Have You Been Diagnosed With Depression?

I know it's been FOREVER since I posted. But I have had to revaluate what was going on in my world and work on making my life a little sweeter. Well actually.... A lot sweeter.


I'll share with you what's been going on. Remember a while back, I had a post about Vitamin D. I told you about how people had Vitamin D deficiencies and it it affected skin and hair and all that good stuff. Well... Vitamin D also affects your BRAIN. For about the past 8 years I haven't been feeling right. In the beginning, it was just that kind of "off" feeling we get from time to time. But then it got worse. Over the past 6 years I have been hospitalized for anxiety twice. Was told to spend a couple of days resting and they would release me. Now, they did blood work each and every time. I would go to the doctor and they would tell me I was depressed. Over the past 2 years I have felt like I was under water. I would go to the mall and would have to sit down frequently because the walls looked like they were closing in on me... Like the people around me looked like they were swelling. It was weird... And draining. I was constantly tired and somewhat suidical. I couldn't focus at work and couldn't remember anything. I had a nervous breakdown one evening and the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) at my job suggested to my husband that he take me to the Psychiatric Hospital here in Atlanta immediately. They wanted to admit me because they thought I was going crazy! I felt like I was going crazy!! I decided to make an emergency appointment with one of their psychiatrists and saw her the next morning.


She first listened to what I had to say and then stated, "Well... You are clinically depressed". She prescribed Cymbalta and sent me on my way. Well after 5 weeks of taking the meds, I was feeling ok, but was starting to go back to feeling bad again. I called the doctor and she said, I would like for you to come in and have your Vitamin D levels checked. So I did...


Doctors get concerned when you Vitamin D levels are below 40. My doctor gave me a frantic call and told me my Vitamin D Level was 6! Not 60.... 6. And she was calling in a prescription for me immediately. She has me on Vitamin D therapy. A prescription of 50,000 iu of D every week for 8 weeks.. She will check my blood again in 2 weeks (this is week 6). But let me tell you. I feel AMAZING. I feel better than I have in 15 years. I have tons of energy, I can focus and I'm even getting frisky with my husband (he says we're going to keep a truckload of it! LOL!) I am even able to stay controlled on my diet. I've lost 11 pounds since I started the therapy. And I haven't had one suicidal thought .


How strange it is that I had been to countless doctors, hospitalized twice and NO ONE thought to check my Vitamin D Levels. It's a test you have to ask your doctor for. I implore you all to ask your doctors to check your Vitamin D levels. I had NO idea that it could affect your mental wellbeing in such a drastic way. Now I am in no way saying that Vitamin D should replace mental health meds if you take them. Nor am I saying that Mental Health issues are not real, because they are VERY real. But, I am saying if you are feeling any of the symptoms that I have listed, get it checked. It can't hurt.


I'm telling everyone who will listen my story. I want to bring more awareness to this.


Please do not take it upon yourselves to diagnose yourselves or start on such an intense therapy alone. CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN or mental health professional...



With Sweet Goodness,
Shermaine

THE BODY PATISSERIE IS GOING PLACES!!!

Thank you to all who have supported us! We've enjoyed bringing you amazing products in fabulous scents! However, we have decided to make some changes...

We will be temporarily closing down our site until July, 2010 as we move our headquarters to Henderson, Nevada!

Please stay tuned to see our fabulous new site with wonderful products that will not only appeal to pastry lovers... but to ALL!

Once again... Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in July! In the interim, look for upcoming new posts on A Sweet Existence.

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

Has Happiness become the Myth of the 21st Century?

A Sweet Existence means more than simply what we put into our bodies. I mean that's great, we should all eat healthier for our physical wellbeing, but what about our mental and emotional wellbeing?

I decided to make this particular post my last for 2009 because I wanted it to be one which we could think about as we enter the new year.

I read a survey last night that 70% of Americans are UNHAPPY with their jobs. 70%? That's an astounding number! And it made me think to my own upbringing. I don't know about you but I was told -- you get a good job, have great place to live, drive a great car. I can remember throwing out certain things that I wanted to be when I grew up only to be told... that's not going to make you any money. I would answer, but it's what makes me happy; only to receive the reply "Happiness has nothing to do with it -- making money is the way to go". How many of you have been told the same thing? But why does happiness have nothing to do with it? Could this be the reason that pharmaceutical companies are making trillions of dollars each year from the sale of Xanax, Cymbalta and the like? Because happiness has nothing to do with it?

I'm sorry to tell you... Happiness has EVERYTHING to do with it. I am a big biography person.. Particularly biographies about super successful people. And they all stated... Do what you love! If you do what you love to do, you will do it well. When you do it well, the money will come. The sad part about this is we have been so programmed to believe that money and happiness are synonymous, that we are so busy chasing the money doing something that we hate and wonder why we are not getting where we want to be. Why is my blood pressure out of control? Why am I 100 pounds overweight? Why am I underweight? Why am I depressed?

We have thrown happiness by the waistside so much, till we don't even know what we LOVE to do anymore! We don't dream anymore... We walk around in a perpetual state of unconscious routine. We are in Auto-Pilot. We've become drones..

What are we teaching our children? Are we raising the next generation of anti-depressant users because we are going to teach them that happiness doesn't matter? Now I'm not saying teach them to be lazy. But while we are preaching hard work, maybe we can throw happiness in that talk somewhere.

I realize that we all have responsibilities. Children to put through school and many bills to pay. But I'd like for you to do something as we go into the start of a new year... DREAM! I want you to ask yourself, if I could do anything in the world, what would that be? Then think of others that are successful doing that very thing. Why can't that be you? Trust me, it's not a waste of time (I've been told that one too). Every success begins with a thought (I wrote about thinking earlier this year).

We spend the majority of our day on our "job". That's way too much time to be unhappy.

Make a committment to yourself to strive for happiness. Don't worry about what others will say about your dream. Don't listen to those who say you can't do that because you're the wrong color, or wrong gender, or wrong weight. Those people are unhappy and want you stay in that dark place with them.

Happiness can be real.. Not a myth like Big Foot or the Lockness Monster.

Be blessed this holiday season and thank you for taking time to read my posts! See you next year!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

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Happy Holidays!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

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Cod Liver Oil --- Tastes Bad, But Is Really Good.

Hey Everyone,

I can remember the very unpleasant childhood memory of a daily dose of a teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil. My mother would call me into the kitchen or bathroom with that spoonful of yucky stuff. It was horrible tasting and sometimes even made me gag! My mom even tried to get the oil in different flavors like Mint or Cherry. And what did it do to the taste? NOTHING! It tasted like Mint flavored yuckiness!! Anyway, she gave it to me in attempt to keep me cold free during the winter months and to keep my skin clear and hair healthy year long. You know what? It worked! Let's see why...

Cod Liver Oil has high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, and very high levels of vitamin A and vitamin D (remember my post on Vitamin D deficiency??). It is widely taken to ease the symptoms of arthritis as well as other health benefits. but has also been clinically proven to have a positive effect on heart, bone, and brain as well as helping to nourish skin, hair, and nails.

Cod liver oil is effective in treatment of household burns because of its high vitamin content, often leaving no burn-related blister.

Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy is associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring.* This effect was found only in mothers taking cod liver oil, not in mothers taking multivitamin supplements. Cod liver oil taken by nursing mothers improves the breast milk by increasing the amount of fatty acids, which promotes brain development, and the amount of vitamin A, which helps prevent infections. However, pregnant women should always check with their doctors regarding the safe amount of Cod Liver Oil to take and should never take more than is recommended as excessive amounts of Vitamin A can be very detremental to the health of the child.

So you see... Even though it tastes really bad, Cod Liver Oil is beneficial to our health in so many ways. Although you can take this supplement in pill form, it works best when you take the oil directly. You can find it anywhere from the GNC to Walmart.

So.. hold your nose and grin and bear it (and have a lot of orange juice to wash it down with). You will see that in this case, the good definitely outweighs the bad! Protect your body, protect your skin!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

*Stene LC, Ulriksen J, Magnus P, et al. Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring. 2000. Diabetologia 43:1093-1098. DOI: 10.1007/s001250051499 PMID 11043854 full-text (free)

Spirulina -- What's That?

Hey Everyone!

I take Organic Spirulina every day. I do so because I have a tendency to run B Vitamin deficient and anemic. So this morning as I took my pill, I thought this would be a perfect topic for my blog as I told you I would be concentrating on strengthening the immune system so hopefully we don't have to ingest so many medicines this winter.

So here we go! Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae). Cyanobacteria are found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil. Aquatic cyanobacteria are probably best known for the extensive and highly visible blooms that can form in both freshwater and the marine environment and can have the appearance of blue-green paint or scum. Scum? Sounds appetizing, right? Keep reading... Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form.

Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.

Spirulina provides docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) in the brain and retina. It comprises 40% of the PUFAs in the brain and 60% of the PUFAs in the retina. 50% of the weight of the neuron's plasm membrane is composed of DHA.*

Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. It has also been shown that people who use Spirulina regularly have had their blood pressure and cholesterol levels improved.

So... I know you all have seen the green powder at your health food store and it doesn't look tasty. But, Spirulina is a great supplement for keeping our immune systems healthy. ...and in pill form, you don't even have to taste it (wink!)...

Protect your Body... Protect your skin!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

*Meharban Singh (March 2005). "Essential Fatty Acids, DHA and the Human Brain from the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 72" (PDF). http://medind.nic.in/icb/t05/i3/icbt05i3p239.pdf. Retrieved October 8 2007.