success story!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to share with you, very briefly, my own story in the hopes that some of you might benefit.

I also have suffered with depression and anxiety for much of my life. In high school I was into drinking and drugs as a way to deal with being shy and very sensitive. The drugs and alcohol made my depression so much worse. My college experience was a struggle where I kept mostly to myself, with a few good friends, and really didn't get that involved in anything. I felt like I was always dragging myself around. You know the feeling, like you're on the edge of a cliff just trying to hold on everyday. My energy was always very low which made it hard for me to be social. Every relationship i ever had was disasterous.

When I graduated college I slumped into an even worse depression and also began to notice physical symptoms that I couldn't explain. I went to a doctor and she prescribed Prozac. I started to take the drug but it made me feel very strange. Despite all the abuse I had taken out on my body, I had somewhere inside me a sense of health and wellbeing that extended beyond drugs and doctors. I began to read about food allergies, food and mood, and vitamin supplements. I decided the drugs weren't for me and instead I started changing my diet. The results have been miraculous! I have energy, hope for the future, confidence, and I relate to other people much better.
I also learned how my physical symptoms and depression are linked. I am treating them both with healthy (and delicious!) food and vitamins along with some spiritual awareness (like yoga) and exercise.

There is more to my story but I will leave it at that for now. If anyone is curious to more I wil be happy to share.

I send you all love and peaceful vibes. You are all so brave for reaching out and seeking support!

Hi Foodmood

I thought I would reply on your thread this time.

That is so cool that you were able to control your depression with food, vitamins and yoga (which I love yoga)

I generally workout 2 to 3 times a week and a vegetarian, well lets put it this way I don't eat Beef, pork, or poultry. I do eat, milk, cheese, eggs, fish.

I believe I eat pretty well. If I want a piece of Chocolate Cake I have it. I try not to deny myself the decadent stuff, it could lead to eating a whole cake. (which I have done......last year

I believe you can control the seritonan levels in your brain with food. ... Dark Chocolate does have that effect.

Keep up the good work, its very inspiraring to find some one who has controlled there black cloude.

Thanks for the good advice.

Hi narriel,
I love chocolate. My favorite is dark Dagoba. Mmm mm. I don't believe in depriving myself of the sweet stuff (to a certain degree). I see cravings as the body's attempt to tell us what is out of balance.

What's your favorite kind of chocolate cake?

Well, lets just say, that I haven't met a Chocolate Cake that I haven't liked. Ha Ha. Though I am not fond of Choc. Cake that has Chocolate Chips on it, thats not say I won't eat it. I'm just not fond of it.

I gave up Chocolate for Lent. I was eating chocolate way too much. And you know I have noticed a big difference in my moods. Once Easter gets here I am going to try to be more controlled with my chocolate.

That's great! I think what you said about dark chocolate was right on. The less the refined sugar content the less detrimental to our body's and minds. I too have given up chocolate as of late. I am trying to heal from Candidiasis, which is an overgrowth of yeast in the system caused mostly by antibiotics (so they say) and made far worse by sugar and refined carbohydrates. I have found that my depression is directly connected to this disease.

It is hard to stay away from food when my mood is low or when I'm worried. I tend to eat when I'm stressed or lonely. Hence the love of chocolate!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.