One thing I think ypu might have missed Feo is what Progesterone cream actually is, I believe it is why you felt immediately better on it, and your anxiety lessened within two weeks, because Prog has the same affinity and modulation of the GABA receptors as Benzodiazapines such as Xanax, and Valium, thus I personally don't think it cleared up your 'loose copper' whatsoever, it merely, like a xanax, modulatd your stress response by lifting up the Gaba content of your brain, which is why MDs use medications such as benzos for stress. If you have ever taken a benzo, you will know the immediately and amazing effects. So in essence, Prog cream is like a benzo cream, with added benefits!

The metabolites of progesterone, allopregnolone and pregnolone, act on the GABA receptors the same way that benzos do, thus it can have the same effect as a benzo dosage increase. Here are a few articles that explain how they act in the same way as benzos on the GABAA receptor:

The steroids most studied are allopregnanolone (ALLO), tetrahydrodesoxycorticosterone (THDOC), pregnenolone sulfate (PS) dihydroepiandrosteronesulfate (DHEAS), and estradiol (E2). ALLO and THDOC are called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) steroids as they are positive modulators of the GABAA receptor in a similar way as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16362406

The positive modulators of the GABA(A) receptor include allopregnanolone and pregnanolone, both neuroactive metabolites of progesterone, as well as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19272715

Previous studies have determined that allopregnanolone enhances the activity of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, at its receptors throughout the brain. This mechanism, Toufexis said, likely accounts for progesterone's blunting effect on the brain's stress system.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/02/09/7697.aspx?page=2

So you can see from that why progesterone is categorized as being cross tolerant to benzos, because it modulates the GABAA receptor in the same manner.

Neuroactive steroids, e.g., progesterone and its active metabolite allopregnanolone, are positive modulators of the GABAA receptor and are cross tolerant with benzodiazepines.[27] The active metabolite of progesterone has been found to enhance the binding of benzodiazepines to the benzodiazepine binding sites on the GABAA receptor.[28] The cross-tolerance between GABAA receptor positive modulators occurs because of the similar mechanism of action and the subunit changes that occur from chronic use from one or more of these compounds in expressed receptor isoforms. Abrupt withdrawal from any of these compounds, e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, corticosteroids, neuroactive steroids, and nonbenzodiazepines, precipitate similar withdrawal effects characterized by central nervous system hyper-excitability, resulting in symptoms such as increased seizure susceptibility and anxiety.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine_dependence


Another thing it has in common with benzos is its effects on the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), also called the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).
(NOTE: You can read more about the CRF/CRH involvement on this thread: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=44373.0 )

The scientists found evidence that the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone reduces the brain's response to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a peptide hormone that plays an important role in the stress response in animals.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/02/09/7697.aspx


Plus it has its own withdrawal syndrome.

http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/24/4/523.full


I agree with the oestrogen dominance and stress though, so over time the Prog cream will of helped sort this out, you are really really lucky not to of had a withdrawal syndrome from the cream, I have met many who ended up benzos to cope with the withdrawal from Prog tablets.

So in reference to your point about cooper exposure, working on your theory, as my clearance of toxins is obviously a massive problem as I have late stage AF, you believe that by playing guitar daily on copper strings, that my biggest organ, my skin, is being exposed to copper severely and that I will not be able to clear the exposure efficiently , therefore playing guitar is poisoning myself with a substance that can take years to detoxify?

So when we look at all of this as a whole, the effects chronic stress has on a person, would it not of been better in the first instance to lesson the effect the stress by modulating responses chemically say with SSRI's. I really believe and I remember AdrenalSuccess saying the same that if we had chosen SSRIs on the outset of AF, we really would not of ended up down the rabbit hole as far as we did. I firmly believe that...but its such a fine, unfortunately once down that rabbit hole, using SSRIs is futile and damaging as the system is already majorly impaired. This is why maybe an antihistamine, such as Visteril may be a better choice to help adaptations to life with a stress broken body, blunts histamine receptors, modulates the adregenic A1 receptor to reduce stress response cortisol output and has a small effect on the sereontonin receptors, therefore reducing adrenaline output.but is not adrenally stimulating like Lexapro, Zoloft etc just a thought. Its maybe why theres only a handful of us on here searching for med free answers, while the majority of the world carry on with their lives on medication. I dont know, plus it can be a long trip of hell with medications finding a suitable one! Im happy to be med free, but I do sometimes wonder...