Supplements/Nutrition/Mental Health

[faith21]

Okay Mamas !

I am new to the forum, and posted previously posted regarding an OCD condition I was recently diagnosed with, my mama is Bi-Polar (which I have been 'obsessing' with the past day, wondering if that could be a Co-Morbid diagnosis...starting to do better again, on zoloft50g 5 1/2 weeks, but was really depressed last week..so I started to wonder if I'm going through maybe a manic phase ? but, I don't feel OVER energized. im sure im just OCD'ng about it. I'm just happier when I'm not thinking about my OCD and starting to cope better.

ANYWAYS - -
After all this happening to me in a short course of two months, I'm really starting to look into lifestyle changes that will benefit my mental health. I am going to go to a Kundalini Yoga class tonight, hoping these classes will teach me meditation & relaxation skills.

I was wondering if I could get some insight from all of you wise woman on what you did to start the change? your eating habits, lifestyle habits, etc that made a difference in your life ? i;e Supplements, not eating certain kinds of foods, yoga ? I am a current sugar, fast food eating, working mama and would like to start making better choices to benefit me & my family !

Thank You !

[perl]

Hi there! (I just posted on your other thread then saw this one!). I'd recommend fish oil (Omega 3) supplements - I think there's a thread somewhere around here discussing it - they are supposed to be good for helping to stabilize mood and have a myriad of physical benefits, as well. I use the enteric coated (no fishy burps!) capsules from CostCo, 4-6 caps per day.

I think yoga would be great, as it really helps you focus and be "in the moment." I think it's on the ACT website that they give an example about a dog. Dogs live completely in the moment and don't get all stressed out just thinking about stuff. If they got beaten by someone with a broom, they wouldn't sit around worrying that the person with the broom was going to come around and beat them again. They would get anxious only when the person showed up brandishing the broom. As humans, when we have a worry or anxious thought, we often sit and ruminate about it. This really doesn't do us any good at all. If we can learn to live more in the moment (ie be mindful), it can significantly reduce anxiety. Yoga is great for this because you are always focusing on breathing, positioning, and body sensations. Anyway, sorry for going on and on - I've had a bit of caffeine tonite!

[faith21]

I will make a trip to Costco this weekend definitely for some fishy oil..

I didn't make it to what was supposed to be my first Yoga Class . Before I left work I was ruminating on if I had BP. I searched the web for symptoms and tried to apply them where I could to myself. I was doing so well for a few days !! After reading the Edna Foa book, I was applying new techniques..letting the negative thoughts come when they did, not fighting or ruminating, letting go of the guilt..and really felt it was helping & gave me a more positive outlook. THEN I was sideblinded, my anxiety increased to a max, my head was spinning. My mom has BP, the guy on Oprah had BP, so I probably have it too, that's why I'm feeling happy and positive, because I'm manic, then manic will lead to mania, and mania will lead to psychosis, and then I'll hurt my family.....oh my gosh you know the story !! Great ? How was I to apply the techniques to a fear of being happy, when the OCD has me believing that means I'm BP? But, somewhere in that Anxiety filled OCD haze, I said 'okay, so say I do have BP, and I will just have to take that chance, the thoughts still came...but decreased in frequency & intensity. Since I've been diagnosed uhh, only two weeks ago, my obsessions vary from about 5 different ones, aren't I a lucky duck ?
I am talking a lot, uh oh, must mean I'm BP going through my manic phase. j/k. see how the brain can play tricks. geez.

Thank You for the reply, it's just too wonderful to have this available, I don't mind long posts at all ! ( as you can tell).

Did you have success/try the CBT that I will be starting ?

[newcastlemama]

Originally Posted by faith21

I was wondering if I could get some insight from all of you wise woman on what you did to start the change? your eating habits, lifestyle habits, etc that made a difference in your life ? i;e Supplements, not eating certain kinds of foods, yoga ? I am a current sugar, fast food eating, working mama and would like to start making better choices to benefit me & my family !

Thank You !

I had severe PPD/PPP since 10/04 ans was on antidepressants until last April for some background info.

I noticed a BIG difference when I started treating my nutritional deficiences and found out I have a condition associated with mental illness call pyroluria. It is where my body makes too many pyrolles and they bind to the zinc and B6 making you depressed. On top of that Bs are needed for your brian to make seritonin. I also found out that I was terribly anemic.

Pyroluria runs in families, especially families with a history of mental illess (like mine. You can check for it with a $50 urine test that you send out to a special lab.

So I started eating traditional foods, supplementing my defiencies and in 6 weeks it was like I came out of the dark and woke up!!! There is a mom on Mothering with the screename GALE FORCE. She usually posts in "Traditional Foods" and she has wrote a book about how she got better the same way. If you click on her sig she has a webpage for the upcoming book. I have read a draft and cannot reccomend it enough.

With the tradtional foods diet I feel so satisfied and great. I am at a good weight and I no longer have out of control cravings for bread and ice cream. (That is a miracle in itself!) You can go to www.westonaprice.com for more info on that. There is also a cookbook called Nourishing Traditions. Even if you are vegetarian, there is still good info.

I also reccomens the book The Diet Cure and The Mood Cure by Julia Ross. www.moodcure.com I am actually consulting her clinic. They were the ones who got me tested for all the stuff I have mentioned.

I just want to encourage you all as you get better and share because I am feeling GREAT again.

Jen

[Lilacmoon]

Excellent post Newcastle., I am a huge fan of Omega 3s' and a good B complex. Also UDOs' oil is fantastic. Dietary changes such as decreased bad fats, increased salmon, oily fishes and avacados. Leafy greens and broc. are a must. Flax seed, almonds and whole grains. Avoid sugar and I can't say enough, HYDRATION!