The Brain Chemistry Plan Diet : The Personalized Prescription for Balancing Mood Relieving Stress Conquering Depression Orthomolecular Medicine [Paperback ed.] 0399528490, 9780399528491

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"This book

is

further

evidence that specific foods can affect us as individuals." —Dr. Peter

J.

D’Adamo, N.D.,

author of Eat Right 4 Your Type

The Personalized

Nutritional Prescription for

Balancing

Mood

Conquering Depression Michael Lesser, M.D., with Colleen Kapklein :b

previously published as The Brain Chemistry Di

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2015

https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780399528491

bAN HAFAtL PUBLIC LIBRARY

7

SAN RAFAEL PUBLIC LIBRARY SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA

book

“In his highly readable

... Dr. Lesser, a recognized leader in the field,

provides us with the fruits of his decades of study and experience. Highly

recommended”

—Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.,

director,

Autism Research

“Dr. Lesser has written an excellent, user-friendly book

on how to maintain

mental and emotional health. Well-illustrated with case plains

how emotions

are affected

diet,

and

histories,

it

ex-

gives us individualized diet

DATE DUE

and supplen

APR

2 9 2004

MAY -

“Dr. Lesser

by

Institute

m

2 8

AUG

psychiatry a.

2 2 2004 200*1

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Cass, M.D.,

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—AUG

MAR

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Q 2005

3 0 2006

GAYLORD

PRINTED

IN U.S.A.

Slagle,

M.D.,

-jj from

Down

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10014.

Also by Michael Lesser, M.D. Nutrition

and Vitamin Therapy

MICHAEL LESSER, M.D. with Colleen Kapklein

The.

Braip

Chemistry Plan The Personalized Nutritional

Mood,

Relieving Stress,

Prescription for Balancing

and Conquering Depression

San Rafael Public Library 1 1 00 E Street San Rafael, CA 94901 A

PERIGEE BOOK

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This book, while based on true incidents,

is

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and

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situations described

order to protect the privacy of those involved.

A Perigee Book Published by The Berkley Publishing Group

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©

Copyright

10014

2002 by Michael Lesser, M.D., with Colleen Kapklein Text design by Tanya Maiboroda

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G.

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Putnam’s Sons hardcover edition: February 2002 First Perigee edition:

January 2003

Perigee trade paperback edition ISBN: 0-399-52849-0

Visit

our website

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at

The Library of Congress had catalogued G.

P.

the

Putnam’s Sons hardcover edition as follows:

Lesser, Michael.

The brain chemistry diet the personalized prescription for balancing mood, relieving stress, and conquering depression, based on your :

personality profile

/

Michael Lesser, with Colleen Kapklein. p.

cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 0-399-14744-6 1.

Neurochemistry.

Nutritional aspects.

ments.

4.

2.

Neuropsychology.

Depression, Mental

6.

I.

3.

Orthomolecular therapy.

5.

—Nutritional

Kapklein, Colleen.

II.

Dietary suppleaspects.

Title.

2001048358

QP356.3 .L47 2002 612.8'042

Personality

—dc21

Printed in the United States of America 10

987654321

.

.

And

by the stream upon

bank

its

shall grow all trees for food. It shall

bring forth

.

.

.

.

.

new fruit every month

.

.

because their waters have issued out of the sanctuary,

food,

and

its

and

its fruit

shall be for

leaffor medicine.

EZEKIEL

47:12

The Jerusalem Bible

t

A

Acknowledgments

First, I

humbly acknowledge

whom

from

all

the Lord

blessings flow:

G-D Almighty, King of the Universe,

may He

bless this

book and

the uses

made

of it.

My special lely;

writer

appreciation to

my editor,

Henry Dreher; Washington

Jeremy Katz; psychiatrist

my agent,

James Gordon, M.D.;

and

especially Colleen Kapklein, for the vital roles they

ting

The Brain Chemistry Plan.

Sincerest thanks to

and Martin; and

my practical

I

And

them

well.”

Let

me

if

and

assistance.

acknowledge

my

patients,

from

knowledge of therapy. “Listen

you

listen

pay tribute

which made

it

played in beget-

my children, Elijah, Rebecca, Sarah, and Hannah Lesser for

great Dr. Walter Alvarez; “Listen

them.

all

my family: my wife, Deborah; my brothers, Laurence

their invaluable advice

Certainly,

Janis Val-

and they

to

whom

your

will tell

long enough, they will even

to the

new

Lve gained most of

patients,” said the late,

you what’s wrong with tell

you what

will

make

science of orthomolecular medicine,

possible to write this book.

The legendary

psychiatrist Sig-

mund Freud originally tried to map our character on the brain before aban-

Acknowledgments


.

AVOID »««£•

J

..

.

w.

....

F V* W-t-'it

-*'

:

cauliflower collards

green vegetables kale lettuce .

mustard greens parsley

peppers potatoes

tomatoes Fruit

lemons

apricots

(1-6 servings,

limes

berries

(encourages

optional)

grapefruit

cherries

candidiasis)

bananas

guava

oranges

grapes

overripe fruit

kiwi

mangoes melons

papaya pineapple raisins

strawberries

Whole Grains

wheat bran

(5-6 servings)

brown

rice

shredded wheat

white flour white

cereal

rice

whole wheat

(optional)

rice polish

wheat germ Sweeteners

honey

white sugar

maple syrup

chocolate refined sweeteners

Beverages

milk

water

tomato

caffeinated drinks juice

(including coffee, tea,

sodas, and diet

sodas)

Condiments and Seasonings

brewer’s yeast

baker’s yeast

The Dreamer Borderline Dreamers should follow the diet in the previous table.

When

depressed, Star Dreamers will benefit from serotonin-promoting

and walnuts.

foods, including avocados, eggplant, tomatoes,

choosing to eat a serving of

fruit,

If

you

are

then bananas, pineapple, and plums are

your best choices. These same foods should be avoided during an upswing. Warrior Dreamers should add a few things to their “Best Choices”

(some of these have simply been upgraded from the general “Good

list

Choices”

list):

Animal protein poultry red meat

turkey (especially dark meat) herring oysters

Legumes,

seeds,

and nuts

black beans

almonds

pumpkin

seeds

and other squash seeds

pecans

Vegetables

kale

carrots

mushrooms onions

Whole Grains wheat germ oatmeal

Finally, Stoic

Dreamers have so many additions

that I’m going to provide a

to

make

to the basic diet

whole new chart that incorporates the informa-

tion in the chart above with the specifics appropriate for a Stoic Dreamer.

Note

also a

few changes in the number of servings

in the different categories.

.

The Brain Chemistry Plan

———

"

-t

—

FOOD

~

—

—

>

BEST CHOICES

*

GOOD CHOICES

AVOID

....

canned salmon

Animal protein

chicken

(lean) (4-5

turkey

servings)

skim milk

(with bones)

canned sardines

cottage cheese

products

cheddar cheese

poultry

e gg s

herring

salmon

oysters

beef

fish

lamb

tuna

halibut

pork

organ meats

and seeds

(2-4 servings)

evaporated milk

milk and dairy

buttermilk

nuts,

sweetened

(with bones)

yogurt

Legumes,

shellfish

•

almonds

garbanzo beans

lima beans

(chickpeas)

peanuts

lentils

soybeans

navy beans

soy products (soy

cashews

burgers, tofu, etc.,

pumpkin seeds

particularly tofu

sesame seeds

made

pecans

with cal-

cium (read

labels)

black beans

sunflower seeds

pinto beans

walnuts

pistachios

kidney beans

Vegetables

avocados

asparagus

(8-12 servings)

broccoli

alfalfa sprouts

eggplant

Brussels sprouts

peas

cabbage

spinach

carrots

tomatoes

cauliflower

potatoes

collards

green vegetables kale lettuce

mustard greens onions parsley

peppers

tomatoes turnip greens

The Dreamer

FOOD

BEST CHOICES

GOOD CHOICES

Fruit

lemons

apples

(1-6 servings,

limes

apricots

optional)

grapefruit

berries

bananas

cherries

pineapple

guava

plums

oranges

AVOID dried fruit

kiwi

mangoes melons

papaya strawberries

Whole Grains

brown

(4-5 servings)

oatmeal

(optional)

com

rice

whole grain

cereal

whole grain bread

or other whole

grain tortillas

Sweeteners

honey

white sugar

maple syrup

refined sweeteners

(modest amounts) chocolate (only naturally sweetened, with

honey or

maple syrup) Beverages

caffeinated drinks (including coffee, tea,

sodas, and diet

sodas)

Condiments

brewer’s yeast

and Seasonings

iodized salt

cocoa

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Brain Chemistry Markers Several brain chemistry markers are useful in this type, as you’ll see below,

but there

only

is

no

typical biochemical profile of the

Dreamer

in trouble.

The

common ground is that, whatever the results, they are usually extreme.

But one Dreamer

may be

extremely high on a particular marker, while the

next

Dreamer may be extremely low.

need

to

work

If

you

are a

Dreamer

closely with a doctor.

That should give you insight into why Dreamers cult to

in trouble, you’ll

in trouble are so diffi-

fathom, but in case you need more convincing, there are

subtypes of Dreamers in trouble, and at least

at least

four

important brain chem-

five

markers which, in various combinations, delineate each of them.

istry

may show

Furthermore, Dreamers markers. In

fact,

from normal scores,

is

what

is

high or low scores in

more important than

many

of those

the direction of the change

the size of the change: Dreamers tend to have extreme

whatever the direction. To top

have normal scores across the board intuition as the best bet for

—

it all

off,

leaving

knowing how

some Dreamers

in trouble

good old-fashioned informed

to bring their brain chemistries

into balance.

In short, for Dreamers, diagnosis

ment

is

just a

matter of

fact,

is

the hard part.

matching solutions

to

Once

it is

done, treat-

symptoms and

signs.

Understanding yourself as a Dreamer, and knowing your subtype, leads you directly to the changes

you need

to

make to avoid the pitfalls of your profile

in trouble.

The main brain chemistry markers tonin, blood sugar, copper, zinc, to

for

all

Dreamers are histamine,

and thyroid hormone, so you should

your doctor about getting tested for your

Chapter

4:

The Guardian

cause of the

for the

sero-

levels

components of

way Dreamers vary from one extreme

a

talk

of these markers. (See

complete workup.) Be-

to the other, we’ll look at

each of these as they pertain to particular Dreamer subtypes. First, we’ll

look

at the six

vitamin deficiencies that have been linked to

Dreamer-in-trouble behavior. As such, niacin, vitamin C, thiamine

min

Bl), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), folic acid,

(vita-

and cobalamin (vitamin B12)

The Dreamer are brain chemistry in

markers and are worth testing

for.

They are most

useful

determining which therapies are most promising for bringing any given

individual the

Dreamer

more common

Normal

into nutritional balance. Lets consider them, taking

first.

Levels for Brain Chemistry

Markers

Histamine

18-164 ng/rnl

Serotonin

55-260 ng/ml (nanograms per

milliliter)

Copper

68-143 mcg/d!

Zinc

60-130 mcg/di

Thyroid hormone (thyroxine)

4.5-12.5 mcg/dl

NIACIN (VITAMIN B3) Niacin deficiency is, in

my experience, the most common vitamin -deficiency

cause of imbalanced brain chemistry in Dreamers. Actually measuring the

vitamin

level

ciencies, the

may be

deceptive, however, since, except in the severest defi-

blood vitamin

level will

and physical signs and symptoms

The logical.

first

noticeable

Victims

concentrate.

may

appear normal.

They worry

depressed outlook. They

and burning sensations

all

on psychological

deficiency are entirely psycho-

apprehensive, suspicious, and unable to

excessively,

may

rely

instead.

symptoms of niacin

feel fearful,

I

with a gloomy, downcast, angry, and

experience headaches, insomnia, weakness,

over the body. Niacin-deficient people just

fall

apart under stress or go to extremes to avoid even the normal stresses of life.

Niacin deficiency

may dull

the moral senses, causing promiscuity, lying, or

petty thievery.

In mild deficiency, the tip of the tongue

gorgement with blood, and the

taste

is

usually reddened from en-

buds on the tongues surface are en-

larged, giving a stippled appearance, the characteristic '‘strawberry tip."

Farther back, the tongue

is

coated white with bacterial growth and debris,

The Brain Chemistry Plan

often giving off a foul

mouth

odor. As the deficiency

becomes chronic, deep

midline cracks and crevices appear. Later, the tongue becomes red and swollen ing

it

all

over,

accompanied by dental indentations of the margins, lend-

a scalloped appearance. Finally, the enlarged taste

buds atrophy, and

The mouth

the tongues surface develops a glossy, bald appearance.

comes sore and the gums swollen and

painful. In mild niacin deficiency,

digestive disturbances are also present.

There

is little

hydrochloric stomach acid, absorption of nutrients

is

or no secretion of

impaired, and the

person has excessive gas and poorly formed, foul-smelling niacin shortage, symmetrical skin rashes develop a butterfly-shaped rash

be-

stools. In severe

on exposed

areas,

such as

on the cheeks.

VITAMIN C Mental symptoms of vitamin situde, confusion,

C

deficiency include fatigue, listlessness, las-

and depression. The

face can have a haggard, frowning,

“pained” expression and a careworn, knitted brow. Physical signs of scurvy (severe vitamin

C deficiency)

include a sallow or

of appetite, anemia, desire for

sleep,

(especially legs,) bruising, sore

gums

lessness, disinclination for exercise, loss

fleeting pains in the joints

and limbs

that bleed readily, reddish spots,

THIAMINE (VITAMIN

B1)

muddy complexion, breath-

and hemorrhages on the

skin.

v

Mental symptoms of thiamine shortage include apathy, confusion, emotional instability, depression, a feeling of

impending doom,

fatigue, in-

somnia, and headaches. Physical signs include indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, poor appetite, weight loss,

or

feet, inability to tolerate

numbness or burning

pain, sensitivity to noises,

in the

hands

low blood pressure,

anemia, low metabolism, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and an enlarged heart

on

X rays.

PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B6) Pyridoxine deficiency can cause nervous symptoms and “emotionally upset” depression.

People without enough vitamin B6 are often reclusive and

The Dreamer shy but are free from delusions and hallucinations. Mild anemia

common,

causing headaches, dizziness,

retained water,

is

irritability, inability to

oily scales

numbness and cramping

tal

and ache

sore.

ods in

conis

on the

scalp, eye-

may

experience

brows, around the nose, and behind the ears. Sufferers

and

es-

shed quickly by pyridaxine’s diuretic action.

B6 deficiency may cause dandruff and

cracked,

is

and extreme weakness. Excessive body weight, much of which

centrate,

A

usually

B6 supplements. Low blood sugar

present and can be corrected with pecially

is

in the

arms and

painfully, while their

legs.

Their hands

mouth and tongue

may

be dry,

are also cracked

Nausea, especially in the morning, insomnia, and irregular peri-

women

are other

imaging, so people

remember

their

prominent symptoms. Vitamin B6 increases men-

who

never or rarely dream or those

dreams should suspect a B6

who

don’t

deficiency.

FOLIC ACID

my practice, folic acid deficiency was the most common one I personally documented and was present in nearly 20 percent of my patients. Early in

Lately, given all the publicity

find shortages

about

folate’s ability to

prevent birth defects,

I

more rarely. Mental symptoms of folic acid deficiency include

poor memory, apathy, withdrawal, processes. Deficiency

irritability,

and slowing of the

intellectual

particularly likely in the elderly (one study of older

is

people found a shortage in 67 percent of participants) and should be suspected in any case of

senility.

selin destroys folic acid,

to get sufficient

of the

Seizure medication such as Dilantin and

which means

epileptics

amounts. Cracks and scaling on the

mouth can

lips

and

at the

corners

anemia. Like niacin and vitamin B12 deficiencies,

lack of folic acid creates a vicious cycle

and destroying the

folic acid,

by preventing

digestive acid produc-

lining of the small intestine, creating malabsorption.

COBALAMIN (VITAMIN As with

particularly careful

indicate folate shortage, as well as a big blood cell (macro-

cytic) or “pernicious”

tion

must be

my-

B12)

vitamin B12 shortage causes a big blood

pernicious anemia, which

is

ultimately fatal

if

uncorrected.

A

cell

anemia,

chronic un-

The Brain Chemistry Plan

treated

B12 deficiency

tingling,

unsteady

five years

results in neurologic degeneration,

gait,

and

loss

of reflexes,

may

appear, including apathy,

ory, disturbances in concentration

and psychosis, and

sion, paranoia

was found

late great

schizophrenia-like

symptoms

and

sides,

to

B12 and

and

mood

swings, poor

mem-

learning, hearing “voices,” confu-

especially senile psychosis.

B12 deficiency

such cases of psychosis and organic brain

in 58 percent of 138

syndrome, and the

due

other things. Three to

before the anemia or neurological changes, almost any type of

mental symptom

ally

among

with numbness,

mental health expert Carl C. first

Pfeiffer said that

appearing in middle or old age are usu-

A lack of B12 makes the tongue smooth at the tip

deficiency.

a glossy, beefy red

all

the

way back.

Natural Medicine Solutions I

recommend

tion.

several daily

The vitamin and mineral supplements (with the exception of iodine They will boost

the ef-

of a proper diet but, on the other hand, cannot do their work

fully if

and lithium) discussed here fects

supplements to keep Dreamers in peak condi-

the diet

is

are

meant

for daily use.

not balanced. The amino acids, accessory nutrients, iodine, and

lithium are for use in rebalancing your biochemistry ble

and

diet

when you

are not intended for daily use over the long term.

under control and are

erals, these

Once you

in the habit of using the daily vitamins

interventions should be unnecessary.

doses, the lower doses are

are in trou-

Where

there

is

get

your

and min-

a range of

meant for prevention and maintenance, while the

higher levels are therapeutic for

when you

are in trouble.

As always, take

only what you need.

Mainstream psychiatry has

little

to offer that helps

In the best-case scenarios, powerful drugs control

Dreamers

symptoms, though they

are not without potentially debilitating side effects of their ers in trouble,

fered here

more than any other type,

may be

in trouble.

own. For Dream-

the natural medicine solutions of-

the best solution.

For information on using natural treatments at the same time as prescriptions, see p. 102.

The Dreamer We’ll begin with a nutrient beneficial for

all

Dreamers, then break up the

other supplements into groups for each Dreamer subtype.

your subtype, you should read through ply to your situation in the table below,

all

though not every supplement

is

are

if

any ap-

summarized

appropriate for every

level.

DAILY SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin

matter what

the suggestions to see

and your brain chemistry markers. All

subtype or every marker

No

INTERVENTIONS

C

Amino Acids

Minerals

Tryptophan

Lithium

B complex

5-HTP

Niacin (vitamin B3)

Methionine

Thiamine (vitamin B1

Tyrosine

Folic acid

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)

Cobalamin (vitamin B12) Zinc

Calcium

Magnesium Manganese

DAILY SUPPLEMENTS For the Dreamer, taking these supplements regularly can keep your brain chemistry humming along, even in the face of stress or challenges. They can also

be helpful, sometimes in higher doses, for Dreamers in trouble. What

we know about them from

a scientific viewpoint

comes from

studies of

people out of balance, however.

Folic Acid Folic acid

is

often deficient, or borderline deficient, in Dreamers in trouble,

particularly where histamine

is

low. Deficiency in folic acid can cause schizo-

phrenic symptoms, dementia, and psychosis, as well as depression.

Taking

folic acid

supplements can help

raise

low histamine

levels. Folic

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Folic Acid

RDA: 200 meg

ommendations now

women

However, even conservative mainstream

daily.

call

for at least

400 meg a

of childbearing age, as sufficient

rec-

day, particularly for

folic acid

is

necessary for

the prevention of neural tube birth defects.

Recommended Dose

(general):

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

Maximum

Unknown.

safe level:

used without

with your doctor

is

1-20

Levels

mg

mg daily with of 40

mg

B12 and zinc

a day have been

toxicity.

Contraindications: Don’t take

acid

800 mcg-2

if you

if you

have gout or epilepsy. Consult

are taking medications for epilepsy.

also a useful adjunct to other therapies. In

schizophrenic patients

who were low

one

in folic acid

study, nearly

all

of the

and took supplements

along with standard treatment recovered, compared to just under 70 percent of those also

on standard treatment

improved more

as well.

Those who took the

folic acid

rapidly.

If you take folic acid

tamin B12)

alone.

supplements, you should always take cobalamin

Taking only

folic acid

(vi-

could theoretically mask a defi-

ciency in the B12, and B12 deficiency in particular can be devastating.

Niacin (vitamin B3) Like anyone

else,

ability to raise

some

depressed Dreamers will benefit from niacin because of its

blood serotonin

(see

page 71 in Chapter

studies indicate that schizophrenic

relieved

by this B vitamin

in

3:

The

Stoic).

But

symptoms themselves may also be

pharmacologic doses. Niacin can help organize

disordered thinking, including calming hallucinations and delusions.

The combination of niacin with standard treatments (whether drugs, therapy, or electroshock)

showed the most dramatic

effects in schizo-

The Dreamer

Niacin

RDA

(men): 18

mg

(women): 13

mg

mg daily for women: 60 mg daily

Recommended Dose

(general): for

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

Maximum iting,

safe level:

or bowel upset

Contraindications:

men: 100

500-3,000

mg daily

Any dose that does not cause is

Do

diarrhea,

vom-

safe.

not take niacin

pressure medication, as

it

if

you are taking high blood

could make your pressure go too low. .

Don’t take

if

you have

ulcers, gout, or active liver disease or a liver

disorder. Since niacin raises blood sugar, diabetics should consult I

1

with their doctors about managing their insulin dose before taking niacin.

phrenic patients compared to placebo. With niacin, patients were symptomfree

more

often

and

as a group. People

to

for longer periods,

and required fewer hospitalizations

with close relationships and a solid work history seemed

improve most with niacin, according to one analysis of a group of many

studies (though, that

is

surely a

good

recipe for healing

of trouble you are in or what else you do about Studies have get as

shown

no matter what

sort

it).

that people with schizophrenic

symptoms may not

much niacin in their diets as healthy people, so niacin may work sim-

ply by correcting a deficiency. Niacin therapy increases mental serenity in all

types of brain problems. Stars

and Dreamers

in trouble

sometimes have a similar pattern of

overexcitement, showing low histamine and/or high serotonin. But they

should use niacin in different ways. While Stars need moderate amounts

and don’t benefit by taking even more, a Dreamer larger doses.

in trouble should take

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Manganese Manganese deficiency can cause schizophrenic symptoms, and

shown

that schizophrenic patients have lower levels of the mineral,

compared

erage,

studies have

on

av-

to control groups.

Manganese supplements

also help reduce

copper overload. Nearly 60

percent of psychotic patients in one study improved after ten weeks on

manganese (though schizophrenics without psychosis

didn’t

show the same

improvement). One study showed taking manganese tripled copper excretion in people with high copper (and

the

low histamine). Results obtained by

same researchers using a combination of manganese and zinc were even

better.

With cially

my patients, I

prepared that

use 6-12 drops a day of a liquid solution

is

10 percent zinc sulfate and

who

.5

I

have spe-

percent manganese

enough zinc or those who

chloride. That’s

good

simply have too

much copper. You can buy separate supplements of each, or

for those

don’t have

look for combination capsules.

Manganese may forty,

increase blood pressure, especially in people older than

or cause headaches.

deficiency

Manganese

can mimic manganese-

toxicity

symptoms.

Manganese Recommended Dose

(general): 2-5

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

Maximum

safe level:

Contraindications:

mg daily

5-50

mg daily

Unknown

Unknown

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)

Not every Dreamer for those

who

do,

in trouble will

it

respond to vitamin B6 supplements, but

can be a beneficial treatment. Birth control

cause a B6 deficiency, so

women

using oral contraceptives

who

pills

can

are experi-

encing psychiatric symptoms should be sure to take a B6 supplement. Studies

show improvement

in

most

cases with just 50

mg a day.

The Dreamer

Vitamin B6

RDA

(men): 2

mg

(women): 1-6

mg

Recommended Dose

(general):

10-50

mg daily

X

Recommended Dose

mg

100-1,000

trouble):

(in

daily

under

physician supervision

Contraindications:

If

you’re taking L-dopa (as for Parkinson’s),

check with a doctor before using vitamin B6 supplements.

Vitamin B6 and zinc seem to work well in tandem. Dreamers with low levels of these nutrients also generally have stretch marks, white spots

Those people, it.

deficient in

B6

on

also tend not to

As part of your

total daily dose, start

the dose after a few nights until takes

remember

B6 improves mental imagery while

up

to about

get

results

patients in

who

their dreams. For these

sleeping, as well the

with 50

dream

two months, then 30

memory of

mg at bedtime, and increase

recall

(which in some people

mg a

mg

day for maintenance) and

mg a day).

Studies of patients with schizophrenic

good

sugar.

400 mg). B6 works best in combination with zinc (80

zinc sulfate a day for

magnesium (400

you

complexions,

fair

and low blood

their fingernails,

in trouble

symptoms

in general

showed

from combining B6 and niacin (vitamin B3), including some required lower doses of tranquilizers. Patients taking the two

combination did better than those on either alone. Start at 100

mg

daily,

and increase

Check for dreaming and dream Don’t exceed 500

until

you

see

recall for indication

some improvement.

you

are getting enough.

mg daily, unless you are being treated by a knowledgeable

physician.

Zinc Zinc helps Dreamers in trouble by decreasing copper overload, rebalancing the copper to zinc ratio closer to the ideal 1:1, and alleviating

symptoms. In

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Zinc

RDA:

mg

15

Recommended Dose

(general):

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

time,

in

manic

Maximum

mg

30

mg

daily

80-160

mg for a

few weeks at a

crisis.

Unknown; one boy who consumed 12,000

safe level:

(12 grams) zinc overslept for four days,

through the day, wrote

illegible

in

fell

asleep frequently

scrawl, staggered

when he

walked. Completely recovered by sixth day, no permanent harm. Contraindications:

Unknown

one study, patients who excreted the most copper ing a mineral supplement

and following

a diet

in their urine (while tak-

low

in copper)

showed the

most improvement.

Some people experience nausea or excessive sweating with zinc, while for others

it

can make depression or hallucinations worse. Epileptics should

consult with their doctors before using zinc.

Vitamin C *

Dreamers

in trouble

need from 1-30 g (30,000 mg)

to raise the dose until

tinue the dosage

Vitamin

if

maximum improvement

there

is

daily.

occurs.

You can continue Lower or discon-

diarrhea or gastrointestinal upset.

C

RDA: 45 mg

Recommended Dose

(general): 1,000-3,000

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

ascorbate to avoid distention

Maximum

safe level:

Unknown

mg

daily

1,000-30,000 mg, use mineral

The Dreamer

STOIC DREAMERS

INTERVENTION Tryptophan Studies have

ium

shown

that tryptophan improves the performance of lith-

Other work shows that

in treating schizophrenia.

it

does help stabilize

mood in people with schizophrenic symptoms, though it probably does not address the disorder

itself.

Some

tive in hostile, aggressive patients

studies indicate tryptophan

—most

likely

because

it is

The other supplements and interventions appropriate ers are the

same

as those

covered in Chapter

3:

The

is

most

calming.

for Stoic

Dream-

and you should

Stoic,

refer to that chapter for details.

Natural Medicine Solutions for Stoic Dreamers To lower histamine:

Calcium: 500

mg twice

Methionine: 500

a day and

mg twice

a day

To raise serotonin:

Niacin:

1

-6 g a day

5- Hydroxy

Tryptophan (5-HTP): 200-300

mg

at

bedtime or

tryptophan: 1-3 g a day To stabilize blood sugar:

Niacin: 100 Zinc:

30-60

mg three mg

times a day

daily

Balanced B Complex: containing 50-100 To help normalize thyroid function:

Tyrosine: 1,500

mg daily

Balanced B Complex: 1-2, twice a day

Thiamine: 500-1,000

mg daily

Colloidal Iodine: 150

meg

Magnesium: 400

mg daily

daily

mg of each

effec-

B vitamin

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Tryptophan I

mg a

Recommended Dose

(in trouble):

Recommended Dose

(for insomnia):

Maximum

Unknown. Don’t exceed

less

safe level:

500-9,000

day.

mg

500-1,500 3

grams a day un-

you are under a doctor’s close supervision. Theoretically,

L-tryptophan raises serotonin too high, serotonin syndrome can sult,

if

re-

characterized by confusion, fever, shivering, sweating, diarrhea,

muscle spasms, and, very

rarely,

death.

Contraindications: Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery. Don’t take with an antidepressant drug without discussing

doctor

it

with your

first.

STAR DREAMERS

INTERVENTIONS Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Vitamin B12 arises

also helps raise histamine levels. In cases

where schizophrenia

because of B12 deficiency, supplemental B12 can sometimes even be

a cure.

v

Deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause schizophrenic symptoms, as well as confusion,

memory loss,

hallucinations, delusions,

B12 deficiency can cause mental symptoms

as

and paranoia.

much

as three to five years

before the appearance of the grossly enlarged red blood

cells that are

the

hallmark of the condition. That’s one reason the road to a proper diagnosis is

often a tortuous one.

B12 deficiency

is

also often heralded

aches and pains that accumulate gradually and can particular cause

Though B12 erally eat

— is

until the diagnosis

present in

all

is

t

by a host of

be attributed to any

made.

animal foods, especially

liver,

you

your way to therapeutic doses because the deficiency

can’t genis

usually

linked to an inability to absorb the vitamin in the gut. So B12 taken orally

The Dreamer

Case

in

Point

Catherine was a top performer at her stressful, high-pressure aca-

demic job, managing a number of people and

now and

when

then,

became more

insistent

make arrangements

to check

the voices she heard

and the delusions more

bizarre, she’d

into a psychiatric hospital— carefully choosing

home and workplace

her

projects. But every

one

far

enough from

that she’d never run into anyone she

knew. Catherine was unusually rational, organized, communicative,

and verbal for a Dreamer

Once

to other people well.

she’d recognize

before

in)

was a sanctuary, a

hospital

related

the stress got to be too much, though,

when she was about

out” (by checking

and she generally

trouble,

in

ever

it

respite

down, and “check

to break

became too bad. For

from the

stress

her, the

of her work and

a place of rest. She also got three square meals a day there, even it

was

hospital food. At least there were

if

no sugary sweets and no

alcohol— her usual downfalls. She could also get higher doses of

them readjusted

for her

about a week, she would recover her grip on

reality,

her medications outside

life.

In

in

the hospital and have

and then she’d reenter the She’d

managed

She didn’t

me

feel

this

fray.

way

about seven years before

for

she could go on

in

that

way any

longer.

I

met

her.

She came to

seeking an alternative.

Catherine’s adrenaline

level

was very

high,

which correlated

with the tremendous anxiety she was feeling. She had been taking lithium for years, so

I

was concerned about the depressed

function that lithium can cause. folic acid

I

thyroid

also suspected a deficiency of

because the tranquilizer her original doctor had prescribed

can cause them and because these deficiencies are frequently associated with schizophrenic

The

first

thing

I

did

symptoms.

was have her

start

on supplements of those (continued)

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Case

in

Point (continued)

vitamins.

Though she

said she felt better, she

and psychotic on occasion. So niacin (she

I

still

got delusional

added a regimen of high doses of

worked up from 3 to 8 g a day), which can be

ordering thoughts and maintaining a sense of reality.

I

helpful in

added

also

vitamin C, which discharges excessive adrenaline. With those, her

constant fear (especially the fear that people could read her mind) dissipated. In heavy

enough doses, vitamin C

is

an excellent natu-

even for acute states. Catherine took 30 g a day.

ral tranquilizer,

Catherine also learned about the importance of an excellent diet,

and whole, natural, unrefined foods. She never was a

adherent, but

enough. well.

On

still

she

made

a lot of positive changes.

the high doses of niacin and vitamin C, she

As part of her own cure for

job and

now works

herself,

she

left

And

strict

was

it

felt entirely

her high-powered

low-key, part-time jobs. She eventually (and

gradually) got off the drugs she’d taken for so long and has never

needed hospitalization again.

Now

the

most

positive aspects

of her Dreamer

emerged, no longer eclipsed by the negative trouble.

Her

vision

is

to

make

Dreamer in

reach their

trouble, she hopes to

own

of the Dreamer

the world understand

to be schizophrenic. By fighting the stigma

the

pull

positive potential.

have

profile

what

it is

in

like

commonly attached

to

open the door for everyone to

The

articles she’s

published are

a legacy she’s immensely proud of.

(in

food or

pills) isn’t really

available to the

body anyway. B12 usually must

be given by intramuscular injection with a doctor’s prescription. The usual series

is

one 1,000 mcg/1 ml injection two

three months. (To

usually

week

make this process more convenient, you can

yourself the shot with a tiny needle.) I

to three times a

recommend

When B12

deficiency

for

two or

learn to give

is first

detected,

repeating the series of shots after a three-month

break. Alternating three-month blocks with

and without injections

for

one

The Dreamer

Vitamin B12 RDA:

6

meg

daily (taken orally)

Recommended Dose

(general): 1,000

meg

daily (taken orally or

sublingually)

Recommended Dose

1,000

(in trouble):

meg

by injection every

2-3 days for 2-3 months

Maximum

safe level:

Contraindications:

year

is

Unknown

None

usually in order. For maintenance, one series every two years

ally sufficient.

The body

stores vitamin

B 12

for years, but

it

is

usu-

takes a while to

rebuild your stores once they’ve dropped very low.

Fortunately most people see improvement in their mental early

on

are the first

symptoms blood

symptoms

in this process. Just as they are the first

symptoms

to abate with treatment.

often takes longer,

and improvement

to appear, they

Improvement

in the size

symptoms

in physical

and shape of the

cells still longer.

Malabsorption of vitamin B12 in those of

is

genetically linked

and

is

more common

Northern European backgrounds, especially those who are

fair-

haired and light-skinned. Heavy drinking can also destroy the body’s ability to

absorb vitamin B12. In

fact, I’ve

had patients who simply drank

themselves into deficiency.

Most times when schizophrenic symptoms

are

due

to deficiency in

vitamin B12, other blood chemistry markers we’ve discussed are normal. But there are

some people with other imbalances

in addition to

B12

shortage.

Lithium Lithium

is

helpful to some, but not

lithium lowers serotonin, trouble

who

it is

most

have excess serotonin.

all,

people with schizophrenia. Since

likely to

be useful

in Star

Dreamers

in

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Lithium aspartate

Recommended Dose

Maximum

(in trouble):

safe level: Don’t take

mg

5

1-8 times daily

more than 4 doses

daily unless

you

are under a doctor’s care.

Contraindications: Kidney or cardiovascular disease, dehydration, salt depletion

Case

in

Point

My secretary came to tell me

I

had better see a new patient, though

appointment wasn’t for an hour

his

my

front yard of

and moaning. learn he

office,

When

I

He was

I

found Paul

beating the ground with his

coaxed him

had been hospitalized

years before.

yet.

inside,

I

lying in the fists,

was not surprised

several times since falling

miserable, he told

crying

me (though

I

ill

to

three

might have

guessed that) and depressed. He hallucinated sometimes, hearing voices

in

his

head. His business was

failing,

he couldn’t seem to

form any new relationships, and he had nearly destroyed the ones he had. In

technical terms, he

taking any medication,

was

most

are prescribed tranquilizers to

my

fastest

office.

I

remember

in

sorry shape.

Though

patients with problems similar to his

some time

before they find their

Paul so well because his

and most complete

Paul wasn’t

reversals

way

was one of the

of schizophrenic symptoms

I

have ever witnessed. I

gave him the

full

battery of tests, but almost everything

back normal. Everything, that

is,

except his routine blood

came test,

which revealed serious anemia, with greatly enlarged red blood (continued)

The Dreamer

Case

in

cells.

Further testing pointed to malabsorption syndrome regard-

Point (continued)

ing vitamin B12, or borderline pernicious anemia.

Paul took a series of vitamin B12 shots to

and

deficiency,

fearsome nature quickly dissolved. He was no longer psy-

his

chotic.

undo the

Now, able

telligent

and

to converse rationally, Paul

emerged as highly

in-

with altruistic aims maintained from his younger

filled

days as a “hippie.” To calm the voices that he heard when he was really

out of control, he also took niacin, which can make thinking

make

processes clearer and

balance

all

the B12 he

plement (getting togetherwith

was

was

folic acid

folic acid).

the senses

taking, he took a is

in

better

in

Within

six

I

general.

To

good B-complex sup-

especially important, as

stabilized. In similar cases,

GABA

work

B12 works

months, Paul’s brain chemistry

might have prescribed a dose of

times of overexcitement, but Paul’s condition reversed so

completely that he didn’t even need that.

By then, he’d long escaped the zombie-self

my

lawn.

He was

around, and

first

met there on

an authentic Dreamer, with some “far out”

still

Dreamer views— he was an ical political

I

idealist

views. But as his

through and through, with rad-

moods

his innate ability to

stabilized, his business turned

be charming resurfaced. His social

life in

general revived, and he began dating again, apparently with

much

success.

He was

never hospitalized again for psychiatric causes.

.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be much more stubborn to

and did

in in

tified.

many cases Paul’s case.

it

takes the

And

body much longer

that’s only

treat,

to recover than

it

once the problem has been iden-

Pernicious anemia isn’t always quickly or easily identified, as

you might have guessed from the fact that

it

was never spotted

in

Paul’s previous hospitalizations. Paul’s case demonstrates, in part,

the

enormous

benefit of catching

soon as possible. '

fl i

and treating B12 deficiency as

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Natural Medicine Solutions for Star Dreamers To raise histamine: j

Folic acid:

mg twice

1

daily

Cobalamin (Vitamin B12): 1,000 mcg/ml intramuscular two to three times a week

for

injection

two to three months. Though

tions are preferred, oral or sublingual

B12 also

raises

injec-

blood

his-

tamine. Niacin: 3-6 g daily To lower serotonin:

Lithium aspartate: 5

mg

1-12 times daily (don’t use more than

five

times a day unless you are working with a health care practitioner)

WARRIOR DREAMERS

Natural Medicine Solutions for Warrior Dreamers To balance high copper/raise zinc:

Zinc sulfate: 30

mg

a day. Practitioners

may

prescribe up to 150

mg

daily,

els,

so megadoses should be taken only under medical supervision.

but zinc can cause copper-deficient anemia at those

Manganese: 10

mg daily,

lev-

or 30-60 daily only under the supervision

of a health care practitioner, to treat tardive dyskinesia (a central nervous system disorder) side

effect.

BORDERLINE DREAMERS

Natural Medicine Solutions for Borderline Dreamers Vitamin C:

1

-30 g

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6):

100-500

mg

s

The Dreamer

Mind/Body and Like tics

types,

all

Dreamers

Lifestyle

Changes

from developing the best characteris-

will benefit

of other types, especially those next to and opposite from them on the

pie chart (see p. 28) along with their

mula

for ensuring sweet dreams.

do

I

own Dreamer strengths. That’s the for-

talk therapy

with almost

of the Dreamers

all

sions tend to be particularly intense their brain chemistry, they are this section,

I’ll

still

see,

and our discus-

and intimate. Even

after correcting

likely to benefit

describe the things that have helped

be tricky to find the therapist can

at least

help

make your

who

is

search a

from psychotherapy. In

me in my practice with

who works

Dreamers, so you can look for a therapist

just the right

more

little

I

in similar ways.

match

can

It

for you, but this

efficient.

For Dreamers in trouble, a cure usually requires not only diet and nutrition (often well.

all

that

is

required for

many other types) but lifestyle changes

The choices Dreamers make about what

who and what

to

to do,

and psychological

well as the emotional

to behave,

and

crucial,

and Dreamers may

practicalities

of these matters, as

surround themselves with are

need help focusing on the nuts-and-bolts

how

as

aspects.

Whether, why, and

how to

enter college, join a church, move, or change jobs can stymie a Dreamer,

and

at the

same time

are integral to creating a complete

and supportive

life.

Here, again, the results are cyclical: Staying out of bad situations allows

people to be kind to themselves, including eating healthfully, which helps

them

stay out of

thrive in

them very

so on.

in individual therapy, while Star

Dreamers can

aren’t serious is

Supportive therapy

enough

to force

usually

enough

is

the

them

with spiritual concerns and

into

it.

to rebalance

most appropriate

on material problems. Dreamers

eat, sleep,

here.

I

don’t

often because they generally aren’t looking for help. Their

me, good nutrition

focuses

And

group therapy. Borderline Dreamers are the exception

problems to

situations.

Dreamers do best

Stoic

see

bad

for

When

they do

come

them.

Dreamers, because

in trouble tend to be caught

may need someone

and groom themselves. The situation

course, but the needs are always practical. For

to

remind them

isn’t

it

up

to simply

always that severe, of

Dreamers

in trouble, a ther-

The Brain Chemistry Plan

apist

is

often also a dispenser of financial, organizational, social,

and even

housekeeping advice. Dreamers need to control the amount of stimuli their lives, until there are

no more external

For Dreamers, that threshold ing

how to do

Most should

it.

is

stresses

than are manageable.

And they might need help see-

often low.

start

by knowing Dreamers do best

environments, working by themselves in low-pressure jobs.

Dreamers pushed into trouble by work that

didn’t suit

I’ve

in serene

seen

When

own inner world and problems, Dreamers

are often friendless. They’ve been rejected too often or

how

to

make

They might be estranged from

a friend.

more

them than I can count.

For Dreamers, a therapist should also function as a friend would. they are deeply enmeshed in their

in

may not

even

know

their families or just

have put even the most well-meaning family members through the wringer already, so they have

nothing left to

everyday support and advice

when they are in balance As across

—

get

as well as psychological it

their social

networks

and psychiatric

expertise.

mostly consists of me letting the Dreamer

done

can take on a

life

of

on whatever

a lot of thinking

In fact, they’ve usually over-thought its

it,

to the point

and then ask them

What

to go over

it

again

did she really say?

I

thought something

is

on

their minds.

where the simplest thing

listen to their stories

—very

carefully.

What were

Could there be any other explanation? Did you been a hallucination,

topic

own.

My job then is to do “reality testing.”

fectly

from

me do the talking. Dreamers are very smart, as I’ve said, and of-

ten have already

ifications:

So Dreamers in trouble need casual,

—the kind they

far as the latter category,

from

give.

as

it

I’ll

really see X, or

had happened, and

ask for clar-

the exact words she used?

has been in the past?

like this

Then

very carefully,

it

Remember

could

last

it

have

time you

turned out to have a per-

ordinary explanation? Answering these types of questions makes the

person focus on the

facts

and draw his own conclusions from

ers will learn the extent to

their negative state. set neutral

When

which

their

they finally

own

know

there.

Dream-

negative expectations create

that,

they have motivation to

or realistically positive expectations.

Building social support outside of the counseling office

is

another im-

portant aspect of treatment. The

many community support groups devoted

to allowing individuals with the

same condition

to share their

common

ex-

The Dreamer

Paranoia, The Destroyer For Dreamers

who

who

trouble

in

experience paranoia (or for those

irrationally feel the cards are stacked against

simple steps can help keep those impulses

in

them), three

check:

1.

Always give the other person the benefit of the doubt.

2.

Don’t jump to

false

Go

pectations.

carefully, trying 3.

See the best is

conclusions based on your

hard to

trying to help you.

recall exactly

what was

Assume somebody up

When

really said

or done.

there likes you and

things go wrong, instead of believing

“they” are out to get you, try assuming everything

Look

negative ex-

over the events you are upset about slowly and

things.

in

own

is

for the best.

for the cloud’s silver lining. ...

Sometimes, of course, bad things do happen. Just make sure you know what ergy

is

response.

in

actually

happening

And don’t be

tice

before wasting your en-

blind to the

way to do

periences and feelings are one

first,

good

They

this.

things going on.

are a safe place to prac-

new coping skills and take emotional risks in a controlled environment.

The ultimate goal world

is

to create the

same

level

of comfort in the “outside”

as well.

For that reason,

I

spent a lot of time helping Esther (see page 242) learn

to reach out to people.

She was extremely shy (most Dreamers

and parcel of being so intensely inner-directed). Making other

new

skill,

takes practice. So

I

gave her a

Every time she passed someone in the halls say “hi.” That was

Esther it

as if they

friends, like

part

any

“homework” assignment:

at school,

she was to smile and

the next session saying she had to force herself to do

would respond by looking

that people

were trying to determine

return her smile or greeting this strategy.

it is

it.

came back to

and complained

are;

how

—but some

By the next time

I

saw

knew

at

her quizzically,

They

didn’t always

did. Esther agreed to

keep on with

they

her, she

her.

was not only getting

a response

The Brain Chemistry Plan

in

kind more often than not but also was finding that people had begun to

come up it

to her to say hello, without her ever having to say anything.

seemed miraculous. Once she got

joyed this

more open and

working

it

receptive stance.

for her, she

To her

found she en-

As time went on, some of these

acquaintances turned into true friendships.

ANGER For Dreamers in trouble, anger they react with anger

is

usually never very far away. Like Warriors,

when they sense a threat to their security.

It’s

a defense

against anxiety.

Dreamers anger usually develops

In

tice they’ve

been insulted

but

brood over whatever

they’ll

can’t deal

with

their natures just building

directly

it

—and so up

a

it

—

is

it

was

because they haven’t been!),

sometimes

later,

obsessively.

They

would be much too confrontational Nothing good can come of

this.

some Dreamers,

They

for

are

vent: a recipe for roils their in-

tormenting them, growing ever larger and ever more

significant,

this escalates into fantas-

proportions. Dreamers are really the explosive type, so there’s no es-

cape except burrowing further inside. Too

warped perceptions It

it’s

obviously destructive. The issue just

problematic, and intractable. In tical

(sometimes

that

festers.

slow burn. They won’t even no-

huge head of steam with absolutely no

an explosion, which sides,

at first

as a

—or even

a loss of

would behoove Dreamers

much

touch with

to learn to

of that means seriously reality.

be more Warriorlike in

how they

handle anger, recognizing what makes them angry and responding to rectly

and emphatically. (Warriors

sometimes take

in trouble

it

di-

this to unfor-

tunate extremes, but unless you are a Warrior, you never have to worry

about going too

far in that profile since

it is

a stretch for

you

in the first

place.)

As with

all

brain types, Dreamers benefit from drawing on

from other types

(as in the

traits

example about handling anger, above). Without

ever losing their unique Dreamer-ness,

when they

some

many Dreamers come

get in touch with the Lover in themselves

to others. Positive traits of other types can cover

—the

into balance

part that relates

your trouble spots and play

The Dreamer

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Your face

window

your window on the world, but

is

into you. For

anyone struggling with interpersonal

ships, this easy exercise can yield surprising

Study yourself in the mirror. I

How do

had one patient who gave me

with me. The conversation granted, but

I

toward me. So

if

even believe she was doing

it

all

who

did

know

results:

you look to others?

dirty looks

the time she

all

we were having was

I

was

a tough one,

she knew she was doing until

was, she looked scary. For those

was

(and helpful)

relation-

didn’t think she really had such negative feelings

asked her

sion

also the world’s

is

it

her,

with them, even

who assumed

She didn’t

she looked for herself. The fact

who

they’d have to go on.

it.

It

didn’t

know

was even

her, that expres-

off-putting for those

she was always upset and angry

when they couldn’t

see

what they had done

to de-

serve such treatment.

My was

suggestion to her (not that she liked

to practice a calmer expression.

That

it

is,

at first) literally

and to you, standing

in

front of the mirror, examining the image you project to others, and

making adjustments. The corners of my

patient’s

ways turned down, so she practiced holding the As told I

her,

it

mouth were

slightest

al-

of smiles.

takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. She also

learned to take the wrinkles out of her brow, relaxing her forehead until

they went away.

Until

you

try

it

yourself,

takes— or the benefits if

you “act as

if,”

it

you might not believe the effort

brings.

what you

Some

happy. But or angry.

it

And

sure

harder to

I’m positive

others react to you pression.

is

schools of thought hold that

are enacting will

not sure myself that looking happy feel

is all

come

that

it

true for you. I’m

takes to

happy when you

about the difference

when you

this

make you

look

mopey

you’ll see in

how

face the world with a pleasant ex-

The Brain Chemistry Plan

up your

strengths, allowing

anything

lowing

else,

it

you

be the best Dreamer you can be. Like

to

will take practice.

To “stay

in shape,” try

most natural way

So whether

to relate to others.

gardening club, or the PTA, become a pate in

its

regular activities.

from getting

rusty. If

member

Any group you you

like,

Toastmasters International, which helping people develop social

Go

the fol-

strategies:

Join up. Belonging to an association based on

skills

some of

is

common

it is

interests

is

the

a church, dance class,

of something and partici-

join will help keep your social

you could even

an organization

something

try

specifically

like

aimed

at

skills.

Go somewhere

out. Socialize with friends.

something new. Choose something that

interests

out there and interact with the larger world.

than renting yet another video. Eat

Go

you’ve never been. Try

you by to

at a restaurant.

all

means, but get

an actual movie rather

Accept an invitation to a

party.

Spruce up. clothes.

Get a

Do

something to improve your appearance. Buy some new

facial, haircut,

Speak out.

When you

conversations. Give tions. Talk to

or a manicure.

are socializing, be aggressive (for you). Initiate

more than one-word answers, even

to yes or

no ques-

someone new.

An analogy I heard from Marty McCarthy, codirector of Transitional Living Services in Sacramento, has always stayed with me:

Timex

“They take

watches,” she said.

a cheap,

a licking

“Most people

and keep on

ticking.

are like Still, it’s

common watch.”

A Dreamer, on the other hand, better than a Timex. But delicate instrument.

engineering.

if

like a fine

is

you bang

it

Swiss watch, she says.

around,

it

will break. It

is

Much

a precise,

When it’s working properly, it is a work of art as well as

8A

A to enjoy

rdent, open-hearted, outgoing, attractive, enthusiastic, sensitive,

compassionate, and radiant with sexual energy (even

if it is

know how

times unconscious); that’s the Lover in balance. Lovers life,

and they live

those around

to the fullest.

it

them along for the

ride.

They have

Lovers

a

some-

good time and bring

know how to make

others feel

good. They throw themselves wholeheartedly into whatever they are doing.

They

are charming,

smooth, and sociable, often

around. You want Lovers for

two minutes

like you’re

at a

at

your dinner

party.

flirtatious,

and easy

You could speak

massively crowded gathering, and they’ll

the only person in the

room worth talking to.

to

be

to a Lover

make you

feel

Lovers also tend to

get their way.

For Lovers, relationships ness. Relationships

are, paradoxically, their strength

assume such primary importance

that

and

their

weak-

some Lovers

feel

as if they literally don’t exist except within one. That, not surprisingly, can

lead to incredible anxiety centered

on

relationships

— finding them,

getting

them, keeping them. But a Lover in balance, pouring their psychic energy into a healthy relationship,

is

a force of nature. That’s the

power

of love.

The Lover is e common profile among celebrities, because they can reach

The Brain Chemistry Plan

and time

across even space Live

and

essarily

in person, a Lover’s

make them pinups

pelling in a variety of fields. is

to

make what

magnetism

personal connection.

feels like a

unmistakable.

is still

doesn’t nec-

It

or movie stars, but they can be equally

com-

They shine wherever interpersonal connection

primary.

Lovers have strong emotions, so they avoid the emotional suppression of

They

the Stoic type.

let

you know what they

and

are thinking

As

feeling.

long as that works on the level of “being in touch with” themselves and their emotions, this

is

a healthy aspect of the Lover profile.

mood

heel, leaving Lovers vulnerable to

But

also

it is

an Achilles’

swings, excessive emotionalism

(whatever the mood), depression, and, most commonly, anxiety (more

about that but

men

Many

later).

are

Women are

more

almost twice as

men

likely as

and drugs

likely to resort to alcohol

Lovers are troubled by frustrations in love

early marriage (see riages, infidelity,

box on

and

p. 289),

frigidity.

to have anxiety,

to cover

—

as

it

up.

with Marilyn’s

multiple short-lived subsequent mar-

Lovers in trouble are often seductive and

promiscuous. Out-of-balance male Lovers tend to be womanizers; females tend to have a weakness for the “bad boy” type. Both are devil inside

elsewhere,

What

them constantly prodding them

no matter how good the current

all

Lovers are looking

for,

to see

if

fickle,

with a

the grass

is

little

greener

relationship.

however,

is

not so

much

sex as security.

Lovers are highly dependent on others; their security comes from feeling they are attractive to and loved by others. Their sense of self-worth, even their sense of

self, is

conditional

on how much they

feel loved.

They

are

hypersensitive to criticism, tending to emotionally overreact to even the slightest perception

of negativity. Lovers are very social and socially active,

but Lovers in trouble might suffer from social anxiety. Lovers secure only curity

is

THOSE A

lot

when they know they

threatened, they

WHO

are desired.

And when

they

feel safe

and

feel their se-

become anxious.

FORGET THE PAST

.

.

.

of Lovers try to change history by repeating

it,

an approach that

is

doomed to fail. They experience one failure after another, but in a way that’s

The Lover

what be

they’re subconsciously after. If they

like

saying those that rejected

them

had

good

a

relationship,

early in their lives

would

it

were no good.

And

they are not ready for that. They’d rather consider themselves no good. They

good relationship and

don’t feel worthy of a

they do. Lovers are usually just hide extremely

one

until

humble and modest, but sometimes those

traits

are unlikely to have

low self-esteem.

Lovers, like Warriors, tend to be amoral trouble: “All’s fair in love

and

want or need. For Lovers,

main concern

war.” Their

this typically

and deceptive when they

means

is

acting the

getting

are in

what they

way another

per-

son wants them to be in order to secure and maintain a relationship. The strain of crafting every action to

ing your true self

fit

someone

else’s desires

dooms any relationship based on

it.

and never

reveal-

Yet Lovers in trouble

may be so desperate for the relationship and its illusion of security that they persist in this destructive “strategy.”

Lovers in trouble must also be wary of the opposite problem: They tend to

be easily deceived and taken advantage

ers’

of,

and unduly influenced by oth-

opinions.

Many ics.”

Lovers in trouble become what psychiatry

They may experience many

common

different physical

calls

“anxiety hyster-

symptoms

(the

most

include headaches, gastrointestinal upset, and backaches) for

which no organic cause can be found. Though stellation of physical

chemistry

is

symptoms

that

all

the profiles have a con-

improve when the underlying brain

corrected, complaints of aches

and pains

are de rigueur for

Lovers.

Symbolically, this time,

it is

an extension of

is

the ability to

lie

to themselves. That’s not to say physical ailments

aren’t a very real experience

— 95 percent of pain

ers the threshold of pain, so Lovers

any pain

in

their deceptive abilities, only this

an exaggerated form

who

is

subjective. Anxiety low-

experience anxiety also experience

(in contrast to

Dreamers,

who

tend to

minimize and underreport symptoms of pain). As emotionally expressive people, Lovers are also simply pain.

Low blood

point

it

will

more

likely to identify

and acknowledge

sugar also lowers the pain threshold, and I’m sure at this

come as no

surprise to

you when you review the recommended

The Brain Chemistry Plan

low blood sugar

diet for Lovers in this chapter that

is

often what puts Lovers

in trouble.

Emotionally

they can be, one feeling Lovers cant handle

facile as

anger.

They often

(since

no one can

deal with anger by getting anxious. Suppressing anger entirely avoid

sometimes manifests

it)

leads to the kind of somatic anxiety that

muscle tension, rapid heart palpitations, dry

in

mouth, profuse sweating, nausea, nervousness, and

feelings of fear

combination, a panic attack. Phobias are also relatively

At the extreme end of

in trouble. sias,

and even

is

this

path

lies

common

—

in

in Lovers

hysterical paralysis,

amne-

altered states of consciousness leading to dissociative states.

Even well before things get

to that point

(which they very rarely do),

Lovers in trouble often fear that they are “going crazy.” Guardians do, too.

But take heart: People with either profile almost never do become insane. (Ironically,

Dreamers and

Stars,

who can both become psychotic when they

are very sick, are not usually the ones fearing madness.

they will even deny colleagues

who

learned in

med

it

when they

are.)

I

suppose

this

is

don’t specialize in psychiatry jokingly

school about psychiatry this way:

If you

On

the contrary,

why Eve heard my

sum up what

they

think you might be

crazy, you’re not.

ANXIETY

When

Lovers are out of balance, the most

anxiety.

And among Americans, anxiety is

common

a fairly

mental symptom

is

common disorder. About

65 million people suffer from anxiety each year. Just over half of them have a

mild to moderate

One

abling disorder.

some time

Poll, fully a

and chronic

stress.

while the rest suffer from a full-scale, dis-

two people have anxiety

in

in their lives.

1997 Gallup iety

affliction,

Anxiety

is

for at least

two weeks

at

also often linked with depression. In a

quarter of American workers reported facing anx-

Yet less than 25 percent of people with anxiety get

the help they need.

Anxiety has

many

forms, including panic attacks, phobias (including

specific phobias, social phobia,

and agoraphobia), post-traumatic

disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hypochondria,

and the

stress

catchall

The Lover

GAD. Anxiety can include fearful feelings,

“generalized anxiety disorder,” or

worry, uncertainty, apprehension, and unexplainable dread. physically in

many ways, primarily with symptoms

central nervous system, including shaking, tigue, nonspecific aches

and

It

can manifest

related to arousal of the

muscle tension,

restlessness, fa-

pains, nausea or other gastrointestinal distress,

shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating or clamminess,

dry mouth, insomnia, headaches, hot flashes or

chills,

lightheadedness,

trouble swallowing, frequent urination, edginess, concentration problems,

and

irritability.

Anxiety can exacerbate other conditions, including overeat-

PMS,

ing, alcoholism,

or irritable bowel syndrome.

An

initial

episode of

anxiety rarely occurs after age forty-five. Physiological causes of anxiety are described below, but everyday stresses are also important contributors. In fact, part of the medical definition of

“generalized anxiety disorder”

unrealistic or excessive

is

worry about

life

Panic Attacks One common and panic attack. The

particularly disturbing

symptoms

form of anxiety

all

of a sudden, and peak within ten

minutes before subsiding. Paralyzing fear and dread are

and panic attacks usually involve

ple often confuse

are

about to

and

dizziness.

may

in

In

the

likely

more productive ways as well.

feelings are so extreme, peo-

believe they

but some people experi-

certain circumstances (boarding an airin

a large crowd). Identifying situational

one way to begin to

the situation.

tified

The

arise unexpectedly,

plane, taking a test, being

ble,

difficulty breathing, rapid heart-

them with heart attack symptoms or

ence them consistently

is

typical,

die.

Panic attacks

triggers

the

are similar to generalized anxiety, but

are particularly intense, begin

beat, chest pains,

is

find a solution, such as avoidance

event that avoidance

isn’t

of

always possi-

to handle those situations can be iden-

— The Brain Chemistry Plan

circumstances.

Common

sources include work-related difficulties,

grief,

Some

anxi-

marital woes, health concerns, financial crises, ety

is

a

and

social fears.

normal part of life, but when symptoms become serious enough

interfere with daily

definition of the

life, it

qualifies as

an anxiety disorder. Under the

American Psychiatric Association,

to

official

7 percent of adults in

the United States have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety and depression share ritability, guilt, fatigue,

many of the same symptoms, including ir-

change in eating habits, sleep problems, chronic

aches and pains, and inability to concentrate.

About one-half of people with anxiety

are also depressed,

and about

one-third of depressed patients are also anxious. Approximately 12 million

Americans ple.

face the combination,

and

telling the difference isn’t always

For example, excessive worry, a hallmark of anxiety,

most

is

sim-

one of the ten

common symptoms of depression. When your brain chemistry is out

of balance, getting an accurate picture of which you have

—

either or

both

can help you accurately tailor your approach to regaining biochemical balance in your brain.

Type Lovers

General Traits

Beneficial Aspects

Outgoing

Live

Attractive

Can count Marilyn

Empathic

Monroe as one.

life

to the fullest.

Harmful Aspects Manipulate

others.

Vulnerabilities

Lovers in trouble

Are dependent.

tend to get

Are

anxious

insecure.

Loving

Can't handle anger.

prone

Sexual

Practice deception.

attacks.

Flirtatious

Are

Warm

Act promiscuously.

Emotionally

Are fickle.

expressive

Are

easily deceived.

hypersensitive.

Sensitive

Overreact.

Seductive

Fear rejection.

Have low self-esteem. Are amoral. Lie to themselves.

Have hypochondria.

and are

to

panic

The Lover

Case in Point Norma's mother had a “nervous breakdown” when Norma was just beginning grade school. Consequently, her

of her

rest

and out of mental

in

life

mother spent the

Norma’s father

institutions.

had walked out on her mother (on Christmas Eve!) when she’d him that she was pregnant, so Norma never knew him— or even

told

he was

knew

if

tion,

Norma

alive

lived

or dead. Even before her mother’s hospitaliza-

with a foster family because her single mother,

working at a low-paying job, couldn’t afford to take care of

her.

Norma spent most of her childhood bounced around among many homes. Her mother, though

different foster

tated until after

tody and allow families In

Norma became

Norma to

essentially incapaci-

an adult, would not give up cus-

be adopted, though several kind-hearted

had offered. She could neither care for her nor

one foster home, when she was eight years

sexually

abused by an

elderly

she reported the incident.

In

old,

her go.

Norma was lying

when

Norma was

nine,

boarder and got slapped for

another home, when

let

her foster mother remarried suddenly and, without warning, packed

up Norma’s belongings and dropped her off at an orphanage. As a young teenager, Norma was molested again and gave to a

baby she was forced to put up

father once barged into her passionately.

humiliation

Though

bedroom

at night

Another foster

and

kissed her

the sexual crime proceeded no further, the

was complete.

By her early teenage years, ful,

for adoption.

birth

and adept

Norma was

at accentuating those facts

already buxom, beauti-

and using them to her

advantage. She was conveniently married off at sixteen— just when her then-foster mother was moving across the country.

soon began to have

affairs while her

Norma

husband, a Navy man, was

stationed overseas. She began working as a “model,” which included (continued)

The Brain Chemistry Plan

Case

Point (continued)

in

posing nude, and even occasionally worked as a riage broke

up

call girl.

was

after four years. By the time she

Her mar-

nineteen, she

had made two suicide attempts. This was the pre-pill era, and twelve abortions over the years,

woman

vironments; she was a the procedure

was

Norma went through

some of them

in

had her tubes

largely illegal. Finally, she

an attempt to reverse the procedure.

prise that she

It

was often unable to enjoy

Digging into Norma’s childhood,

more

short-lived marriages, paralyzing

already

should

more surgery

come

as no sur-

sexual relationships.

knew

any of this, because

still

tied,

wasn’t greatly surprised to

I

learn

I

less-than-safe en-

without resources at a time when

but later regretted that decision and underwent in

a series of

the end of the story: two

performance

anxiety, torrid

a barbiturate overdose amid swirling rumors

affairs,

and,

finally,

of foul

play.

She also had fabulous fame and riches as possibly

the greatest sex symbol of

all

time, for

Norma

is

the world as Marilyn Monroe. Her public image

the Lover profile, while her private

underpinning of the type

in

life

I

is

the epitome of

models the psychological

way

to integrate these parts

only knew her as a larger-than-life figure on

the screen, and not as a patient,

I

suspect out-of-balance brain

chemistry could have been to blame. She had tragedy enough her

to be sure, but

life,

power.

I

don’t think

it

was was

also blessed with

else

in

amazing personal

just her legs or breasts or platinum

blonde hair or provocative poses that stars before

to

trouble.

Marilyn never found a comfortable

of herself, and though

known

better

made

her a legend. Other

and since have had similar combinations, but no one

has retained such a grip on the public imagination.

what extraordinary

life

she might have lived

if

I

wonder

she could have been (continued)

The Lover

Case

Point (continued)

in

simply the Lover,

like

her public image, rather than the Lover

trouble she couldn’t seem to escape

Not

all

in real life.

accounts of Marilyn Monroe’s

agree on

life

all

dents of sexual abuse recounted above, but these are

tions,

history, particularly the

and lack of sexual

The exact

sources.

about her

life.

I

are not

all

think they

adoption

offers, abor-

on by

known, but

a Lover if

all

I’ve in-

make an important point

The simplest view— that these

documentable— even

stories

of passing along something

risk

why Marilyn was always

explain

inci-

other details

truth will probably never be

unsubstantiated, because

all

interest are also not agreed

cluded these stories, even at the

the

Some

Marilyn herself told at one time or another.

about her sexual

in

stories are

true— helps

trouble. Even

in

if

they

she was just spinning horrific

fantasies— the messages the stories carry of the danger and humiliation of sex; the confusion of sex

threat of rejection, betrayal, and

and

and the constant

love;

abandonment,

all

make

the

same

point.

Dietary Guidelines The high-protein, low-sugar, and Lovers and

is

fined foods, getting

all

small, frequent meals diet

crucial for Lovers with hypoglycemia.

and

particularly white sugar

stimulates us in the

same

flour,

is

all

re-

important for

also important. 1

that nervousness

we might call

aren’t perfectly poised to

feelings

is

of sugar as giving us “energy

same way

are otherwise in balance

we

for

the nutrients you need. For Lovers, avoiding caffeine and other

We commonly think

if

good

As always, avoiding

and white

stimulants (including nicotine), as well as alcohol,

but

is

it

.’

We

already

and anxiety

do.

know

it

When we

being “wired,” “hyper,” or “buzzed,”

handle the spike

in

blood sugar, those

can translate into anxiety. Diets high in white sugar have been

The Brain Chemistry Plan linked to higher rates of anxiety, and sugar has been proven to be able to

who

cause nervousness, headaches, and even panic attacks in people susceptible in those things. Eliminating refined sugar has been

shown

are

to re-

duce anxiety.

mood

Sugar increases energy and improves anxiety.

also directly stimulates

It

and quick food

vides ready

that the sugar

is

tigue, depression,

is

in the brain, because sugar pro-

The catch

when

often steep,

can even relieve mild

it

—and

it is

a big

one

—

is

the blood sugar level drops, so

and you’re

left

with feelings of fa-

and/or anxiety.

you’re using sugar

you may be getting original

for the brain.

quickly used up, and

does serotonin. The change

If

neurons

—

—consciously or unconsciously—

fast

but very short-lived

problem even worse every

to relieve anxiety,

results. You’re also

single time.

making the

A snack of complex carbo-

hydrates from whole foods can help calm and relax you without putting

you on

that

downward

spiral. It

may take

a bit longer to feel the effects, but

once they do appear, they should last a few hours rather than a few minutes. For general health, you want to

make

what you

sure

doesn’t include dairy fats like butter, cheese, eficial in

eat

is

low

in

and whole milk, which

fat.

That

are ben-

moderate amounts.

Danger Foods Refined foods

White

flour

Sugar, especially white

Caffeine and other stimulants

Nicotine

Alcohol

Despite

all

the problems in her

tant thing that probably saved her

keep herself in shape, she was

life,

from

known

to

Marilyn herself did do one imporfeeling even worse: she exercised. lift

To

weights and run every morning.

And this was at least thirty years before such activities became popular, par-

The Lover

Calming Foods know

Did you

that you can find benzodiazepines— which are used

as tranquilizing drugs that

common at

commonly combat anxiety— in many

foods? You’d have to eat more than humanly possible

any given time to get the equivalent of one dose of Valium. But

you might

try

emphasizing these foods

in

your diet to get some

benefits.

Lentils

Soybeans Rice

Corn Potatoes Cherries

Mushrooms

ticularly for stitution,

women. She must have been born with

and she did her

bit to

maintain

it,

a strong physical con-

despite her apparent drug

and

alcohol abuse.

CAFFEINE Along with

sugar, Lovers

must avoid

to initiate or exacerbate anxiety. For clear of caffeine. Caffeine

panic attacks.

One

all

other stimulants, which only serve

most people,

that really

can cause severe anxiety or

means

set off

to steer

full-blown

study even created panic attacks in people who’d never

had one before by dosing them with

caffeine (albeit in extremely large

quantities).

Caffeine works

on the

central nervous system, increasing activity of the

neurotransmitters, so that

it

can improve mood. But that immediate

effect

disappears quickly, and within hours, anxiety, nervousness, and muscle tension replace any initial boost.

on you

The more dramatic

the effect a substance has

in the short run, the bigger the whiplash you’re likely to experience

The Brain Chemistry Plan

in

terms of getting the opposite

caffeine

is

the

effect over the

most obvious example of this

Anxiety-prone people

(like

long haul. Along with sugar,

effect.

Lovers) are often

more

sensitive to caffeine

than other people. Perhaps there’s something genetic that makes a person

more

susceptible to stress

and

to caffeine or that magnifies reactions until

they are out of proportion. In any case, in sensitive people, just

probably enough to instigate an attack. (That’s in

five

cups of

official

six-ounce

cups, by the way, so that grande latte you’re sipping probably gets

you more

coffee

is

than half-way there.)

The good news

is

that simply eliminating caffeine can eliminate the

anxiety or stop the panic attacks. There’s bad news, though: Caffeine

withdrawal can cause anxiety, too. Keep in limited effect,

and the long-term

mind

benefits will be

that withdrawal

is

more than worth

a time-

it.

But

it

might help to eliminate your caffeine intake gradually.

ALCOHOL Though

alcohol

is

a depressant,

it is

often linked to anxiety. Just one or two

drinks can trigger anxiety or a panic attack. But because eral

hours to do

than an

effect

so,

it

of the alcohol

itself. I

You

that

is

boosts serotonin levels

initial positive feelings

actually

making them

also have to factor in that anxiety has

don’t think the cause and effect will ever be

neatly understood in terms of which

where the

usually takes sev-

may be that the anxiety is a kind of withdrawal, rather

been linked to alcoholism, and

ther, alcohol

it

feel

comes

first.

—but only

Complicating matters fur-

briefly.

may lead people worse

overall.

to

This

is

one more case

keep doing something

For these reasons, Lovers in

trouble should avoid alcohol entirely.

The Lover Diet To keep your brain chemistry low the

diet laid out here.

you’ve been in balance, the

in balance

The

and be the best Lover

better balanced

more your body

will

you

are,

possible, fol-

and the longer

be able to handle devia-

The Lover

tions.

But early on,

choices that the best

category

come

it is

advisable to stick closely to the diet.

later

not meant to be complete. Rather

is

and the worst foods

for

your type.

mentioned one way or the

isn’t

The

If a particular

other,

it is

it

lists

of food

food in a given

fine to include

it.

•

5-7 small meals a day

•

5-7 servings of protein

•

7-11 servings of vegetables

•

2-3 servings of fruit

•

3-5 servings whole grains or whole grain products (note that one serving

is

you

just gives

just half a cup)

Brain Chemistry Markers To describe the body’s response to tal,

you’d need a

ing,

list

stress,

be

that looks a lot like the

it

physical, emotional, or

symptoms of anxiety

men-

—sweat-

muscle tension, rapid heartbeats and breathing, and so on. Anxiety

in fact, just

an exaggeration of these ordinary responses.

Anxiety has as

many

causes as symptoms, or

diately apparent reason. anxiety, as

is,

A

it

can occur for no imme-

chemical imbalance in the brain contributes to

do psychological

factors.

It’s

a bit of a chicken-or-egg situation,

however. Does the psychology of a situation cause an overreaction in the brain?

Or can an overstimulated

ings? In

any

case,

brain center create the psychological

both factors must work together to get a

of anxiety going. That’s

why both

really

feel-

good case

drugs and therapy have been effective

—and why natural methods of balancing the

treating anxiety

in

brain’s physi-

ology are so important.

Anxious people have people or people

different brain-wave patterns than

who are depressed. Those findings may help scientists

derstand anxiety better, but are impractical for diagnosis. ately helpful stress.

is

do healthy

looking

The brain sends

at

what we know happens

signals to the pituitary

un-

More immedi-

in the brain in times of

and adrenal glands

to release

The Brain Chemistry Plan

FOOD

BEST CHOICES

GOOD CHOICES

AVOID Sti £g$

Protein

Animal:

Animal:

(5-7 servings)

e gg s

liver

and organ

meats

beef

lamb

tuna (canned)

dairy products

Vegetarian:

herring

peanuts and peanut

yogurt

butter

milk

cottage cheese halibut

chicken turkey

salmon Vegetarian:

beans (especially lima, navy, garban-

zo, black, pinto)

nuts (especially

cashews, almonds, pistachios, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts,

and pecans) seeds (especially sunflower, kin,

pump-

and sesame)

soybeans soy protein products (like

tofu)

walnuts lentils

Vegetables

eggplant

alfalfa sprouts

(7-11 servings)

tomatoes

corn

asparagus

mushrooms

avocados

broccoli

parsley

Brussels sprouts

peas

cabbage

peppers (green

carrots

and red)

cauliflower

green leafy vegetables (especially swiss

chard, collards,

shellfish

«,.

&U3

The Lover

7~jr-

FOOD

BEST CHOICES

GOOD CHOICES

AVOID

mustard greens, kale,

ft

and spinach

potatoes

onions

pumpkin sweet potatoes winter squash Fruit

cherries

apricots

dried fruit

(2-3 servings)

pineapples

bananas

fruit juices,

plums

berries (especially

citrus fruit (especially

oranges and

grapefruit)

strawberries)

grapes

except

fresh squeezed

orange and grapefruit

guava kiwi

mangoes melons

1

(especially

cantaloupe)

papaya

Whole Grains

brown

(3-5 servings)

corn, stone ground

whole-grain wheat

rice

products (including breads

and

cereals)

Whole

oats and

white flour white

rice

pasta (except

whole grain pasta)

oatmeal Enriched cereals

Sweeteners

Beverages

maple syrup

white sugar

honey

chocolate

chamomile tea

cocoa, sweetened

caffeinated drinks

ginseng tea

with honey or

(including

milk

maple syrup

coffee, sodas,

and

Condiments

brewer’s yeast

and Seasonings

butter

cream oils (olive,

wheat

germ, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, sesame,

and peanut) (unrefined

and cold

pressed)

diet sodas)

The Brain Chemistry Plan

hormones,

specifically adrenaline

and noradrenaline.

In a crisis, these sig-

nals are sent before the cortex (the part of the brain designated to think

about things) has a chance to weigh can be to

sit

critical,

so this system

in.

is literally

A lightning-fast a lifesaver

around and consider your options. But

common from

a chronically stressed,

when you

alarms

false

—

particularly

—and the anxiety they

are as problematic as the appropriately functioning system

There are no

don’t have time

“burned-out” brain (or a brain on

major trauma)

hair-trigger potential after a

response to danger

specific lab tests for anxiety or panic.

is

create

useful.

But since

it is

the in-

appropriate release of these fight-or-flight chemicals that causes anxiety,

they can be used as markers

if

biochemical information

is

necessary for di-

agnosis or treatment decisions. But the Lover profile has the least clear bio-

chemical picture of

all

the types, as you’ll see below. If you recognize

yourself as the Lover in trouble in this chapter, talk to your doctor about getting your levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin,

copper, zinc, and

Normal

magnesium

Levels

tested. See,

“Common

GABA,

Causes of Anxiety and

from Brain Chemistry Markers

Serotonin

55-260 ng/ml (nanograms per

Adrenaline

less

Noradrenaline

120-680 pcg/ml * *

GABA

0-0.8 micromoles/100 ml (blood

milliliter)

than 60 pcg/ml (picograms per

milliliter)

i

test)

0-10 micromoles/collection (24-hour urine

Magnesium

1. 3-2.1

Zinc

60-130 mcg/dl (micrograms per

Copper

65-145 mcg/dl

This

is

down

meq/L

(milliequivalent per

assuming you have your blood for at least thirty minutes,

test sitting

normal

assumes a sitting down blood 110-410, and for standing the range

As above, range

is

this

down.

levels are less

been standing at least thirty minutes, normal **

cortisol,

liter)

deciliter)

If you’ve

than 50.

levels are less test. is

test)

been

If you’ve

than 90.

For lying down, the

125-700.

lying

The Lover Panic” below for other medical issues you should be screened

should also look eral tests

at

“The Workup” on page 124

for information

for.

You

on the gen-

everyone should have, regardless of their type.

Common Causes of Anxiety and Panic Several organic factors can cause, exacerbate, or maintain anxiety,

and as many as possible should be ruled out before deciding on treatment. These factors include:

Migraines

Copper

excess/zinc deficiency

Caffeine Caffeine withdrawal

Anemia Hyperthyroidism

Vitamin deficiencies (especially thiamine, vitamin B12, niacin)

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) Withdrawal from alcohol or drugs (particularly depressants,

in-

cluding barbiturates) Central nervous system stimulants (including amphetamines and cocaine, as well as caffeine)

Sympathomimetic agents,

like

ephedra

Heavy metal poisoning (especially mercury,

arsenic,

and lead)

Other psychiatric disorders (including depression, mania, and schizophrenia)

Cardiac conditions Adrenal dysfunction

Hyperparathyroidism Vestibular dysfunction Seizure disorders

Pheochromocytoma

The Brain Chemistry Plan

General Medical Screening for Anxiety To

identify other medical conditions causing anxiety

point the causes

in

and to

pin-

order to personally tailor the solutions, your

doctor should be checking the following:

Complete blood

count

cell

Electrolytes

Fasting blood sugar levels

Urea Creatinine

Calcium Liver panel

Thyroid screen Urinalysis

Electrocardiogram WttiwitlW'

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