Date: Fri Sep 15, 2000 3:46 pm

Subject: Re: [benzo] continued...

Dear group,

I am Cindy, totally recovered veteran of valium addiction and of this group. I finally have access to the group again after a few months of being away from here. Hello to my dear old friends as well as to those of you who don't know me or my story. I have recovered in everyway from the toll that 17 years of valium took on me (except financially and I am working on that now:). I have read some of the letters from the past few days and I can relate to most in some way or another. It was only March of last year that I was so tired of the rollercoaster, on and off, up and down, take another med, have a test, etc. that I was suicidal. I was sure there was no way out and no hope for recovery. I was wrong. There was plenty I could do but it meant hard work, self-discipline, lifestyle changes and sacrifices were necessary.

I dove in to my new way of life headfirst. My naturopath guided me through the unfamiliar dark waters with love patience and her knowledge. One day, one step at a time I changed my toxic ways, and the result was a gradual improvement in my overall health. After 5 months of avoiding external and internal toxins plus consatantly flushing out the existing poisons, my nightmare was over. I never thought I'd see the day!

I am 45 now and in the best health I have ever known. I have experienced a beautiful spiritual healing also as a result of the changes I made and from the clearing out of years of poisons. I walked 15 miles yesterday. Last year I couldn't walk 1/2 mile. ALthough the financial hardship creates challenges, I have what I wanted more than anything, my health! I can deal with whatever comes my way, including life in the homeless shelter......it's only temporary. I continue to think about what I put in my body as medicine or poison and I choose to be well for all times so I eat and drink as healthful as I possibly can.

I always add liquid oxygen (aerobic 07)to my water. I do believe it helps in many ways but I am sure it helps with insomnia. I drink about a gallon of water a day. I also like to add to my water emergen-c powder. WOW! I take MSM daily. I try to drink green powder drink at least once, but sometimes twice a day. I juice several times a week. It is easier and healthier than cooking. It is also easier on the digestive system. I turned my nose up too, it at first also, but I grew up :) It is actually more calming and soothing than warm milk. Speaking of milk, I never touch it. Too much mucus which causes lots of health problems and I am sure you know that it's really not good for us. Neither is pork in any form. Sugar, and nutrasweet are the killers of our time. Honey and stevia are safe alternatives.

In retrospect it is clear to me that I was not only suffering from WD I was suffering from over toxicity. I thought I was eating ok for all those years but I waw not. I suffered from a combination of over malnurishment, and over toxicity. My liver, immune system, nervous system, lymphatic system, pancreas and more had been on overdrive for years while I was medicated, smoking, drinking occassionally and eating all the wrong foods. It was the combination that begin to tear me dowm. Like dominoes falling one organ and system at a time I went down.

Once I began to realize what was happening the dominoes went back up just as they fell, one at a time. How I lived through what I did to share this with you can only be described as a miracle. At one point in time I went off 80 mgs a day. I weighed about 86 lbs and let me tell you THAT was hell. I have tried every poisonous drug known to man and they all made me sicker. I take nothing now, not even OTC's. I am never sick, rarely tired and my outlook on life is fantastic. Times running out here at the library and I gotta get. I wish you all the courage and the self -discipline to make the positive changes you need to turn things around. Honor thy self and get well soon. Pray, listen and trust your answers. Be back as time allows.

Love to all, Ms.Cindy