I removed gluten from diet, m ocd free within 1 week. I sufferred for 20 yrs, tried everything imaginable.

B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and amino acids that the brain uses to make neurotransmitters are the most common nutrient deficiencies in mental health conditions. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry chemical signals from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland. Research suggests that one cause of OCD could involve communication problems between the front area of the brain and deeper structures due to inadequate activity of certain neurotransmitters. >> Vitamin B12: "Research from 2014 indicates that vitamin B12 and homocysteine (Hcy) levels are linked to certain mental health conditions. In particular, high levels of Hcy and deficiency in vitamin B12 may impact brain function and cause symptoms such as mania, depression, and personality changes." Foods containing vitamin B12 include: >Meat >Fish >Poultry >Eggs >Dairy products >Fortified breakfast cereals >Fortified nutritional yeasts >>Antioxidants Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many unstable molecules known as free radicals in the body and insufficient antioxidants to neutralize them. The imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants can damage cells and tissue. Oxidative stress in the brain can lead to problems such as neuroinflammation, impaired neurotransmission, and decreased neuroplasticity. Some studies indicate there is an increase in free radical activity and weakness in the antioxidant defense system in OCD. Cysteine is a nonessential amino acid. Amino acids are essential for forming proteins and other metabolic functions. The body needs adequate amounts of vitamin B12, B6, and folate to produce cysteine. As a supplement, it is in the form of NAC. The body transforms NAC into cysteine and then into glutathione, an antioxidant. Cysteine is also in the following foods: >Meat >Fish >Dairy >Grains >Soybean >Egg products >> Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that people must get from foods or supplements because the body cannot make them. Three types of omega-3s exist: 1} ALA 2} DHA 3} EPA Omega-3 fatty acids increase memory, learning, cognitive well-being, and blood flow to the brain. Research suggests there is a link between low omega-3 levels and mental health disorders. For example, researchers have found an association between a moderate intake of omega-3 and a decreased chance of depression. Research also indicates that omega-3, particularly EPA, may reduce symptoms of depression and significantly decrease anxiety symptoms. Foods containing omega-3 include: >Fish and seafood, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, and sardines >Nuts and seeds, including walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds plant oils, such as flaxseed oil, canola oil, and soybean oil >Fortified foods such as specific brands of yogurt, eggs, milk, juices, and soy beverages >Cod liver oil, fish oil, krill oil, and algal oil >> Vitamin D Vitamin D is essential for typical brain development and functioning. It also affects immunity, inflammatory responses, and antioxidant processes. Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be a factor in the development of mental health conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. A 2022 study explored the relationship between vitamin D levels and OCD. It found that people who were newly diagnosed with OCD had lower vitamin D levels than people without OCD. Researchers suggest that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to OCD development by disrupting neurotransmitter signaling or decreasing neuroprotection. The following foods provide vitamin D: >Most of the U.S. milk supply, including dairy, soy, almond, and oat milk >Fortified breakfast cereals and some brands of margarine, yogurt, orange juice, and other food products >Fatty fish, including salmon, trout, tuna, and mackerel and fish liver oils >Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks >Mushrooms >> Magnesium > What it is: A mineral found in leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. >Why it helps: Magnesium is known for its calming effects on the nervous system and can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep. >How to incorporate it: Eat foods like spinach, almonds, and black beans regularly. >> Probiotics >What it is: Beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. >Why it helps: Probiotics support gut health, which is closely linked to mental health through the gut-brain axis. >How to incorporate it: Include a variety of fermented foods in your diet to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. >>Foods to Avoid >Processed Foods: Processed foods often contain high levels of sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives that can negatively impact mental health. Opt for whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible. >High-Sugar Foods: Foods and beverages high in sugar can cause spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, leading to mood swings and increased anxiety. Choose natural sweeteners like honey or fruit instead. >Excessive Caffeine: High caffeine intake can increase anxiety and interfere with sleep. Limit consumption of coffee, tea, and energy drinks, especially in the afternoon and evening. 1} Medical News Today 2} OCD Anxiety Centers

I realize this may not work for everyone, particularly those who are struggling with moral or existential forms of OCD, but as someone struggling with relationship OCD, here’s my proposition and what’s worked- 1. ERP and resisting compulsions involves intentionally exposing yourself to distress and not trying to do anything about it, but just sit with it. It is a fundamentally ascetic and meditative practice. 2. Resisting compulsions also means overcoming your bodily desire (because more than anything OCD is a nervous system response, not a rational one) for relief from distress, and instead aligning yourself with a higher principle that overcomes your temporal state. 3. OCD also operates similarly to addiction, and recovery outcomes for addicts are significantly improved through belief in a higher power. Higher power is actually one of the core elements of AA programs because it makes self discipline a lot easier. 4. ERP/CBD is effective, in part, because it already fits within the psychology of someone with OCD. What I mean by this is that it involves homework, specific procedures done at regular intervals, intense self discipline, and is overall pretty formulaic/ritualistic/somatic in nature. And we know that it works, and this method of addressing OCD tends to really excite and appeal to those who suffer with it. We act like the totality of OCD psychology is bad, but it also seems to be the key to reversing OCD, and may be a kind of superpower when properly utilized. 5. We have countless religious traditions that are thousands and thousands of years old which have developed techniques and rituals precisely for what OCD recovery needs- Getting out of a reactive state, getting into a state of gratitude and meditation, developing ascetic skills to overcome temptation (compulsions), being okay with uncertainty, creating a place of inner peace and compassion, having a system of accountability and reminders which keep you from slipping back into compulsive patterns, and doing all of this in community with people who experience the same struggle. So far, religion has been *the most* helpful thing I’ve done for my OCD. Here’s how this has played out in my own life: -Hesychastic prayer. This is an Eastern Orthodox tradition where you project the Jesus prayer, in repetition, channeling it not just from the mind or mouth but from the heart. It is deeply psychosomatic, with the goal of creating ego death and achieving a state of seeing God in all things. It creates a calm, warm feeling in my chest that feels identical to a psychedelic afterglow. It takes me out of my head and into my body, and the first time I tried it, with a prayer candle lit beside me, I experienced very rapid relief and was able to sleep for the first time without having any nightmares. I now do this consistently, along with other kinds of prayer and hymn recitation, and gratitude before meals, and it’s something I genuinely enjoy and look forward to. Since doing it, my compulsions have gone done by like 70%. Every time I feel myself slipping into compulsions, instead of doing them, I pause and pray. Prayer fills me with warmth, gratitude, and comfort. I feel connected to something greater than myself, my body becomes calm, my heart stops racing, and afterwards, I no longer feel compelled to perform my compulsions, because I know that it is harmful to myself and those around me, and that God is watching over me guiding me to act in a more thoughtful and wise way. This has single-handedly brought me more long term relief than any other OCD technique or treatment has. Not only has it relieved my OCD, but I have so much more energy, motivation, and self discipline in other areas of my life. It’s like I can feel my neurochemistry balance itself in real time. I’m eating healthier, my relationships are richer, I’m a better student, I feel more creatively inspired, and I have so much more self discipline to resist habits that are bad for me. I hope this may be helpful to anyone else who might be struggling. I’ve searched online and there’s really no information out there that I could find on religious ritual being an effective OCD treatment, but it’s been completely revolutionary in my life.

Ugh. So I’ve been having some stomach issues for about two or three months now. I started seeing a naturopathic doctor who ran some tests and put me on a restrictive diet. The stool test she gave me revealed that I have high levels of a pathogen called Aeromonas caviae. I was kind of relieved to find this out since it finally gave me some answers to my issue. That was about 3 weeks ago. Last Friday I got my food sensitivity results back which revealed that I have some mild problem with gluten, dairy, egg whites, and other random foods. They were all low-level igG sensitivities though. Again, I was kind of relieved to receive the results at first because it helped me better understand what might be going on with my stomach. I was good for about a day. I even had one of the foods that I’m “mildly sensitive” to and had no issues. I remember eating with my husband after getting the results and telling him that I was happy and that these results were “tolerable.” That was until I visited my mom on Saturday night. I decided to tell my mom about my food sensitivity results and she just had a reaction that kind of set me off for some reason. I’m not even entirely sure why it set me off because her reaction wasn’t overly dramatic or anything. She was more just shocked and made the comment “well what can you eat then?!” I immediately got super anxious after this. I started thinking maybe I wasn’t taking the results seriously enough and that I should be more concerned. I started doing research about food allergies and it’s all been downhill since then. That night I could hardly sleep. I kept waking up every couple of hours because I was just super anxious. The next day I cooked and ate a breakfast meal that I had the day before and was perfectly fine with. Except this time I noticed that the back of my hand started burning and itching a bit. I put some creme on and took a nap and by the time I woke up I felt better. Then again later in the evening my husband and I meal prepped for the week and ate dinner. After eating I noticed the same thing was happening but on the back of my foot. It went away after a while but I started going down the rabbit hole of “what ifs.” I started wondering if maybe I was having a mild allergic reaction to the food I ate. The next morning I ate the same breakfast and brought my meal prepped lunch. I was fine all day until I started driving home and had the itching again. I got home and was super worried. My ears and throat got a little itchy. I was going to eat dinner but I was too afraid that I was having an allergic reaction to my breakfast or lunch. Yesterday I ate the same breakfast with no issues and brought my lunch. While I was eating my lunch I noticed that my mouth was burning a bit. I did have jalapeños and a salsa in my food but the burning felt different than usual. I started to get super hot and my face was burning and getting a little flushed. I spiraled for much of the rest of the work day thinking I had an allergic reaction/I have a food allergy that I’m unaware of. I ate a snack when I got home and again, it felt like my mouth was burning a bit. Now I cant stop focusing on how my mouth feels and if it’s burning or not. I ate the same breakfast this morning and it felt like it was burning a bit but I cant tell what’s real and what’s psychosomatic.