Re: Anxiety, depression, and more. I feel terrible.

Hi there,

I'm sorry you're feeling the way you do - i know the anxiety, depression, derealisation experience so well too and really do empathise with you.

You say you've been diagnosed autistic...have celiac too...and i can't help but mention the methylation cycle genetic defect possibility to you as it's something i've had tested and shown positive for many defects in the cycle which affects HCL acid secretion, neurotransmitter formation and breakdown, turning genes on and off, detoxing, ability to detox metals...many many vital functions of the body are screwed-up when methylation is out of whack - and the concequence of such mutations leads to too many numerous conditions to list here, but suffice to say range from psychological symptoms all the way through to full blown physical, neurological impairment.

The good news is that you are young and seeking answers. Keep on that trail - you know something isn't right despite adjusting diet, toxic load etc so follow that rabbit down the hole :-)

Dr Amy Yasko specifically works with autistic children and has found 100% of those she treats has mathylation cycle genetic mutations - specifically MTHFR (a gene and enzyme), COMT, CBS, MTR, MTRR - these are all genes i nthe methylation cycle that do really important things.
Ben Lynch also works in this area and has his own site :

http://www.mthfr.net


Of course you can go the long way round and find out you have excess histamine, homocysteine, not enough serotonin, gaba, and overload of nitric oxide , glutamate etc etc through seperate tests costing thousands - but through genetic testing you will be able to see which genes are altering the amount of these things in your body giving such symptoms as you describe.
Or like me you could spend years detoxing various parts of the body and get no-where when you read everyone else feels fab from doing it! Methylation problems leads primarily to all toxins in the body being stored and not naturally detoxed so when someone with MTHFR does a Water Fast they stir up toxins and don't excrete them like normal folk...hence feeling worse despite diligently fasting/detoxing.

If you have funds go through ben lynch, Yasko or another practitioner to guide you on a supplemental journey to bypass any gene mutations.
Or if funds are low go to 23andme.com and order a kit for 99 bucks - but you'll have to do loads of research to understand the mutations yourself - aswell as how to treat them. (im going to ask mods here to start a forum for this so we can help each other more in this subject)

Of course aside from genetics as another poster mentioned candida, baceria, viruses, parasites could be playing a part in your condition and it's wise to avoid a crappy diet which feeds such things and try to clean-up your diet. Dr Yasko has found that when doing her protocol for gene mutations that viruses and parasites, metals etc get excreted once the detox pathways are working better and the immune system gets stronger. She has found that viruses get excreted along with metals specifically in her clinical experience.

I would suggest the fail-safe diet - google it - it's a diet that cuts out all additives, amines (glutamine, histamine)...MSG and the like. If you have allergies it's an ideal start as many foods raise histamine which also raises your allergic response.

For years i have tried many routes to find 'cures' to what ails me including detoxing, cleansing, most of the alternative healing arts such as meditation, reiki, shiatsu, crystals, EFT, EMDR, CBT, swallowed a libraries worth of 'positive thinking self help books, switched to many 'pure' diets such a raw vegan, cooked vegan, raw fruitarian, liquid diets, always vegetarian (never could tolerate flesh foods of any kind, severe constipation), the list is endless to the work i have done to 'clean up' my life, body, mind, and diet in order to find health.

None of the above worked for me, they just made me momentarily feel 'ok' while doing them - no lasting effects and certainly no change to symptoms in the long run. Nothing worked until i did the gene test, and started on a protocol aimed at bypassing or helping the genes not working well.
An upregulated CBS gene for example can lead to adrenal insufficiency as it produces huge amounts of ammonia and alpha-ketpbutyrate which chronically raises cortisol - ultimately leading to depletion of many hormones and neurotransmitters as the body will prioritise cortisol production over any other hormone. An upregulated CBS gene works 10 times as fast as normal. So the demand for cortisol is 10 times as much as normal. Which of course leads to adrenal fatigue. There is no way it couldn't.
I have 4 upregulated CBS genes and restricting sulfur foods has helped take the pressure off the adrenals.
When my dogs bark i no longer have an anxiety attack!

Have you tested your BP? High histamine and nitric oxide are vasodilators and could easily be causing your light-headed weak feeling. I have this and test my BP regularly...it's averaging around 80/50 with a BPM of 90. My veins bulge. I'm really trying hard to control histamine and am just starting a new protocol to address this more aggressively to help raise my BP.

Low BP with cause a HPA axis stimulation as the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body...so the heart rate speeds up which triggers anxiety and the ANS (autonomic nervous system) and the HPA axis....which throws out adrenaline and cortisol to raise BP...leading a person into a loop of HPA activation, anxiety, and eventually total depletion. Talk therapy won't touch the sides of anxiety if the route cause is low BP due to excessive amounts of vasodilating chemicals in the body.

Also the gene GAD converts glutamate to gaba, which is mutated leads to excess glutamate, which causes brain excitotoxicity, racing mind, anxiety etc...many pubmed studies show the link between GAD gene and anxiety....i think that's why mainstream medicine call anxiety syndrome General Anxiety Disorder (GAD for short) as they know impairments in this gene produce anxiety due to excess glutamate. Excess glutamate is prolific in autistic children.
I have 5 GAD genes +/+ mutations (full mutation) and I take GABA which helps to calm me somewhat...Phenibut form of GABA goes direct through the blood brain barrier (BBB), whereas taking just GABA takes a few weeks to build up in the system. Phenibut is not good to take everyday long term (i don't). GABA is okay longterm. I shall switch to GABA when phenibut runs out. I use phenibut on 'really bad anxious days', 250mg works okay...to function, 500mg tranquilises me and i have to lay down so be careful with dosage.
Phenibut/GABA has helped me not become completely 100% agoraphobic and suicidal. It's a life-saver for extreme anxiety.

I hope some of this info is of some help, sorry for the long post, go with your instincts as you know your body best. I have detailed some things which may or may not be an issue for you, investigate more and don't give up...CZ is a great place for piecing together this 'healing puzzle' we've all been dealt with.
My best wishes to you on your healing journey..big hug.




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