h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The dream one.

Yay

So sorry I keep getting cut off IM
Thanks for your support Ellen

I called a new therapist today, one recommended by Linda, and left a message on this lady's voice mail, but did not hear back from her today. She is almost certain to call and wake me up tomorrow. *sigh* Need to do this though to get an appointment. I am almost sick with worry that I am trying the wrong person, or that she will not work out well. *sigh, sigh*

Latest update - not sure if anyone is still subscribed.

The therapist I called would not take me, but I tried yet another session, and the that therapist and I had a pretty productive session. Now waiting for our second meeting, hoping that I have made the right decision. New therapist seemed nice, but a little intense. She recommended a nutritional supplement that improves dream recall, and I am planning to talk to my doctor about it. I still miss Linda.

JEllen

Ow, didn't proofread. I tried another person who was available, and she and I had a good session.

I'm still subbed. The first one you mentioned in that post was full up or something?

The first one wouldn't accept any more medicare patients. Doesn't that ?

My new therapist recommended a nutritional supplement that improves REM sleep, and I have been reading up on it. You have to be extremely cautious if you take it at the same time as an antidepressant though. Going to take some of the other nutritional advice in the book, like taking B vitamins and antioxidants, and eating foods with tryptophan. I already take Omega oils.

JEllen

Sorry I didn't respond sooner. This thread got buried. Yes that does suck about them not taking anymore Medicare patients. Eff that!

Do you think the Omega oils help?

Yes, the omega oils definitely help. Been taking them for a while now. I know they help because a couple times I ran out and couldn't get by the store for a few days, and felt lousy. Not only are they good for mood, but they are good for your heart I hear.

That's good. What form do you take them in? I was going to try taking them a while back. I have a large jar of flax seeds in my fridge still. I never got anything to grind them up with though and I've never used them. I don't know if they'd even be good anymore. I don't know why I chose to try it in that form. I'm really too lazy to grind things up everyday. I think I'd heard that it would be more effective in a freshly ground form but I don't know if it would really matter.

I take Nature's Bounty softgels. Walgreens carries it. They actually make a softgel that is a combination of fish, flax, and borage oil -- which is very good cause it covers all the omegas. They are easy to take, no grinding, (heavens!), and no trying to swallow the oil straight, (yuk.)

Yes - Omega-3 works for me, too. My psychiatrist tells me that 4 of his other bi-polar patients have also reported good results. The original research was for schizophrenia.

Some points to note, though:

1) The important ingredient is Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The various capsules differ a lot in their relative proportions of EPA. The best I've found is around 25%

2) You can't get enough EPA from vegetable sources (flax, hemp etc). You need fish oil. This is a bummer if, like me, you're usually vegetarian. But then - My sanity vs a few fishes' lives? Sorry, fishies! Oh - and cod liver oil is not recommended. At the required doses there would be a danger of vitamin A poisoning.

3) The doses required are pretty large. Good effects have been notices for 1g of EPA per day. That's a lot of fish oil, even with my large percentage capsules! Imagine a fistful of jellybeans. Eating fish (or flax) alone would obviously be impractical. It would equate to a wheelbarrow full of mackerel or a truckload of flax seed.

4) At high doses, there may be a tendency for the body to metabolise EPA. Large doses of anti-oxidant Vitamin C are recommended to counteract this.

5) Penguin breath is a potential problem. I only get the odd repeat myself.

6) For UK readers, Boots have own-brand super strength omega-3 fish oil capsules on a (so far!) permanent 3-for-2 offer. These are my 25% EPA ones. They are by far the cheapest way I have found of getting the necessary dose.

7) Yes - fish oils are good for the heart. They have a blood thinning effect - but not as good as aspirin. They also give you a glossy coat and a dry nose.

Oooo, thank you for all the good info, Edward. *waves hi*

PS Micio is always radiantly healthy with shiney hair -- maybe I should be eating catfood.

Fish oils do help skin and hair for people and pets

JEllen if you feel like it tell us how the new therapist works out. I think it could be helpful to others who have given up after the first or second bad experience.

I hope this one fits!

Sorry you are not feeling great Ellen.
Hope the tide turns
I will be looking for you

Thank you Abbi. I'm not feeling too badly, just rather worried about my Mom (she's not doing so hot) and my friend A (she's depressed).

I'm not used to being up during the day, and I find myself rather jet lagged. Also I can't spend as much time on hootoo during the day - can't tie up the phone line for hours like I do at night.

Nevertheless, I am excited about Christmas. I ordered Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio as a present for me, it is wonderful. Our big family party will be Thursday, I am sure we will all have fun.

I may post more about my new therapist in the future, or may just send you a long email when I am up to it.

Hi Jellen,I wish you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
XXXXXSAN

Oh thank you Mistygirl! Right back atcha!

As I was growing up in Liverpool, there lived in the block of flats next door but one a boy who was widely rumoured to be Paul McCartney's son. As he grew up the resemblance became more and more obvious.

Last thing I heard he was a Jehovah's Witness hairdresser living in London.