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    Depressed.. Waiting..

    My hobbyhorse - diet & depression & drinking -

    I had to start a thread to explain my current way of thinking.. As I feel like I am getting somewhere with it and it might help others. Instead of rambling on and endlessly repeating myself.. I thought I?d put my theories in one spot for anyone who?s interested. (sorry, I do tend to ramble).

    Just want to say to Roberta.. Thank you so much for this wonderful website and your wonderful book!! Everything!! At last we have a place to discuss the unspeakable without all the judgement, shame, blame and degradation. I feel so positive & powerful now to have so many wonderful, strong and intelligent people on my team.. I feel sure that together we can find solutions and MWO has set me on the path to a sooooooo much better life. And I don?t have to struggle along alone any more with something that Nobody Understands!! At last!!

    In this post I retype part of an article from a magazine which helped me. If there is a copyright problem or anything else you don?t like about my post, please don?t hesitate to contact me.. I was not sure what to do about copywright Roberta and I?m sure nobody wants to get sued!!

    So my train of thought goes something like this:

    I read an Aussie newspaper article around Christmas time warning people not to drink to excess on New Years Eve and explaining that the type of acid made by the body when processing alcohol (forget the name of the acid) is exactly the same as ?ant-sting? which is why it is so painful for the body to process.. Thus the hang-over and the all-too-common desire to put off the pain with a hair-of-the-dog remedy the next day. Nasty eh! It also explained that at the office party the fastest person to get drunk will be the short plump female having a glass of bubbly NOT the thinner one doing vodka shots.. Because we drink sugary bubbly drinks which enter the bloodstream immediately.. (Whereas shots send the stomach into poison panic & shut it down.. So you don?t feel it at all until later when you wake up & can?t remember what happened or when it hit you.) So I understood suddenly how alcohol can create blood sugar problems!! (Duh!)

    I found your wonderful website in late January 2006 and raced off to see my Doctor to ask if he?d heard of the program and would he help me by prescribing Topirimate. He?s not sure it?s legal in Australia for anything but epilepsy yet, but he?s looking into it for me. I?m fortunate in that he has a relative who suffers from alcoholism and so he is not judgmental. A rare thing! And he?s very willing to help me. I have no parents, partner or family nearby to mind my 3 children so he?s aware it?s very difficult for me to get treatment in the usual way.. And of course I?m too embarrassed to talk to my friends about it. And in the past my family & friends have only reacted by denying that I have any sort of problem, offering me a drink & telling me to pull myself together. I tried AA years ago but found the same problems there with people being judgemental and cruel if there was any sort of failure/relapse. In my experience it was the opposite of supportive and instead was invasive and degrading in the extreme.

    Women with children with alcohol difficulties are in an extremely hard place in our society - very little help and a whole heap of judgements, expectations & condemnations. This only causes tremendous pressure, shame & isolation. The end result is that there are thousands of children being brought up by mothers leading quiet lives of desperation. Dr Garcia?s introduction really brought home to me how long this problem has been going on. We all, especially our children, deserve better.. And condemnation is no cure for anything.

    Your site offers us new hope.. To take ourselves and our health seriously in order to find solutions. Not reasons to hate ourselves and drive ourselves deeper into illness & dispair.

    So, back to my train of thought..
    I first heard about leaky gut when reading under research on this site.. Did google search & read leaky gut causes symptoms like depression (& all kinds of other emotional & cognitive problems), ageing, deterioration of immune system, insulin imbalance, arthritis, Then did a google search on healing leaky gut.. Got the following information

    HEALING LEAKY GUT
    So to fix leaky gut we need to address a lot of the causes. We need to -
    1 Increase stomach acid by taking lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or hydrochloric acid tablets immediately before a meal.
    2 Avoid processed foods esp grains & sugars (includes flours, breads, pasta cereals, rice)
    3 Take glutamine and Vit A to help repair the damaged villi (gut mucosa absorption sites) and reduce gut hyper-permeability (inappropriate absorption)
    4 Increase bile and pancreatic enymes production - take taurine, Vit E & C, B3, chromium, zinc, manganese
    5 Restore Gut Flora with acidophilus, biodynamic yoghurt, or probiotics on an empty stomach
    6 Eat organic fruit and veg
    7 Use blood group diet
    8 Drink more water - spring or filtered
    9 Avoid constipation - take magnesium and Vit C to bowel tolerance (twice a day on empty stomach)
    10 Boost the immune system - get more sleep, gentle exercise, laughter & fun
    To BOOST Th1 CELLS (and balance Th2)
    * take glutamine, Vit A, C, E, zinc, B Vitamins, essential fatty acids - according to blood group * boost friendly gut flora
    * improve digestion - stomach acid, digestive enzymes, bile, insulin
    * detox any heavy metals eg copper, mercury, lead
    * reduce stress - relax, sleep, massage, meditation, gentle exercise, laugh, have fun


    So we keep coming up with the same things still.

    Diet tips
    - The diet should eliminate foods that are harsh to the intestinal lining. These include sugar, white flour products, milk and dairy products, high fat foods, caffeine, alcohol and other foods known to trigger adverse reactions.
    - Highly spiced foods should be excluded from the diet. These include chillies, curries, vinegar, pepper and mustard.
    - Food should be chewed more thoroughly.
    - Frequent small meals should be eaten rather than three large meals per day
    - Increase intake of fish, cod, tuna, salmon and their oils.
    - Reduce or eliminate red meat and animal fat, other than fish and fish oil.
    - Increase intake of foods high in 'soft' fibre such as carrots, beetroot, broccoli, bananas, paw paw, cherries and mangoes.
    - Drink filtered or bottled water rather than tap water.
    Vits/mins/herbs
    - Reinoculate the bowel with 'good' bacteria using Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements.
    - Glucosamine and Glutamine improve the health of the intestinal lining and reduce the 'leakiness' of the gut wall.
    - Natural Digestive Enzymes such as bromelain, papain and aloe vera juice can assist digestive function.
    - Essential Fatty Acids that occur in flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, fish oil, black current seed oil, apple and citrus pectin and gamma oryzanol are good for digestive function and intestinal health.
    - Antioxidant Supplements such as carotenoids, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, germanium, coenzyme Q10 and bioflavonoids can help to detoxify the body.
    - Plant extracts help repair the intestinal lining. These include kudzu, burdock, slippery elm, Turkish rhubarb, sheep sorrel, liquorice root, ginger root, golden seal, bismuth and bentonite.
    I also read a magazine article which I have retyped for you here..

    ?In 1992 I was working as a conservation officer and had just got married when I started to get pains in my lower back. I thought I had pulled a muscle, so I took pain-killers and anti-inflammatory drugs, but nothing seemed to work.
    ?It got worse and worse, until I couldn?t even walk 100 metres. By June 1993, I had taken so much time off work that I had to resign. I didn?t know what was wrong with me and it was quite frightening. Over the next two years, I developed more symptoms: swelling in my toe and finger joints, and inflammation in the back of my eye.
    ?I consulted my Gps and specialists, but all they ever seemed to give me were more anti-inflammatory and pain-killers. These seemed like short-term solutions, and I didn?t want to be on medication forever.
    ?In the end, I was diagnosed with Reiter?s Syndrome - an auto-immune condition that causes inflammation of the body - and I needed to have injections in the back of my eye. Then, in June 1999, I was also diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), which is arthritis of the spine, and can make older people double over. I found out later that arthritis sufferers often have Reiter?s Syndrome as well. The specialist told me that I?d be in a wheelchair in a few years. I was devastated - I was pregnant with my second son, Luke, now three, and I already had Kaya, now six.
    ?I started to read up on AS. As well as exercising with a mini-trampoline, which is recommended for sufferers, I changed my diet dramatically, cutting out all the bad stuff - cakes, sweets, alcohol (most of the time anyway) - and I started drinking 2 litres of water a day, which was a real turning point.
    ?I took a nutrition course, and learnt all about fatty acids. Found in foods like oily fish, they are essential for overall health, and help people with chronic illnesses. They?re also in seed oil, - a mix of flax, hemp, evening primrose, pumpkin and sesame oils. This was good for me, because I can?t take too much oily fish.
    ?The seed oil was definitely the missing link in the chain. Within six weeks, the flare-ups in my joints eased - and my skin and hair looked fantastic. I haven?t had a bad attack since. My Reiter?s Syndrome is also much better - in the last three years, I?ve only had to go to hospital for injections once. It was like a miracle - the transformation was amazing.
    ?Before, I would never have dreamt of running my own business, but I told my husband, Guy, we should market our own seed oil. Although he?s normally a bit of a cynic, he thought it was a good idea, so we put our house up for collateral, and in November 2002, started the Groovy Food Company. We produce Cool Oil, a blend of Omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids, and now it sells all over the world.
    ?My diet changed my body shape too. I?d never paid much attention to it, but I now realise it was full of saturated fat. I went from 60 kilos, size 12-14 to 51 kilos and a size 10 (I?m 160cm). Now, I try to eat vegetables, fish and chicken most of the time, although I?m no saint.?
    Excerpt from ?The Diet That Saved My Life? article Marieclaire Australia Feb 2006
    By Rosie Hayward, 39, businesswoman

    So to cut a long story short, I ordered the book & CD?s and started changing my diet by cutting out red meat, wheat and. I looked into the Cool Oil but it was too expensive & far away for me so I bought a bunch of bottles of oils from my health food shop and started drinking spoonfulls a couple of times a day. It was pretty yuck but I noticed huge improvement in my mood, digestion, bowel function, and my painful arthritis even went away within the first week. Since then I?ve slipped a bit and noticed the bad foods produced troubles again. Am determined to make permanent changes in my life and heal all my bodily ills just like Rosie if I can!!

    The MWO program is going to be a very important part of the process. I feel sure that drinking has caused almost all my health problems indirectly via destroying the functioning of my gut over time & messing with my blood sugar.

    Learning all of the above also helped show me why MWO works better than any other program.. because of the nutrition component.. at least that's my opinion.

    Sure hope this is helpful for someone.
    I'm still waiting for supps to arrive & to see my doc again about my blood tests before I get started.. but at least I'm a whole lot more positive. Plus I'm hoping my digestion is working well enough to get maximum benefit from the supps. I've even started Yoga! So if you are depressed, read, read, read and post and talk.. it really, really helps.

    Love & Blessings to All
    MFM

    #2
    Depressed.. Waiting..

    Depressed..Waiting..

    MFM,
    What a thoughtful post! Are you posting from down under? I sure hope your book and supps get there soon! And you can start to work on your sleep and depression. The book 7 Weeks to Sobriety recommends meltonin for sleep and even some non alcoholics like my sister find it helpful - guess what - it never helped me! But I just thought I would mention it. When I really have insomnia - nothing, not the valerian, not the tea, not the tylenol pm, I mean nothing, will help. So I sympathize, MFM, and I am glad that you are patiently hanging around this website, still waiting and waiting for those supps and that book? Are you planning on taking any of the meds?

    Best wishes,
    Adria

    Comment


      #3
      Depressed.. Waiting..

      Depressed..Waiting..

      Oh Adria, Thanks so much for your reply..
      I don't know what I was thinking! I had beef taco's last night & am feeling so ROTTEN!! I think i've proved my theory all over to myself! I was thinking such horrible thoughts about myself and getting more & more morose.. until I remembered the red meat! Of course! So I'll try to take it easy on myself until tomorrow & get back on the diet. This website and my diet/theory are the only thing keeping me going right now. I'm up & down like a yo-yo due to diet/blood-sugar/drinking muddle. Yes I got my book & cd's, saw my doc & asked about meds and am waiting to hear on Tuesday about bloods & what meds are legal here. I ordered a whole heap of supps which I am still waiting on. Got to get my digestion sorted so I can reap the benefits of the supps.
      Hope you're going well,
      Thanks Heaps,
      Love
      MFM

      Comment


        #4
        Depressed.. Waiting..

        Re: Depressed..Waiting..

        MFM: you responded to my first posts - you may not know it but you re an angel. TRULY. Your comment"....Sure hope this is helpful for someone....." what you described is EXACTLY what has happened to my body - from the eyes to the joints and severe back problem. I take to heart everything you have written and the time it took you to do so I am eternally grateful for. - very selfless of you. i have had an auto-immune disease for years and am highly educated in the medical field - yet you have implicated me in the most tender way of INFORMATION. I DO - have have a drinking problem anyways... a new thing to my life. but my life was miserable anyway (physically) before i started the drinking. that is WHY i started the drinking - it was great for a while. in an earlier post to me you mentined my wit - that is how i manage my despair, not to ignore it - but I HAVE TO LAUGH AT MY JOURNEY right now. with prayers that it will not last forever.
        thre is some kind of energy that i picked up from signeing in yesterday....as i DID NOT WANT TO DRINK TODAY AT ALL. it was as if something just removed it from me.
        Don't get too excited...I got bored tonight and had a vodka - just didn't feel so bad about it because I knew I wasn't medicating in desperation.
        I RALLY want to get the Topramax. I know it is the right thing. thank you for everyting - and all and in thre and if it doesn't work the first time - keep practicing the willingnes to be where you feel OK about yourself. Kindly E

        Comment


          #5
          Depressed.. Waiting..

          Re: Depressed..Waiting..

          Hi Martian!

          Wonderful post! I don't have any of the horrible symptoms that you've described, for which I am very grateful, but it sounds like your research could be very helpful to many of us without it. I have also noticed that after I have drank (drunk?) heavily for a few days, my bowels do tend to rebel, definitely letting me know that they don't like what I've been putting in my body!

          Thanks for all the information and the time and trouble you took to keep us informed. I want to look into this more!

          Hugs, love,
          Kathy

          Comment


            #6
            Depressed.. Waiting..

            Re: Depressed..Waiting..

            MFM...
            All I can say is WOW!! Thank you for all the time you put into sharing that with us. I printed it out. I also do not have all those symptoms, but can relate to SOME of them. I have been having a horrible "all over the body" itching problem for about three months. I have been to the doctor, dermatologist, etc, all to no avail. It is so severe that I carry a hairbrush around with me because the fingernails just dont do the trick. I tend to leave bruises on my body from such severe scratching to relieve the itching. I have no idea what causes it, but my doctor thinks it is the result of a lot of trauma that I have recent been through. I have had more than one person tell me to take flax seed oil and that they are sure I will see a huge difference. I am making a list of all the supplements for MWO, and am adding a few things to it, such as flax seed oil. We eat fish three times a week, although I am not crazy about it.

            Thanks again so much for the vital information, and I know with the determination that you have, you are going to do fantastic. Remember, "Knowledge is power!"

            Keep posting!! Allie

            Comment


              #7
              Depressed.. Waiting..

              Re: Depressed..Waiting..

              MFM

              I read posts from time to time during my work day. I just read yours and I agree with you that because of my drinking and my "horrible" diet, I know I have done some crazy stuff to my digestive track

              I am just coming out of my fog...and it is feeling good. I was eating some crappy healthy choice meals alot ...what is healthy about it? It's processed.... and lately I'm making myself salads and vegeterian stir frys. Feeling better all the way around....

              When I lived in Nashville at one point in my life, I had a dr of nutrition and homeopathy. Sometimes I just go and visit him because he is one of those people that just change your life ...and for the better. I am starting the MWO book and I already have started back on the glut...he had reccommended that too...

              I thnk right now these boards (and a great appt with a therapist) are what is keeping me moderating and basically TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.

              thanks MFM for the info....information is power and appreciate posts like this anytime.

              Best to you
              BW

              Comment


                #8
                Depressed.. Waiting..

                Re: Depressed..Waiting..

                MFM-
                You are a wealth of information, sounds like you have really researched and have something to sink your teeth into! So glad you got the book and CDs, and supps, etc. on their way, yeah! I am going to look into the oils a bit more, very interesting. Healthy is definately "in", so I think you're on to something.

                I'm pretty OK on the healthy stuff (diet/exercise), but I'm finding myself getting more and more into it since I've gotten involved with MWO. It's like now that I'm getting healthier ... I want to get even "healthier" ... does this make sense?

                You are quite the character MFM! I just love your posts. Keep 'em coming.

                Gracie

                Comment


                  #9
                  Depressed.. Waiting..

                  Depressed...Waiting...

                  Thanks Everyone,
                  All your encouragement is so terrific. I may not know exactly what i'm talking about but I'm the human guineapig with my experiments.. and you're right Gracie I am a bit of a charachter.. people say they know they can say ANYTHING to me.. I have a healthy sense of the rediculous!! I do need something to get my teeth into while i'm WAITING!! So I'm back on my diet.. 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal for brekky (noone else likes it so i give the rest to my dog) with little stewed fruit & yoghurt with asidophillus powder.. the oils (yuk).. and every time I eat I'm telling myself how kind I am being to my stomach and how grateful it is after all the mean things I've done to it.. and I visualise it healing and working better.. and I'm hoping when all the supps arrive I'll be on my way. (PS: oatmeal is supposed to be very healing for the gut & stewed pears too). My aim is to get my emotions more stable by the time I start MWO.
                  My research has shown that healing leaky gut helps cure ADHD, bipolar disorder, aspergers as well as moodswings & depresssion. So there is more to digestion than meets the eye!! I reckon I'm onto something.
                  I'm also researching 'syndrome-x' & 'insulan resistance' which i think are probably caused by high carbohardrate diets. From personal experience, the worst times in my life were when I was on a no-fat, high-carb diet.. I got dreadfully depressed & that increased drinking so I was really ill. Whereas I've never been healthier than when I was on a low-carb diet & drinking very little for close to 6 months. Only problem was I had to go zero-carb for 3 days which meant zero alcohol. Not sure if I could do that just now.. so starting with small steps.
                  So if anyone else is interested in this kind of thing, feel free to share.

                  In the meantime, here's another article (please excuse the free use of the label 'alcoholic' which I hate cause I think it's basically counterproductive - zillions of people are having problems with alcohol which does not make them all alcoholics!):-
                  www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg18925374.900.html

                  If the link doesn't work, go to newscientist.com and look in archive, inside 4 Feb 2006 issue under Conference Report "Inside the brain of an alcoholic"
                  Emma Young reports on the annual conference of the Australian Neuroscience Society in Sydney.

                  The article is about latest discoveries about alcohol's effects on amygdala, which is a key structure in the brain's emotional system.. which may explain why people recovering from alcohol abuse are prone to disrupted sleep patterns & relapse etc.

                  Best,
                  MFM

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