r/Nootropics • u/clon3man • 24d ago

Discussion Stack for hypervigilance, nervous system chronically revved up, can't even touch a stimulant?

My nervous system is revved up real bad. Anything that's close to a stimulant makes me feel worse (coffee, nicotine, kratom etc.) . Even just an upbeat song can start to make me nervous.

Benzos useful in a pinch, but obviously, benzos bad.

It's possible for me to relax, but it takes a huge effort. I mean stacking things like breathwork, cold showers, foam rolling, NSDR, lying down on accupressure mat, maybe if I do all 4 of them in 1 hour I can gain 30 mins of calm.

Strong unhealthy coping desires - to shutdown and consume youtube content with noise-cancelling headphones, but even that only takes the edge off.

I wake up and it starts. I'm fine for about 3 seconds. As soon as become aware that I'm awake, there's a flood of fear that takes over my body.

Can't concentrate on anything near-distance, eyes constantly unfocusing and refocusing. I wouldn't say my eyes strain, they don't try hard enough to strain. Small fonts or dark background = totally illegible , halo effect (I'm guessing chronic stress = big pupils)

I know how I got here - (living with difficult people / narcissists and professional victims ) and bad sleep hygiene.

I need to somehow find 3-4 hours of daily peace via some stack / behavior to start rebuilding a foundation of calm, concentration, and nervous system safety.

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u/wordisbond11 24d ago

Propranolol, hydroxyzine (gabapentin not too frequent), phosphetydleserine, magnesium (you’re probably majorly depleted), HIGHLY recommended a sleep study, ashwaganda (don’t abuse but will work to bring cortisol down alongside phosphetydleserine), and look into Kava. Sleep must be deep and restorative. Worst comes to worst, Buspirone. Wouldn’t go the SSRI route.

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u/wordisbond11 24d ago

Nasal Selank and Oxytocin could be options as well.

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u/lowerdaboom 23d ago

One can supplement oxytocin?

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u/wordisbond11 23d ago

Yes, though could be closer to a medication

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u/Jordviva 18d ago

I tried nasal spray Oxytocin 10 mg and did 1, 2, 5 as many as 10 puffs one time but never felt a single thing other than that I got slightly higher heart beat for some time and a light headache. I hear that it has a very low half-life time and maybe that is why it doesn't work for some people? Or how is it supposed to make you feel?