You Cured What?!

Ep.30: Depression, Anxiety with Jason Andrews

Jason Andrews shares how his debilitating anxiety was healed instantaneously via hypnosis and how it inspired him to learn hypnosis to help others. For complete show notes, visit http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/jasonandrews [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/jasonandrews] Jason Andrews is a talented online commentator, coach, and hypnotist. As a young man, he healed from his own anxiety and depression via hypnosis. After he was able to beat these conditions, he decided to learn hypnosis himself so that he could help others. He now helps others overcome social anxiety, achieve habit change, clear emotional backlogs, and more. Find out more about Jason at JasonAndrewsHypnosis.com [http://jasonandrewshypnosis.com][0:55] Joe plugs his DiseaseReversals.com [http://diseasereversals.com] project; a website of healing. [1:55] Joe introduces Jason. [2:50] Jason gives some background on his life, especially as it relates to the anxiety and depression he suffered from at a young age. His mother and her father both had suffered from anxiety and depression. Jason suffered from social anxiety. [4:20] Around the age of 15, Jason got caught up in a religious group. That group was extraordinarily skilled at persuasion and getting people to change their minds. He said this group helped many people, but it made his anxiety and depression much worse. He even suffered panic attacks. [6:00] Jason's doctor put him on anti-depressant drugs. He says it made him a lot dumber. And then his highs weren't high and his lows weren't low. [6:45] Jason tried SSRIs (think: Prozac, Zoloft, etc.). It killed his sex drive. He tried all sorts of other medications too. [8:20] Jason read Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins. [9:10] Jason learned from Ross Jeffries. Jeffries used hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to seduce women as a pick-up artist. [10:00] Jason gives a brief overview of what hypnosis is and what NLP is. [10:40] Jason worked with a mentor. [12:10] Jason's mentor, during a chat, told a story about pigs. And in the story, a big fat ugly sow was slaughtered. And at that moment, Jason's anxiety was gone forever. And Jason felt it all over his body. [14:00] This made Jason want to go all in on hypnosis. He says many movies, including the newest Star Wars movies, are full of hypnosis. Christopher Nolan movies are also hypnotic. [16:00] As Jason's anxiety was instantaneously healed, his muscles were twitching. It may have been a release of kinetically stored memories. [18:20] Jason briefly got into the Pickup Artist world. [19:00] Jason continued working with his mentor, who helped him reverse more programming he had received from the aforementioned religious group. [20:20] What type of results has Jason had working with family, friends, and paid clients (Jason works as a hypnotist and coach)? [21:40] Jason describes a client who he helped overcome social anxiety. But when he got to the end (his anxiety had "evaporated"), the client said: "By the way, how do you talk to people?" He had never learned to really talk to people because he had always been so focused on his own social anxiety. [23:50] Jason describes how he runs hypnosis sessions. [25:00] Jason provides some details on how to bring someone into a hypnotic trance. [26:05] Jason can now help people even without bringing them into a formal trance. "I don't know what just happened, but I feel better about it." [29:10] Jason shares remarkable "downstream effects" where fixing one issue fixes a bunch of peripheral issues: for instance, they might come in to relieve their overwhelm (and get help in limiting their social media usage) and they end up being able to breathe better. Or their back pain goes away. [32:00] Jason discusses the deep connection between the mind and body, and how perhaps we sometimes store traumas or stresses in the body. He says there are theories that the body may be part of the mind as opposed to being the other way around. [37:50] "This is an example of literally working with someone's metaphor but changing their actual reality. And that's really what hypnosis is all about." [40:30] Jason talks about trying to frame conversations under perspective that your conscious mind and subconscious mind are on the same team. [42:00] What is Jason's perspective on hypnosis as it relates to people thinking they are not suggestible? And as it relates to people being worried that the hypnotist will program something harmful into them? [48:30] Does Jason consider himself cured of depression and anxiety? [51:30] Now that he has improved his health, what's one thing Jason enjoys doing that he couldn't do before? [51:50] "The anxiety and depression I had were sort of the crippling kind, not the annoying kind." [53:15] Where can Jason be found online? His website is JasonAndrewsHypnosis.com. And his Twitter is: http://twitter.com/PersuasionRisng

Ep.29: Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, Depression, More

Shawn Wells, the Ingredientologist, shares his story of healing from depression and fibromyalgia, and he shares his formula for adding energy to life. For complete show notes, visit http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/shawn [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/shawn] Shawn Wells has a wealth of experience improving health. The world's leading nutritional biochemist and a former Chief Clinical Dietitian, he has counseled thousands of people on natural health solutions. And he has personally overcome various health issues including Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, depression, a pituitary tumor, and more. Known as "The Ingredientologist", he is the author of The Energy Formula [http://energyformula.com]. [1:00] Joe plugs his DiseaseReversals.com [http://diseasereversals.com] project. [1:55] Joe introduces Shawn. [3:50] Shawn gives his health background. He was overweight as a child and had low self-confidence. [6:25] Shawn's doctor, with words, helped Shawn chase down his dream of becoming a nutritionist. [7:00] A college guidance counselor crushed his dream, with words. Shawn almost killed himself afterwards. [11:15] Shawn was working 70-80 hours a weeke and got a brain tumor. [11:50] Shawn does carb cycling, but largely eats a ketogenic diet. Paleo, whole foods. Also he practices gratitude, meditation, uses saunas, and cold showers. He also works with therapists (including hypnotherapy). [14:20] "Everything happens for you and not to you, and I believe that." [16:25] Shawn describes how he got into the ketogenic diet (approximately 20 years ago). He did a lazy keto diet and still included some processed foods, so he doesn't consider it a perfect diet, but he still had a lot of success with it. [21:10] Shawn suffered from depression and he went from being overweight to being underweight and anorexic. [23:45] How have Shawn's physical health and mental health interacted? [28:20] Shawn finds that by improving mental resilience, he is more physically capable. And likewise, as he improves his physical resilience, his mindset improves. [29:30] Shawn talks a lot about how "the obstacle is the way". What are some of the biggest obstacles he has faced? [34:15] Does Shawn have any tips for how listeners can improve their mindset? He mentions religion and relationships as important concepts to consider. [40:15] "Start changing your words and you change your life." [41:50] How has Shawn's pituitary tumor progressed over time? [48:00] Are there any supplements that Shawn finds that are beneficial for a lot of people he works with? He lists off most of his Top 10 list and provides the reasons for each. Vitamin D3 (5000-10,000 iUs per day, with Vitamin K2) Berberine Fish oil (high DHA) Magnesium (especially magnesium glycinate) Creatine monohydrate Probiotics (also he mentions prebiotics and postbiotics) Vitamin C (liposomal) Alpha-GPC Active forms of B vitamins (like P-5-P and methylcobalamin) [58:20] Now that he's improved his health, what is one thing Shawn enjoys doing that he couldn't do before? [1:01:15] Shawn describes his book: The Energy Formula. It's about how to give yourself energy. ENERGY is an acronym. E = Experiment N = Nutrition E = Exercise R = Routines G = Growth Y = Your Tribe [1:04:40] Shawn Wells gives a closing message. "You don't need the pill. You have the power in your mind to change your life."

Ep.28: IBS, Psoriasis, Anxiety, Sleep Apnea, Much More with Larry and Kay Lynne Diamond

Husband and wife Larry and Kay Lynne Diamond share their family's experience healing from a wide variety of health conditions. For complete show notes, visit http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/diamond [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/diamond] Larry and Kay Lynne Diamond, a husband and wife, have healed from many health conditions. They have put sleep apnea, severe allergies, joint pain, anxiety, depression, psoriasis, and more into the past. They healed themselves using a combination of modern science and ancestral wisdom. They also helped their young daughter's health significantly. And Larry now helps others as a coach and researcher for The Fasting Method (TheFastingMethod.com). He offers a free consult to see if personalized coaching is a good fit at https://thefastingmethod.as.me/larry-consult [https://thefastingmethod.as.me/larry-consult][0:55] Joe plugs his "website of healing" project: DiseaseReversals.com [1:55] Joe introduces Larry and Kay Lynne Diamond. [2:55] Larry gives some background on his health background. His journey to health started on May 1, 2013. He was 47 years old and "completely breaking down". Anxious, fatigued, weak. [4:10] Larry had sleep apnea and severe allergies. He was on lots of meds for his allergies. [5:20] Larry's intuition told him that, at age 47, he was going to die by age 50 if he didn't make major changes. [6:40] Kay Lynne mentions one of the questions Larry posed: "Why am I hungry all the time?" [8:50] Larry describes some of his work as a coach and researcher with The Fasting Method. [11:10] Larry has had clients improve many health conditions and health markers such as triglyceride:HDL ratio. [13:00] Larry had severe IBS. He was often brought to his knees in pain after eating and he often had bloody stools. Lots of inflammation too. [14:45] Using historical, anthropological thought process, Larry privileged "real" foods in his diet. [15:55] To combat insulin resistance, Larry decided to lower his carbohydrate intake. He started to question the popular idea that fat is bad for you. [18:00] Larry only lost 2 pounds the first month by lowering carbs and not snacking. . . but by the end of the first month, he was no longer hungry all the time. That was "game over for illness" and "the start of a new chapter in my life". [19:40] "In less than a month, I changed my biology." [20:30] Kay Lynne started to change her diet about eight months later. She was in rough shape. Almost 200 pounds (at five-foot-two), with joint pain, sleep apnea, anxiety, and depression (and medications for some of these conditions). [21:50] Larry took over the cooking. So they were having healthy meals at home. [22:30] "I had basically accepted by that time I was just overweight... I had accepted the joint pain and the back pain as 'approaching middle age'". [23:10] "Even bigger than dropping the weight, he was so much happier." [24:00] By Christmastime 2013, Larry (five-foot-nine) was around 230 pounds. He lost about 60 pounds in seven months (and went on to lose a total of about 100 pounds in a year). [26:00] Kay Lynne mentions how upset she was when they determined they should remove corn from their diets. [28:35] Going grain-free (including dropping corn), Kay Lynne's joint pain started to go away (including her hip pain in the middle of the night). This major effect was confirmed when she had some corn chips and her hip pain came back within 8 hours. [30:40] Kay Lynne lost about 20 pounds from January to June 2014. [31:10] After a surgery that did not allow Kay Lynne to exercise for a couple months, she continued losing weight; she lost approximately 20 more pounds that summer. [31:50] What were the staple foods in the Diamonds' diet? "Meat and veg". Whole foods, close to nature, cooked in natural fats. Primal. [36:40] How did Kay Lynne's anxiety and depression respond to the new diet? She was able to taper off her anxiety and depression medications. [37:55] Larry and Kay Lynne have also started a morning meditation practice. And Larry is learning more about breathing thanks to the book Breath by James Nestor [https://www.mrjamesnestor.com/breath/]. [38:20] Kay Lynne loves the paleo approach because it is more than just nutrition. It encompasses the whole person. [40:00] The Diamonds have experimented and tried other foods outside of their "meat and veg" paradigm. [41:35] How did the Diamonds' sleep apnea (they both had it) respond to their Paleo diets? It resolved (though Kay Lynne admits she still snores sometimes). [43:50] Larry and Kay Lynne have been trying mouth taping to improve their nostril breathing and they have felt benefits. [49:00] Larry mentions that he has a passion for epigenetics and true root cause healing. Including regenerative farming to heal the land. [50:35] Joe mentions that he and his wife Hilary are expecting a baby girl. [51:30] What impact have the Diamonds' dietary strategies had on their daughter? (She was about 3 years old when they started eating this way) She has always eaten what her parents eat. [52:30] The Diamonds adopted their daughter from foster care; her biological mother had been very young and came from a challenged past. This meant, healthwise, their daughter was initially "behind the 8-ball". Even before embarking on their health journeys, they were supplementing her with high-quality fish oil pills and organic foods. [53:30] When their daughter went in for her 3-year-old checkup, she was very small. In the 3rd percentile for height. After the family changed to Paleo/real-food/lower-carb/grain-free diet, she was in the 25th percentile at her 4-year checkup. (And now, 7 years later at age 10, she is at the 50th percentile!) [54:20] The Diamonds also saw major improvements in their young daughter's behavior after adopting better (grain-free) diet. [55:20] Kay Lynne discusses the importance of prenatal and gestational environment (diet, stress, etc.) for the health of a growing child. [56:20] The Diamonds let their daughter experiment with foods outside of the Paleo paradigm, but they help her connect how she feels to what she ate. [58:10] Larry discusses that, because of her diet improvement, she will be taller than she would have been (on standard American diet). Her organs will be better. She was placed into their house at 8 months from foster care and had skin issues. (She had been on soy formula) [59:35] Larry implores parents to try grain-free diets to improve anxiety and behavioral issues. Also, sugar, refined carbs, seed oils are good things to cut out (good news: those are usually packaged up together, so removing one often removes others). [1:02:30] Joe: "So many parents, if they knew, if they had this kind of information, they would at least trial this." [1:05:30] "Our daughter is one of the most robustly healthy kids we know even with, as my wife said, 'behind the eight-ball'". [1:07:20] "It's not deprivation, it's joy. And that mindset is very important." [1:08:50] Larry details his improvements in triglyceride:HDL ratio. His triglycerides came down from being in the 200 range (!!) to 95 in a few months. And his HDL started to rise from the 20s into the 50s and 60s. His trig:HDL ratio went from over 7 (often high ratios like this are associated with worse outcomes for heart disease and many other conditions) to under 1! And it has stayed that low for years. [1:11:30] Does Kay Lynne consider herself cured of her ailments? [1:13:45] Now that he has improved his health, what's one thing Larry enjoys doing that he couldn't do before? [1:16:05] Now that she has improved her health, what's one thing Kay Lynne enjoys doing that she couldn't do before? [1:18:05] Larry and Kay Lynne's daughter makes a cameo! [1:19:30] How can listeners get in touch with Larry and Kay Lynne? Larry mentions TheFastingMethod.com, which also enables a free 30-minute consult about personalized coaching. Larry's email is larry@thefastingmethod.com [larry@thefastingmethod.com]. He is on Twitter [http://twitter.com/natureboyrr] and Instagram [http://instagram.com/natureboyrr] as natureboyrr. He also has a Facebook page: Healthy, Happy AF [https://www.facebook.com/Healthyhappyaf-975456715975519/][1:22:00] Do the Diamonds have a closing message to express?

Ep.27: Cauda Equina Syndrome, PCOS with Nevada Gray

Dr. Nevada Gray shares her story of recovering her health after suffering paralysis, incontinence, and more from Cauda Equina Syndrome. For complete show notes, visit http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/nevada [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/nevada] Dr. Nevada Gray, the Paleo Pharmacist, suffered a horrible back injury in 2016. She was diagnosed with a rare condition named Cauda Equina Syndrome. She initially did not know if she would ever be able to walk again. In the years since, she has transformed her health and her life. Now, she is not only mobile, but she is thriving. With a spirit full of positivity, she shares her journey online and is helping many others. She is sharing her story of healing in this podcast episode. [0:50] Joe plugs his DiseaseReversals.com [http://diseasereversals.com] project. [1:50] Joe introduces Nevada. [2:50] Nevada details her health background. Several years ago, Nevada had started suffering from back pain. It started getting worse and worse, until eventually one day she couldn't even walk to her car after work; she needed a motorized cart. The next morning she woke up paralyzed from the waist down, in excruciating pain, incontinent, and with a lack of reflexes. She had to get to a high-level medical center. [5:40] The E.R. physician recognized there was something wrong with the lower part of her spinal cord (horse tail, the cauda equina). Nevada needed emergency surgery. [7:00] The emergency surgery was critical. It took place about 36-38 hours after acute symptom onset. [9:00] After waking up from surgery, what was going through Nevada's mind? She is very grateful for her neurosurgeon's words (the first she heard upon waking up after surgery): "I believe you can have a full recovery." (This reminds me of Brandon LaGreca's episode of You Cured What?! [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/brandon], where he discusses that it's important to avoid medical hexing.) [10:00] Nevada stayed in the hospital for a week after surgery. Her bowel and bladder function came back, but she did have residual numbness. She had physical therapy after that and had lots of support from family and friends. [11:30] Even though her surgeon told her not to Google her condition... Nevada Googled it! It was discouraging. But a friend encouraged her to find success stories online, and she came across Shawn Stevenson [https://themodelhealthshow.com/] who had overcome a (different) back condition via nutrition and fitness. [13:00] Stevenson had come up with his own protocol, and Nevada decided to research her own protocol for her rare condition (Cauda Equina Syndrome). She found out about the neuroprotective potential of the ketogenic diet and found some rodent studies showing that a ketogenic diet may be beneficial for spinal injury. [13:55] Nevada found The Ketogenic Girl Vanessa Spina [https://www.instagram.com/ketogenicgirl/] online and she helped Nevada adopt a well-formulated ketogenic diet. [14:30] She found Dr. Stuart McGill [https://www.backfitpro.com/] and his functional back training programs. She trained gradually: she made progressions from wheelchair to walker to cane. [15:35] She found the work of Dr. Joe Dispensa [https://drjoedispenza.com/], who also healed from a back injury. He emphasizes techniques involving mindset and visualization. [16:30] Nevada created a vision board of what she wanted to accomplish. [17:45] In what timeframe did Nevada start noticing benefits from her multifaceted healing approach? [19:20] Nevada considered herself recovered after one year, and her foot drop resolved at about a year and a half. [20:35] Nevada had muscle spasms in her legs. She had to take Valium for the pain. It felt like she had an alien in her leg. She also tried foam rolling to deal with it. [21:40] "I wanted to just be able to feel like I was in control of my mind." [22:00] As of recording, Nevada is about five years out from her back injury. [22:40] What did Nevada put on her vision board? She wanted to return to work, to go to the gym, and she wanted to run in a 5K on Thanksgiving Day after her surgery. The 5K was an ambitious goal, but she completed it! [23:55] "It was something I felt like I had to do to prove to myself that I could do this and I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. So I was able to do that." [24:05] Nevada discusses the benefits she felt from guided meditation. It helped (and helps) focus and calm her mind. [25:10] Nevada did a lot of grounding, walking on the beach, feeling the earth beneath her feet. (She actually face-planted one of the first times she went to the beach after surgery!) [26:10] Nevada recommends guided meditations from Joe Dispensa [https://drjoedispenza.com/] and Michael Sealey [https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelSealey]. [26:45] How did Nevada's diet evolve over time? [27:30] Nevada struggled with asthma and allergies most of her life. And to avoid acute allergic reactions, she gravitated towards processed foods. [28:45] Nevada was diagnosed with PCOS in her early twenties. She now attributes that to the diet she ate. Her weight got up to about 220 pounds (at five-foot-four) upon graduation from pharmacy school. Then she learned about Robb Wolf [https://robbwolf.com/] and the Paleo diet because she heard it could help with allergies. [29:45] Between Paleo and getting a personal trainer, Nevada lost fifty pounds. [30:25] After her injury and adopting a ketogenic diet, she initially cycled through versions of the ketogenic diet as laid out by the Charlie Foundation [https://charliefoundation.org/]. [31:00] Nevada found Maria Emmerich [https://www.instagram.com/mariaemmerich/] and Craig Emmerich [https://www.instagram.com/craig_emmerich/] and their book Keto [https://www.amazon.com/Keto-Complete-Ketogenic-including-Simplified/dp/1628602821]Nevada started eating a more protein-focused ketogenic diet. She also learned about the PKD [https://www.paleomedicina.com/paleolithic-ketogenic-diet/]. She went to a Zero Carb diet, and she saw major positive results from this. Her PCOS resolved! [34:00] How have Nevada's allergies responded to her dietary changes? [35:30] Dr. Ted Naiman's [http://twitter.com/tednaiman] P:E Ratio diet (Protein-to-energy ratio) is working very well for Nevada right now. [37:35] How have Nevada's friends and family responded to her transformation? [38:30] Nevada's mom has followed Nevada's lead. She adopted a Zero Carb, protein-prioritizing diet, and she lifts weights. She has followed that approach for 3 years (age 70 as of recording); she has lost 40 pounds, she has come off all medications, and she has started to reverse her osteoporosis! [39:25] A lot of Nevada's friends have adopted low carb diets. [40:30] What were some of the challenges on Nevada's journey to health? [42:25] A local pub actually named a meal after Nevada and put it on the menu: "The Nevada Carnivore Dinner" [44:45] Does Nevada consider herself cured of cauda equina? [47:00] Does Nevada have full feeling back throughout her lower body? [49:15] Now that she has improved her health, what is one thing Nevada enjoys doing that she couldn't do before? [51:40] Where can Nevada be found online? She can be found on Instagram [http://instagram.com/thepaleopharmacist], Twitter [http://twitter.com/drnevadagray], and her blog [http://thepaleopharmacist.com]. She is donating proceeds from affiliate links to a study being conducted by Dr. Chris Palmer [https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-keto-for-psychiatry]. [53:30] Does Nevada have any message for anyone else who is suffering from cauda equina or any other rare diagnosis? [54:40] Nevada references her friend Tim Angelone, who walked across Europe after suffering from cauda equina; hear his story on a podcast with Nevada and Chris Donohue here [https://anchor.fm/mindbodybreakthroughs/episodes/MBB-22-Tim-Angelone-From-Hitting-the-Bottom-to-Breakthrough-e5lqdg]. [55:20] Nevada emphasizes the importance of human connection.

Ep.26: Trauma, Benzo Withdrawal, “Mental Illness” with Ali Zeck

Ali Zeck shares her story of healing from overprescription of psych meds, misdiagnoses, abuse, trauma, and more to find awareness and live a healthy life. For complete show notes, visit http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/ali [http://youcuredwhat.com/podcast/ali] Ali Zeck has been through the mental health system. Diagnosed (or as she would later come to understand, MISdiagnosed) with "mental illness", she spent decades on psychiatric medications. She suffered the effects of these drugs, leading to suicide attempts and eventually to very difficult psychiatric medication withdrawal (including "benzo" withdrawal). She has regained her health, and she now looks at the mental health system and at society with a new level of clarity, providing sharp commentary about both online. [1:00] Joe plugs his DiseaseReversals.com [http://diseasereversals.com] project. [2:05] Joe introduces Ali. [3:00] Ali gives her background in the mental health and healthcare systems. She was brought up in a family that held doctors in high regard. She felt anxiety during college. She was diagnosed with bullimia and over-exercise at that time. She was told she was mentally ill and put on Prozac. [5:35] Ali discusses how she underwent trauma and how that impacted her subconscious and her behaviors. Combined with lots of psychiatric medications, this put her into a psychosis that lasted many years. [6:40] She had started on a path dominated by the belief system that she just had to find the right drug to cure her "mental health" issues. [7:25] Over 25 years, what psychiatric drugs did Ali take and what were some of the effects? (Some examples of drugs she was put on are Xanax (a benzodiazepine) and Valium. Also, SSRIs and anti-seizure medications.) The withdrawal effects of coming off these drugs were awful. And some of them gave skin-crawling feelings when she was on them. [9:15] What was the timeline on Ali coming off benzodiazepines and what were the withdrawal symptoms like? [10:15] One general practitioner abruptly switched her from Prozac to Lexapro in one day, which is very dangerous. This led to Ali's first suicide attempt. [10:50] Ali stopped taking benzodiazepines cold turkey (dangerous) in August 2015 and went into a horrible psychosis. She couldn't sleep, she was having heart palpitations, muscle contortions, diarrhea, and she had hallucinations of a man chasing her around her bedroom. She was misdiagnosed at this point with bipolar disorder and put on her more meds which gave her a skin-crawling feeling. [12:40] What led Ali to wanting to come off the benzos cold turkey? Trauma was a big part of this. [13:40] Ali was told by one of her psychiatrists that he didn't know what was wrong with her, that the drugs helped everyone else. She later found out that that same psychiatrist had at least three patients kill themselves in a single year. [14:35] When Ali decided to go cold turkey off her meds, she had an appointment already scheduled with holistic doctor Dr. Kelly Brogan. [17:20] Ali describes the gaslighting and abuse she faced from many of her doctors. She thought the drugs were making her unwell, but the psychiatrists told her it was actually her genetic "mental illness" causing the problems, not the drugs. She got indoctrinated into their belief system. [20:30] How did Ali go from being trapped inside the mental health system to being outside of it, looking at it with clarity? Dr. Kelly Brogan [http://kellybroganmd.com] did a lot for her, starting by changing her mindset and letting Ali know that Ali was not mentally ill. [22:45] Dr. Brogan helped Ali change her lifestyle as well after helping change her mindset. This includes diet and meditation. Brogan helped Ali deal with her trauma. [26:00] What specifics in lifestyle changes were big difference-makers for Ali's health? She references a no-gluten, no-sugar, no-dairy, Whole30ish diet that Dr. Brogan said she needed to go on immediately (and Ali committed). Ali sees that most people don't understand how much alcohol and food impact how they feel. She finds it empowering to try to find foods that fit the dietary strategy she follows (and has been so beneficial for her). [31:00] Ali feels great now but she still suffers from stuttering at times today and struggles with bright lights from computers. [32:30] "When you step back and you start to realize how amazing you can feel away from that type of eating or alcohol use or whatever, it's really kind of mind-blowing" [32:55] Did Ali get pushback from her friends and family when making these lifestyle changes? [33:55] Ali's children saw her getting better after implementing the diet and lifestyle changes and accepted it, but other people in her life (including a doctor) gave her pushback. [37:00] Ali talks about healing happening in layers. [38:30] Significant moment for Ali: Ali talked to a trauma counselor who asked her, "Did you realize that you're being abused?" Understanding emotional abuse was a painful layer of her healing. [39:25] Ali works with clients. "I can't tell you how important it is to look at mental health as it relates to your relationships." "Being involved in emotionally abusive relationships was absolutely as much as a problem for my mental health as the psychiatric drugs were." [40:55] Ali has detox periods after interactions with certain people the same way as there are detox periods after eating certain foods or drinking alcohol. [41:40] "Your emotions can absolutely be affected by who you hang out with." [42:20] What is Ali's meditation practice like? She used to do a more structured meditation, but now she follows a "living meditation": experiencing her reality in a peaceful way. She loves her dogs and nature. She tries to just really observe the world and be present. [44:35] "I couldn't sit still and be quiet for twenty seconds. And I'm not even exaggerating. So for me to be able to really be at peace and be very present and engaged mentally in these moments, it's priceless to me." [45:50] Are there any health issues Ali is still trying to work out? [46:10] "I really do think I should be dead because I had multiple very severe suicide attempts." ... "To see people who have been on these drugs, I've lost many friends to these drugs and to suicide." [49:20] Does Ali consider herself cured of her conditions? She was misdiagnosed; she never actually had mental illness. [50:30] "I do have faith in God. But I believe that God gives us the tools, and the body, and the innate wisdom to help ourselves... I would say that I escaped from the mental health system." [51:05] Now that she has improved her health, what's one thing Ali enjoys doing that she couldn't do before? [53:00] Are there any resources Ali would recommend? She says to "ask for help". She says she is constantly in communication with God. She says answers are not in black or white. She also recommends her doctor (prominent doctor author) Kelly Brogan [http://kellybroganmd.com]. She encourages looking for medical care staff that looks for root cause. She also recommends, for anyone suffering from narcissistic abuse, The Little Shaman [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnr7eQQzbj01-Js_Exsr6vg] and Lisa Romano [https://www.youtube.com/user/lisaaromano1] on YouTube. [58:10] Where can Ali be found online? She is available (if not removed) on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ali_zeck-2643965088948663/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ali.zeck/], Twitter [http://twitter.com/AliBeckZeck], and Telegram [https://t.me/AliZeck]. And she is working on coming up with her own podcast.