The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I have been med-free for about a month now and thought I would list out the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The Good:

-My moods have been manageable. The first week after the wean I had a lot of depression, but I forced myself to do some exercise every time I felt myself seeping down lower, and each time the physical activity helped to boost my mood back into a safe range. Sometimes that "exercise" was just jogging in place for a few minutes, and sometimes I managed to dance to a few songs. Either way, it definitely helped!  Mania is a little harder to tame without meds, but so far my little manic spurts have been brief and reasonable. No major episodes of rage like I had on the Paxil.

-In addition to discarding psychiatric medication from my system, I have also cleaned up my diet. I have removed sodas and other sugary substances, and have greatly reduced the amount of unhealthy fats. I drink 1-2 cups unsweetened tea a day and the rest of the time I drink water. My meals now consist of less bread and more fresh fruits and vegetables.  I have done away with foods that have suspicious ingredients. While we can't afford to buy all organic food, I am trying to prepare meals with as little processing and chemicals as possible. I won't lie; the first week of eating this way I felt like crap. But since then, I have felt so much better, mentally and physically! This is more than trying to lose weight; this is a new lifestyle, and I really feel good about it.

The Bad:

-Major, major trouble sleeping!  Even though I wasn't on anything specifically for sleep, my meds must have played a part in easier slumber, because going to bed is such a struggle now!  It's usually 2-4 a.m. before I can finally get some rest.  My goal this week is to learn of some natural ways to induce a more restful sleep at night; feel free to comment with your own tried and true antidotes.

The Ugly:

-I haven't written in nearly a month. This part doesn't really have much to do with my reprieve from medication. I was having trouble focusing before, so it's more of a constant problem that I have yet to find a solution for. It also has more to do with time limitations than anything else. I am preparing a pre-K lesson plan for my son to begin his first year of homeschooling this fall, so between that, spending time with him now and my other obligations, there is not a lot of free time to write these days.  I have a lot of ideas, just no time for follow through. Maybe I will reach a more balanced existence soon :)

So, there ya have it. Overall, I am feeling wonderful. As I have said in previous posts, going med-free isn't for everybody! Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your own regimen.