Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 1/9/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Jurriaan Plesman

I wonder is this your area of expertise.

I joined AA in 2001, I also joined Adult Children of Alcoholics, Co Dependents Anon, Emotions Anon, did this for 7 years and sometimes Sex and Love Addicts, Overeaters Anon.  I was involved in the support group administration to the point I think my recovery was compromised.  I had a really good AA sponsor and good ACA/Coda sponsor.

In 2001 that's when the personality disorder started to emerge slowly over the years in recovery, until 2008 when I was diagnosed schizophrenic.  I was on Respiradol for one year, and went off due to side effects.  I researched Abram Hoffer/Carl Pfeiffer's protocols and went to a doctor who does nutritional therapy.  Therefore I am now on high dose B vitamins, and under guidance of a very good naturopath for diet and supplements.  I have improved immensely in the last 3 months, I am no longer depressed, I can laugh, cry, feel, think again.  Although still having problems, eg immaturity, asking silly questions, memory is poor, slow thinking is still a problem.  

2004 I trained with Drug Arm and did voluntary drug and alcohol counselling for 1 year, but it brought up a lot of my own issues.  In the Lifeline counselling training, the same thing happened.

In 2005 I was seeing a psychriatist for child abuse issues for 2 years, unfortunately I didn't think I got much out of it, she used to talk a lot.  I did a retreat for Adult Children of Alcoholics, but unfortunately there was a problem there too, I prayed on a lady that was sick, and got off side with the facilitators, although the senior facilitator said there was nothing wrong with me praying if that worked for me, on me only.  One of their techniques to deal with the repressed anger was to throw crockery at trees, or bash trees with rubber tubes.  Unfortunately I wasn't into the physical techniques at the time I'd rather hug the trees.

2008 I stopped going to AA and the other groups closed due to the meeting facility closing.  I’m sober for 9 years, and long time members with good recovery are hard to find.  I feel like I have forgotten all that I learnt in recovery.

In 2010 I was going to a clinical psychologist, but I didn't relate at all, due to my mental health state at the time, he was also a reiki master from England.  He told me he drank on weekends, it bothered me and I had the idea that perhaps his drinking might affect his counselling, so I lost confidence in him.  He didn't believe in anti psychotic drugs.

I need to pursue further help, but not confident to go to groups, because I have put on a lot of weight.

I am not sure what step to take, the clinical psychologist said I'm stable, and I’ll carry the mental health label for a lifetime.  I love reading, and if I have a problem I research to help find an answer, but some times the mental health issue is such a big area its hard to find the answer.

Thank you
Sandy

ANSWER: Hi sandy,

It is unfortunate that you have not stated your age, but by the experiences you have had, I guess you are an adult by now. AA is a good support group but I don't think they are very good at "curing" alcoholics or addicts, because usually they ignore the biochemical underpinnings of addiction and mood disorders. I am glad that you are a reader, because our webs site will offer you many articles explaining the underlying biochemical abnormalities that may be responsible for mood disorders. It is difficult to suggest where and what to start reading. But here is an example that may interest you.

Nutritional Aspects of Schizophrenia at:
http://curezone.com/upload/Newsletter/Hypoglycemic_He/HYPONL2001_06.pdf
and go to page 7 of Newsletter.
much of this applies equally to Bipolar Disorder

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm
Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html
Depression: a Disease of Energy Production at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/depression_energy32.pdf
Conquering Anxiety, Depression and Fatigue Without Drugs - the Role of Hypoglycemia by Prof. Joel H. Levitt
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/hypoglycemia.htm
Silent Diseases and Mood Disorders at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/silentdiseases.html

and ask for a referral to a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychotherapist, if self-help therapy fails.
Going on Hypoglycemic diet (look up at our web site) is the first step in treatment. Please search our web site for more information at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Can you let me know which Nutritional doctor you saw and where you live in Australia?

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jurriaan Plesman

Thank you for your reply and the useful information.

I saw Dr Gary Deed, President at Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Medical and Wellness Centre, Cooparoo, Brisbane, here's a link to his profile: http://au.linkedin.com/pub/gary-deed/14/b14/549.  
Unfortunately he wasn't prescribing enough B3, compared to Abram Hoffer's book.

I searched further and I consulted with Michael Sichel www.adhd-specialist.com [I found his name on Safe Harbour] and he suggested Lithium Orotate, and gingko bilobla.

I now am being treated by Dean Armytage, PHD Natural Medicine, BSc, www.hillstream.org www.deans.net.au who is a research naturopath and lecturer, and the best in Australia.  He makes his own liquid vitamins and minerals, and starts from the baseline healing the dna helix.  Its with his liquid vitamins and minerals I have made a quicker recovery.

I'm 51 years and live in Brisbane.

In 2004 when I was working in the drug and alcohol industry, I came across the hypoglycemia website and used the information for myself and others I came into contact with.  I was seeing a psychotherapist at the time and she couldn't understand how one could have a short of psychotherapy course on the web.

Anyway its been very helpful.
Thanks again.
Sandy

Answer
Dear Sandy,

I see you are good hands and I am glad to hear that you are making progress and getting better.

I suppose it is difficult to understand for some people how one can benefit from a psychotherapy course on a web site, if you have not seen the course. It is not a short course but may take a person one year to master it. It is not a good course for non-readers, who will need a live person to help them out.


_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman