thing that helped me just a little bit was Xanax and Klonopin, which I still take today. I have also tried low dose mood stabilizers (Lamicatal) and low dose antipsychotics, such as Seroquel and Abilify, all to no avail.
After borrowing an Alpha Stim device from a friend, I used it for about a week. At first, I had the setting a little too high and would get dizzy, nauseated, and headaches. During the treatment I would get a woozy feeling through me head. I was instructed by the people at Alpha-Stim to turn the dial down from 3 to either 2 or 1 and wear it for an hour. Once I did this, I no longer felt the above symptoms. On day 3, my Depression and Anxiety completely dissapeared. I actually would experience an elation sensation after using the Alpha Stim. I still took the Xanax / Klonopin as I need to wean off of them so I don't get withdrawl, but I honestly don't feel like I need them anymore. Since day 3, I have remained without a single panic attack. My anxiety is not 100% gone, but I would say it is 80-90% reduced. I have done a ton of research on Anxiety / Depression down to the cellular level. It is my theory that this device somehow stimulates the cells to fire more rapidly, making use of Seratonin at within the Synaptic cleft. My theory is based on the fact that after using the device, I get somewhat anxious for about an hour, this would be the stimulation effect on the 5HT1a receptors. Shortly, after an hour, the anxiety dissapears, and my body is calm and cells are firing like they should. I am on my second week now, and continue to do well. I hope to be back to work soon now, when the thought of ever working again, never seemed possible, prior to using this device.
Like most Dr.'s and Psychiatrists, I was skeptical in the beginning. The testimonials on this device I could only find on Alpha-Stim web site. I wanted to see what ordinary people had to say about this device in other chat rooms or forums, but because the word hasn't hit the street yet, I now think this is the reason why I can't find this information. I figured since I was borrowing the unit from my friend, I had nothing to lose in trying the Alpha Stim.
I am living proof that this device works. I am not a conditioned person. I feel what I feel and the sensations are true and real. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me at GARY1RN@YAHOO.COM I am in no way shape or form affiliated with Alpha Stim or any of their resellers. I am merely an RN who functioned well x 13 years, who developed this order after a Traumatic event which took place in my life that I don't want to get into here. Take care, and good luck to all that choose to use this device.
Regards,
Gary ********, BSN, RN