Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on May 19, 2009, at 15:37:29
In reply to Re: some citations, posted by Zana on May 19, 2009, at 14:06:00
Hi Zana, wasn't sure if you were responding to me, but I'll just respond. I think you are absolutely right about the diet and exercise. I had a wakeup call this last month when I found out I was deficient (like, majorly deficient) in vitamin D, b12, and iron. I had a B1 test, the results of which I am waiting for as well. I love spinach and fresh foods, but as I was writing and writing, I neglected my diet and exercise. The diet I have on track now, and really it's the easy part for me; the exercise is on track too, but that has not been easy for me. With the fibromyalgia, I crash after exercising, mentally and physically, so sometimes I have to make the choice between mental activity and exercise. Which makes exercising and having a life with purpose (since my purpose is writing and publishing) difficult.
I'll look up the book you've mentioned. Always love book recs.
I am interested in the autoimmune connection because if there is one thing that runs in my family (well, besides heart disease and early death from it) it's lupus and mental illness. I have seen several studies on it, and believe that there is a connection (not cause and effect; no causes really have been finally and absolutely determined). With schizophrenia, they are finding a lot about inheritance of autoimmune disorders (or at least the susceptibility to them) in the genes of people with schizophrenia. Interesting stuff.
I'm glad you are doing well!!
> I had perfectly normal thyroid levels but took Cytomel (T3) and it helped a lot for a while. Also shut down my own thyroid so I discontinued it. I dk about autoimmune disease and mental illness. I do think that the stress of anxiety and depression puts a heavy strain on all of our systems and that you need to take extra good care of youself. I would count sleep, light, exercise, meditation (or something like it) and nutrition. I get at least 8 hours of sleep a night - with remeron its the least I can to. I use one of Phillips new Blu lights, even on cloudy days in spring, get 45 minutes of cardio five-seven days a week, lift weights 3 days a week and take a couple of high antioxidant food based powders in juice every day and at least 1 gram of omega 3s. I also make sure that I get a lot of dark leafy greens for folate and take both vitamin D (2000mgs) and B-12 every day. I also use bioidentical hormone replacement. Its controversial because of the increase cancer risks but it does seem to look consistantly good for depression in women.
> Jeez. I should be doing cartwheels I'm so happy.
>
> I guess what I'm getting at is that while it's maddenly difficult to get good data on possible co-morbid factors like Lyme and to get good treatment even when you have a diagnosis (I'm thinking of Phillipa) you can be pro-active about things that you know are good for you.
>
> If you're a believer, pray. If you have friends and family - yeah, like all of us depressed anxious types are the life of the party - you'll live longer.
>
> A pdoc who did a pretty crappy consult for me did come up with one good thing, a book. Undoing Depression by Richard O'Connor Pn.D. A fellow sufferer as well as a mental health professional. No big breakthroughs but I found it helpful.
>
> If you can get yourself up and out - I wish -meaningful work - a life with purpose- is the best medicine.
>
> Think I'll take a nap.
>
> Zanz
poster:Amelia_in_StPaul
thread:896418
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090515/msgs/896646.html