Si Dawson - Latest Comments

Re: TV Is Heroin Crossed With Hypnosis

Si Dawson — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 23:35:29 -0000

Ahh, no, facebook is pretty evil. I'm only on (the slightly less evil) Twitter.

Re: TV Is Heroin Crossed With Hypnosis

Amy Strong — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 23:19:31 -0000

Are you on facebook ?

Re: Depression

Si Dawson — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:25:46 -0000

First of all - thank you so much for this comment. This is incredibly helpful. Thank you.

I don't think I have MTHFR - as I've (a couple of years back) gone on meds, and have radically shifted things (along with counselling, a ton of healing, lifestyle/environment changes etc). However, that doesn't mean I shouldn't be taking vitamins and supplements, as you suggest.

That's bloody tedious, re methylfolate, but why aren't I surprised in the slightest :( Big pharma are EVIL. They've proven this repeatedly. (but that's a whole other conversation).

One immediate question - without spending thousands on gene analysis, how on earth would you find out if you had the MTHFR mutations? I suppose it can't hurt to just dig out the appropriate vitamins and see if they make a noticeable difference (since the downsides to & risk from them are minimal).

Either way, this is super helpful information. Thank you, again.

Re: Depression

Karilee — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:31:56 -0000

I've read and enjoyed your stuff for years, Si, but never bumped into this post. What I've learned about "industrial-strength" depression with a family history is that there's a genetic component (duh!) that has been identified (wow!). The MTHFR set of gene mutations are very common among those with long-term, medication-resistant depression. In fact, in this segment, 85% have the mutation, although it's common in only about 30% of the general population. Commonly-available tests can identify these gene mutations.

This is useful information because it opens up a couple of choices and treatments that don't require medication and actually WORK for some of us. First, the MTHFR mutations cause defects in the uptake of certain B vitamins. Without those B vitamins in the right form, depression and other health issues can result. With those vitamins, things can get better.

We're also particularly vulnerable to toxic environments because MTHFR (when the genes are expressed) causes issues with detoxification. We can't tolerate as much junk in our environments as some. This makes certain careers and even hobbies (painting?) particularly risky for those with these gene issues.

We are also harmed by folic acid, which is a food additive that is literally in almost all processed food and wheat products. In fact, pregnant women are prescribed folic acid to prevent birth defects, but for those of us with MTHFR, that can lead to repeated miscarriages... Instead, we need our folate in the form of folinic acid or methylfolate, a form that our bodies can actually use and which won't clog our folate receptors the way that (artificial) folic acid does.

What helps with depression for some of us is supplementary B12, and supplementary methylfolate, while avoiding folic acid. This can cause such a significant positive response that the pharmaceutical industry has managed to get the vitamin methylfolate classified as a "medicinal food" branded as Deplin. This lets them charge $400/month for vitamins that cost less than a tenth that, and are prescribed as an adjunct to antidepressants for those who are medication-resistant. While the clinical trials proved the methylfolate worked for this purpose, they were careful not to test methylfolate alone, as they didn't want clear proof that the antidepressants themselves weren't necessary...

Dr. Ben Lynch has a lot of helpful information about MTHFR on his website, as do others, including Dr. Amy Yasko, who treats autistic children with MTHFR. There is lots of good information out there, but unfortunately it hasn't yet trickled down to the average doctor, who is still pushing prescriptions with dangerous side effects without first trying the tailored vitamin therapy route.

Re: Learning To Love Everything

cory — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 21:45:18 -0000

I agree. It was nice reading your perspective. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Re: Learning To Love Everything

Si Dawson — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 20:15:32 -0000

Oh yes, absolutely. Integrity (words, emotions and actions aligning) is super important.

There's little point in _feeling_ more loving if we're still _being_ assholes.

One thing I have noticed, which makes it all easier - the more we aim towards feeling more loving (because saying "I love being this way" is only the start - key is then to let go of all thoughts & emotions which counter that), anyway, the more we aim towards feeling more loving, the easier it is (effortless even) to BE loving. Our actions effortlessly slide into place to match those strong, consistent internal thoughts and emotions.

It's not hard to see the opposite of course - feel angry, have angry thoughts, act angry.

All that said, you're completely correct. It's important that we at least make what effort we can, from where we are, to match our actions to our internal goals. The other great thing? The more we ACT loving, the easier it is to FEEL loving, and dump all those crappy non-loving thoughts & emotions. So, it's wins all around.

Re: Learning To Love Everything

cory — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 00:43:58 -0000

This is really good, but sometimes our actions do need to be cleaned up in order to be a more loving person overall. It is still good to notice areas you can improve instead of saying well I love being this way. You can still love the challenge of improving yourself, but sometimes it takes more creativity. Either way this article has some enlightening information that would help improve anyones life if they put it to the test.

Re: How To Prevent Anxiety Attacks

Sarah Atkins — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 03:15:22 -0000

I'll just keep trying the breathing technique, thanks Si. Also I'm sorry, hope you're still friends with me

Re: How To Prevent Anxiety Attacks

Si Dawson — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:24:04 -0000

That's ok. It's definitely more of an art than a science. Lots of tricks to get maximum benefit from it.

If it's not your thing, there's always plenty of other possibilities (eg googling "anxiety solutions" might help). This is just one way of many, very far from the only one.

Re: How To Prevent Anxiety Attacks

Sarah Atkins — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:21:53 -0000

I tried tapping a few times but it didn't help

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Sarah Atkins — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 04:48:58 -0000

Glad it helped. I also saw a talk therapist because last year I kept feeling I was going to have a panic attack, also I suffer from IBS. Don't think both are connected though

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Si Dawson — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 21:00:12 -0000

It did, but mostly because of all the healing I did around the issues that came up verbally.

So, talking it through definitely helped discover things I was having trouble seeing by myself, but if I hadn't also been healing all that stuff, it would have been far, far less helpful. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Sarah Atkins — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 08:42:15 -0000

Did it help you?

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Si Dawson — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 22:05:42 -0000

Yep. Even then, it was incredibly helpful primarily BECAUSE I took all the information and healed on it.

Yes, it's definitely, definitely helpful to have a professional to talk through issues with. However, that is a far cry from just endlessly complaining, and taking no action at all. Or at least, it should be.

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Sarah Atkins — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 12:16:59 -0000

So you've been to talk therapist?

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Si Dawson — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 04:09:58 -0000

Damn. Shame you lost your comment. That's annoying.

Yeah, I hear you. Sympathy isn't the worst thing in the world to receive, I agree. Certainly it's very important to give.

I think more it's keeping a gentle eye out in case you notice that really, you're just trotting out the same old stories (whether they've been repeated vocally or only in our minds). That's a sign that there may be something else going on - in which case just healing the damn thing is a much better thing to do. In my opinion, of course.

Re: Shut Up And Heal

Tim Rowe — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:34:44 -0000

Nice post, Si. I just lost most of my initial reply by signing in to Disqus *after* typing my reply. :)
Nothing wrong with making an opening for others to be sympathetic, etc. as you know - although their may well also be an underlying want for approval (agreement?)

Cheers,
Tim

Re: Gall Bladder Cleanse – Don’t Do What I Did

Si Dawson — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 21:28:33 -0000

That's incredibly interesting. I'm glad that eventually that nurse diagnosed you correctly.

Thank you so much for your comment.

If we're lucky, you may save others from going through the pain and frustration you've experienced.

Re: Gall Bladder Cleanse – Don’t Do What I Did

ShovelThemOut — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 11:41:43 -0000

In 2004 I went to the emergency room in Sydney Australia believing I was having a heart attack. The pain was directly in the center of my chest and was like a knife was being driven in. They kept me in for a week and did every heart test known to man and found nothing. No more symptoms until 2012 in Tennessee and same thing out of the blue. Emergency room again, believing I was having a heart attack. The EMT in the ambulance told me to calm down because I was just having a panic attack!!!! Again, every heart test known to man and found nothing. Diagnosed me with 'Chest Wall Pain', which basically means you have pain that feels like a heart attack but it's not a heart attack. In 2015 I started having these 'heart attack' pains every night and just stayed at home and screamed my lungs out because going to the emergency room is expensive just to be told nothing is wrong with you. I am female and was 52 in 2015 and 30/40 pounds overweight with a lot of belly fat. Went to a Convenient Care Clinic and saw a NURSE PRACTITIONER and told her my history. As soon as I had finished, she said IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE GALLSTONES. An MRI confirmed it. My God -- all those emergency room doctors in two different countries never thought to check for it!!! I do NOT want to have surgery -- can't afford it and don't particularly like the idea of being rendered unconscious and being cut into. I started a restriction diet in 2015. Basically, I gave up EVERYTHING I loved -- pizza, eggs, sodas, butter, bbq, mexican, indian, and booze.... I started eating more fiber and apples and bananas and tuna. I drink seltzer water. I take tumeric and milk thistle supplements and have hot green tea with lemon before bed. I have lost 50 pounds and kept it off. I don't exercise (I don't mind it, but don't have the time). I HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE ATTACK SINCE. As for the stones, I don't know if they are still there -- I haven't had another MRI since (too expensive). All I know is that the stones took YEARS to form and my diet was crap. If you want to avoid surgery and your diet is high in fat, you will have to PERMANENTLY change what goes into your mouth.

ONE bright spot -- APPLES REALLY DO TAKE AWAY YOUR CRAVINGS FOR FOOD. I always hated fruit, but during that first week, I bought a bag of apples and would eat an apple when I was hungry. It worked.

As for this 'cleanse', I don't think what you expel is really gallstones. How do they get out of the gallbladder? The whole reason behind a gallbladder attack is because a stone is blocking the thin tube leading out of the gallbladder (you would have seen the drawings explaining what gallstones are).

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. No surgery, but had to completely change what I ate. I figure I had 40+ years enjoying all the fatty foods of the world.... pretty good run before it caught up to me.

Re: Loving More Closely

Si Dawson — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 17:30:20 -0000

<smile>

Re: Loving More Closely

Aimoss — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 16:43:11 -0000

I love this <3

Re: Punching Above Your Weight

Si Dawson — Sat, 28 May 2016 20:56:22 -0000

Ahh, these days I'm mostly in NZ, actually. And yeah, I'm always on Twitter :) Your account on there seems pretty dead. Have you changed accounts, or just not posting anything these days?

<hug>

Re: Punching Above Your Weight

Aimoss — Sat, 28 May 2016 13:21:04 -0000

Hi there

Doing really good thanks keep stalking you on here and on Twitter :P
Where are you now back in Oz?

Keep posting your amazing stuff

Hugs

Aims

Re: Punching Above Your Weight

Si Dawson — Fri, 27 May 2016 20:19:03 -0000

Hey you! I was just thinking about you the other week, wondering what you were up to. We haven't chatted in what, years? Not sure I have any way to contact you. Gi2mr has closed and you're off Twitter. Glad you're still around and smiling.

Re: Punching Above Your Weight

Si Dawson — Fri, 27 May 2016 20:17:29 -0000

Great stuff. And yep, @snarkattack's friend is exactly right: You're not. You're amazing, and whomever-it-is-that-you're-dating knows it too, otherwise they wouldn't be there, right? Simple, really.