RE: A Better Way of Life

September 14, 2004

Christy wrote:

I was trying to find a better way to live ect. But I think I'm going to have to find another way. I'm not sure my thinking belongs here.

Christy ~

Stay a while. Can I share a bit of wisdom from another veteran in this area? I had struggled with depression/bi-polar labels for 20 years. I fought medication until I had children & won a two week trip to the psycho ward due to PPD & divorce (not a good combination obviously). There, I allowed myself to be brainwashed into thinking I had to be medicated so my girls would have a chance at having a 'normal' mom. I played that game on & off for 13 years.

Trust me when I say, I REALLY wanted to slap someone the first time I heard I was responsible for the bi-polar label I carried around. How was that even possible?!? I mean, NO ONE CHOOSES to live like this... after all I couldn't help myself, right? But that's exactly what it was- a choice. Every time I shoveled junk food into my body, I made the choice to stay out of control & depressed. Every time I lost my temper 'b/c I couldn't help it', I made the choice not to learn self control, and every time I took solace in the effexor, the prozac, the respiridol, the celexa, the lexapro, the zoloft, the lithium, the depakote, the wellbutrin, the lamictal, (shall I go on...?) I chose to buy into the lie that peace of mind could be bought for a price. That's not peace of mind, it's mind numbing & that's no life sweetie.

This is how I explained it to my daughter: think of processed foods the same way you would bee stings- Everyone has a reaction- swelling, itching, pain; but some reactions result in anaphylactic shock. Everyone has a reaction to processed foods b/c the effects of the lack of nutrition is the same. BUT, we're desensitized to these reactions b/c we're told it's normal (kinda like that bee sting). I (and you) on the other hand, react to the extreme - anaphylactic shock if you will. Hon, if you knew a bee sting would send you to the emergency room, wouldn't you go out of your way to avoid contact with bees? It's the same with the food issue here. I have learned processed foods have the potential to send me over the edge- I so I avoid them like the plague. You need to start thinking of this stuff as your enemy, not your friend & certainly not your comfort. The depression is fed by your diet & your thought patterns. You allow it to wrap itself around your mind until your thought patterns convince you that it's no use- you're gonna be depressed anyway, so why bother. Sound familiar...?

I'm not making fun of you, I'm telling you I do understand exactly where you're at. No money for meds-- been there, done that; I had to wean myself off of lithium; all I can say is NEVER again. Two years ago I found myself on 8 different meds- 13 pills a day to be normal and I still fought depression & massive mood swings. Let me tell ya, I came to the conclusion if I'm gonna be depressed & battle mood swings- I wasn't paying $150-200.00 a month to do it, not when I could do it all by myself & for free!! I weaned myself off the meds for the last time. It took 3 months to come off all the drugs , 4 months to clean up my diet (already heading in that direction anyway) & 8 months to quit chocolate. As I cleaned up my diet & ate more of the things my body needed, I craved the sweets & chocolate less. Hon, there is life after chocolate- I know, I lived on the stuff. Going two days without it was a long dry spell for me!

Darlin', please listen with your heart- when you need an attitude adjustment-- there isn't a pill out there that can help you. That probably made ya angry, but, just for the heck of it, keep reading. That's what it took for me to function- a major attitude adjustment. I needed to adjust my attitude about the way I thought, the way I ate, the way I allowed myself to react to stress. I had to learn to be honest with myself & with others. I had to learn not to cave into self induced pity parties- (and NO body could throw a pity party with all the works like I could!)-- the list seemed endless... and overwhelming. I'm sharing this not to scare you off, but b/c I know all the arguments your body is going to come up with to keep that 'comfort food'. Trust me, I think I invented a few myself. Each step in the right direction is priceless. You don't have to do it all at once, you don't have to have all the answers before you change one thing at a time- all or nothing doesn't apply here. Victory parties are held here on a daily basis!!

Jeni-Laura & Lauren (I'd like to hear your story too Lauren) both stated clearly that it can be done-- I'm sharing with you the same message. I'm not going to lie to you & say I had it easy. Those of us who have shared our stories with you will tell you flat out- it's hard & sometimes it can be downright scary-- but you have a support system right here to help you through the whole process. Many of us had to do it alone. Girl, you can do this, we've done it; plus you've got a whole lot of experienced people covering your back!!

It takes some time to come to terms with a whole new way of life- especially when it seems so radical. You have to be willing to accept you've been lied to your entire life. I guess that was my first step. The Drs, psychologists, psychiatrists & counselors didn't have my best interest in mind; telling someone they have to rely on pills to have a decent life is not in your best interest. The answer simply doesn't exist in a pill bottle. I know what I'm talking about- I've lived the nightmare too.

Be blessed,

buffy~

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September 14, 2004

Okay, I'll have to throw in too then...I won't tell the " long-time

sufferer " story, since it's been done, but I do want to add one thing.

It's been almost ten years since I was on meds. I still have the

occasional anxiety attack and melancholy day, but nothing nearly so

serious as it was--and I didn't make a single change to my diet until

very recently. What fixed the serious stuff for me was a very

determined effort to CHANGE MY THINKING--I was letting my mind go in all

the wrong directions, and doing all sorts of things with my life that

were stupid and unhelpful.

Recently I've quit smoking, started eating a little better (I can't

afford *anything* right now, but even without a penny to your name, you

can cut back on sugar, right? I've started noticing that sugar makes me

feel *so* much worse in the long run.) And that's great, and I will

keep it up, a little bit at a time (I'm another

get-overwhelmed-and-give-up type). But I can't stress enough for people

battling depression that, no matter how much you don't want to hear it,

it is true that whether to be happy or not, whether to be strong or not,

and what to think -- those are *your choice*. I studied psychology for

six months like crazy, kept journals and notes and did insane amounts of

stuff to figure out what I was doing wrong, but then again I was sure I

would end up dead if I didn't solve the mystery, so I sort of had to.

And what I learned was that my thinking *was* in my power, and that how

I CHOSE to think had a huge impact on me (and everyone else). It's not

as simple as " I'll think happy-happy thoughts today! " or any silliness

like that. It's more like, you have to learn how your head works, and

learn to spot your moods coming on, and figure out what helps and what

doesn't (nutritionally and environmentally--is this a bad time to watch

a horror movie? Are you not in a good mood for company, or specific

types of company? Should you sit and draw or do something quiet for a

little while?). The diet and stuff is important, but--and I'm probably

gonna get lynched for this--I truly believe that it, and everything

else, is secondary to attitude. I literally saved my own life with an

attitude adjustment--I went from attempting suicide while sleepwalking

to being functional enough to go through a divorce a few years later

without needing meds or intervention (except from my friends, of course).

In closing: This list can be really intimidating, and it's got a lot of

die-hard evangelical health-nuts on it (no offense, guys). That can be

really intimidating and, to be honest, annoying, at first. Just ignore

them, if that's what you have to do in the beginning to be comfortable,

and concentrate on the little steps you can take now, and the things you

know without having to do research are a good idea (like eating less

junk). Those little steps will help you feel like you're accomplishing

something, too, and that in turn will help your attitude. You'll get

there. If people like Buffy and I can exist without meds, you can too;

and if people like me can be well even though I still have a lot of

changes I need to make--simply because I've learned to adjust my

thinking--then you can too.

Hang in there,

ST

buffy marie wrote:

> Christy wrote:

> I was trying to find a better way to live ect. But I think I'm going to

> have to find another way. I'm not sure my thinking belongs here.

>

> Christy ~

>

> Stay a while. Can I share a bit of wisdom from another veteran in this

> area? I had struggled with depression/bi-polar labels for 20 years.

September 14, 2004

Thank you for your sharing your story, I have a similar story and some

of youhave heard parts of it but I amwilling to share mine and my

recovery to wear I am at now if anyone is interested.

You are a strong surviving women Buffy and you deserve the life you have

made for yourself now. I am so very proud of you and your story touches

my heart in so many ways, My mother was diagnosed with this so called

bipolar - which they tried to say I had too for a while but I told them

to take a hike after they tried putting me on meds 6 yrs ago and I had

seizures from it.

My mother says they keep changing her meds and uping the dose. Last

time I called her she sounded like a zombie ( I told her I am putting

together a list of things for her to do to get her ont he track of

cleaning out her body and the drugs from her system. She is al ready.

Hugs

Deana

buffy marie wrote:

> Christy wrote:

> I was trying to find a better way to live ect. But I think I'm going

> to have to find another way. I'm not sure my thinking belongs here.

>

> Christy ~

>

> Stay a while. Can I share a bit of wisdom from another veteran in this

> area? I had struggled with depression/bi-polar labels for 20 years.

> I fought medication until I had children & won a two week trip to

> the psycho ward due to PPD & divorce (not a good combination

> obviously). There, I allowed myself to be brainwashed into thinking I

> had to be medicated so my girls would have a chance at having a

> 'normal' mom. I played that game on & off for 13 years.

>

> Trust me when I say, I REALLY wanted to slap someone the first time I

> heard I was responsible for the bi-polar label I carried around. How

> was that /even/ possible?!? I mean, NO ONE CHOOSES to live like

> this... after all I couldn't help myself, right? But that's exactly

> what it was- a choice. Every time I shoveled junk food into my body,

> I made the choice to stay out of control & depressed. Every time I

> lost my temper 'b/c I couldn't help it', I made the choice not to

> learn self control, and every time I took solace in the effexor, the

> prozac, the respiridol, the celexa, the lexapro, the zoloft, the

> lithium, the depakote, the wellbutrin, the lamictal, (shall I go

> on...?) I chose to buy into the lie that peace of mind could be bought

> for a price. That's not peace of mind, it's mind numbing & that's no

> life sweetie.

>

> This is how I explained it to my daughter: think of processed

> foods the same way you would bee stings- Everyone has a reaction-

> swelling, itching, pain; but some reactions result in anaphylactic

> shock. Everyone has a reaction to processed foods b/c the effects

> of the lack of nutrition is the same. BUT, we're desensitized to these

> reactions b/c we're told it's normal (kinda like that bee sting). I

> (and you) on the other hand, react to the extreme - anaphylactic shock

> if you will. Hon, if you knew a bee sting would send you to the

> emergency room, wouldn't you go out of your way to avoid contact with

> bees? It's the same with the food issue here. I have learned

> processed foods have the potential to send me over the edge- I so I

> avoid them like the plague. You need to start thinking of this stuff

> as your enemy, not your friend & certainly not your comfort. The

> depression is fed by your diet & your thought patterns. You allow it

> to wrap itself around your mind until your thought patterns convince

> you that it's no use- you're gonna be depressed anyway, so why

> bother. Sound familiar...?

>

> I'm not making fun of you, I'm telling you I do understand exactly

> where you're at. No money for meds-- been there, done that; I had to

> wean myself off of lithium; all I can say is NEVER again. Two years

> ago I found myself on 8 different meds- 13 pills a day to be normal

> and I still fought depression & massive mood swings. Let me tell ya, I

> came to the conclusion if I'm gonna be depressed & battle mood swings-

> I wasn't paying $150-200.00 a month to do it, not when I could do it

> all by myself & for free!! I weaned myself off the meds for the last

> time. It took 3 months to come off all the drugs , 4 months to clean

> up my diet (already heading in that direction anyway) & 8 months to

> quit chocolate. As I cleaned up my diet & ate more of the things my

> body needed, I craved the sweets & chocolate less. Hon, there is life

> after chocolate- I know, I lived on the stuff. Going two days without

> it was a long dry spell for me!

>

> Darlin', please listen with your heart- when you need an attitude

> adjustment-- there isn't a pill out there that can help you. That

> probably made ya angry, but, just for the heck of it, keep reading.

> That's what it took for me to function- a major attitude adjustment.

> I needed to adjust my attitude about the way I thought, the way I ate,

> the way I allowed myself to react to stress. I had to learn to be

> honest with myself & with others. I had to learn not to cave into

> self induced pity parties- (and NO body could throw a pity party with

> all the works like I could!)-- the list seemed endless... and

> overwhelming. I'm sharing this not to scare you off, but b/c I know

> all the arguments your body is going to come up with to keep that

> 'comfort food'. Trust me, I think I invented a few myself. Each step

> in the right direction is priceless. You don't have to do it all at

> once, you don't have to have all the answers before you change

> one thing at a time- all or nothing doesn't apply here. Victory

> parties are held here on a daily basis!!

>

> Jeni-Laura & Lauren (I'd like to hear your story too Lauren) both

> stated clearly that it can be done-- I'm sharing with you the same

> message. I'm not going to lie to you & say I had it easy. Those of us

> who have shared our stories with you will tell you flat out- it's hard

> & sometimes it can be downright scary-- but you have a support system

> right here to help you through the whole process. Many of us had to do

> it alone. Girl, you can do this, we've done it; plus you've got a

> whole lot of experienced people covering your back!!

>

> It takes some time to come to terms with a whole new way of life-

> especially when it seems so radical. You have to be willing to accept

> you've been lied to your entire life. I guess that was my first step.

> The Drs, psychologists, psychiatrists & counselors didn't have my best

> interest in mind; telling someone they have to rely on pills to have a

> decent life is not in your best interest. The answer simply doesn't

> exist in a pill bottle. I know what I'm talking about- I've lived the

> nightmare too.

>

> Be blessed,

> buffy~

>

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> 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any

> natural remedy.

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> and to

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> long as

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> Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any

> person

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>

> Dr. Ian Shillington

> Doctor of Naturopathy

> Dr.IanShillington

>

> *

September 15, 2004

Hi Sara,

No, you won't get lynched hehehe. In fact, you are SO right. Nutrition, environment, etc., are ALL secondary to your thoughts and ideas. It simply HAS to start with a change of attitude. If not, you are in a constant battle with yourself, and that just adds to all the stresses of dealing with the changes. Once you agree with yourself on changing your diet etc., it becomes easier.

love

Lisa

-

Sara Thustra

herbal remedies

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 2:48 PM

Re: Herbal Remedies - A Better Way of Life

The diet and stuff is important, but--and I'm probably gonna get lynched for this--I truly believe that it, and everything else, is secondary to attitude. I literally saved my own life with an attitude adjustment--I went from attempting suicide while sleepwalking to being functional enough to go through a divorce a few years later without needing meds or intervention (except from my friends, of course).ST