If Marijuana ever becomes legal here, I will definitely be all over those little marijuana pills so as to enjoy the calming effects without inhaling smoke into my lungs. But since it's not legal and I'd like to be able to clear drug tests, I want to know if there are any legal and natural vitamins or pills that I can take to take the edge off? Particularly shouting out to voodoo hoodoo Scarecrow wherever he is. I'm very friendly and personable which is why I excel in hospitality industry but the problem is that with people that I'm trying to impress, I fail to be myself.

For example, I'd like to be more laid back with my boss because I'm now working really closely with her. But I have a reserved and professional (but cheerful) personality with her. I rather be nice but myself at the same time. Also, I'm alwaysssss my witty, laid back self around my guy friends because they're laid back. But I have a hard time relating to chicks my age for some reason. I'm not totally myself. I think because girls expect so much out of you...it's like a constant show.

I notice any time I take pain medication, it takes the edge off and I'm able to be myself. I'd like to have that same feeling in a legal way and also without taking pain meds or prescription meds. So something natural. Any ideas? And before anyone says I just need to exercise more to release endorphins or something, I am a gym extraordinaire ;)

Masturbation.

I am not even joking.

Haha I meannnnn I'm pretty much covered in the sexual release aspect

We have to make sure. You have to show us your progress

Lol I'm sure you'd enjoy that Hewitt.

But no! I think I found a solution! This natural herb called Lemon Balm is apparently being endorsed by doctors because it's a natural relaxant and mood booster. It also helps with cold sores and bites and is a good sleep aid. I may try this! It's getting great reviews...

im never going to get e-laid in this lifetime :(

anyways, you'll wanna wait for Jutsu. I think he'll have something to say as this could be up his alley

as far as non-psychoactive substances go, vitamin B5 is the first thing that springs to mind. it has a role in adrenal function and metabolism, so it's been labelled by some as the 'stress-relief vitamin'. you may as well just take a B-multivitamin, though; it's my understanding that several vitamins in the B group are involved in stress regulation. oh, and don't be alarmed if your piss is flourescent yellow when you're on B. a magnesium supplement may also help, but this is more aimed at physical tension. it relaxes the muscles of the body, which can contribute to feeling more chill/calm or even dowright sleepy at higher doses. theanine (found in green and black tea) and taurine (generally available in powder form) have been labelled as anxiolytic, and may be helpful, so they're worth looking into.

having said that, evidence for pretty much any vitamin or amino acid being noticeably useful to reduce stress is anecdotal at best.

if you're after something stronger, then you start looking at things like anti-inflammatories, sedatives, psychoactives, and so on. i wouldn't really recommend any of these for a work environment. valerian for example; it's well-known for its stress-relieving properties, but it's also well-known for making you sleepy.

your problem sounds more like a psychological/social issue than anything else; it's a fear-based issue. for this i can recommend you just a few things (without doing a proper chinese med diagnosis or anything):
1. Take up meditation if you haven't already. This is a whole new can of worms, so hit me up on skype if you want more advice here.
2. Avoid overthinking things; especially with the people you feel stressed around. You get stressed when you start trying too hard to come up with the right answers instead of being present in the conversation.
3. Sleep with a heat pack on your lower back. Your kidneys like being nice and cosy, and TCM associates lack of warmth here with lack of defense against fear. Makes sense if you think about the adrenal glands.
4. Something else to think about: what are you using that might be causing you to get stressed faster, which you could cut out? hint: i'm talking about coffee.

I know will sound ironic,but I can only relax when I'm exhilarated. I SWEAR TO GOD. Nothing relaxes me more than a thrill(or the after effects of one). I find it to work like a doppler effect in sound, you can feel it coming,which hypes you up,then the climax comesif you know what I mean,and finally the the part where it goes away(the climax) and then you release your tension,making you feel more relaxed than before.I also find that this gives me a more upbeat attitude when I need it.

#personalpreference.

Quote from Scarecrow

as far as non-psychoactive substances go, vitamin B5 is the first thing that springs to mind. it has a role in adrenal function and metabolism, so it's been labelled by some as the 'stress-relief vitamin'. you may as well just take a B-multivitamin, though; it's my understanding that several vitamins in the B group are involved in stress regulation. oh, and don't be alarmed if your piss is flourescent yellow when you're on B. a magnesium supplement may also help, but this is more aimed at physical tension. it relaxes the muscles of the body, which can contribute to feeling more chill/calm or even dowright sleepy at higher doses. theanine (found in green and black tea) and taurine (generally available in powder form) have been labelled as anxiolytic, and may be helpful, so they're worth looking into.

having said that, evidence for pretty much any vitamin or amino acid being noticeably useful to reduce stress is anecdotal at best.

if you're after something stronger, then you start looking at things like anti-inflammatories, sedatives, psychoactives, and so on. i wouldn't really recommend any of these for a work environment. valerian for example; it's well-known for its stress-relieving properties, but it's also well-known for making you sleepy.

your problem sounds more like a psychological/social issue than anything else; it's a fear-based issue. for this i can recommend you just a few things (without doing a proper chinese med diagnosis or anything):
1. Take up meditation if you haven't already. This is a whole new can of worms, so hit me up on skype if you want more advice here.
2. Avoid overthinking things; especially with the people you feel stressed around. You get stressed when you start trying too hard to come up with the right answers instead of being present in the conversation.
3. Sleep with a heat pack on your lower back. Your kidneys like being nice and cosy, and TCM associates lack of warmth here with lack of defense against fear. Makes sense if you think about the adrenal glands.
4. Something else to think about: what are you using that might be causing you to get stressed faster, which you could cut out? hint: i'm talking about coffee.

Yeah, it sounds like my problem is just something I have to work on personally but I do try, and for some reason it's just still hard for me to be myself around certain people. So I figured if I just have something to slightly take away my inhibitions, that it might help. It's strange cause I'm very on the ball in those situations, making jokes and being friendly. I'd be a total superstar if I could just let my WHOLE personality shine through even when I'm feeling stressed or intimidated. When I feel like I'm with my boys and I'm the center of the attention, I'm like hot damn I'm on a roll lol. And then as soon as I feel like I'm not the top dog in the room, I'm reserved and the wit doesn't flow and I'm socially just holding back. PSYCHOLOGY RIGHT? Idk....Ultimately your advice is right and helpful I just have tried to do it on my own and it's still not where I want to be. Also I rarely drink coffee lol.

Looks like you and the rest of America is going to have to wait for the government to marilize legaljuana.
it's really your best bet.

If you need a solution right now, I recommend meditation. No substance needed.

Yeah I do like meditation and it's so good for you but I just don't think it'll help this particular aspect

Quote from Firefly

Yeah I do like meditation and it's so good for you but I just don't think it'll help this particular aspect

Why not? You don't know until you try.

Everyday I try to grab at least a couple minutes of mediation basking in the sun or moonlight. It's kept many days from being unpleasant, when I wake up in a bad mood. It's helped relieve the tension in my muscles from sleeping poorly and my other undisclosed disease/genetic issues. And helps with ALL the stresses in my life.

I'm telling yah, a few minutes of mediation and qigong personal massage and you'll sort yourself out even at your grumpiest and prepare yourself for another beautiful day in this wonder-filled universe. And you'll love it.

But this is literally never the answer people want though and since they don't want it they automatically reject it.

I mean I have a meditation app on my phone. I do meditate just not as often as I probably should, and I do want to do it more for sure. My problem isn't so much stress though. It's hard to explain! But I do agree more meditation would be beneficial in any way. I love how it's scientifically proven to increase brain matter responsible for compassion and happiness and reduce brain matter responsible for stress and unhappiness.

Quote from Firefly

I mean I have a meditation app on my phone. I do meditate just not as often as I probably should, and I do want to do it more for sure. My problem isn't so much stress though. It's hard to explain! But I do agree more meditation would be beneficial in any way. I love how it's scientifically proven to increase brain matter responsible for compassion and happiness and reduce brain matter responsible for stress and unhappiness.

A meditation...app?
How does that work?

If it's hard to explain feel free to go into detail. Unless you don't fully understand the problem yourself, which happens to even the most sound of minds.

Quote from Firefly

I have a meditation app on my phone.

There's this app that comes with a bluetooth dildo that your long-distance partner can activate from way across the world whenever you're skyping.

Just sayin.