Posted by BarbaraCat on June 1, 2004, at 1:11:22
In reply to Re: Anyone give up meds? - YES!, posted by Nemo2 on May 31, 2004, at 17:30:50
Dear Nemo,
DLPA, huh? I've heard good things about it but never thought to take it. I've also had severe gastric misery but that's clearing up, thankfully. It's clear that we've gotta work on decent digestion before anything else - otherwise all these fantastic nutrients end up in the porcelain bowl.
While you're researching and experimenting, look into 'methylation'. There are a couple books on the subject, but you can find out plenty by doing a search. Methylation+depression turns up tons of hits. It's pretty fascinating stuff, talks about a harmful amino acid, homocysteine, which is implicated more and more in all kinds of ills, including mood disorders. Many of us apparently have malfunctioning enzyme systems that handle homocysteine. Optimizing methylation helps convert homocysteine into SAM-e, and other good things happen along the way. The following are taken at the same time in the morning before food.
- SAM-e (400mg): (or TMG, trimethylglycine, cheaper and converts to SAM-e and probably is better used in the body). It's amazing stuff, the more I find out about it.
- Folic acid (800mg): I'm discovering that folic acid and the newer assimilable forms of it are key to depression recovery.
- Vitamin B2 - helps the conversions,
- B12 in the methylcobalamin sublilngual form that the brain uses.There's also somewhat confusing stuff about niacin depleting methylation and how some people don't do well on B6. Experimentation.
And of course, fish oil. Hope you're taking fish oil. The more I read about how it works to assist neuron functioning, the better I feel about taking it. I guess this contradicts what I said about doing it slow, one thing at a time. But really, I've cut way back on all the supplements I was chugging. It's taking time to kick in and I go up and down and usually completely forget about the good times when I'm down. I feel better now than I did earlier. It was nice having a day to myself. Just let myself be with feeling crummy, moped around a bit and took a nap. It's taken half a century to learn that All things pass and always will.
Thanks so much for sharing about the soldier, the night sky and talking to Cosmos. Yes, when I'm in connection to that Loving Presence, when I hear that guiding voice - everything feels content and nothing is impossible. I get that feeling when I look at the Hubble space pictures. It's when I lose that connection through the static and mind cloud of depression and anxiety that it gets scary. I isolate from everything and everyone, including my loving and ever-so-patient hubby, and hopelessness sets in. It's damned difficult to trudge that path alone. It's so important to keep the faith by reading good books, keeping good company (even if it's only having a good time with yourself), and having this board to connect to others on this most interesting path. I'm grateful you're out there as well. Keep on shining that light. - Barbara
> Hey Barbara,
>
> Pretty neat that you are a fan of "Sweet Surrender". I can't find a John Denver album with the song included so I learned the lyrics and sing it myself when the spirit moves me. I am also a Tolkien fan. Read the Trilogy and The Hobbitt in college in 1970 or so. I love the heroes and villians of it all. Unbelievable what they've done with the films. Great stuff.
>
> Sorry to hear your day is down this Memorial Day. Saturday and Sunday were not so hot for me, but today is good. I think taking DLPA and Tyrosine together are lifting my mood and easing the chronic internal pain I have. Chronic gastritis and colitis, oh boy! I agree with your thoughts about how tough it is to focus on a good attitude when you are in pain, exhausted and it won't go away. I've been anxious all my life and alcohol was my drug of choice. What a wonderful high, even in small doses. What relief from all that ails you.
>
> However, my body started telling me alcohol was very bad for my insides about 5 years ago and I wasn't listening. Now I've mostly gotten out of the habit of it, but it still becons me under certain circumstances and I relent. Always to regret the choice when I'm sore as hell for a few days and all other parts of my life suffer.
>
> One last note on amino therapy: I'm also boosting their absorption and activity with B3 and B6 like the books tell me to do. As you say, what a Godsend compared to the SSRI thing.
>
> Thank you for the tips on the two authors and their writings. I will check them out on the web and probably get the books.
>
> Last night on TV the networks broadcast some very sad stories of families losing soldiers in Iraq. One widow with two small children told her story of losing her husband the boys father. They read a letter he had written "just in case" he was killed. At the end of the letter he asked his wife to do him the favor of hugging the boys and telling them of their father's love for them and then for her to go outside alone in the night and look to the heavens.....and count the stars.
>
> I have often found peace from my own life's sense of loss and anxiety by doing just that. I refer to it as getting in touch with the "Cosmos". I think I started it one night long ago after watching Carl Sagan's video production of his book of the same name. Stuff that always makes me feel refreshed somehow. Thoughts that rejuvinate my spirit. Distract my thoughts and emotions from dwelling on today's problems and localized pain, etc. Makes me think of the joy of just being who I am, warts and all. Getting back to the good things I like and love about myself. Feeling that life is really worth living.
>
> I know you'll keep getting better, Barbara. I love your approach on taking one substance at a time now. I'm amused by your comment on not being able to tell what substance is doing what inside you when you are taking several at the same time. How true. How frustrating to us all.
>
> Damn complicated vehicles these human bodies. I wish life was simple again like when I was about 22 years old and everything worked perfectly no matter what I did to it. No regrets though. I'm working on getting myself in the right place and being honest with me, my wife, my boss and anyone within earshot.
>
> The good news is that much progress has been made in the last 12 months. Let's see where it goes from here. I can tell that is your mind set and it gives me strength to know you are out there.
>
> Nemo2
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:323524
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040418/msgs/352606.html