Romany

I appreciate your honest and courageous posting. As with others' before you, it contains sound advice based on the hard fought road of personal experience and is sure to be of much value to those who find themselves in similar circumstances.

"I welcome forums like this which allow people to de-mystify mental illness.."

I agree. It is the very reason I continue to speak up as I do, even though I often wear a fair bit of criticism for doing so.

"..but have reservations about any recommendations which do not loudly, firmly and convincingly advocate lengthy discussion of such with ones health care providers, extensive research and much re-education."

Again, I totally agree. I sense that you, and others here though, place my recommendations in the same camp as those of which you have reservations! That is your perfect right, but being the persistent creature I can be at times, I'm going to persevere! For two reasons - firstly, because I care, and, secondly, because I would like to gain some traction for a viewpoint which is frequently, and I believe quite wrongly, treated dismissively.

"Like others, I've tried everything along the way - diet, excercise, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, ganga, suicide, umpteen different medications."

In the aim of furthering the debate, I'd be interested to know what you meant when you said you've tried 'diet'. I know this sounds intrusive and I will understand if you tell me where to get off! But, I've found from past experience that many people who say they've tried 'diet' and found it made little difference, really didn't persevere and take it nearly far enough for it to be truly effective.

Hey Bronny,

No, of course you're not being intrusive - its a forum for discussion and I volunteered info.

After the first suicide attempt at the age of 20 I was fortunate enough to come in contact with a wonderful doctor. With him we explored a completely different (and, to me at the time, radical!)dietary scheme which changed my eating patterns for life: pulses, grains, no artificial colouring and flavourings, certain raw fruits and vegetables.

When the book "Why M.E.?" came out, I was doing a lot of research and publishing articles concerning Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Many people reported significant improvement with the adoption of the eating patterns published there. I myself followed it for around 3 years.

About ten years ago a lot of information was published as the result of clinical trials on the effect of diet - and supplements - on sufferers of chronic depression. I was doing a lot of work with Mental Health then and observed how this regime helped many. I tried it and, after about three years, first slowed and then stopped my medication.

Eighteen months later I was psychotic.

Clawing my way back to sanity was horrendous.

I have no doubt that what we put into our bodies - especially in these days of mass produced foodstuffs - effects us. The ongoing trials with schoolchildren who have been diagnosed as ADD or ADHD are proof of this.

However, for bi-polarism - or at least for me - that one little pill each day is necessary and, though its taken a lifetime, I have now come to accept it.

Romany

Sorry for my non reply! Between work, C/mas and OLO gremlins I just haven't got round to posting much this last week.

You didn't give me a lot to go on, but from what you've told me my feeling is that, yes, you made a great start but like I thought didn't take it far enough for it to be truly effective. Having said that, I don't really have enough information to know whether or not I'm talking through my hat, which I most probably am!

I'm sure we'll get to revisit these ideas again on another thread sometime. Meanwhile, take care, and keep those wonderful posts of yours floating across the seas from China won't you!