Belleruth,

This is not a question but a thank you. Your Weight Loss affirmations have been powerful for me. Not even especially for weight loss, but for encouraging a positive approach to life and for helping me let go of the negative energy that I know consumes me sometimes. And, as a musician, I appreciate how the music builds and resolves at critical moments, underscoring the message. The first time I heard ‘ . . the time for reinjuring myself by remembering old wounds is over’ I felt like I'd been hit between the eyes. I repeat it to everyone who needs to hear it (giving you credit, of course). While I still struggle, I hope I am improving ‘more and more’ on my emotional journey. Thank you for helping to guide my way.

Joanne

Hi Belleruth,

I need help with antidepressant withdrawal. I've slowly withdrawn from Zoloft.  This is my first week without any medication in my system. I'm functioning fine, but feel 'out of kilter'...just discombobulated (is that a word?)

Truth told, I am already happier, feel more whole, and seem to have a pumped up libido, but these other sensations are confusing and unsettling. I'm trying to find the best of your imagery CD's from my arsenal, but am not sure what's best. I'm wondering about the Alchol/Drug Recovery CD, and whether it might help me cope with the unpleasant side effects of withdrawal I might be feeling.

Question:  

I have used Belleruth's guided meditation CDs for both headaches and sleep problems with great success. I have been having issues with postpartum depression for several months now and am having trouble finding support in many areas.

Does Belleruth have a guided meditation specifically for postpartum depression, or has she considered making one? I will probably download the depression MP3, but I think many women would be very grateful for one specifically tailored to PPD issues: guilt, shame, incompetence... There's really not much out there for us.

Thank you!
Kerry

We got this email recently: 
I want to praise Carol Dickman’s Seated Yoga video and Belleruth’s Parkinson’s Disease imagery.  My husband who has been disabled and depressed with his illness for several years responds well to these.  He works with both each day.  He is less depressed, sleeps better and we both think he has gotten somewhat better at getting himself to move when he is “stalled”, which is what we call it when there is a gap between when he wants to use his muscles and when they respond.

I really had a big problem with my mother-in-law and was working on forgiveness. She had been sick for several months, and in November 2008 my husband told me that she only had a short while to live.  In my thoughts, I really felt relieved, but as the days went on, I was still unsettled. I knew that there was something else that I was feeling and couldn't pinpoint what was happening.

Researchers from the Department of Psychobiology at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo in Brazil looked at the efficacy of Siddha Samadhi Yoga, a program of meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises).  Twenty-two volunteers with anxiety complaints (Median age = 42.8 yr., Standard deviation = 10.3) were assigned to two groups: 14 attended the yoga group, and 8 attended a waiting-list or control group.

Subjects were evaluated before the intervention and 1 month after it on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, Tension Feelings Self-evaluation Scales, and the Well-being Self-evaluation Scales. 

Cochrane analysts examined five randomized, controlled trials of the efficacy of exercise therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and found that after 12 weeks, those receiving exercise therapy were less fatigued than the control participants (SMD -0.77, 95% CIs -1.26 to -0.28).  Additionally, physical functioning was significantly improved with exercise therapy (SMD -0.64, CIs -0.96 to -0.33) but there were more dropouts with exercise therapy (RR 1.73, CIs 0.92 to 3.24). 

Dear Belleruth,

I have 2 small children, a full time job and a husband. These are wonderful gifts in my life, but I recently was diagnosed with clinical depression and am frustrated because I have so many great things (healthy kids, loving husband, great job) and can not get excited about anything.  How do I understand, accept and move forward toward enjoying my life again? 

Frances

Romanian researchers from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, undertook a randomized clinical trial to investigate the relative efficacy of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT), cognitive therapy (CT), and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of 170 outpatients with nonpsychotic, major depressive disorder.

The patients were randomly assigned to one of the following: 14 weeks of REBT, 14 weeks of CT, or 14 weeks of pharmacotherapy (fluoxetine or prozac). The outcome measures used were the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Beck Depression Inventory.