[Nancy]

Hi Joel,

I am going to put it to you...aren't you dependent on Paxil? The human body wasn't made in such a way that it cannot heal itself, that you are helpless to overcome depression naturally without Paxil. Yes, you have taken Paxil so long that the pill is replacing a natural body function of keeping your brain chemistry stable. You can overcome dependency on Paxil.

Continue to take your medication as you sense you need it. Start the Macrobiotic Diet, the SMD Standard Macrobiotic Diet. You can get Michio Kushi's book by the same name, which lists all the foods recommended for the Macrobiotic Diet, with choices for frequent, occasional, and infrequent use foods.

The predominance of whole grains in the Macrobiotic Diet will begin to nourish your body and brain in such a way that you will naturally begin having a more stable mind and brain chemistry. Then, experiment with lessening the drug you've been used to, Paxil. Just take less and experiment. You can even crack tablets in half or quarters, yourself. It's a matter of self monitoring and slowly easing out of this dependency, becoming healthier. This only needs to be done as you are willing, and able.

You're on the right track, beginning to explore macrobiotics. There is no rush. You can aid your body in such a way that it is healthy and fully functioning on its own again, both physically and mentally. Welcome, to a new, exciting, deep and fascinating, way of life. Nothing happens overnight...it can be a long time of reversal of the damage done (or inherited)...but the journey is deeply satisfying and worth it.

Nancy