Treating Mental Illness as a Physical Illness

Yesterday was tough. I felt like I had iron coursing through my veins. My skin felt tight. But I was having a tough day in another way. I have an infection. I was able to see the doctor and got some antibiotics. Then I was given a prescription for the pain. "This will help with your symptoms, while the antibiotics work on the source."

Beautifully put. In physical pain there is a root cause usually. Modern medicine recognizes this and has found cures for the source of the pain and medication to address the symptoms as well. Mental illness is an illness. It has a root cause. Some of it is environmental, but I have found that even though I have PTSD, when my mind is well I can handle that stress too. Simple. Psychiatric medication treats the symptoms, vitamins, minerals and amino acids that your brain NEEDS treat the source of the symptoms.

Sunday I wrote about how well I felt. It was so great. To remember feeling that well, I had to recall a feeling I had 30 years ago. A feeling of wellness. Total wellness. I'm feeling pretty good today, in spite of the physical response to the reduction of psychotropic meds. I had some depression last night, but being physically ill didn't help matters.

I'm going to stop separating mental illness from physical illness. I am finding out that the supplements are giving me the amount of nutrients that my physiological brain needs to function. Don't we all function better when we get the proper nutrition? Its not practical to eat 25 oranges, but if your brain needs that amount of vitamin C, then it needs to be delivered in another form. I'm just throwing that number out there. As my doctor pointed out to me on Friday, the results are remarkable.

I was at the point where...I'm not sure what they were going to do with me next, ECT? Most of my psych drugs were maxed out. Different cocktails, different dosages, different new and improved meds to try, my doctor told me that I might as well try the nutritional supplements, he had just about exhausted his options for my treatment.

I will begin taking probiotics that help maintain "friendly" bacteria for a healthy digestive tract. The vitamin/mineral supplements, amino acids and probiotics are used to give the body what it needs.

Finally! Addressing the root cause of mental illness, even that which is genetic, is being done. This is not a "cure" the body will continue to need those same nutrients, the body will not need the psych meds to treat the symptoms because the symptoms will be alleviated.

Have a good day. Enjoy your moments in this life. It's the only life you get.