Mike, great topic!

I don't have time at the moment but I'll post later on my journey with anxiety
and depression and what I found to rebalance myself and also my family history
of depression. If only what I know now had been available for my mother in
particular as well as my father.

I'll upload some files on the symptoms of various neurochemical deficiencies or
excesses. There are quite a few dietary and behavioral interventions that can
affect the neurochemicals. Also chronic elevated cortisol levels will lock out
the receptor sites for these chemicals as well as receptors for sex and thyroid
hormones.

These also affect mood, cognition and mentation as well as energy levels. More
later"

Julie

----- Original Message -----
> Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2005
> From: "Michael Meredith"
> Subject: Caring for someone with Mental Illness
>
> 1 in 4 of us will become clinically mentally ill at some point in our
> lives. Going hand in hand with this is the bald truth that we will
> from time to time have to live with psychiatric problems in members
> of our family and/or work colleagues and/or friends.
>
> A new book "To Walk on Eggshells" sheds light on the experience of
> caring for someone who over a period of time has symptoms progressing
> from depression to bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive
> illness) to paranoia and self-harming.
>
> The impact of this on the carer and the struggle to cope, learn
> lessons and move forwards is detailed in this moving account of a
> family's distress.
>
> The journey from symptoms and suffering to stabilisation on
> medication is outlined.
>
> I have put a review of this book online at:
>
> http://www.lovehealth.org/books/carer.htm
>
> and a discussion of some of the mental health and psychiatric
> treatment issues raised can be found at:
>
> http://www.lovehealth.org/books/issues.htm
>
> It would be great if we could discuss soem of the issues here on
> CHEAL and/or if people would be willing to share a little of their
> own experiences here?
>
>
> Thanks
> Mike