AboutJurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychologist Expertise I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition.
I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search.
I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”.
I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems.
Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Experience Nutritional Psychotherapist
Organizations The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Publications GETTING OFF THE HOOK which is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search.
Various articles in Hypoglycemic Health Association Newsletter
Education/Credentials BA(Psych) (Sydney University) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)
Question Ok, I have a boyfriend that is on adderall and effexor, he somkes weed very often, he was thinking of doing cocain. Now I have a couple of questions to ask. First, I know he wants to get off the effexor and then the adderall. Now I know he is being weened off the effexor right now, but he wants to be weened off it sooner. I know it is bad for him to try to get off it too fast, but I was wondering if there are any effects to getting off it too fast either short term or long term ect. ect.? Also, I was wondering what the withdrawal syptoms are for getting off of adderall. Now I don't really like him doing weed, and I definatly don't want him to get in to cocain. He tried almost everything you can think of while he was in high school, including cocain, acid, I think heroin, GHB, I think LSD and PCP. My other question, now that you know everything you know ( I know it's not much), can the cocain have a more deadly or dangerous effect on him because of what he is on and what he has done? Also, is there any other substances like herbal, vitamins, and or minerals, that he can take to help him get off adderall and/or effexor to keep him up in the day? Also, I forgot to mention he works at a Dicount Tire, so he is afraid he is not going to be able to work the long strenuous hours, and get off of adderall. I know it is possible for him to b/c he has only been on this medicine since he has gotten out of high school. And he worked there when he was 16. He is perscirbed to the adderall but he was able to con the doctor,in a way, in to giving him a higher dosage, so he basically abuses it. I know you might need that info. to help answer my questions. I'm sorry that this is so confusing and out of oder, I have had these qusetions on my mind for the past 11 months. Any answers and info. that you can give me would be greatly appreiciated. Thank you for takeing you time to help me.
Answer I am just wondering why he wants to get off legal drugs and then go on illegal drugs.
The point is that your boyfriend is suffering from severe depression and that apparently antidepressant drugs are not doing him any good. Nor will illegal drugs help him!
If he wants to really treat his depression he should be treating the underlying causes of depression.
Most depressed people suffer from hypoglycemia, which causes very unstable blood sugar and insulin levels and which trigger these mood swings and depression. The treatment is going on a hypoglycemic diet which will stabilize his blood sugar and therefore insulin levels.
You can be tested for hypoglycemia. This test is described at our web site as:
“Testing for Hypoglycemia and How the Doctor can Help”
We also have a paper-and-pencil test called the NBI and if he scores high on that test he is likely to be hypoglycemic. Without treatment of hypoglycemia he is unlikely to feel any better.
It is not advisable to withdraw from antidepressant medication without the approval of the doctor. To do so will only trigger rebound depression. You can only withdraw very gradually with doctor's approval WHILST YOU ARE ON THE HYPOGLYCEMIC DIET.
Drugs - both legal and illegal - may have damaged neuro receptors in the brain. It takes a while for them to repair themselves. About 9-14 months according to one study. However if he goes on the hypoglycemic diet he should be able to withdraw comfortably, especially if he also undertakes a course of PSYCHOTHERAPY. We have a self-help PSYCHOTHERAPY course at our web site.
The reason for psychotherapy is that stress of any kind will cause stress hormones to interfere with the synthesis of the ‘feel-good' neurotransmitter serotonin. The course will help him handle stressful situations, especially significant relationships with loved ones, parents, bosses at work etc etc.
The non-drug treatment for depression is not as simple as taking drugs, but it can be done.
Please read:
“What is Hypoglycemia?”
“The Serotonin Connection”
“The Connection between Depression, Addiction and Hypoglycemia”
“Treatment of Drug Addiction” (I am updating this article right now and should go on the web site soon).
You should both do the psychotherapy course, so that you get to understand each other better and grow together.
Please discuss this approach with your doctor.
Jurriaan Plesman
Free Web Site at:
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
