In the U.K for the last five or so years, many people choose to abstain from alcohol in what is now known as Dry January. Some people do it for a charity, whilst others just to challenge themselves and detox after a very wet Christmas. We also have a second 'Stoptober' later in the year which isn't so popular, but also seems to be catching on.
As drinking is a serious pastime in the UK, and one which has been mentioned of late in the news, my husband and I decided to help each other through it and have just completed our first 'Dry January'. So how did it feel and how did we benefit?
The first thing I immediately noticed, and which became apparent almost within days, were my energy levels which increased enormously. By the end of the first week I almost felt a little euphoric,as my energy levels peaked and I found a new spring in my step. My skin also became clearer and my eyes seemed to sparkle as the tiredness left me. Feeling so energised enabled me to exercise more often, and even my breathing was easier and deeper as was my sleeping. I often awoke at night and was restless going off, but I slept soundly and awoke refreshed which is extremely rare indeed. I also rehydrated and you could see that quite clearly in my complexion, and even my hair, which looked shinier and thicker!
As the weeks passed by, I seemed to hibernate and became quite introverted. I even read three books consecutively, which was something I hadn't done for many years, well at least BC. (before children) We watched several movies, and I was able to concentrate more effectively, rather than suffering from the usual monkey brain. My taste buds improved and I ate less which meant I also lost several pounds in weight. The wanting or craving a chilled glass of wine, (I had one craving on a Friday in the first week, and another on a Sunday during the second) were fleeting, which again came as a great surprise. This also made me wonder again why I bothered at all ,and what I felt I was gaining by the habit of drinking.
The governments recommendations for drinking are 14 units a week and most people I know certainly, exceed that easily. This of course leads to addiction which can fuel the fires of mood disorders, depression and anxiety. My worst episodes of mood swings were almost always after a drinking session, and anxiety is known to increase ten-fold with the dreaded hangover. As our alcohol consumption increases, the level of nutrients in our system is compromised and our hormones and stress levels cannot cope as efficiently either. It makes you wonder indeed, why we drink at all!!!
Speaking to friends ,the majority of us drink by 'habit' and the phrase 'wine o'clock' is engrained in our culture. All too often it is a result of a stressful day, kids, a heavy workload or just the fact that we are relaxing on a Friday night at home. My own abstinence has taught me that rising on a Saturday morning can be even better when I awake with a clear head and high energy levels. It really has been a revelation and we've made a sincere pact to only drink when entertaining or going out for the evening. Even though it may not last, the intentions are good and we certainly hope to stick to it!
When I wrote 'I Blame the Hormones' it was staggering how much alcohol had been there throughout my whole life. I had relied on it endlessly, particularly during times of acute trauma and worry. I've since realised that it is not an answer to misery, but more a postponement ,as the daily angst of life will still be there in the morning. Using alcohol as a crutch to our problems only delays them, and part of being an adult is conquering our daily strife more effectively. As much as I like a drink just as much as the next person, the first glass is particularly relaxing, I can't deny how well I feel at this present time. I'm almost a bit disappointed that it has worked so well, if you get my drift! If only we could enjoy the good parts of drinking without the downsides the next day!
If you do suffer from addiction to alcohol, help is available by contacting Alcoholics Anonymous. I know several alcoholics who have conquered their addiction with AA. However, during my period of abstinence, I also read a book called 'This Naked Mind' by Annie Grace who helped me see alcohol for what it really is and put it all into perspective.
I Blame the Hormones is available to download on Kindle, Smartphone, PC or IPad and is my own experience of the mood disorder PMDD. Please leave a review once you've read it. I'm always delighted to hear from my readers.
Blessings as always, Suzi x
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
The confusion surrounding PROGESTERONE.
The hormonal elements of PMDD are so vast and hard to grasp that it is no wonder we are all confused about progesterone. It is even harder to comprehend what is synthetic, what is Bio-identical and how they work within one particular women. In terms of individuality, some women are also intolerant of progesterone, sometimes synthetic, sometimes both , which also adds to the mystery and indeed the misery of this reproductive depression.
In terms of understanding and explaining, it is hard to believe that the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestin is not widely understood. Even more importantly, the effect of progesterone both synthetic and natural, varies widely between women, so what is one women's misery is another women's cure! No wonder we are all in a quandary about what is working and what isn't!
Progesterone itself matches a women's body exactly, and therefore is an exact natural structural copy and will have a perfect fit with the bodies natural receptors. Some women however are intolerant to their own progesterone, so as soon as it is released during the late luteal phase, they will have an adverse reaction (PMS or its ugly sister PMDD).
Progestin (Synthetic progesterone) works in a slightly different way and so can produce both desired and undesired effects. So it can also lead to mental instability, as well as being a cure for PMS/ PMDD in some women. It can also be synthesised from undesirable sources ,which can also be a concern. (horses urine for example).
Here's an example of my own experience with progesterone.
When I had my second child, I used natural progesterone, Cyclogest, which is available in suppository form on prescription in the UK. This immediately helped me with my Postnatal depression which was so severe, it was classed as psychotic. I also used it as a preventative when I had my third and last child, and was able to avoid the plummet of hormones after delivery. It is this rapid tailing off of hormones which can often lead to PND in so many women. So the hormone sensitivity is so prominent, it can create emotional turmoil in many women and even be catastrophic as the body struggles with the sudden change in hormones.
However, when I used a synthetic hormone such as the contraceptive injection, or indeed any birth control, I suffered a reaction so severe that I thought I was losing my mind . The reaction was within 2 hours in fact, and took months to right itself. You can read more about this episode in my book 'I blame the Hormones', and what worked for my own PMDD. My own emotional fallout from the synthetic was life-changing, and was even the catalyst to becoming an activist for the sufferers of PMDD.
Others have found the opposite to be true! Some have found the birth control pill to be extremely effective at managing the symptoms of PMDD, while others use the Mirena coil with a good response. Some swear on using the Oestrogen patch, whilst others wouldn't touch it with a barge poll for fear of the result. This inexplicable and complicated diversity between us ladies is what makes PMDD so difficult to manage. It is also the reason for so much complicated dialogue between sufferers and professionals alike, with us endlessly arguing about what works and what doesn't.
PMDD really is a minefield when it comes to finding a 'one fixed protocol' for the treatment and management of this evil disorder. And the answer to that is, there is no one fixed answer!
The mystery of Progesterone is still being endlessly researched and we can only hope that this research will find more answers in the battle for emotional stability. It is what I'm campaigning for, and my wish for the future is that there will be one fixed regime in the management of all mood disorders. I'm hoping that for the next generation at least, we will have some answers. This is particularly important to me as I have 8 nieces in my direct blood line (one of whom is just 13) and she is already giving me cause for concern. Heart-breaking for me to see as you can imagine.
I blame The Hormones can be downloaded onto Kindle, Smartphone, PC or any tablet. I hope it helps you unravel the mystery of your own illness and how you can find freedom from your own disorder. In the meantime please leave me some feedback as I'm always so happy to find out what has worked for you! Swapping tactics is the only way, and serves us all indeed.
God Bless.
Suzi x
In terms of understanding and explaining, it is hard to believe that the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestin is not widely understood. Even more importantly, the effect of progesterone both synthetic and natural, varies widely between women, so what is one women's misery is another women's cure! No wonder we are all in a quandary about what is working and what isn't!
Progesterone itself matches a women's body exactly, and therefore is an exact natural structural copy and will have a perfect fit with the bodies natural receptors. Some women however are intolerant to their own progesterone, so as soon as it is released during the late luteal phase, they will have an adverse reaction (PMS or its ugly sister PMDD).
Progestin (Synthetic progesterone) works in a slightly different way and so can produce both desired and undesired effects. So it can also lead to mental instability, as well as being a cure for PMS/ PMDD in some women. It can also be synthesised from undesirable sources ,which can also be a concern. (horses urine for example).
Here's an example of my own experience with progesterone.
When I had my second child, I used natural progesterone, Cyclogest, which is available in suppository form on prescription in the UK. This immediately helped me with my Postnatal depression which was so severe, it was classed as psychotic. I also used it as a preventative when I had my third and last child, and was able to avoid the plummet of hormones after delivery. It is this rapid tailing off of hormones which can often lead to PND in so many women. So the hormone sensitivity is so prominent, it can create emotional turmoil in many women and even be catastrophic as the body struggles with the sudden change in hormones.
However, when I used a synthetic hormone such as the contraceptive injection, or indeed any birth control, I suffered a reaction so severe that I thought I was losing my mind . The reaction was within 2 hours in fact, and took months to right itself. You can read more about this episode in my book 'I blame the Hormones', and what worked for my own PMDD. My own emotional fallout from the synthetic was life-changing, and was even the catalyst to becoming an activist for the sufferers of PMDD.
Others have found the opposite to be true! Some have found the birth control pill to be extremely effective at managing the symptoms of PMDD, while others use the Mirena coil with a good response. Some swear on using the Oestrogen patch, whilst others wouldn't touch it with a barge poll for fear of the result. This inexplicable and complicated diversity between us ladies is what makes PMDD so difficult to manage. It is also the reason for so much complicated dialogue between sufferers and professionals alike, with us endlessly arguing about what works and what doesn't.
PMDD really is a minefield when it comes to finding a 'one fixed protocol' for the treatment and management of this evil disorder. And the answer to that is, there is no one fixed answer!
The mystery of Progesterone is still being endlessly researched and we can only hope that this research will find more answers in the battle for emotional stability. It is what I'm campaigning for, and my wish for the future is that there will be one fixed regime in the management of all mood disorders. I'm hoping that for the next generation at least, we will have some answers. This is particularly important to me as I have 8 nieces in my direct blood line (one of whom is just 13) and she is already giving me cause for concern. Heart-breaking for me to see as you can imagine.
I blame The Hormones can be downloaded onto Kindle, Smartphone, PC or any tablet. I hope it helps you unravel the mystery of your own illness and how you can find freedom from your own disorder. In the meantime please leave me some feedback as I'm always so happy to find out what has worked for you! Swapping tactics is the only way, and serves us all indeed.
God Bless.
Suzi x
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
An Amazing year for I Blame the Hormones!!
This is my first blog for 2016 and as we turn the calendar we are filled with hope and anticipation for the year ahead. For ' I Blame the Hormones', 2015 was a year in which more sales of this publication can only mean more awareness is raised.
That means for all mood disorders, regardless of origin,but more so for sufferers of reproductive depression, and the monthly misery of PMDD.
As the battle for more research rages on, more and more sufferers come forward, and never before have there been so many forums of discussion and dialogue. People are endlessly researching and striving for recognition of a misunderstood condition which at times is shrouded in mystery and has had very little limelight. This has to change, and publications such as I Blame the Hormones, which has just recently been bought by a German publishing house, have to take president in educating the non-believers. Still too often we hear that sufferers are being fobbed off with the lack of knowledge and professional expertise needed to manage the crippling symptoms of PMDD. Still people refuse to believe that the disorder exists and is an exaggeration or a need for attention. As far as I am aware, there isn't as yet one particular protocol or management guideline with healthcare professionals themselves not knowing enough about the disorder.
I am hoping that the year 2016 will see great changes in the management of the illness,and that more professionals will be seeing the light when it comes to diagnoses and interventions. PMDD can wreck the life of the sufferer, destroy families and can have a devastating effect on the female who essentially is in the most important phase of her life. Puberty, child rearing, careers and marriages are all at risk, and more needs to be done for the sufferer themselves and there families.
There is however hope, and hope is all we have in the world of PMDD.
NAPMDD or The National Association of PMDD had an amazing year of raising it up last year with their first convention in Denver which was attended by many both in person and online. It gave us all a great insight into research, management and most importantly, the most effective remedies used. It gave immense support to thousands of women worldwide, is passionate about raising awareness, and works tirelessly in the hope of finding a cure.
It has also just added two directors to the board who are professional and intelligent women with great knowledge and experience of the disorder. In terms of growth and practical understanding, I predict 2016 will be a year of great discovery for PMDD. As a board member myself, I can assure you I am in the company of some amazing and compassionate people going all out for this cause. We really are gaining coverage and reaching out to women worldwide, along with their families who also are suffering and need support and urgent help.
We are also swapping dialogue with the most knowledgeable Professors in the world such as Professor Studd, London and Dr Lola in Chile, who are striving hard to help those suffering and have published vital papers with years of data involving the latest and most sophisticated technology.
For those of you suffering and despairing out there, I can assure you that 2016 can only bring more answers, with so many hard working people dedicated to fighting this cause. In the meantime, hold onto hope that one day there will be a cure, and an end to the misery of PMDD.
For further information and to help raise greatly needed funds, go to napmdd.org where there is a wealth of support available and where you can even get involved!
I blame the Hormones, is available on Kindle, Smartphone, PC or any tablet.
Happy New year to you all,
Suzi x
That means for all mood disorders, regardless of origin,but more so for sufferers of reproductive depression, and the monthly misery of PMDD.
As the battle for more research rages on, more and more sufferers come forward, and never before have there been so many forums of discussion and dialogue. People are endlessly researching and striving for recognition of a misunderstood condition which at times is shrouded in mystery and has had very little limelight. This has to change, and publications such as I Blame the Hormones, which has just recently been bought by a German publishing house, have to take president in educating the non-believers. Still too often we hear that sufferers are being fobbed off with the lack of knowledge and professional expertise needed to manage the crippling symptoms of PMDD. Still people refuse to believe that the disorder exists and is an exaggeration or a need for attention. As far as I am aware, there isn't as yet one particular protocol or management guideline with healthcare professionals themselves not knowing enough about the disorder.
I am hoping that the year 2016 will see great changes in the management of the illness,and that more professionals will be seeing the light when it comes to diagnoses and interventions. PMDD can wreck the life of the sufferer, destroy families and can have a devastating effect on the female who essentially is in the most important phase of her life. Puberty, child rearing, careers and marriages are all at risk, and more needs to be done for the sufferer themselves and there families.
There is however hope, and hope is all we have in the world of PMDD.
NAPMDD or The National Association of PMDD had an amazing year of raising it up last year with their first convention in Denver which was attended by many both in person and online. It gave us all a great insight into research, management and most importantly, the most effective remedies used. It gave immense support to thousands of women worldwide, is passionate about raising awareness, and works tirelessly in the hope of finding a cure.
It has also just added two directors to the board who are professional and intelligent women with great knowledge and experience of the disorder. In terms of growth and practical understanding, I predict 2016 will be a year of great discovery for PMDD. As a board member myself, I can assure you I am in the company of some amazing and compassionate people going all out for this cause. We really are gaining coverage and reaching out to women worldwide, along with their families who also are suffering and need support and urgent help.
We are also swapping dialogue with the most knowledgeable Professors in the world such as Professor Studd, London and Dr Lola in Chile, who are striving hard to help those suffering and have published vital papers with years of data involving the latest and most sophisticated technology.
For those of you suffering and despairing out there, I can assure you that 2016 can only bring more answers, with so many hard working people dedicated to fighting this cause. In the meantime, hold onto hope that one day there will be a cure, and an end to the misery of PMDD.
For further information and to help raise greatly needed funds, go to napmdd.org where there is a wealth of support available and where you can even get involved!
I blame the Hormones, is available on Kindle, Smartphone, PC or any tablet.
Happy New year to you all,
Suzi x
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
There are no rules with a mood disorder.
Yesterday I was browsing through the forums, taking notes and trying to find inspiration for this blog, when an online heated discussion ensued. This of course, is not unusual, particularly within the realms of PMDD. I have learnt that it should even be expected sometimes with so many hormonal women battling it out! However, yesterdays online rift stood out because it was talking in particular about finding a cure, what has worked for the individual sufferer, and how it could possibly work for us all as a generalized formula.
If only it were that simple? If only there were rules to this awful disorder? Why is there no fixed strategy?
What I found with my own disorder, and indeed the condition itself, is that its so different for each individual, that this in itself makes it particularly brutal and hard to fathom. Sometimes it even varies from month to month as we try out different remedies in the hope of lessening the symptoms. An example of this is to give up alcohol which has helped in so many cases, only to find that 2 months down the line the symptoms return, often with great ferocity which can leave us surprised and perplexed ! We had thought it was working!
Quite often we find ourselves lulled into a false sense of security as what has once worked gradually loses its efficacy. The online debates only fuel this as somebody uses a sugar free diet, and another sufferer finds that futile. One person gives up caffeine whilst another finds no change in symptoms at all! Its all so complicated as together we search endlessly for that one remedy that can serve us all.
Only one thing is certain and that is that one persons PMDD is never the same as another's, and the list of symptoms is so varied it only serves to confuse us and then leaves us endlessly frustrated as we then try another.
What we need to do is accept that we all have a different genetic make-up, and that makes us as complex and individual as the disorder itself. There is still so much we don't know, still so much to learn and this is what makes the forums so important as we learn, educate each other and strive to find that one strategy that may one day work! Its is what NAPMDD is working so hard for, what NAPS (London UK ) is working for, and is the hope for every single sufferer on the face of the planet.
As a general overview, clean and healthy living can only serve us all, regardless of whether we have the disorder or not! If we live on junk, don't make ourselves accountable for our own health and well being, our symptoms will always be worse. If we don't take on nutritious food and abuse our physical selves with drugs, alcohol, refined sugars and caffeine, of course we will suffer as our bodies cry out for a healthy regime. Exercise too is obviously a great weapon and simply must be used regularly and consistently. Vitamins and minerals which are often lacking in todays diet have also shown promising results, as has naturopathic and holistic remedies.
What I'm trying to say is that as much as we argue amongst ourselves, what has helped one particular women, may not help another. This is what we are finding and as long as we consistently swap tactics and dialogue, one day someone somewhere will find that one cure that we are all hoping for.
And HOPE has to be our philosophy for hope is all that we definitely have! It is the only thing that is certain with PMDD.
For those of you that have read my own memoir, I blame the Hormones, you will see that it wasn't one particular thing that worked for me, but a whole host of scientific intervention, healthy interaction and the correct medical professionals that bought about my cure. Everything came together, at just the right time, with the one strategy that has been working for me. I so pray that in the future there will be one perfect cure for the most awful of conditions, and that you too will find your own freedom from the PMDD that has no rules.
Blessings as always,
Suzi.
I Blame the Hormones can be downloaded on Kindle, PC, Smartphone, I pad or any tablet. It comes under the pseudonym of Caroline Church, and is available on Amazon.
If only it were that simple? If only there were rules to this awful disorder? Why is there no fixed strategy?
What I found with my own disorder, and indeed the condition itself, is that its so different for each individual, that this in itself makes it particularly brutal and hard to fathom. Sometimes it even varies from month to month as we try out different remedies in the hope of lessening the symptoms. An example of this is to give up alcohol which has helped in so many cases, only to find that 2 months down the line the symptoms return, often with great ferocity which can leave us surprised and perplexed ! We had thought it was working!
Quite often we find ourselves lulled into a false sense of security as what has once worked gradually loses its efficacy. The online debates only fuel this as somebody uses a sugar free diet, and another sufferer finds that futile. One person gives up caffeine whilst another finds no change in symptoms at all! Its all so complicated as together we search endlessly for that one remedy that can serve us all.
Only one thing is certain and that is that one persons PMDD is never the same as another's, and the list of symptoms is so varied it only serves to confuse us and then leaves us endlessly frustrated as we then try another.
What we need to do is accept that we all have a different genetic make-up, and that makes us as complex and individual as the disorder itself. There is still so much we don't know, still so much to learn and this is what makes the forums so important as we learn, educate each other and strive to find that one strategy that may one day work! Its is what NAPMDD is working so hard for, what NAPS (London UK ) is working for, and is the hope for every single sufferer on the face of the planet.
As a general overview, clean and healthy living can only serve us all, regardless of whether we have the disorder or not! If we live on junk, don't make ourselves accountable for our own health and well being, our symptoms will always be worse. If we don't take on nutritious food and abuse our physical selves with drugs, alcohol, refined sugars and caffeine, of course we will suffer as our bodies cry out for a healthy regime. Exercise too is obviously a great weapon and simply must be used regularly and consistently. Vitamins and minerals which are often lacking in todays diet have also shown promising results, as has naturopathic and holistic remedies.
What I'm trying to say is that as much as we argue amongst ourselves, what has helped one particular women, may not help another. This is what we are finding and as long as we consistently swap tactics and dialogue, one day someone somewhere will find that one cure that we are all hoping for.
And HOPE has to be our philosophy for hope is all that we definitely have! It is the only thing that is certain with PMDD.
For those of you that have read my own memoir, I blame the Hormones, you will see that it wasn't one particular thing that worked for me, but a whole host of scientific intervention, healthy interaction and the correct medical professionals that bought about my cure. Everything came together, at just the right time, with the one strategy that has been working for me. I so pray that in the future there will be one perfect cure for the most awful of conditions, and that you too will find your own freedom from the PMDD that has no rules.
Blessings as always,
Suzi.
I Blame the Hormones can be downloaded on Kindle, PC, Smartphone, I pad or any tablet. It comes under the pseudonym of Caroline Church, and is available on Amazon.
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Is your SSRI the real deal? And can you be sure?
I've been busy this week researching about SSRI's and have been contacted by several people who have had a sudden and unexplained relapse. For those that have read my book 'I blame the hormones' you will know that it is often a case of trying to find the antidepressant that suits you, which can be tiresome and depressing in itself. One type may not agree with you, and its often a case of trial and error with this amazing medication. Once you have found the correct one, with the correct dosage, the effect can be miraculous and life transforming. You can also use them in conjunction with hormonal therapies for PMDD, and this double barrelled approach is often favoured by many women in the fight against hormonal mood disorders.
Why then do so many people have a sudden relapse? And why do so many have to increase the dose needed to maintain equilibrium?
Trawling through the numerous blogs and forums associated with depression and mood disorders, I was amazed to read that in the UK, our antidepressants are often the generic type and not the original brand at all. This means that they are a cheaper version of the original brand and often imported from a different source. Indeed many have noticed that each time they have received their new batch of SSRI's it seems to come form a different manufacturer every time. This then has a different effect on the system and can create a jolt of the same side effects that hit when they first started taking the drug.
There are scattered reports of people experiencing a return of side effects when they use a generic ,as different manufacturers can use different binding agents and non-active ingredients. This can affect the releasing rate into the system and result in the jitters, nervousness, anxiety and a return of depressive symptoms. Not realising that we are using a generic can cause unnecessary suffering and despite the chemists insistence that the drug is the same, the forums tell a different story entirely, with numerous people finding the transition difficult. In the UK the National health service routinely uses generics as a cheaper option, importing them rather than using the branded version which can be up to five times as expensive. It is worth then sticking to the same brand of generic, than chopping and changing manufacturer which can result in a possible relapse. Check the box every time to make sure that its the same generic that you are using.
Anti-depressant medication can be a powerful tool in the war against depression and I have used them over many years for this clinical condition, but please be aware if you have a sudden return of symptoms that you maybe using a version that isn't quite what it seems. In case your worried, the most often used are,
PROZAC-SERAFEM (fluoxetine)
ZOLOFT (sertraline)
PAXIL (paroxetine)
CELEXA (citalopram)
Anything else that uses another manufacturer is probably a cheaper version and is therefore a generic. To be sure of anything, always check with your doctor particularly if you relapse suddenly and without cause.
Blessings as usual, Suzi. AKA Caroline Church.
I Blame the Hormones is available on Kindle, Smartphone, PC, tablet or I-phone and can be ordered from Amazon.
Why then do so many people have a sudden relapse? And why do so many have to increase the dose needed to maintain equilibrium?
Trawling through the numerous blogs and forums associated with depression and mood disorders, I was amazed to read that in the UK, our antidepressants are often the generic type and not the original brand at all. This means that they are a cheaper version of the original brand and often imported from a different source. Indeed many have noticed that each time they have received their new batch of SSRI's it seems to come form a different manufacturer every time. This then has a different effect on the system and can create a jolt of the same side effects that hit when they first started taking the drug.
There are scattered reports of people experiencing a return of side effects when they use a generic ,as different manufacturers can use different binding agents and non-active ingredients. This can affect the releasing rate into the system and result in the jitters, nervousness, anxiety and a return of depressive symptoms. Not realising that we are using a generic can cause unnecessary suffering and despite the chemists insistence that the drug is the same, the forums tell a different story entirely, with numerous people finding the transition difficult. In the UK the National health service routinely uses generics as a cheaper option, importing them rather than using the branded version which can be up to five times as expensive. It is worth then sticking to the same brand of generic, than chopping and changing manufacturer which can result in a possible relapse. Check the box every time to make sure that its the same generic that you are using.
Anti-depressant medication can be a powerful tool in the war against depression and I have used them over many years for this clinical condition, but please be aware if you have a sudden return of symptoms that you maybe using a version that isn't quite what it seems. In case your worried, the most often used are,
PROZAC-SERAFEM (fluoxetine)
ZOLOFT (sertraline)
PAXIL (paroxetine)
CELEXA (citalopram)
Anything else that uses another manufacturer is probably a cheaper version and is therefore a generic. To be sure of anything, always check with your doctor particularly if you relapse suddenly and without cause.
Blessings as usual, Suzi. AKA Caroline Church.
I Blame the Hormones is available on Kindle, Smartphone, PC, tablet or I-phone and can be ordered from Amazon.
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
When you feel like running away.
Quite often with mood disorders, whether they be PMDD, Bipolar or Panic disorder there is an overwhelming compulsion to run away, and it has very serious implications for the sufferer. When I began writing 'I blame the Hormones', my own issues were so serious that I was running away regularly, often several times a month, and it left my family confused and terrified as they worried for my safety and state of mind. In actual fact, looking at my history, from a very young age I was often bailing out when the going got tough. This is what psychologists call 'a life long coping pattern' with my 'flight or flight ' system highly activated through no fault of my own.
So what exactly was I running away from? And why does this happen so often? Why are so many of us feeling the need to run away?
Speaking to many sufferers, mostly women, but also rarely some men, I'm kind of figuring it out and there's often a common theme amongst us, and that is, the dreaded 'mental chatter'. Here's a scene which I remember, have documented in my book, and is all too common with us sufferers.
A normal evening in my home is where I'm cooking dinner and I'm in the chatter zone with a relentless dialogue and commentary in my head. I'm pre-menstrual and every sound is heightened, magnified even, and it is continuously interrupting my train of thought. As it builds, I hold my ears closed as it is now becoming a physical pain. Gradually I start to feel suffocated, claustrophobic and almost immediately everything is out of control. The door knocks, the phones are ringing, the children are asking me questions and I am keyed up, on edge and ready to blow! The life sounds around me are too much, my breathing is shallow and I begin to tremble. Now, we've all had those scenarios, but the situation is different if you have an emotional disorder because its now magnified ten-fold, actually twenty-fold.
The mental chatter has now become an incessant dialogue of judgment, likes, dislikes and sheer rage at the outside world. Hatred fills every fibre of my being and I feel physical violence and an outburst is brewing. Recovery for me is now too late and I know it, as my body fills with adrenaline and cortisol. The thoughts are now speeding up, getting faster and faster and my head is filled with tension which is now reacting with my body. In fact I am no longer in the room at all as I am fully engaged with what is going on in my mind with an onslaught of mental movies even, and a tremendous sense of impending doom. I simply have to get out and that is that, I run away, out into the cold and I don't ever want to come back.
Sound familiar?
As we know, for every one of us that has the feeling of running away, there are actually many more that do, with the feeling simply overtaking and leaving little room for the repercussions. The impulse is there, it has been taken, and there is freedom from the persecution which your own mind has created.
Once out of the situation, the feeling continues for some time, leaving you with a crushing sense of remorse and guilt. Self-blame and unhappiness prevail as you contemplate a life with an illness out of your control. It truly is a terrible fate with origins sometimes stemming from childhood, stress, hormones, sometimes tragic life events and often clinical depression.
It is also extremely common with forums and helplines inundated with people needing to run away. Remember you are not alone, and I know just how awful this situation can be.
TRIGGER WARNING!
Quite often when I was extremely poorly I would be running away to end it all ,and it is my belief that is what drives people to suicide with an overriding compulsion to put an end to the situation that they are in. In hindsight, I was simply running away from myself, as once I was out of my dismal situation, I would sit in the car and think 'well what do I do now then?The feeling has abated, but its still there really, I just don't feel so overwhelmed! I'm still having the life-long battle with my own tortured self but I just needed to get away, I need to be 'quiet'. I need so much to be alone.
I need this silence.
With my own disorder in particular, I have learnt that female hormones cannot possibly metabolize in the presence of adrenaline and cortisol, so I really was in a situation out of my control. There was no possible way of recovery unless I had the silence and tranquillity needed, and I would urge any sufferers to do the same. It does and will pass if you allow yourself the space and room to breathe and gather you're thoughts, a quiet room for example. If you don't find that space, the sensory overload will trigger your fight or flight and the battle is lost as you escape anyway!
For those that don't suffer, until you have felt the overwhelming need and urge to run away, you can never comprehend it. It may even seem childish to you, selfish even, like a kind of childish tantrum that is impossible to understand. Well I can assure you it really is the most awful of situation, with no way out except the golden respite of silence. Judgment and ridicule will only lead to further remorse and guilt, with a possible exacerbation of symptoms, including insomnia and further depression. Family conflict will never be far away from the runner, and is often greatly misunderstood by those that are left behind.
To help your own feelings of fight or flight. I would recommend that you read 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle, which has helped me 'still' my mind enormously. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he does explain how and why our minds have become so jumbled as we live in either the past or the future but never the present. This can lead to physical and emotional illness as our thoughts overwhelm us.
Don't forget to order your copy of my book 'I blame the Hormones' which explains perfectly why I needed to run away from it all and how I overcame it. The silence I've yearned for has finally arrived and it truly is amazing! You can download on PC, Smartphone, Kindle or I-pad and this powerful memoir could even save a life.
Blessings as usual.
Suzi, AKA Caroline Church.
So what exactly was I running away from? And why does this happen so often? Why are so many of us feeling the need to run away?
Speaking to many sufferers, mostly women, but also rarely some men, I'm kind of figuring it out and there's often a common theme amongst us, and that is, the dreaded 'mental chatter'. Here's a scene which I remember, have documented in my book, and is all too common with us sufferers.
A normal evening in my home is where I'm cooking dinner and I'm in the chatter zone with a relentless dialogue and commentary in my head. I'm pre-menstrual and every sound is heightened, magnified even, and it is continuously interrupting my train of thought. As it builds, I hold my ears closed as it is now becoming a physical pain. Gradually I start to feel suffocated, claustrophobic and almost immediately everything is out of control. The door knocks, the phones are ringing, the children are asking me questions and I am keyed up, on edge and ready to blow! The life sounds around me are too much, my breathing is shallow and I begin to tremble. Now, we've all had those scenarios, but the situation is different if you have an emotional disorder because its now magnified ten-fold, actually twenty-fold.
The mental chatter has now become an incessant dialogue of judgment, likes, dislikes and sheer rage at the outside world. Hatred fills every fibre of my being and I feel physical violence and an outburst is brewing. Recovery for me is now too late and I know it, as my body fills with adrenaline and cortisol. The thoughts are now speeding up, getting faster and faster and my head is filled with tension which is now reacting with my body. In fact I am no longer in the room at all as I am fully engaged with what is going on in my mind with an onslaught of mental movies even, and a tremendous sense of impending doom. I simply have to get out and that is that, I run away, out into the cold and I don't ever want to come back.
Sound familiar?
As we know, for every one of us that has the feeling of running away, there are actually many more that do, with the feeling simply overtaking and leaving little room for the repercussions. The impulse is there, it has been taken, and there is freedom from the persecution which your own mind has created.
Once out of the situation, the feeling continues for some time, leaving you with a crushing sense of remorse and guilt. Self-blame and unhappiness prevail as you contemplate a life with an illness out of your control. It truly is a terrible fate with origins sometimes stemming from childhood, stress, hormones, sometimes tragic life events and often clinical depression.
It is also extremely common with forums and helplines inundated with people needing to run away. Remember you are not alone, and I know just how awful this situation can be.
TRIGGER WARNING!
Quite often when I was extremely poorly I would be running away to end it all ,and it is my belief that is what drives people to suicide with an overriding compulsion to put an end to the situation that they are in. In hindsight, I was simply running away from myself, as once I was out of my dismal situation, I would sit in the car and think 'well what do I do now then?The feeling has abated, but its still there really, I just don't feel so overwhelmed! I'm still having the life-long battle with my own tortured self but I just needed to get away, I need to be 'quiet'. I need so much to be alone.
I need this silence.
With my own disorder in particular, I have learnt that female hormones cannot possibly metabolize in the presence of adrenaline and cortisol, so I really was in a situation out of my control. There was no possible way of recovery unless I had the silence and tranquillity needed, and I would urge any sufferers to do the same. It does and will pass if you allow yourself the space and room to breathe and gather you're thoughts, a quiet room for example. If you don't find that space, the sensory overload will trigger your fight or flight and the battle is lost as you escape anyway!
For those that don't suffer, until you have felt the overwhelming need and urge to run away, you can never comprehend it. It may even seem childish to you, selfish even, like a kind of childish tantrum that is impossible to understand. Well I can assure you it really is the most awful of situation, with no way out except the golden respite of silence. Judgment and ridicule will only lead to further remorse and guilt, with a possible exacerbation of symptoms, including insomnia and further depression. Family conflict will never be far away from the runner, and is often greatly misunderstood by those that are left behind.
To help your own feelings of fight or flight. I would recommend that you read 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle, which has helped me 'still' my mind enormously. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he does explain how and why our minds have become so jumbled as we live in either the past or the future but never the present. This can lead to physical and emotional illness as our thoughts overwhelm us.
Don't forget to order your copy of my book 'I blame the Hormones' which explains perfectly why I needed to run away from it all and how I overcame it. The silence I've yearned for has finally arrived and it truly is amazing! You can download on PC, Smartphone, Kindle or I-pad and this powerful memoir could even save a life.
Blessings as usual.
Suzi, AKA Caroline Church.
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
The cure I've found for aches and pains and my experiment.
Greetings all. Firstly I am absolutely delighted by all the reviews I'm getting for my book 'I blame the hormones'! It makes such a difference when people take the time out of their busy day to write to me and give me feed back. It makes it all worthwhile and I know it helps others too, so thank you so much.
I want to also tell you about my ongoing battle with my aches and pains, particularly my restless legs which has almost driven me to distraction over the years and is a common complaint among us females! Even though the pains in my legs have reduced considerably since I had a hysterectomy (I've no idea why), I still suffer greatly, particularly if I'm over tired or stressed. Although it is a widely accepted ailment, very little is known about what causes it or why it happens. Aching joints and muscles really are a pain in the neck!
After another particularly restless night, I put out a post in a forum and asked other sufferers how they dealt with it and two things became apparent. It was suggested that low magnesium and iron were to blame, and I should increase my supplementation immediately. This of course I did, and within a week or so the sensations in my legs had ceased to exist . I felt far more energised which too was an added bonus, and I no longer suffered after exercising.
I can't tell you how relieved I felt because quite often I would have to sleep with my legs up against the wall to help with the pressure. This issue has plagued me since childhood where I would cry out in the night whilst my mum would simply say that it was 'growing pains' and was to be expected. Some forty years later I'm still suffering with the Postnatal and Pre-menstrual period quite often being agonising. Although I was sceptical, I was willing to try anything particularly as I was now in the menopause and had only had a brief respite after my operation.
Just too be sure that the supplementation of iron and magnesium wasn't the result of the placebo effect, last week I accidently purposefully ran out so I couldn't take them. I was desperate to see if I would go back to the dreaded aches and pains, and guess what? I did! Within a ten day period I had relapsed with the heaviness and dragging sensations in my muscles. I also have wrist pain and a tense neck along with a crippling sense of fatigue and lethargy. By Sunday I had truly hit a wall of exhaustion which even an afternoon nap couldn't shake off. Its truly dreadful and sometimes feels like the flu. I had conducted my own experiment with crippling results and M.E symptoms predominating.
I'm happy to say that yesterday, Monday, I had replenished my supplies of iron (I use Feroglobin or Floradix depending on my budget ) and I can immediately tell the difference some 24 hours later with no exaggeration. I also use a high end Magnesium with vitamin B complex and a fish oil three times daily. I also am a regular juicer and use Spirulina, Chlorophyll and wheatgrass which I take in powder form in my Nutri-bullet.
What seems to happen however, is once I feel better ,I forget how awful I felt, forget to take them and so the cycle goes on. I guess the way to do it is to put aside a time in the day to take them religiously and never stop despite the way one feels. When will I grasp it?
And is this not a familiar pattern with us buying an endless supply of minerals and vitamins and then not using them?
I need to take control, and so my time is now, at 9.30 with my morning coffee, come rain or shine and regardless of what my busy schedule is. I absolutely must make it a priority, as my experiment has shown. To not do so I have proved is detrimental to my health and completely ridiculous. I've also now promised to supplement my children, particularly as one approaches puberty and another is a teenager with the junk food diet that his age group so often consumes.
Thanks for reading and happy supplementation. I hope my experience helps you too with the dreaded aches and pains.
Suzi at www.iblamethehormones.com
I Blame the hormones is available now on Amazon, by Caroline Church
I want to also tell you about my ongoing battle with my aches and pains, particularly my restless legs which has almost driven me to distraction over the years and is a common complaint among us females! Even though the pains in my legs have reduced considerably since I had a hysterectomy (I've no idea why), I still suffer greatly, particularly if I'm over tired or stressed. Although it is a widely accepted ailment, very little is known about what causes it or why it happens. Aching joints and muscles really are a pain in the neck!
After another particularly restless night, I put out a post in a forum and asked other sufferers how they dealt with it and two things became apparent. It was suggested that low magnesium and iron were to blame, and I should increase my supplementation immediately. This of course I did, and within a week or so the sensations in my legs had ceased to exist . I felt far more energised which too was an added bonus, and I no longer suffered after exercising.
I can't tell you how relieved I felt because quite often I would have to sleep with my legs up against the wall to help with the pressure. This issue has plagued me since childhood where I would cry out in the night whilst my mum would simply say that it was 'growing pains' and was to be expected. Some forty years later I'm still suffering with the Postnatal and Pre-menstrual period quite often being agonising. Although I was sceptical, I was willing to try anything particularly as I was now in the menopause and had only had a brief respite after my operation.
Just too be sure that the supplementation of iron and magnesium wasn't the result of the placebo effect, last week I accidently purposefully ran out so I couldn't take them. I was desperate to see if I would go back to the dreaded aches and pains, and guess what? I did! Within a ten day period I had relapsed with the heaviness and dragging sensations in my muscles. I also have wrist pain and a tense neck along with a crippling sense of fatigue and lethargy. By Sunday I had truly hit a wall of exhaustion which even an afternoon nap couldn't shake off. Its truly dreadful and sometimes feels like the flu. I had conducted my own experiment with crippling results and M.E symptoms predominating.
I'm happy to say that yesterday, Monday, I had replenished my supplies of iron (I use Feroglobin or Floradix depending on my budget ) and I can immediately tell the difference some 24 hours later with no exaggeration. I also use a high end Magnesium with vitamin B complex and a fish oil three times daily. I also am a regular juicer and use Spirulina, Chlorophyll and wheatgrass which I take in powder form in my Nutri-bullet.
What seems to happen however, is once I feel better ,I forget how awful I felt, forget to take them and so the cycle goes on. I guess the way to do it is to put aside a time in the day to take them religiously and never stop despite the way one feels. When will I grasp it?
And is this not a familiar pattern with us buying an endless supply of minerals and vitamins and then not using them?
I need to take control, and so my time is now, at 9.30 with my morning coffee, come rain or shine and regardless of what my busy schedule is. I absolutely must make it a priority, as my experiment has shown. To not do so I have proved is detrimental to my health and completely ridiculous. I've also now promised to supplement my children, particularly as one approaches puberty and another is a teenager with the junk food diet that his age group so often consumes.
Thanks for reading and happy supplementation. I hope my experience helps you too with the dreaded aches and pains.
Suzi at www.iblamethehormones.com
I Blame the hormones is available now on Amazon, by Caroline Church
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