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Aussie Barb
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 |
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Posted: Wed Apr 13th, 2005 05:32 |
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How can I control my anxiety?
Anxiety is a common symptom of Th1 inflammatory diseases. Anxiety can be subtle or very debilitating and may make it more difficult to tolerate other symptoms and continue on the MP. It's important that you recognize your anxiety and the impact it is having on your perception of your symptoms.
The short-term consequences of not wearing adequate eye protection will be an increase in neurological symptoms caused by stimulation of the Amygdala in the brain. These neurological symptoms include fatigue, irritability, aggressiveness, lack of concentration, brain fog, photosensitivity, transient loss of memory, mood swings, confusion, anxiety, anger, neurosis and even psychosis."
Responsiblities at work, a major relationship change, even minor annoyances with daily life like a computer disruption can increase your level of anxiety and lead you to doubt that you are making progress in your recovery.
People with Th1 disease can have anxiety over *not knowing* they can rely on their body and mind to accomplish seemingly simple things like:
- whether they are getting enough air, not feeling short of breath.
- whether they are going to stay erect and in control of their legs when they walk.
- whether they can get to the doctor and back before they totally run out of stamina
- whether they will have the energy to meet the demands of their job when there are challenges.
You can expect anxiety to wax and wane as an immune reaction which may help you to cope without medication if you realize what is happening. These suggestions may help also:
* Eat a well-balanced, healthy MP diet. Don't overeat.
* Get enough sleep.
* Exercise regularly.
* Limit caffeine and alcohol.
* Don't use nicotine, cocaine, or other recreational drugs.
* Learn and practice relaxation techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Try biofeedback, using a certified professional to get you started.
* Books on tape Several Sources of Books on Tape for Free
* Some music in headphones, or other distraction/relaxation mode
* Take breaks from work. Make sure to balance fun activities with your responsibilities.
* Spend time with people you enjoy.
Pet Therapy explains the stress and anxiety reducing effects of owning a pet.
If you've tried to relieve your symptoms of anxiety or panic without medication and it is still intolerable, ask your doctor about medication to relieve it. Antianxiety drugs suppress anxiety and relax muscles. They are sometimes called axiolytics, sedatives, or tranquilizers. None are specifically contraindicated on the Marshall Protocol. They are meant to be used at the lowest effective dose and only when needed. This reduces the chance of becoming dependant on them.
Dr Marshall suggests:
"Valium (diazepam) is one of the few 'calming' drugs that I have found helpful in the Th1 diseases. But only the brand-name Valium works for folks with Th1 inflammation - and only small doses are needed. Half the 2mg (white tablet, the one with the V cut from the center) seems to often be enough to reduce anxiety and calm restless muscles. But stay away from the generic diazepam and the higher strengths. Make sure Doc asks for the white 2mg tablet, and that your Pharmacist doesn't substitute a generic..
I found there was a huge difference between using the generic and brand-name valium. I used to only need about 1mg under the tongue BID of the brand-name (with the V in the center of the white tablet). That would soothe me right down. The generics didn't work at 10 times that dose."
re Valium: see Pam's post here re suitable dosing.
Other things which might be making the valium less effective include any yellow #5 coloring used in the other dosing regimes to identify the tablet.
Valium is the brand name and diazepam in the generic name. The dosages of each are equal as they are supposed to be identical in composition. But our experience has noted a distinct difference between the actions of the two.
Therefore, if you begin to use Valium instead of diazepam, I suggest that you use a lower dose because Valium may be more effective. To be safe, start low with Valium and work up to 10mg if that's what you need for relief. You may have built up a tolerance for a higher dose.
-Some folks have reported that taking Valium not only reduces their anxiety but also reduces other symptoms. Please check with your Dr.
Note: If you are taking other anti-anxiety medications or axiolytics, it is advisable to consult your doctor about weaning from it/them before using Valium. When and why should I use Valium?
It's okay to take medication for anxiety. Just be careful not to use it routinely when you aren't feeling anxious.
Dr. Blaney had this to say about attitude, anxiety and the Herxheimer reaction.
John McDonald wrote: "When I am in the midst of herxing my emotions tell me that I have always been herxing, always will, with no end in sight. I know many of us have that psychological response."
Trazadone
Trazadone is quite different than Valium and is treated in a much more complex way by the body. In the body many different forms of the drug are created causing the body to work at different ways to eliminate these various metabolites through a myriad of pathways. Though it does give some anti-anxiety relief something like Valium, it also has an anti-depressant effect due to its antagonistic affect on a specific receptor site. It is best if you can use non-generic Valium in small doses to lessen the side effects which can be difficult while managing immunopathology. ~VEZ, R.N.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (often abbreviated to "benzos") are a class of psychoactive drugs with varying hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and amnesic properties. Benzodiazepines are useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, agitation seizures, and muscle spasms. See list of benzos.
The long-term use of benzodiazapines can cause physical dependence.
-I can attest to benzo addiction and their ability to reduce IP. 2mg of klonopin is quite high and tricky to wean down from. You may find this info helpful: http://benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm
Members' experiences
-Belinda wrote: The first few months on Phase II were the most difficult for me. Anything connected with emotion was difficult and when it came to physical things, I felt sluggish - as if were doing everything in a swimming pool, working against the force of water. Mental confusion and despair may be better if you rest more and keep in mind that this is *temporary* like all other Herxing. You *will* come out of this dark tunnel to see better scenery at the other end.
-The physical stuff seems a bit more manageable than the anxiety stuff, as physical flares are tangible and come and go quickly by comparison. I guess the good news is that if you are hitting this aspect already, then you must certainly be working on healing there so it can't all be a bad thing.
For me, after working the mino brake/gas pedals as per MP, distraction is a great compatible non-drug tool that is easy to manage. Instead of allowing focus to remain in the areas that enlarge anxiety, respond with action that requires focus elsewhere when the claws of anxiety dig deep into your soul.
Experiment around and find what works best for you. Low energy/low risk/high return activities for me include games, puzzles, calling a trusted friend, curling up with a worthy book, handwork/crafts. Your list may be different. The main idea is to arm yourself with ample distraction actions and get adequate rest to help the MP medications and your immune system win the big battle. ~JRFoutin
-Use the "relaxation/meditation stuff." I found that relaxing (sleeping) to loud rock music helped me through the darkest years. ~Dr. Marshall
-Consider books on tape, a great idea because I've never been able to listen to a book on tape while lying down without going to sleep. If sleep does not arrive, at least I would be distracted from the anxiety.
Accurate knowledge and peer support reduces anxiety
-My friend Sharon lives alone and is going through this herxing stuff all on her own. She gains so much support from posting, I'm not sure what I would do without this website! ~Kimball Scharf
-The computer may be a good distraction. reading the MP information. AB.
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Barb: Dx Inflammatory Disease Endocrine Imbalance 2003| Depression| 24+ years not Dx| MP Aug04| ABC of MP| MP Search|
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| Joined: | Sat Jul 10th, 2004 |
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Posted: Sat Dec 3rd, 2005 18:36 |
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How can I control my depression?
Depression is common in Th1 diseases. It's important to recognize neuro symptoms as immunopathology so they can be managed to tolerable. See What is neuro immunopathology?
If you are having suicidal thoughts, tell someone immediately.
If your depression is intolerable, you should slow down immunopathology. See What to do when immunopathology (immune system reaction) is too strong.
Antidepressants
If slowing the immune response is ineffective, you may need to try an antidepressant. Many of the prescription antidepressant medications are compatible with the MP meds if depression is not resolved by reducing immunopathology.
But antidepressansts may interfere with immune system function and are not thought to be effective unless depression is severe.
See:
Pro-inflammatory cytokines activate enzymes that consume the precursor to seratonin.
Research: Commonly Used Antidepressants May Also Affect Human Immune System
This 2/08 article states: "Antidepressant medications appear to help only very severely depressed people and work no better than placebos in many patients, British researchers said on Monday."
Dr. Marshall has said, " It is a futile exercise to supplement anything except the thyroid hormones, and even that is frought with difficulty."
Effexor is an SSRI, which are known to exert direct effects on the immune system. A much better indicator for you, potentially leading to a long term solution, is a therapeutic probe of the MP. I am sorry Doc does not understand that. You may have trouble withdrawing off Effexor, as it is purely palliative. ..Trevor..
The University of California's Wellness Newsletter, produced by their School of Public Health, says that SAM-e "is a synthetic form of a chemical produced naturally in the body. " It is not a "natural" product or a dietary supplement.
It seems that SAM-e may produce homocysteine without supplemental folic acid. Among their other caveats, the newsletter says, "The most important problem: SAM-e is converted into homocysteine in the body. High homocysteine levels appear to raise the risk of heart disease."
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsSAMe.php
High homocysteine levels have also been linked to Alzheimer's. http://www.blackmores.com.au/news/news_detail.asp?art=90
If your doctor has ordered SAM-e and it is effective for intolerable depression, it's okay to continue it. Monitor your mood carefully and wean from this supplement as your depression resolves.
It's important to wean from antidepressants
Definitely, as one progresses through Phase 2 and into Phase 3, marked improvement in moods becomes apparent. Though I did not think I was reacting emotionally to events excessively prior to starting the MP, I have noticed a marked improvement with less rumination on stressful events; less volatility; and better decision making.
Though patients on anti-depressants tend to have more extreme Herx reactions and there is evidence suggesting antibiotic effects of psychiatric meds, which may be counter-productive to the intention of the MP, I do not recommend reduction of anti-depressants until symptoms improve.
Then, very gradual reduction of anti-depressants can be initiated but one should expect that it will take months and months to slowly wean off. ~Greg Blaney, MD
From some anecdotal reports: Weaning of anti-depressants may result in increased immunopathology and the need to decrease the antibiotics and adjust the MP meds accordingly.
Members' experiences
-Everything with me started with the diagnosis of depression then many years later Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Lyme disease (which we know now is all the same..different color cats but all are cats) The Marshall Protocol has put me in a place that is indescribable when it comes to my depression. I had depression (pre MP) to the point of wanting to commit suicide many times not to mention life was a struggle everyday.
Mood swings were something that was a part of daily life for me. My TH1 symptoms started as depression then came the pain, fatigue, and poor sleep, daytime sleepiness etc etc...Antidepressants saved me but never have they relieved/gotten rid of symptoms....like the MP. I am now starting to live a life I have never known. I am not the first member to note this but I am amazed at just how good things are.....Of course when I herx the depression, moods and sleep can worsen temporarily...but when I am not herxing WOW WOW WOW. I just cant say enough about it. I keep getting amazed when I see the progress I am making. It is like a dream come true....a life I have never known. ~Jeannine
- I also suffered from childhood depression, which continued to plague me much of my life - to an extent I only realized when I felt it lift upon starting the Marshall Protocol. My brain seems to work so much better and my life long biologic depression has lifted. P.Bear, RN
See also:
Depression
Won't avoiding the sun increase my depression?
Why do I feel better in the summer? And worse in the winter?
What is neuroimmunopathology?
MENTAL ILLNESS and Th1 inflammation
Ideas For Summer Holidays
Paul Albert (CFS, depression, food sensitivities)
Last edited on Fri Oct 24th, 2008 17:03 by Dr Trevor Marshall
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Posted: Sat Aug 26th, 2006 17:57 |
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Antidepressants
SAM-e
The University of California's Wellness Newsletter, produced by their School of Public Health, says that SAM-e "is a synthetic form of a chemical produced naturally in the body. " It is not a "natural" product or a dietary supplement.
It seems that SAM-e may produce homocysteine without supplemental folic acid. Among their other caveats, the newsletter says, "The most important problem: SAM-e is converted into homocysteine in the body. High homocysteine levels appear to raise the risk of heart disease."
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsSAMe.php
High homocysteine levels have also been linked to Alzheimer's. http://www.blackmores.com.au/news/news_detail.asp?art=90
If your doctor has ordered SAM-e and it is effective for intolerable depression, it's okay to continue it. Monitor your mood carefully and wean from this supplement as your depression resolves.
It's important to wean from antidepressants
Definitely, as one progresses through Phase 2 and into Phase 3, marked improvement in moods becomes apparent. Though I did not think I was reacting emotionally to events excessively prior to starting the MP, I have noticed a marked improvement with less rumination on stressful events; less volatility; and better decision making.
Though patients on anti-depressants tend to have more extreme Herx reactions and there is evidence suggesting antibiotic effects of psychiatric meds, which may be counter-productive to the intention of the MP, I do not recommend reduction of anti-depressants until symptoms improve.
Then, very gradual reduction of anti-depressants can be initiated but one should expect that it will take months and months to slowly wean off. ~Greg Blaney, MD
Members' experiences
From some anecdotal reports: Weaning of anti-depressants may result in increased immunopathology and the need to decrease the antibiotics and adjust the MP meds accordingly.
See also:
DEPRESSION
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| Joined: | Sun Jul 11th, 2004 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 15th, 2008 18:54 |
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Guilt About Being Ill
I think the guilt our members feel from taking time off to get well, not being the productive person they once were, being a burden to their family, not being "strong enough" to "just get well," etc. is common. It helps to have family and friends around sometimes to encourage you, but not everyone has that.
You have a very important job right now: to get well. That job will last "as long as it takes." If you weren't working on getting well, what (realistically) would you otherwise be doing? Many of our members can only answer that they would still be ill, unable to do what they really want to do and getting worse. One can only conclude that "taking time out" to get well is really not a waste of time.
Wasn't life passing you by before you began this treatment because you didn't feel well enough to participate? If so, then rather than causing that situation, you have actually taken a rational, courageous step to turn it around. You are working on salvaging your health, being your own hero. Take heart in that. After you progress with that work, you can begin adding more of the things you want back to your life.
Belinda
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