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in this thread i'll include tips to strengthen the nervous system & support your mental health 
while recovering from psychosis, i've noted that the key factors to supporting cognitive, emotional & spiritual health have been: NUTRITION, SUNLIGHT, HERBAL MEDICINE, EXERCISE, REST, HUMAN TOUCH (OR MASSAGE), TALK COUNSELING / WRITING or ART THERAPY
NUTRITION 
what you consume is directly correlated to your mental health by the gut-brain connection. gut bacteria manufactures 95% of the body's supply of serotonin. inflammation of the gut can lead to mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression.
what you consume is directly correlated to your mental health by the gut-brain connection. gut bacteria manufactures 95% of the body's supply of serotonin. inflammation of the gut can lead to mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression.
what foods should we try to avoid?
sucrose, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, processed and refined foods, corn syrup, alcohol, vegetable oils, caffeine, LOW quality commercial animal products, and high-carb diets.
sucrose, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, processed and refined foods, corn syrup, alcohol, vegetable oils, caffeine, LOW quality commercial animal products, and high-carb diets.
what foods should we eat?
COOKED vegetables because raw foods irritate the gut microbiome (non-starchy vegetables like broccoli & asparagus or leafy greens), grass-fed meats & pastured eggs, seafood, citrus fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, yogurt, fermented grains
COOKED vegetables because raw foods irritate the gut microbiome (non-starchy vegetables like broccoli & asparagus or leafy greens), grass-fed meats & pastured eggs, seafood, citrus fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, yogurt, fermented grains
what about VEGANISM?
from my personal experience, the food i was consuming under a vegan diet agitated my mental health/psychosis at the time. everyone's body is going to react directly. however, not eating enough food or eating too much raw food can negatively affect your body.
from my personal experience, the food i was consuming under a vegan diet agitated my mental health/psychosis at the time. everyone's body is going to react directly. however, not eating enough food or eating too much raw food can negatively affect your body.
i noticed that i was consuming too many soy products, fruit sugar, raw vegetables, starches & manufactured food that i was getting stomach aches constantly. i did not know about the gut-brain connection at this time & was listening to vegan influencers online. do your research.
what oils to cook your foods in?
vegetable and seed oils should be avoided (canola, corn, etc.) because they release toxic chemicals called aldehydes. it is best to cook with olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, organic butter or ghee.
vegetable and seed oils should be avoided (canola, corn, etc.) because they release toxic chemicals called aldehydes. it is best to cook with olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, organic butter or ghee.
SUNLIGHT it is best to get outside at least 20 minutes a day, longer is preferable! sunlight increases serotonin & dopamine levels. the negative ions emitted from nature support your mental, spiritual and physical heath. just be mindful to protect your skin!
why is NATURE important when healing from trauma or illness?
spending time outside allows us to reconnect to our roots. we are of the earth! i have healed my heart many times by spending time "earthing", placing my feet on the ground. playing in grass & dirt is magic.
spending time outside allows us to reconnect to our roots. we are of the earth! i have healed my heart many times by spending time "earthing", placing my feet on the ground. playing in grass & dirt is magic.
HERBAL MEDICINE 
"first the word. then the plant. lastly, the knife." before taking medication, it is encouraged to explore the offerings of plant medicine. symptoms of anxiety and depression can be alleviated with common plant allies.
HERBS that support the NERVOUS SYSTEM *herbal nervines:
-oatstraw
-milky oats
-skullcap
-wood betony
-chamomile
-valerian
*nerve sedatives (sleep-inducing):
-california poppy
-passion flower
-st. john's wort
-catnip
-valerian
-lemon balm
-skullcap
-california poppy
-passion flower
-st. john's wort
-catnip
-valerian
-lemon balm
-skullcap
*nervine stimulants (awaken the mind)
-peppermint/spearmint
-gingko
-siberian ginseng
-ginseng
-gotu kola
-spirulina
-rosemary
-sage
-ashwagandha
-bacopa
-peppermint/spearmint
-gingko
-siberian ginseng
-ginseng
-gotu kola
-spirulina
-rosemary
-sage
-ashwagandha
-bacopa
HERBS that support healthy digestion, nutrition, and skin (that can contribute to a heathy mental state) :
-nettle
-raspberry leaf
-chickweed
-dandelion
-red clover
-burdock
-spearmint/peppermint
-fennel
-ginger
-cinnamon
-garlic
-rosemary
-turmeric
-cardamom
:-nettle
-raspberry leaf
-chickweed
-dandelion
-red clover
-burdock
-spearmint/peppermint
-fennel
-ginger
-cinnamon
-garlic
-rosemary
-turmeric
-cardamom
EXERCISE 
exercising reduces stress, improves mood and mental clarity, releases endorphins, increases motivation and focus, and can stimulate rest. going outside to exercise 3x a week will impact your mental health in profound ways!
exercising reduces stress, improves mood and mental clarity, releases endorphins, increases motivation and focus, and can stimulate rest. going outside to exercise 3x a week will impact your mental health in profound ways!
SLEEP 
i underestimated the power of getting a good night's rest & eating enough food when recovering from a manic episode. the less sleep i would get, the more i'd find myself feeling disoriented. make sure to drink enough water & take herbal sedatives before bed if needed.
i underestimated the power of getting a good night's rest & eating enough food when recovering from a manic episode. the less sleep i would get, the more i'd find myself feeling disoriented. make sure to drink enough water & take herbal sedatives before bed if needed.
how HUMAN TOUCH benefits your mental heath 
:
positive touch promotes releases of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin which provide good sensations of emotional bonding and social connection. non-sexual human touch is equally as beneficial!
:positive touch promotes releases of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin which provide good sensations of emotional bonding and social connection. non-sexual human touch is equally as beneficial!
benefits of MASSAGE:
people have found relief from stress and anxiety in many forms of massage therapy. we tend to store emotional trauma in our physical bodies which may result in pain and tension. it is considered a luxury for many, so try offering massages to loved ones!
people have found relief from stress and anxiety in many forms of massage therapy. we tend to store emotional trauma in our physical bodies which may result in pain and tension. it is considered a luxury for many, so try offering massages to loved ones!
how taking BATHS 
can reduce stress:
much of the time, stress rests in our heads; this is why stress results in headaches or mental disorders. baths help move the energy down and out through the body. hot herbal baths are a great place for meditation and self-love.
can reduce stress: much of the time, stress rests in our heads; this is why stress results in headaches or mental disorders. baths help move the energy down and out through the body. hot herbal baths are a great place for meditation and self-love.
herbs for stress-relieving baths:
-lavender
-peppermint
-sage
-rosemary
-chamomile
-jasmine
-rose
-eucalyptus
-lemongrass
-lavender
-peppermint
-sage
-rosemary
-chamomile
-jasmine
-rose
-eucalyptus
-lemongrass
THERE IS NO "RIGHT" WAY OF THERAPY! 
a lot of us believe that therapy is a place where we sit across from a stoic person in a lab-coat and feed them our issues. there are actually many types of therapies and therapists out there. it is best to explore your options
a lot of us believe that therapy is a place where we sit across from a stoic person in a lab-coat and feed them our issues. there are actually many types of therapies and therapists out there. it is best to explore your options
some of us require talk therapy and counseling because we express our emotions by verbal communication. others of us may require intense hypnotherapy to overcome habits. there are also therapy groups you can attend if you require a sense of a community to heal.
you can also heal yourself alone! journal-writing has substantially impacted my mental heath and allowed me to clear my thoughts and make better decisions. art/music therapy can involve all of our senses and convert our thoughts and emotions to vividly beautiful pieces.
i will attach mental health resources to this thread whenever i have time btw.
what about practicality? not everyone has energy to implement all of this information and i understand that. there have been points where i spent months in bed in manic states and did not eat or see the sun. i let my plants die and my room get dirty.
the biggest tip i can give to anyone feeling like they've hit rock bottom or about to is making ONE step. my first step to recovery was picking up a notebook. if you don't access to one, pull out your phone notes and make a list.
i made a list of 5 things that i would like to accomplish that would pull me out of my current mental state. they can be big or small. for example: eating lunch that day, showering or running to the store to pick up something.
give yourself 3 goals to accomplish by the end of the week. if you forget one of them, try again the next week and so on. eventually you will have more goals to add and the increased serotonin from accomplishing small things will empower you to complete bigger ones.
