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Year Two, Day 243: Every Day is a New Beginning! (Zita Unpoofed!)

Today I feel much better than yesterday!

You can tell by my face.  Less poofy!:

Zita Unpoofed!

I did some research this morning. And some pondering.  It does seem that I have a negative reaction to wheat and possibly dairy. I read about the Paleo diet again.  I originally rebelled against it, because WHAT NO CHEESE?!

But the fact that I have such a strong attachment to cheese, makes me think it is something I should try living without.  No addictions is a good life long motto.

I started my day with a cup of black tea.  As I sipped and did some reading, I came across tumeric ginger tea as a detoxifier.  At almost precisely the same moment, I visited Facebook and found a live post from Deepok Chopra.  



He was doing a segment on the vagus nerve. Most informative!  I asked a question on the chat and to my surprise, he addressed me personally. Deepok Chopra said, "Yes, Zita, stimulating the vagus nerve can help alleviate depression"!  I almost spit my tea out.
Dr. Chopra says we are all living in a high stress world, where our "fight or flight" response is too often engaged, without there being a clear and present danger. So we are poisoning our systems with the affects of stress.  

He recommends deep breathing as a number one method of "raising the tone of our vagus nerve". Also humming, singing, laughing, exercise, adequate rest, healthy eating and meditation.

As a Christian, I pray. But the ancient Christians considered prayer a meditation. One word used during prayerful meditation is "maranatha" which means "Our Lord has come".  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranatha

So, as I was making my detox tea, I pulled out my exercise mat and did some deep breathing and prayer meditation.

I feel so good!

Granted, I could be just on the upside of my bipolar life. But I am going to stay positive, and focus on the changes I made to reach this state:

1. Sleep at least 8 hours a night
2. Black tea first thing in the morning
3. Followed by detox ginger, turmeric, cinnamon tea with almond milk and honey
4. Followed by healthy breakfast. (Today I had gluten free Cheerios and almond milk with no sugar. Oatmeal is another good choice)
5. Eat gluten free, sugar free dairy free. Lots of lean protein, vegetables, brown rice and water. 
(For lunch today I had brown rice with chicken breast chunks and roasted vegetables.  And more detox tea.)
6. Exercise and stretch daily.
7. Laugh more.
8. Practice piano.

I did not mention a few days ago in the depths of my depression, that I was a little panic stricken. I was home alone. Heart pounding. Felt like I had been run over by a truck and was a miserable worthless human being. In my more positive state today, it is difficult to recall all my negative thoughts and feelings.  But I actually google "suicide".  Do not worry! I did not have a plan. I just wanted to talk to someone. I went through a mental list of family members and friends to call, but I did not want to burden anyone.  I imagined them sighing and rolling their eyes.

So I found a suicide hotline site with a chat option. I signed up for a chat. But I was number 26 in line!  It was taking forever, so I went into my room and sat at my piano and cried a bit. Then something made me start playing.  First I just sight read some music from my stacks. Then I closed my eyes. And I composed my own piece. I stopped crying. I really liked what I was playing. And it was mine!

Thankfully I recorded a bit of it on my digital keyboard. I may have to write it out and post a video.  Perhaps later in the week.

But music was my healer that day.

Today it was tea and Dr. Chopra.  And God always!

I hope to never sink that low again. But in case I do, I have in writing some strategies.

And now, off to the gym am I!


Happy Monday!  :)

And I do mean HAPPY!

Zita


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