Posted by BarbaraCat on August 23, 2003, at 12:22:16
In reply to Re: Naturopath visit results, please read » BarbaraCat, posted by katia on August 23, 2003, at 0:29:58
>>I actually asked my pdoc about testing my hormones, but he said that my "problem" was mood related, probably not hormonal. I wonder if they do affect one another and/or if they are just two individual pieces (to make the whole!)that need sorting out? Maybe you need both?
**Your pdoc is not the one to ask about hormonal testing. He/she likely knows nothing about how to decipher them or how the numbers might relate to mood. I asked my gynocologist to please test me and he, who should know about female hormones, said most doctors don't use hormonal testing because they don't know what to do with the numbers!! And yes, of course hormones affect mood and vice versa. The function of hormones is to prodvide communication between bio- and neuro-chemicals. If one system is out of whack it will affect the whole. The brain has a huge number of estrogen receptors, so this should suggest how important supposedly 'unrelated' physical hormones are to neuro systems. There are no separate physical/mental pieces. They all relate to the whole. This is why you'd be best talking to someone who is holistically oriented, who recognizes that all body systems are interrelated and knows what to do with this information. Reproductive hormones may not be your entire problem and granted, mood and stress affects hormone levels. But if you're hormonally unbalanced, you're swimming against the tide to try to get your moods balanced.
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> Have you ever done kundalini yoga? I did a class last year for three months (partially academic, partially meditative for my M.A.) and just went to a local meditation tonight (different teacher). It's pretty intense and I'm wondering if it's too much right now while I'm trying to sort out the meds?**Yes, I've done kundalini and there are different types. You say that this one is intense. I'd agree with your therapist on this one and wait until you're stabilized. If you go too fast raising energy before you're in a very grounded state, it would be like shooting a huge zap of electricity through a frayed wire. There's a psychiatric condition known as 'kundalini psychosis', believe it or not. Yoga is wonderful for depression and anxiety but again, there are so many different kinds. I'd opt for the more calming and centering kinds, like Kripalu, Anusara, even Iyengar, and be cautious about the really activating ones like Kriya, Kundalini, Ashtanga (Bikram). However, if you get a good gut reaction to this class and teacher and it would be a good community, good exercise and good philosphy then it could be a real gift during this time. Whatever, you can keep a cool head and body as well as taking with a grain of salt anything any teacher tells you.
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253367.html