Struggling

[justinesmith]

Hi all! I am hoping someone can offer me some advice... I want DESPERATELY to go raw but I am struggling terribly. I made it one week raw and then went through a healing crisis and back to crummy food it was. I suffer from a great deal of depression (I have my whole life having been a victim of abuse) but I know raw food would help me turn my depression around. THe week I was raw, I didn't have even one anxiety attack or nightmare and nightime is my scariest time. My problem is that I am currently using food as a "depressoin reliever" which of course only fuels my sadness. I used to use alcohol for this same purpose which again, just made things worse. I have substituted food (junk food) for alcohol. I am caught in a vicious circle of food addiction and sadness. I know raw will help but how do I break the circle? I am a stay at home mom of two babes under 2 so taking a lot of time for healing isn't much of an option. I don't want to go on meds to control the depression but I am not sure if I can get through this any other way. Has anyone else been through this and if so, can you offer some advice?? Thanks for taking the time to read!

[karenisraw]

yes, I always had depression and the happiest times in my life were only when I ate very well and worked out or when I became vegan and raw. I especially believe in coconut oil 1-2 tablespoons per day. Since I have been taking it I feel happier, more stabile emotionally and I have lost weight.

[leeleelocs]

I also survived child abuse. My first 40 years I was in a cycle of depression, eating sadness, nightmare, not a day went by without me thinking about it or dreaming about it. I am free of depression today because I choose not to be a victim any more. I released it and for gave my abuser and my mother who allowed it to happen. I am no longer a angry, sad person, I am free.
It was not easy, every time I thought about it, reliving it in my mind, I'd stop the thought and pray. " I release this to GOD, this is bigger them me" or " I thank you LORD for releasing me from this curse" What ever is in your heart develop your own pray and say it ever time you catch yourself being sad or depressed or thinking about it. Or feeding it with food.

Then get moving, do something for someone else, give of your time, get a hobby,take a class, learn something new, anything to fill up your space and your thought life and the empty time. Pray or meditate, read the bible or your holy book just do something anything but be a victim choose to be a surviver
Hope this helps.

Leeleelocs

[karenisraw]

I am also free of depression now, the more vegetarian I was, the happier, but happiest now that I am raw vegan. :)

[Corbella]

justine....
I think it would help you greatly to try to eat healthy and excercise. I think our inability to control our sadness is sometimes based in malnutrition (though it sounds like you have some very real reasons for feeling this way...more on that later). Excercise releases endorphins which make us feel better. I know it's hard with two babies! I have one, and I was having emotional issues when he was younger so I know it's a struggle. So i'll share some ideas for excercise with lil 'uns:

Dance party..always a good idea.
Walk with two of them in a stroller.
Get a bike trailer for two and ride bike to store, down a country road, where ever.
During nap time, try to do some yoga or pilates or some such thing.
And don't forget, housecleaning IS excercise!

I can't stress enough how important excercise is...and i know it's also hard to be motivated.So listen: I joined a gym, and eventually started to think of gym time as MY TIME where i cared about me. I would get on the eliptical thingy and listen to MY music (instead of kids music) or bring a book for ME and go at it for 50 minutes. It was actually relaxing! Oh, and some gyms have hot tubs which is a nice treat afterwards. Maybe you can get someone to watch the kids for an hour and a half four times a week so you can take time for yourself. Some gyms also have childcare.


But, as a final note...it sounds like you have some old issues that you might want to work through with a therapist. I'm no doctor but i'm a survivor and even though this is a raw post I'll say the things that have helped me the most have been excercise and therapy. And i know that raw foods also raises our spirits and is a good idea, but i'm going to be honest and say that I think therapy is more important than raw foods when it comes to things like this. And the therapist might be able to help you address your addictions and it might help you feel more confident and know that you can do anything, including this raw foods thing...and when you mess up, you don't have to beat yourself up...just pick yourself up and get back on the horse. You know? I allow myself one cooked meal a week just so i don't obsess over how much i love cooked food, and so i don't beat myself up when i make a mistake. Because i see these patterns and know that they are self-defeating (i would quit raw foods altogether when i make a mistake).

and as one absolute final note: remember that you are a strong mama...two babies!! My goodness! And you CAN do this! Not just for them, but for yourself!