This is my amazing story of recovery using nutritional support.

Sometimes it’s hard to relate to the person I was 4 years ago.
April 2008
HEALTH, HEALING AND HOPE
I am a 44 year old woman who for 23 years has suffered with chronic low grade depression. For 15 of these years I spent "hiding in the house", only going out for basics and walks. I socially isolated myself for this time and I would often not answer the phone or door for days on end. My symptoms included lying on the bed often for parts of the day in a trance, unable to move because I did not have the energy, and I would have to lean on the basin or sink because I did not have the energy to stand when doing the washing up. I was confused and had extremely high anxiety or stress levels, and my mind would race everywhere. I often felt "unreal" like I was not grounded. I was very tired all the time.

I was a very miserable person; I walked around with my mouth turned down at the corners for all these years.

At one stage my skin was grey, I often ate very little and did not have enough sleep, and this wears you down after years. I had other symptoms such as aggression, obsessiveness and at times paranoia. I chose not to go on conventional medicines after the last antidepressant I tried gave me a bad reaction; I just lived with my symptoms and plodded along day after day. I knew I had to do something to help myself, so 5 years ago I went to a health food shop and was quite taken when they showed me a book linking depression with diet. It talked about eating natural whole foods and taking nutritional supplements. At the time my diet was high in animal protein and processed foods such as red meat, cheese, milk, bacon, butter, white pasta and rice and about 2 liters of coco cola a day in the summer.

I went and bought cans of fish, chicken, nuts, seeds, wholemeal bread, brown rice, wholegrain oats,fruit and vegetables, olive oil, and soya milk .I started to eat like this overnight and suddenly felt more "alive" in my brain and colors seemed a lot brighter. I now know this was from all the nutrients hitting my brain cells. I also started to drink water starting off with 2 glasses and increasing this to 8 a day, this was a shock to my taste buds after all that coco-cola. I now have modified my diet to more vegetarian foods such as lentils and beans and feel so much healthier and as much organic food as I can afford. All the toxins from my unhealthy diet of 20 years where then excreted through the pores of my face skin for 6 months. This was horrible as it seeped out of me as pus, thankfully this finally stopped. At the health shop they had a free in store naturopath that day who gave me some little tests , including iridology, and she said that I was lacking in all the B vitamins, Magnesium, Omega 3, Coenzyme Q 10 and I had a sluggish liver, which is not surprising considering my diet. Another added bonus was that I lost 40 kilos of weight over a year; this just melted off and although the weight lost made me psychologically happier I was still chronically depressed.

So I went to a practicing naturopath for a quote for treatment which included having my hair analyzed for vitamin and mineral deficiencies , toxic overload, food allergies and any supplements I might need alas W.I.N.Z were not prepared to pay for this, luckily they where prepared to pay for a supplement from Canada called Empower. This was because of the scientific research behind the intensive vitamin and mineral micronutrient treatment Empower, they have been published in 5 psychiatric journals with very promising results. See www.truehope.com I did not have my health back then, so I researched all of the information I could on this subject. There are over 600 references in scientific journals linking mental illness with nutritional deficiencies. In June 2004, with a Disability Allowance from W.I.N.Z of $52 a week, I started taking 3 Empower a day and quickly building up within a week to the then recommended 18 pills a day.

To be honest I did not think the Empower was working, but then a couple of months later I noticed small subtle changes. I did not seem to be so confused or tired anymore. How I really realized that Empower was working with me was with my periods. Before Empower, I had spent 5 days in bed, because I had no energy to move, and I had such terrible "brain fog" and I was so depressed, that I wanted to be on my own. Every month taking these nutrients I slowly became better, and I am certainly not in bed anymore! I have had NO SIDE EFFECTS EVER IN THE NEARLY 4 YEARS I have taken this "natural medicine". I need to have nutritional support for the rest of my life otherwise my symptoms will return , I know this for a fact, because about 15 months ago I cut down to 10 pills a day from my usual 15 as I was feeling so well. I was fine for a few weeks, and then my period came, I had no reserves and I felt strange and depressed and so exhausted again. I upped my dose and within a month I was feeling well again. This gave me a big scare, because I realized how unwell I really was without my nutrients, but it also reminded of how much I relied on them otherwise my symptoms would return and I would feel like I did years ago. I am now nearly symptom free, I just feel I need a couple more months to totally heal. About 2 and a 1/2 years ago I felt whole, happy and complete for the first time in 23 years. I walk daily, jog, cycle and dance regularly. I also help run a "Food and Mood" workshop and I look after my partner who suffers with schizophrenia which is pretty stressful. I feel I am full of energy and vitality and I feel I can take on the world where I once hid from life. I feel that nutritional support has not changed my life, but "saved my life". About 10 months ago I started taking Coenzyme Q10 which really finely tuned me, and Omega 3s which I know are essential for mental health. I now sleep 8 hours a night and eat regularly and I function through the day.