“It was crazy,” she says. “It almost destroyed me. I couldn’t sleep. My nerves were frazzled. I kept having these heart palpitations, anxious sweating, nausea and headaches, and chronic pain. Even though I remained highly functioning as a construction architect, inside I was shaking to the bone.”
Diagnosed with complex PTSD, she went to several medical doctors for help. But the one-size-fits-all, “standard of care” approach failed to provide what she needed.
“They all kept saying, ‘Here, take these antidepressants.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t want antidepressants because I’m not depressed.’ And they would say, ‘Of course you’re depressed. Your child and husband died.’ And I was like, ‘Actually, this is different. Yes, I’m grieving, but I’m not depressed. I know you might find that hard to comprehend, but I need help for my nerves.’ And they just had no clue what to do to help me.”
Eventually she went to a psychiatrist who was also a pain specialist. But the result was exactly the same: endless rounds of antidepressants and pain medications.
This story is from the June/July 2023 edition of What Doctors Don't Tell You Australia/NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June/July 2023 edition of What Doctors Don't Tell You Australia/NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The illusion of the magician
Howrelative risk makes a drug seem effective when it’s not
Of pesticides and PMS
Detoxing from a hormone-disrupting herbicide, along with getting the right nutrition, was the answer to a patient’s debilitating PMS, says Dr Jenny Goodman
Not just a phase
Is your workout working against your hormones? Debra Atkinson explains why and how to exercise with your hormonal cycle for the best results
Foods to fight infertility
Packing your diet with plant foods may help you beat endometriosis and infertility, says dietitian Lisa Simon
Blooming healthy
Anyone can keep their plants and garden in tip-top health with homeopathy, says homeopath Camilla Sherr
Overweight-the killer in plain sight
The BMI measure has given us the obesity paradox—being overweight or even slightly obese protects us against an early death. But iron out the anomalies, and the true impact of extra weight is revealed
What's your poison?
Around 70,000 people are claiming their cancer was caused by the heartburn remedy Zantac, which contained high levels of NDMA, a powerful carcinogen
Root causes
Dental problems and unhealthy gums may lead to cancer and other whole-body issues, says Dr Leigh Erin Connealy. Here’s how to keep your gums and health in the pink
BREAKING THE MOLD
Mold can be the covert culprit behind a shockingly wide range of health problems. Cate Montana looks at how it gets into the body and how we can get it out
Antidepressant blues
SSRIs impair the brain’s reward learning system, new research finds. Celeste McGovern looks at safe ways to get off antidepressants and alternative treatments