Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have a high-stress job. Over the past 18 months, my blood pressure has soared from a healthy average of 102/60, to an unhealthy average of 145 - 150 /100, due to work, and my stress and anxiety levels have increased right along with it. Over the past six months or so, I've tried three different prescription anxiety medications, to no avail...all three had awful side effects and made me even more miserable. For the past year, I've had anxiety levels so high, that I can't even handle things like going to church, meetings, or school concerts. I've dealt with anxiety attacks that make my chest feel like it's being crushed by a giant fist, and that make my muscles in my shoulders and upper back tense to the point that I can't move. A few weeks ago, I randomly searched, "stress relief" on Amazon, with the intention of finding a book about managing stress. Ashwagandha came up at the top of the list of search results. I read the product description and the reviews and thought, "I doubt it'll work, but it can't hurt to try..." and it was only $15 - what did I have to lose? I'm glad I did! After a couple of weeks, my stress level has decreased noticeably, which is especially interesting because it's the busiest time of year at my job...I work an average of 80 hours per week from August until the end of December. It hasn't inhibited my ability to work, sleep, parent, or drive, either. I KNOW that this isn't a placebo effect, because 1.) I didn't really believe it would work in the first place; 2.) my prescription of Xanax wasn't this effective, (and Xanax made me tired as heck, as an added "bonus" to contend with...it didn't really help with anxiety, it just put me to sleep, so that I didn't stay up all night, worrying about work). 3.) It's the most stressful time of year at my job, and I feel pretty okay with it...better than I've felt in more than a year. Now, I still have flare-ups, but they are short-lived, and not as intense. For example, when I feel the familiar feeling of stress and anxiety welling up in my chest (if you're looking at this product to alleviate anxiety, you probably know the feeling!), it feels like it's "tamped down" almost immediately. My mind is able to recognize that the feeling of stress/anxiety isn't valid for the situation, and that small things that used to be stressors aren't really that big of a deal, any more. Before I began taking this, small things that happened throughout the day would pile on top of each other and the ever-present feeling of dread that I felt for everyday things like going to work, deadlines at work, dealing with people at work, etc., essentially creating a "perfect storm" for anxiety-related health problems. How does it work? Being a skeptic by nature and profession, I wondered that, too. Here's the summary: It not only lowers cortisol levels, it levels out a lot of other stress responses, too. In short, "Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. This means that it has properties that combat the physical and chemical effects of stress in the human body." Like anything, it takes time to work...you have to give it one to three weeks to take effect, although, from what I've read, some people experience benefits sooner. Give it a whirl... UPDATE: I've been taking this for a few months now (since the beginning of August), and this stuff has completely changed my life. Not only has it helped change the way I react to stress, it has also helped with my depression and anxiety, as well. I feel like myself again. A few months ago, by the middle of the week (I usually clock between 35-50 hours, at work, by Wednesday evening), I'd reach for a bottle of tequila and make myself a couple of margaritas to chase off the stress of my job. Not any more. I don't even feel the need to do that at all. I'm sleeping better, too. I used to lay awake at night, stressing out about deadlines and worrying about whether or not I had everything in order at the office to meet work demands the next day. Not any more. I'm asleep within 15 minutes of laying down for the night. I didn't believe ashwagandha would work. After all, I had tried several different prescription meds to help with anxiety, stress and depression and nothing worked (in fact, some of them made it a lot worse), so why would an herbal supplement help? Well, it did. I feel like "me" again. Even my friends and family members have noticed the difference. It's the busiest time of year at my work, and instead of stressing out about it, I feel like I'm in control of the situation and able to plan accordingly to handle it successfully. This supplement is legit, and it may have very well saved my life. Please don't pass this up if you're suffering from anxiety, stress or depression. Update 2: I just had a doctor's appointment today. My blood pressure (for the first time in more than a year) was a healthy 120/80. Still not my normal 106/60, but MUCH better than it's been. Update #3 - I went for a month without taking this, due to a shipping delay with a carrier facility (which was very kindly well-handled by Havasu Nutrition, you seriously can't go wrong with ordering from these guys - they care about their customers) and a busy work schedule. I just sort of forgot to take it. It wasn't good. My blood pressure soared again, and the chest-clenching feelings of stress and anxiety returned in full force. After about two weeks of taking it regularly again, all was back to normal. My blood pressure was regulated once again and I found myself relatively unstressed and not anxious, despite numerous serious problems at work that would normally have caused me a lot of stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Update #4: Blood pressure is down to 115/60. Woot! My daughter (13 years old) started taking this to help her sleep. Within six weeks, we've noticed a huge difference in her attitude/mood (she actually smiles, laughs, and talks). She's sleeping through the night, she feels less stressed at school (she would often come home in tears, but hasn't for a couple of weeks) her mood is a lot brighter, and, most importantly, she's feeling like herself again. :) In response to a review that claimed the five-star reviews were fake and/or paid reviews, and was “voted helpful” by dozens of people, I would just like to take a moment to say that I am a real person. Unless, of course, my whole life, up to this point has been a lie or some twisted version of VR, and I’m just another glitch in the Matrix. I’m 98.8% certain, however, that that isn’t the case. :).