My mother suffered
from depression and anxiety and her nerves were so bad from it, that she
developed a condition where she cried all the time whether she was happy or sad.
All emotion made her cry. As a child, this made me angry so I somewhat hard and
cruel when ever I was around her when she cried. I realize now that I have
suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a child. Most adults just said
I was “over emotional” In fact, that is what my family said too. But I
thought they were all crazy, “I didn’t cry like my mother”. Except for the
problems in elementary school with bully's, I had a very stable and enjoyable
life. My parents never quarreled and I was well loved and excepted at
home. Then I met and fell in love with a
true manic-depressive....a musical and scientific genius... never-the-less very mentally unstable. I became his yo
yo, not knowing how to handle the ups and downs and the put ups and put-downs.
He committed suicide when I was 18years old and I felt responsible and angry at
the same time, I suppressed the feelings and found someone else,
got married and had a family. The stress of marrying into a family with much
different priorities and manners than I was ever used to, began to take its
toll on me over the years. My immunities were down and I began having anxiety attacks, crying
sessions, anger sessions; I didn’t know what was happening or how to handle my emotions. Then, when I found out that my marriage was
not what I thought it was, I had to face some realities, I really lost it. I went
into a total depression. The only thing that kept me from giving into suicide
is my love for my children and the knowledge that they needed me. I refused to take antidepressants because I
knew they would alter my mind and mess me up worse. I got older and I lost my Mother
to diabetes, then I was diagnosed with diabetes that same year, so after I
found I had diabetes, My doctors talked me into taking Zoloft, promising little to no side effects. I took Zoloft,
at first and it felt like it was working, it was taking my blood sugars down. But
then after a while I would forget to take one for a day. Not good…..
The kids would say
that I grew fangs and claws. The mood swings got worse and worse. I would get
so very irritable and depressed. I felt myself slipping into a terrible mode of
fear and anger and depression. I hated the feelings I was having but could not
figure out where they were coming from and could not shake the feelings. I
finally figured out that it was the Zoloft doing it. I met Bea Lydecker who is
an herbalist, and she sent me some herbs called Calmers. I found that they helped me get through the withdrawals
from Zoloft and worked better than Zoloft to get my blood sugars down. What I didn’t realize then is that I was also
eating a better diet….cutting out sugars, fried foods and heavy meats. I was
eating more vegetables, fruits and drinking water instead of soda. I lost 60lbs and was doing better. As I kept taking the vitamins, and eating
right the pain and depression left me. I
was doing much better. But then I moved from Oregon to Utah and started into my
old eating habits, quit loosing weight and my sugars started to climb. Pain
came back and a couple of weeks ago I went to my doctor and asked for pain
medication that will help me sleep and she prescribed Nortriptyline. I began taking it and it seemed to work, I
was sleeping better, however I didn’t take it every night, only a couple of
nights, then I started getting overwhelmed and irritable, the crying over
everything came back and I would have melt downs. I had one while, my daughters
were visiting… No wonder my kid’s think that I am crazy. Finally, after taking
it again for 3 nights in a row, I went one night without it.. It was terrible;
I couldn’t sleep for the pain and discomfort. The next day I was a wreck,
crying and letting everything said hurt me; I would dwell on the negative. I
had overwhelming feelings of despair, anger, and sadness. I knew I was acting
out and crying and making an idiot of myself but I couldn’t stop and I hated
myself for it. After arguing with my
partner and getting offended at everything he said, I went into the bedroom to
be alone and found myself wishing I were dead, and actually thinking of ways I
could just overdose and go to sleep.
Well here is where I
share a secret……. I had not prayed in a few days, I really hadn’t asked God for
any help with this. I hit rock bottom
sort of speak and I said a pleading prayer, just asking for help and what I
should do. After finishing with Amen, I remember thinking that I just need to
sleep. So I took a Nortriptyline and felt it was not working, I thought to take
a muscle relaxant to help and I tried to take this pill. I truly felt something
keep my hand from reaching my mouth with this pill. I thought, “Well I need to
do something” so I tried again and this time I got it into my mouth, only to
spit it back out. I don’t know why. But then I decided to look it up and make
sure of any reaction between the two drugs, thank goodness for the Internet,
(after all if my partner found me dead, it would just put him through hell and
I didn’t want to do that to him or the rest of my family), and it’s a good thing that I did, cause I
read that the mixture of these two drugs could be fatal and if nothing else
cause paralysis. Upon reading I also
found out to my dismay that Nortriptyline was not just for pain, that it is
indeed an antidepressant, the same as Prozac, and Zoloft. It said right on the
name that it could cause depression and suicidal tendencies. It all came
together for me; Now I know way I have always felt so strongly against
antidepressants. You can bet my doctor
is going to hear about this and I vow never to take an antidepressant
again! From now on I will find out what
nutrients and herbs and food I should eat and not eat in order to improve my
mental and physical health. I beg all my
children to do the same. Please, never
give in to taking any antidepressant! And don’t let the doctors foul you, do
your homework. You have a good mind, feed it, give it the nutrients it needs
and don’t starve yourself. Have faith because faith can move mountains! Pray,
stay close to Heavenly Father and the Spirit will give you knowledge. Knowledge is power.
Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
October 20, 2011
NaturalSociety
October 20, 2011
Despite evidence
linking popular antidepressants like Prozac
to suicide
more than 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 are now taking
antidepressants prescribed by their doctors. In fact, antidepressants are now
the most common drug among people aged 18 to 44, according to statistics from
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for
Health Statistics. Even more notable is the fact that once prescribed,
individuals generally keep taking antidepressants for years. Over 60 percent of
patients prescribed antidepressants report taking them for more than 2 years,
and 14 percent for 10 years or more. This is unfortunate when the drugs meant
to help depression actually cause further depression.
Of course these
statistics are very troubling given the extreme side effects that go along
with antidepressants. You may not be aware of these side effects, as
pharmaceutical drug companies have tried their very best to keep them from
hitting the media. Shockingly, the makers of Prozac – Eli Lilly & Co.,
were able to hide the link
between Prozac and suicide for 15 years. Through denial and media
deception, Eli Lilly & Co. were able to keep Prozac dangers a secret
from the general public, choosing profits over deadly consequences.
This is what I have learned so far:
- Balm, also known as lemon balm, is good for the stomach and digestive organs during stressful situations. It is highly recommended for those who get sick stomach pain when upset or nervous.
- Ephedra (ma huang) may be helpful for lethargic depression
- (caution: Do not use this herb if you suffer from anxiety disorder, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, or insomnia, or if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor drug.)
- Ginger, ginkgo biloba, licorice root, oat straw, peppermint , and Siberian ginsing may be helpful. (Caution: Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row. Avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure, or a heart disorder.
- Kava kava helps to induce calm and relieve depression. (Caustion: This herb can cause drowsiness. If this occurs, discontinue use or reduce the dosage. Do not use kava kava if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you are taking antidepressants. Long –term use of kava kava may result in dry, scaly skin and yellowish discoloration of the hair and nails.
- St John’s wort acts in the same way as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor drugs do, but less harshly. (caution: Do not use this herb if you take prescription antidepressants or any medication that interacts with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor drugs. Use it with caution during pregnancy.
- What to eat and not to eat:
- Eat a diet that includes plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, with soybeans and soy products, whole grains, seeds, nuts brown rice, millet, and legumes. A diet to low in complex carbohydrates can cause serotonin depletion which brings on depression.
- If you are nervous and wish to become more relaxed, consume more complex carbohydrates. For increased alertness, eat protein meals containing essential fatty acids. Salmon and white fish are good choices. If you need your spirits lifted, you will benefit from eating foods like turkey and salmon, which are high in tryptophan and protein.
- Omit wheat products from the diet. Wheat gluten has been linked to depressive disorders.
- Avoid diet sodas and other products containing the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal). This additive can block the formation of serotonin and cause headaches, insomnia, and depression in individuals who are already serotonin-deprived.
- Limit our intake of supplements that contain the amino acid phenylalanine. It contains the chemical phenol, which is highly allergenic. Most depressed people allergic to certain substances. If you take a combination freeform amino acid supplement, look for a product that does not contain phenylalanine, such as that made by Ecological Formulas. Phenylalanine is one of the major components of aspartame.
- Avoid foods high in saturated fats; the consumption of meat or fried foods, such as hamburgers and fries, leads to sluggishness, slow thinking, and fatigue. They interfere with blood flow by causing the arteries and small blood vessels to become blocked and the blood cells to become sticky and tend to clump together, resulting in poor circulation, especially to the brain.
- Avoid all forms of sugar, including normally “good” sweeteners such as honey, molasses, and fruit juice. The body reacts more quickly to the presence of sugar than it does to the presence of complex carbohydrates. The increase in energy supplied by the simple carbohydrates (sugars) is quickly followed by fatigue and depression. Stevia, a concentrated natural sweetener derived from a South American shrub, does not have the same effect on the body as sugar, and does not have the side effects of artificial sugar substitutes.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods.
- Investigate the possibility that food allergies are causing or contributing to depression.
- Keep your mind active, and get plenty of rest and regular exercise. Studies have shown that exercise‑ walking, swimming, or any activity that you enjoy – is most important for all types of depression. Avoid stressful situations.
- Learn to recognize, and then to “reroute,” negative thinking patterns. Keeping a daily log also can help you to recognize distorted thoughts and develop a more positive way of thinking.
- If you are suffering from situational depression – depression that occurs in response to an event such as in death of a loved one or the breakup of a relationship – try using Ignatia amara. This is a homeopathic remedy derived from a plant, Saint Ignatius bean, that helps control emotions during periods of extreme grief and hysteria.
- If depression is seasonal, light therapy may help. Exposure to the sun and bright light seem to regulate the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland that is, in part, responsible for preventing the blues. Stay in brightly lit rooms on dark days. Keep all draperies, curtains, and blinds open and use full spectrum light and spend at least half an hour there each day.
- Depression can come from B-vitamin deficiencies or poor eating habits.
- Tyosine is needed for brain function. This amino acid is directly involved in the production of norepinephrine and dopamine, two vital neurotransmitters that are synthesized in the brain and the adrenal medulla. A lack of tyrosine can result in a deficiency of norepinephrine in certain sites in the brain, resulting in mood disorders such as depression. The side effects of stress may be prevented or reversed if this essential amino acid is obtained in the diet or by means of supplements. Mustard greens, beans, and spinach are good sources of tyrosine.
- Some preliminary studies show promise in using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)- a hormone naturally produced by the body- in the treatment of depression. In one study, nearly all patients taking DHEA for six weeks significantly improved, and about half of those were no longer considered clinically depressed.
- Selenium has been shown to elevate mood and decrease anxiety. These effects were more noticeable in people who had lower levels of selenium in their diets to begin with.
- Also regular exorcise and music has powerful effects on moods.
Well I hope this information helps you achieve a better
understanding of yourself and how you can keep yourself healthy and happy in
the future.
