Ok, so, The Program (that makes it sound so official :LOL):
Daily:
1 tbsp (about 8g) inositol
1 tbsp virgin coconut oil
1 tbsp flax oil
400iu vit. E
50mg zinc
Twice daily:
500mg L-tyrosine
High-potency B complex
500mg magnesium
Good-quality multivitamin (actually a hair vitamin)
(I also take silica & biotin for my hair & nails.)
2x week (or anytime I'm especially depressed, anxious or snappy): a magnesium bath (2c epsom salts & 1c baking soda, pre-dissolved in boiling water & added to a hot bath,soak for 20min+). This definitely has a tranquilizing effect. I'm very sleepy afterwards, sleep soundly & well and I'm noticeably mellower the next day. Since magnesium baths are supposed to "draw out" toxins as well (the baking soda's supposed to absorb them after they're drawn out, I'm not sure about that but it can't hurt anything) I rinse very, very well after I get out of the bath.
I've found through experience I need to take enough B vitamins to make my pee that bright yellow color every time I pee, all day long (not just the next one after I take the tablet). Taking the complex morning & night accomplishes this. Not enough B's and I get depressed.
I'm focusing on eating small meals regularly & getting lots of protein. I tend towards hypoglycemia. If my diet is bad, I get depressed & snappy.
The virgin coconut oil is for the candida problem I'm pretty sure I have (I can't do that spit test, it just grosses me out too much). I also plan on incorporating kefir into my daily smoothie. I've cut out all refined flour and I've cut way back on refined sugars (really, I'm trying
: ) Because I'm nursing dd, I don't want to go on the "yeast killer diet", so I'm focusing my efforts on aggressively increasing good bugs in my system. If we could afford probiotics, I'd be on those too.
Also, I think I might have (warning, gross) pinworms. So I'm eating lots and lots of garlic, pineapple and pumpkinseeds. I might just break down & go for the Pin-X though. I wash my hands first thing in the morning and before I eat or touch food, so I don't make the problem any worse.
Last but not least, I'm taking the "water cure". I'm up to almost a gallon of water a day. I'd like to get to a gallon & hold there. I've noticed that I'm slightly slimmer and my little round belly is smaller. I guess I was retaining water because I wasn't drinking enough! Also I, um, "go" twice a day now if you know what I mean, which feels really good.
One wonderful effect (besides being able to function more & more like a normal human) is that my hair loss seems to be stopping! I believe it was a combination of postpartum hormones, low thyroid, and anxiety (it was too severe for me to think it was just a postpartum thing). I don't know what part of my "program" to attribute it to, but I'm so relieved! My hair is thinner than it was before I got pregnant, and I **** feel a pang every time I handle it, but at least I didn't lose more.
I'm so thrilled. I feel a hundred times better already. And what's even better is being able to feel hopeful that it'll keep getting better. I can pick up the phone to make a call, deal with my kids, go out on the porch to get the mail & contemplate inviting people over to my house without crippling anxiety. I haven't had a panic attack in over a week. I can let DH hug me without feeling claustrophobic. I can deal with frustration without completely blowing my top and I don't have to spend my day screaming anymore. I love it!