Re: New guy

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the group.

It sounds like you've made a lot of positive, healthy changes for

yourself. I'm glad you got off the drugs successfully and that you

are feeling so much better.

Thanks for sharing your story....It's always inspiring to hear from

someone who has changed to a healthier diet and emerged from the

withdrawals feeling better and more skilled at operating the

machinery...(I liked your analogy)

I'm glad you found us and I hope you'll share more here. I really

agree with your comment about the synergistic effects of feeling

better...it really does affect those around us, I think. I'm

finding I can change a lot of lifelong, dysfunction behaviors and

interactions simply because I feel more positive and better able to

cope.

>

> Hello,

> I've been reading here for a couple months and I'm very impressed.

> I joined to help my step-daughter, but I thought I'd share my

> personal experience.

>

> I'm 55, and " bipolar " all my life. Years of failed drug therapies,

> years of talk therapy, many years of crisis, chaos, pain and deep

> regrets. My last manic binge was produced by my doc, who gave me

> ever increasing doses of Paxil to relieve my " depression " . (He was

a

> GP, and saw the insomnia, anxiety, irritability and loss of

appetite

> as depressive symptoms, which they are...according to the

DSM...but

> they were actually symptoms of mixed state)

> I was hospitalized and put on depakote and paxil. I did that for 8

> months, and was continually depressed,irritable, suicidal and

> impotent. I gained 25 pounds.

>

> I'd experimented with scores of supplements and

other " alternative "

> modalities over the decades, but didn't find anything that worked

> for very long. I'd read " How to live longer and feel better " , By

Dr.

> Linus ing when I was in my 20's, and his thinking had a big

> effect on me. I read " Depression Free, Naturally " By Dr. Joan

> Mathews-Larson, and " The Mood Cure " by Ross. I looked at the

> work of Dr. Abram Hoffer, Dr. Stoll, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer and

> others.

>

> I pulled enough brain cells together to think this over while

lying

> around so depressed I could barely speak, and decided to make some

> assumptions and go from there.

> 1. I was not designed by creation or evolution to be sick. I was

> designed to function well, and be a success.

> 2. If I was sick, my first step should not be to blame the

mechanism

> (my body) but to assume I just wasn't operating it correctly.

> 3. I didn't come with an operating manual, so I'd have to write my

> own!

>

> 4 years ago, I changed my diet to more closely resemble an

> paleolithic one, adding basic supplements of C,

> Multivite/multimineral, B-complex and Omega-3s. Eliminated trans

> fats, sugars, processed foods, etc. Drank lots of water.

> Then, I tapered off the Depakote and paxil. The depakote was easy,

> the paxil was very hard and took 2 months. (I don't think this

group

> was here then...but it would have been helpful!)

> Within a week, I slept better, the depression eased some and the

> irritability decreased. By the end of six months, I was absolutely

> convinced that I was on the right track. Something that happens,

and

> has been stated by many others who did this...there is a very

> definate feeling of " healing " that goes on. A feeling that your

> brain is somehow " filling in " and stabilizing. And on a physical

> level, that is pretty much exactly what is going on. I think the

> Omegas are the most important single thing, but they don't work

that

> well unless all the other essential ingredients are there, too.

>

> I lost the 25 pounds over 6 months without any other effort.

> Something had changed in my metabolism or appetite or something.

My

> overall health improved greatly. Virtually no illnesses like colds

> or flu since then, and if I do get anything it is not severe or

long

> lasting.

> There is a strong seasonal component to my mood swings, so I

address

> specific problems with changes in supplements. Taurine for

agitation

> and insomnia, Tryptophan for depression, extra D in winter, GABA

> works well for any mixed state symptoms for me....1500mgs of

> powdered GABA in some juice will relieve it within 30 minutes.

>

> So I've done pretty well on my own, devising my program...but it

was

> very hard work, and much time was lost.

> And that is why I'm so happy that this forum is here. The

knowledge

> and experience of and others available here is an

> extrodinary, wonderful and hopeful thing. People are being healed

> here. If anyone can think of a more noble thing to do for our

fellow

> humans, I'd like to hear about it!

>

> And the healing has a synergistic effect: Not only is the

individual

> healed, but that healthy person affect those around them in a

> positive way, and then those people spread some measure of that to

> others.

>

> It's all good.

>

> My best to you all,

> Dan

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

Pleased to meet you! Love your email address, by the way.

Thanks for sharing your story. It's amazing what a difference the appropriate nutrients can make. Congratulations on finding a way to heal yourself--I love how you thought your way through the process.

I agree about the synergistic effect of healing...we're going for the hundredth monkey effect here!

I'm glad you found us!

Regards,

Kim

moderator

-- KIM DENISE FINE ARTwww.Kim.comFine Art Giftswww.CafePress.com/Kim

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Dan,

>

> Pleased to meet you! Love your email address, by the way.

Thanks so much for the welcome. My addy is a reference to my

favorite " psychotherapy " book, " A Road Less Traveled " , by the late

M. Peck. I've probably read a few hundred self-help

psychotherapy books, but that one says so much, so clearly, that

after reading it...I pretty much stopped reading any others! Lol...

Like so many others, I've had years of psychotherapy...and since I

started healing, I discovered something that I'd like to share.

When I felt bad, I could always find things to blame for why I felt

so bad. There was always something to tell the therapist. It's my

job, it's my relationship, it's my family, it's my dog... always

something. IMO, a sick brain searches for reasons for it's

discomfort, and it's not well equipped to look at " itself " , so it

looks externally for the reasons. (and can always find them, it

seems!)

Also, something happens that activates negative memories, and I'd

have to battle recurring replays of various regrets, times of poor

judgement and traumas.

When I started getting better, many of those " issues " that I had

felt were important melted away, and those that remained were not

nearly as powerful as they had been. The intrusive thoughts

decreased, and I found I could access more of my joyful memories,

count my blessings and enjoy the moment.

It makes it worth every bit of the effort, IMO.

I'm glad to be one of the monkeys here...I'm learning a lot!

My best,

Dan

[Guest guest]

So glad you found us Dan, Welcome!

Love

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

So glad you decided to introduce yourself. You obviously have your

sense of humor intact and your story was inspiring. Thanks for

sharing.

Best wishes for you and yours,

>

> Hello,

> I've been reading here for a couple months and I'm very impressed.

> I joined to help my step-daughter, but I thought I'd share my

> personal experience.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

I like your email address too

Thanks for coming here and sharing. Things get hard sometimes and it's

nice to come here and read messages of hope. The biggest factor for me

is the nutritional advice about diet and supplements, but that's

closely followed by reminders that I'm not alone. Others have been down

this gravel path too I'm sure that once I'm on the other side, I

will look back and actually be glad of this experience, though as you

say it's sad when you think about the time that was lost. I have a

little girl and I've been depressed for over half her life now. I want

her mommy to come back.

I hope you keep chatting here, I really enjoyed your email and I think

you've achieved some wonderful things.

[Guest guest]

> Thanks so much for the welcome. My addy is a reference to my

> favorite " psychotherapy " book, " A Road Less Traveled " , by the late

> M. Peck. I've probably read a few hundred self-help

> psychotherapy books, but that one says so much, so clearly, that

> after reading it...I pretty much stopped reading any others! Lol...

OK well I've had a good laugh so thanks for that -- being an English

teacher, I thought your email address was playing on a poem

called " The Road Not Taken " by Frost. I thought it was good,

too, because I think those of us here are on that road, and indeed it

has made a huge difference in our lives. Here's the poem if you're

interested:

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood and I --

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

**Best wishes,

.

[Guest guest]

, I loved that. Thanks. wrote: > Thanks so much for the welcome. My addy is a reference to my > favorite "psychotherapy" book, "A Road Less Traveled", by the late

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.

[Guest guest]

Peck's book takes its title from Frost's poem.

Dan, that is one of my Top 10 books of all time. We often recommend it on this list. It is probably the best and most sensible self-help ever written.

Kim -- KIM DENISE FINE ARTwww.Kim.comFine Art Giftswww.CafePress.com/Kim

[Guest guest]

<<Dan, that is one of my Top 10 books of all time. We often recommend it on

this list. It is probably the best and most sensible self-help ever

written.>>

** It's recommended in our introductory letter to new members.

Regards,

" Every science touches art at some points while

every art has its scientific side; the worst man

of science is he who is never an artist, and the

worst artist is he who is never a man of science. "

[Armand Trousseau]

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Wow...I guess I'm not surprised!

I'll admit I haven't read all the introductory material (but I will

make a point of doing so)

I can't tell you how relieved I am to find such support as I find

here. It gives me the confidence to continue fighting for my

stepdaughter.

She is " treatment resistant " , and has been diagnosed with bipolar I

and Asperger's. The bipolar I DX was made after she got extremely

paranoid and depressed after starting lexapro. She was hospitalized

for 10 days, and has been on 8 different drugs since November.

On April 6th, we took her to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and are

awaiting the test results, but preliminary diagnosis is low

histamine and possible copper toxicity. If this is the case, it

would explain why she has such an atypical response to drugs.

Thanks for all you do,

Dan

>

> <<Dan, that is one of my Top 10 books of all time. We often

recommend it on

> this list. It is probably the best and most sensible self-help

ever

> written.>>

>

>

> ** It's recommended in our introductory letter to new members.

>

> Regards,

>

>

> " Every science touches art at some points while

> every art has its scientific side; the worst man

> of science is he who is never an artist, and the

> worst artist is he who is never a man of science. "

>

> [Armand Trousseau]

>

[Guest guest]

> I can't tell you how relieved I am to find such support as I find

> here. It gives me the confidence to continue fighting for my

> stepdaughter.

> She is " treatment resistant " , and has been diagnosed with bipolar I

> and Asperger's. The bipolar I DX was made after she got extremely

> paranoid and depressed after starting lexapro. She was hospitalized

> for 10 days, and has been on 8 different drugs since November.

> On April 6th, we took her to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and are

> awaiting the test results, but preliminary diagnosis is low

> histamine and possible copper toxicity. If this is the case, it

> would explain why she has such an atypical response to drugs.>>

** I can't let this go by. She is not treatment resistant --

THE DRUGS DON'T WORK and people are repeatedly misdiagnosed.

Problems get magnified and complicated and magnified from the

point the first psychotropic drug is given. It becomes impossible for

the family to see what is the original problem and what is being

fueled by the drugs.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

>

> ** I can't let this go by. She is not treatment resistant --

> THE DRUGS DON'T WORK and people are repeatedly misdiagnosed.

>

>

> Problems get magnified and complicated and magnified from the

> point the first psychotropic drug is given. It becomes impossible

for

> the family to see what is the original problem and what is being

> fueled by the drugs.

>

> Regards,

>

>

Dear ,

You will find no disagreement from me! " Treatment resistant " is

their term, not mine. As far as I'm concerned, that excuse is like

putting gasoline on a fire, and then declaring the fire " extinguish

resistant " when it won't go out.

My best,

Dan

[Guest guest]

I absolutely agree with . She is telling it like it is... Just

my two-cents' worth! Sally

> [Original Message]

>

> To: <Withdrawal_and_Recovery >

> Date: 5/1/2006 11:48:58 AM

> Subject: Re: New guy

>

>

> >

> > ** I can't let this go by. She is not treatment resistant --

> > THE DRUGS DON'T WORK and people are repeatedly misdiagnosed.

> >

> >

> > Problems get magnified and complicated and magnified from the

> > point the first psychotropic drug is given. It becomes impossible

> for

> > the family to see what is the original problem and what is being

> > fueled by the drugs.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

>

> Dear ,

> You will find no disagreement from me! " Treatment resistant " is

> their term, not mine. As far as I'm concerned, that excuse is like

> putting gasoline on a fire, and then declaring the fire " extinguish

> resistant " when it won't go out.

>

> My best,

> Dan

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> To subscribe to our off-topic Social list go to:

>

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socialWandR/

>

> To subscribe to our Truth-in-Health list go to:

>

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/truth-in-health

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> > I can't tell you how relieved I am to find such support as I

find

> > here. It gives me the confidence to continue fighting for my

> > stepdaughter.

> > She is " treatment resistant " , and has been diagnosed with

bipolar I

> > and Asperger's. The bipolar I DX was made after she got

extremely

> > paranoid and depressed after starting lexapro. She was

hospitalized

> > for 10 days, and has been on 8 different drugs since November.

> > On April 6th, we took her to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and

are

> > awaiting the test results, but preliminary diagnosis is low

> > histamine and possible copper toxicity. If this is the case, it

> > would explain why she has such an atypical response to drugs.>>

>

>

> ** I can't let this go by. She is not treatment resistant --

> THE DRUGS DON'T WORK and people are repeatedly misdiagnosed.

>

>

> Problems get magnified and complicated and magnified from the

> point the first psychotropic drug is given. It becomes impossible

for

> the family to see what is the original problem and what is being

> fueled by the drugs.

>

> Regards,

>

Hi Dan,

I just wanted to reinforce what is saying here.

I was given a diagnosis of Asperger's about twelve years ago. It

can feel very stigmatizing, especially I would think for a

teenager. Since I am older, I never took the diagnosis that

seriously, but it bothered me. The Asperger diagnosis is frequently

based only on a questionnaire or a set of symptoms that can also be

indicative of many other issues.

I believe now that most of my so-called Asperger traits were the

result of food allergies. I didn't come to this group specifically

for the Asperger diagnosis, but to withdraw from painkillers for

migraines. I scheduled a consultation with when I joined

and took the supplements she recommended for me. I began following

the diet suggested here and stopped taking medications.

Interestingly, most of my identified " Asperger " symptoms have

completely disappeared or diminished as a result of the protocol

suggested and the healthier diet.

Since a similar protocol was so successful for you, it would

certainly be worth trying with your step-daughter. It could save

her from years of misery and misdirection.

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone

I was also told I was resistant/treatment wise re. Bipolar 1

disorder. I had taken numerous psychiatric drugs for at least 10

years, had been hospitalised twice for mania. I have followed the

advice here, very seriously, and reclaimed my life. Listen to

.

Diane

> >

> >

> > > I can't tell you how relieved I am to find such support as I

> find

> > > here. It gives me the confidence to continue fighting for my

> > > stepdaughter.

> > > She is " treatment resistant " , and has been diagnosed with

> bipolar I

> > > and Asperger's. The bipolar I DX was made after she got

> extremely

> > > paranoid and depressed after starting lexapro. She was

> hospitalized

> > > for 10 days, and has been on 8 different drugs since November.

> > > On April 6th, we took her to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and

> are

> > > awaiting the test results, but preliminary diagnosis is low

> > > histamine and possible copper toxicity. If this is the case,

it

> > > would explain why she has such an atypical response to drugs.>>

> >

> >

> > ** I can't let this go by. She is not treatment resistant -

-

> > THE DRUGS DON'T WORK and people are repeatedly misdiagnosed.

> >

> >

> > Problems get magnified and complicated and magnified from

the

> > point the first psychotropic drug is given. It becomes

impossible

> for

> > the family to see what is the original problem and what is being

> > fueled by the drugs.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

>

>

> Hi Dan,

>

> I just wanted to reinforce what is saying here.

>

> I was given a diagnosis of Asperger's about twelve years ago. It

> can feel very stigmatizing, especially I would think for a

> teenager. Since I am older, I never took the diagnosis that

> seriously, but it bothered me. The Asperger diagnosis is

frequently

> based only on a questionnaire or a set of symptoms that can also be

> indicative of many other issues.

>

> I believe now that most of my so-called Asperger traits were the

> result of food allergies. I didn't come to this group specifically

> for the Asperger diagnosis, but to withdraw from painkillers for

> migraines. I scheduled a consultation with when I joined

> and took the supplements she recommended for me. I began following

> the diet suggested here and stopped taking medications.

> Interestingly, most of my identified " Asperger " symptoms have

> completely disappeared or diminished as a result of the protocol

> suggested and the healthier diet.

>

> Since a similar protocol was so successful for you, it would

> certainly be worth trying with your step-daughter. It could save

> her from years of misery and misdirection.

>

>

>