Re: looking for support

Hi
Re
>>>I have been doing a lot of reading and am feeling very overwhelmed with the number of things that could be wrong with my body and causing my Depression (thyroid, adrenals, parasites, unstable blood sugar, food allergy , malabsorption, depleted brain chemistry...). <<<

I've been there too.
A good naturopathic doctor can give you a good supplement regimen. Sam-E is helping a lot of people. Expensive though. AOR and Jarrow are good brands of supplements to look for. AOR has a very imformative site and their products are on the cutting edge, best available and great info under their "Exec Summary".

Get a good walk in every day and breathe deeply!!

I sent this stuff below to a person with panic attack / anxiety problems on this site today. Depression is often tied up with anxiety so some of it, especially the last 2 books at the end, might be helpful to you.
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I run a panic attack / anxiety group. Besides all the other good suggestions from people, here are some things that can help.
For anx in general try some L Theanine (Jarrow brand is good) for a few weeks. It's a green tea extract (no caffeine in it) the Japanese have been using for stress and anxiety for years and it finally made it's way to North America. Works for me.

Also a natural product called PNT 200 made by Immunotec in Canada ( http://www.1whey2health.com/index.htm ) is working for people. It's not available in stores. If you want to try some email me a rjrj@email.com
Immunotec also makes a very good product called HMS 90, a special protein that boosts the immune system (so essential during times of stress) and is the only product that will raise glutathione levels (the "armed forces" in our cells). Cured a friend that had fibromyalgia for years. Calms me and boosts my energy level, and no more colds / flu since I started it.


Feelings of intense anxiety and panic attacks can be “attacked” four ways:

1. Diet
-Avoid caffeine in coffee, tea, pop and chocolate.
-Avoid white flour, Sugar and especially Nutri-sweet (aspertine) in diet foods.
-Graze on high protein / complex carbs snacks between meals (not candies, pop & donuts!) and before bed. Eat a high protein breakfast; eg. scrambled eggs (or tofu), yoghurt & cottage cheese if you can handle dairy, almonds. If you have cereal, use cooked whole grain (like the slow cooking oatmeal) only. Have a piece of whole fruit, not juice.
Some complex carbs include beans, vegies, and 100% grains like wheat and rye grain berries which you cook for 2 hours and add to soups and salads etc.
-Don’t skip meals! Plan ahead. Keeping the blood Sugar up with several smaller meals is best.

2. Behavioural for panic attacks:
-Panic attacks are primarily fear of fear. After an initial stressful event (with or without a biochemical imbalance from diet etc.) developed into a panic attack the first time, you then become afraid the feelings will return and you then avoid situations that you think might trigger it again. Or you imagine a situation that might bring on an attack and then experience anticipatory anxiety. (That’s like trying to forecast the weather next month. You won’t know how you will feel until you're there!)
-The feelings and heart racing etc. are uncomfortable but harmless and are self-limiting.
-The more you fight and fear the feelings and your body's natural response, the worse they feel.
-The more you run from them, the more they bully you (like a school bully)
-It’s crucial that you do not let panic attacks bluff you into avoiding places & activities more and more. Practice going towards panic one step at a time. If you need to take break from a situation where panic arises, do so, but with the courage and determination to go right back.
-Paradoxical techniques like trying to have a panic attack (in a place that's comfortable at first) or purposely trying to amplify the feelings can be empowering ways of attacking panic! Once you stop running from it and turn around and face it (and even invite it!), encouraging the feelings to get as intense as possible, you will cut off its “fuel”. The lion becomes a pussycat.
-Avoiding stress is important. In anything you do that involves choices, choose the one that will be less stressful. Plan every day the night before so that you have plenty of time to get to work, appointments etc. Don’t take on too much. Rushing and stress is fuel for anxiety and panic.
- Hang out with funny, unjudgemental, supportive people. Dump the rest if you can, life is too short for hanging out with people that are downers!

3. Attitude
-Keep a positive attitude and believe that you'll eventually live free of anxiety and / or panic attacks. Each time they arise, look at them as another opportunity to practice floating through them without retreat.
-When you take care of yourself and no longer fear experiencing panic attacks (or avoid places that brought them on) you will be well on your way to no longer having them.

4. Exercises
-Get outside for a slow, enjoyable walk everyday and pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells all around you. Practice staying in the present every day!
-Essential: Get a relaxation tape (squeezing and relaxing muscles technique is great) and use it at least twice a day in a private place.
-Some find meditation and / or Tai Chi helpful. Take a course or find a book on it.
-Practice breathing deeply & slowly in the abdomen. Count 4 in, hold the breath for 7, out 8.
-Hike, swim, walk etc. to burn off stress and adrenaline.

It’s worth getting your thyroid checked. A thyroid hormone imbalance can cause anx & panic attacks.

You're not going crazy (if you're ever worried you are, it's a sure sign you're not), nor will you end up in a hospital. You'll survive no matter how uncomfortable you feel. You will live to be panic free again. These tips are a good place to start.
You are well on the road to recovery when you no longer fear the anxiety or panic attacks happening.

Useful Books: (Most are available at the library or all of them at local book stores)

- 7 Weeks To Emotional Health by Joan Larson (Great new book and the cutting edge on supplement recommendations for specific problems (anx and depression) and individual body metabolisms)
- Don't Panic by R. Reid Wilson (Good up to date book)
- The Anxiety & Phobic Workbook by Edmund Bourne. Programs use this as their core book.
- No More Fears by Douglas Hunt (An older but good holistic approach with some good tips)
- A Little Relaxation by Saul Millar (A small book with some good reminders)
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers (Speaks for itself…)
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Good book for clarifying your purpose & direction)
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabitt -Zinn (Excellent book based on a stress reduction clinic's program in the U.S. & Canada with meditation techniques etc. There's likely a good affiliate six-week program in your area.
- Breath Walk. A book on walking and using your breath to stay present and unwind.
-Taming your Gremlin. A must read for Depression and anx sufferers
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Hope some of this helps!
Russ