mental

Hello

I am glad to see people like you helping everyone, and giving advice for free.
I have a little question. About obsessive compulsive disorder, starting at the age of 12, what could have been the reason, could it have been the diet? It was my problem. Then later I had depression too and was on anti depressive paxil for some years and now stopped it.
Any advice?
Thanks a lot.
Elias.

[Ilanit]

The traditional associations of imbalance that you describe make me think of the Liver energy and meridian and its element - Wood.
Medications of any kind tend to make the liver even more grumpy so it sounds like your liver could use some extra love. Lucky it is Spring around the corner for you if you are in the northern hemisphere. This is the season when the liver (and Gall bladder) are at their peak and centre stage and therefore it is an optimum time of year to throw them some extra help. Throw a party to celebrate your liver and its care for you - it is a very hard working organ. and don't forget its little brother - the gall bladder!

Healing with Wholefoods by Paul Pitchford has a definitive section on the liver etc. The Self Healing cookbooks is also great for this!

As I always say - love your liver and it will love you!

ilanit

Hi,

The mental disorders are at times interchangeable, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder with depression. Any mental weakness has to do with the weakness of basic constitution, the constitution we are born with...but can change to one of more strength during life, if we find the key.

One can be born with a fairly weak/yin constitution due to the mothers eating habits, or mother and father both. If parents were prone to eating foods too yin on the SAD, Standard American Diet, inlcuding overconsumption of dairy foods...then this was your
legacy in your new life as a child. Thus, at 12 you already had obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Later on, the latent obsessive-compulsive disorder manifested as another behavior of mental weakness, depression. With the shock of life events that can cause circumstantial depression (break-up with a girlfriend/boyfriend, or other circumstantial reason for depression), often obsessive-compulsive disorder can manifest with that. Thus, both boys and girls, men and women, can be obsessed with a former partner after a break-up. Too often this leads to stalking, and over preoccupation with the partner in a former relationship, or worse (lots of celebrity examples of this, I won't name names).

You have made a step in the right direction by quitting medication (Paxil) and looking for answers with diet. Paxil is prescribed for insecurity dealing with people, basically fear and trepidation in the company of those not familiar, shyness etc. It is better to have courage, learn from life, and develop social skills by experience than to take a pill that masks your true feelings. "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Often any medication that tweaks the brain to act differently than what is normal for you, can have side effects you don't want to have. You never know what might happen and you might not have control over it when it does. Go -au naturel-.

You can strengthen constitution by diet and in other ways like developing a strong body through sports. The Macrobiotic Way is the best I've ever found of developing a stronger constitution, by including the tools of yin and yang, which other ways do not.

Eating on the slightly more yang side of the scale will strengthen constitution, if you are too yin (sounds like you are). More salt in the diet, promotes activity and strength. People who are too yin, lay down a lot, are sedentary, preferring sedentary activities like movies, television, reading, computers, do not engage actively with other people, and avoid the outdoors. Finding how to eat right...the Macrobiotic Way teaches this...taking regular exercise outdoors everyday...walking on sand or soil at least 30 minutes every day...and developing the strength of your body by being outdoors is recommended. Keeping in tune with the seasons and changing weather patterns...and choosing sports activities with others (basketball, tennis, bike riding, going to a gym, etc.) to enhance body strength will make you a strong active person, enhance Endorphin levels, keep your brain stimulated by interacting with others, and thereby bringing up the level of Serotonin, which is the anti-depressive natural brain hormone.

To develop a strong bodily constitution I recommend feeling weather changes throughout the year...feel hot in Summer and do not negate this natural experience staying indoors in air conditioning...feel cold in Winter and engage in outdoor sports such as downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobagganing, etc. Do not hole up inside in central heating, never venturing outside. The Macrobiotic Way will strengthen immunity, character, spirituality, mind, emotions, productivity, blood quality, as will living in the natural world in any kind of outdoor weather and experiencing the natural stimulation of mingling with the people of the world.

Nancy

I gave up macrobiotics a long time ago. I fould it only led to an obsessive-compulvie attatchment to food. It made it difficult to live in normal society just because if I was hungry and the only thing at my friends fridge was non-macrobiotic.

I think the body is meant to process a ceritan amount of toxins. Not that its good to eat mcDonalds 3 times a day, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying a good cheeseburger or a steak every now and then. I think when a person becomes fully microbiotic it weakens the bodys own ability to eliminate toxins.

I believe in the balance of yin ang yang too. In diet and also in lifestyle......
Im sick of this "all drugs are evil poisons" If you have a headache so what if you take a couple Advils.
I find that im more healthy mentally and physically non-macrobiotic than macrobiotic.

I've been on the anti-depressant Paxil for about 12 years.
I've gone off of it a number of times and initially I feel
fabulous. After a month and a half or so I begin to feel
the beginnings of depression. I am fearful of being depressed
again and so I see a doctor and start the slow six week process
of gettting back on Paxi. This six weeks is horrible. The first
three weeks my mind is laden with fears and I cannot stop
them. I cannot relax. I cannot read a book or practically anything
to get away from them. Eventually the Paxil kicks in about six
weeks later and I'm so thankful.
Having left Paxil about four times over the last twelve years I
am leary of doing it again, not to mention the stress I believe I
cause my good friends who support me during the six week period.
At age 57, I've never been happier in my life right now. I
have no health issues besides the depression. I'm getting more
and more active, volunteer, have good friends, enjoy life, but
the side effects from Paxil, make me lethargic and I drink a lot
of coffee to stay awake. Paxil also has sexual side effects which
I'd prefer not to have.
I was very hesitant to begin Paxil but the feeling of peace it
brought me was wonderful. My brother is also on an anti-depressant
and my sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 60. We
grew up in an alcoholic family.
I'm just beginning to explore what macrobiotics might provide
for me in getting off of Paxil

[Nancy]

Hi Hev,

Unfortunately, many people already have an "over interest" in food when they come into macrobiotics. This is one of the symptoms macrobiotics can actually eradicate. Those with the over interest or compulsions with food are using food to manage emotions, and have gotten themselves into deep trouble, probably causing overweight, obesity, Diabetes Type II, or other diseases like the beginning stages of cancer. Food will bite you, if you over indulge. Everything that has a front has a back. Yes, it is delicious and satisfying -- too much of it and you get fat, have to lug around all the fat, stress your heart and every other organ -- and start hiding socially because you just don't look good anymore, all the while looking in the mirror and saying, "This just isn't me."

Hev, you many be young and can down all the cheeseburgers and Advil, etc. This catches up with people in their 40s and 50s, if they're even lucky enough to make it to 60. Americans are known around the world as quite beautiful people until the age of 40, and then things go squat. If a person isn't ill attempting to reverse a disease condition, then there is no reason not to have the freedom to eat with your friends, while still knowing the macrobiotic basics of good nutrition, and, yin and yang.

If attempting to conquer a disease condition and on a truly healing macrobiotic diet, the body becomes very, very sensitive to each morsel that goes in, and one can immediately feel whether it's good or bad for the condition in the body's weak areas. While eating all kinds of junk, indiscriminately, this super-sensitivity is blunted. That is a mis-statement of the truth, in my opinion, that a fully macrobiotic person cannot eliminate toxins -- it is exactly just the opposite.

As we speak, I know someone so addicted to his doctors taking care of him, instead of self healing, that he is on 17 prescription drugs, addicted to some, and falling into worse health every day. Anyone who is watching network television...I hope...is aware of the brain washing going on in commercials...for every prescription drug under the sun...for every ailment. How about -- Do Not Take Nexium (the little purple pill) for acid reflux -- Just Stop eating acid foods!

For you Hev...you have no need for macrobiotics at this time in your life...and perhaps you won't later, either. Some people are perfectly healthy, needing no correction of anything physical or mental. That is complete freedom...and yes, then you can eat anything you want to...without worry and with pleasure.

Nancy

[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

Thank you Nancy for your specific support
and explanation. It's very helpful.
Joel

Thanks a lot to everyone. Thanks for your support.
In fact, 2 years ago I tried to quit Paxil, I thought I have done it until I began to experience psychosomatic symptoms in my body, very bothering like numbness in my feet and some digestive disorders and anxiety came back because of these symptoms. I have noticed once during those days, that after eating lots of fruits, symptoms were worse. Happenned many times with me. That's why I believe now that food can do a lot, although I don't know exactly what relations are there between each kind of food and the different body parts. But depression or OCD like the ones I used to have, I didn't experience (I believe because I changed a lot during this period, my relation to God and some spiritual experiences have made me really less doubtful
in life, because all my obsessive thoughts before were about existence and like that). I was afraid and done really all the necessary tests, and nothing physically was wrong. I was put back on Paxil and everything was "normal" again. (Although I think that when I was on it, I felt anger like no time before). They wanted me to take 30 mg, I didn't do that, just took 20 mg, and after some months I started taking it every 2 days until I stopped 2 months ago. . Nothing is really wrong right now, except that I feel weakness in my nerves that I felt ofcourse during the first time I tried to quit. So I'd be grateful for any advice ( maybe the medication had a bad effect on my nervous system). Before, I was not able to realize how much important is food, and I really ate anything, never thought of what I have eaten. If a medication has effect on the brain, why don't we simply think that food has too, and it can be so good. I am eating lots of whole grains and my body is really grateful. Not eating meat (except fish sometimes) or dairy products, simply following the macrobiotic diet as much as I can, ofcourse searching for healing, but also because the body is holy and I don't want to disturb it with the wrong food for it. That is at least what is clear to me now.

Thanks a lot,

Elias.

[Nancy]

Hi Elias,

You have done just as I would recommend anyone to ease off prescription medication. You have the desire to stop having your emotions controlled by a drug and are seeking natural health instead.

If you are in middle age, numbness in the feet and digestive disorders are more a natural aging deterioration at that time of life. Numbness in the feet is a precursor to Diabetes Type II and the neuropathy that comes with that condition...meaning a person's nerves are atrophying at the tips of the extremities. Toes and feet, or fingers and hands, can lose circulation and feeling overnight, especially while sleeping. As this condition gets worse, arms and legs can lose more and more circulation. Again, the predominance of whole grains in the Macrobiotic Diet can arrest this downward trend and restore a person to good health and good circulation. Again, walking 30 minutes a day is highly recommended for whole body circulation and enhanced functioning of the internal organs.

Diabetes Type II and also digestive disorders (common symptom is acid reflux...used to be called indigestion) are from eating a diet too yin...meaning too acid...with too many simple sugars, fruit and fruit juices, raw foods, dairy foods, and acidic vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, etc. (what is known as Nightshade Vegetables). Eating too much food, more than the body needs for daily fuel, eating too close to bedtime, especially of foods high in carbohydrates are some reasons for numbness in the extremities at night. The body literally cannot handle the overconsumption of carbs, fuel that it doesn't know what to do with. It is stored as fat while sleeping or if consuming toxic additives, etc. ...the body can begin to pocket it in various sites.

Since you say you noticed the numbness after eating lots of fruits...I think the above advice fits. Macrobiotics can be a life saver for those who haven't known any better until now, who have been eating too yin...too acid...too many simple sugars. Macrobiotics balances your diet towards the middle and a safer, body helpful, way of eating. The middle is a variety of whole grains and vegetables, especially root vegetables and round vegetables, like onions, cabbage, squash, carrots, turnips, parsnips, radishes, etc.

Developing a confident relationship with the Creator can do wonders to ease worries and anxiety. In macrobiotics, one develops more and more respect for the wonder of our bodies, how intricate, and what marvelous mechanisms they are. There is a great intelligence, more than our minds can conceive of, behind everything.

As you become more and more familiar with macrobiotics, and yin and yang, you will begin to be able to utilize these tools, y/y, to manage your emotions. You will be able to wake up in the morning, access your health condition at that moment, including mental, and choose foods that will balance your daily condition. The need for a pill to do it becomes moot, as you can do it with natural, delicious, good-for-you, food.

The anti-depressants and Paxil (which was created for social anxiety) are sedating and soothing to a worried mind at the front...and create aggressiveness and anger at the back. Everything that has a front has a back. One doesn't get away scott free without having to deal with the back also. There is also dependency and addiction at the back.

You monitored your own usage of the pill, cut back yourself, gradually, and weaned yourself off of it. A doctor is not going to do that for you, or encourage you to do it. Your dependency on them and the appointments you make are their paycheck.

When feeling weakness in the nerves load up on whole grains, beans, and use more salt.
The whole grains and beans add B Vitamins and complex carbohydrates, important for mental health and long sustained energy. The protein in beans will prevent depression and keep sexual energy strong, especially Black Beans. Salt will naturally make you more active and confident. The Macrobiotic Diet provides salt in soups with good quality sea salt to season, miso, good quality shoyu (soy sauce), pressed salads (pressed with salt), condiments such as gomashio (crushed sesame seeds and sea salt -- to sprinkle on grains and vegetables), and sea vegetables (seaweeds -- which are an incredible source of minerals). Too yin, and one is lethargic, without gumption, and lacking seriousness...Too yang, and one can become too powerful, aggressive, and angry. Monitor these subtle changes and try to strike a balance in the middle.

You will have some weakness that comes and goes until you are really out of the woods. Just monitor yourself, and adjust accordingly. Listen to your body, and you will begin to know it well. Keep reading...recommended is: The Macrobiotic Way by Michio Kushi and The Self Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner has a lot of wonderful information all the way through, on food and moods.

Self Healing is where it's at!!!

Nancy

Thanks a lot Nancy. I already feel a big change in my life because of this simple diet.
Wish you all the best.
Elias

[tsunami62]

you can try getting some herbs to rebalance your body while you are trying to transition off of prescriptions. go to an experinced, qualified practioner of oriental medicine. remember though..... come off prescription drugs gradually. to just stop taking them cold turkey can be to much for your body and mind to adjudst to suddenly. Its better to do it over 2 months or so, gradually decreasing your dosage, during this time, get the herbs to strengthen your body and keep you stable. I have alot of experience with patients transitioning from their prescriptions, so I will try to give you some helpfull advice if you are interested.

[Klara]

tsunami62,

I am grateful to you for responding to an old thread - tho I didn't see anywhere in the discussion anyone advocating going cold turkey. I really enjoyed reading all the advice that Nancy gave - I, thank G-d, don't suffer any of these symtoms, but the advice she gave is good for everyone.

Is anyone in touch with Nancy?? Tell her her words are still wonderfully inspiring.

And thank you Gary for keeping these wonderful discussions available.

Klara