ZenAlex

Been having issues - I don't get tired during physical activity but it's triggering symptoms like tightness, lightheadedness, depression, irritability, anxiety. It's not even high intensity exercise, it's just 40-1 hour walking sometimes less that brings it on. Exercise also sometimes triggering stomach issues, and many of the symptoms calm or go away once physical activity stops. Was vegan for 8 years. Had tonnes of blood tests. Planned my diet out very thoroughly. B12 levels - 292 ng/l serum (150-1000 range for normal), 44 pmol/l active (37.5-150 range), MMA test surpringly normal. The results are low end of normal, so people are advising me I may have a deficiency in b12 which is possible, although I didn't address it for years because docs always told me I was fine. Omega 3 ratio - Despite the fact when I was vegan I consumed chia and flax seeds daily + epa/dha supplement, and my cronometer showing a ratio of around 1:1 - 2:1 on a daily basis, my blood tests showed a 19:1 crappy ratio in favour of omega 6 Part of me would believe it's all just in my head and it's mental health impacting my physical health but if I stop physical activity, the symptoms calm themselves right down. Something about physical activity is fucking with me badly. It's like a sort of exercise intolerance, although I still have energy, I feel shit emotionally/mentally after any significant physical activity. Also i get tightness around my body and lightheadness. It's not even high intensity exercise as I know that increases cortisol, it's literally just walking. I stopped being vegan about a month ago now, still mostly plant based, but eating fish 3x a week + 1x other meat like chicken, 2x 2 eggs per week and milk. I think I may be starting to feel better now, although it's difficult to tell at this stage.

I'm still getting it from food, but surely a b12 supp wont hurt? Although I am concerned about side effects lol.

Do you reckon it could be my omega 3 levels instead? My test showed a shit range of 19:1 back in january before I stopped being vegan.

So my issues may not be b12 related then. I'll supplement anyway and see what happens.

@undeather @Jason Actualization

Overview Veg 1 - Sugar, Dextrose, Thickening Agent (Xanthan Gum), Bulking Agent (Microcrystalline Cellulose), Lubricant (Stearic Acid), L-Selenomethionine Prep. (Selenium), Lichen Cholecalciferol Prep. (Vitamin D3), Anti-Caking Agent (Silicon Dioxide), Flavouring (Orange), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide (Iodine), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Vitamin B12 (25µg – 1,000%) Vitamin D3 (20µg - 400%) Iodine (150µg - 100%) Selenium (60µg - 109%) Vitamin B2 (1.6mg -114%) Vitamin B6 (2mg - 143%) Folic Acid (200µg - 100%) -------------------------------------------- As you know I've been having issues, which may be due to a deficiency, but I cannot help but notice that my symptoms started soon after I went on a new supplement that I fear triggered these symptoms. I was completely fine for years and then the symptoms started in sep 2023, and the only thing that stands out to me that changed in my life around the time the symptoms started, was this supplement that I started taking. I took it for several weeks july-sep leading up to when the symptoms started. The symptoms started somewhat gradually but it was still quite rapid. About 6 months ago I started getting symptoms like - An exercise intolerance - Feeling irritable, anxious, restless and depressed after any form of exercise, even walking, so it was not a problem with over exertion. Also I'm getting stomach issues like pain, diorreah and really bad farts. I also experience lightheadedness and sometimes even tinnitus. If I stop physical activity, the physical and psychological symptoms significantly subside, although not completely. I never had these issues before in my life, and they came on abruptly, and nothing else in my life changed besides the consumption of this supplement. I know it could be a deficiency but could this supplement have kick started any long term side effect?

I recommend if you're not engaging in any physical exercise you start doing do, even if it's just an hour walk. If I am sedentary throughout my day, I don't sleep well. Also avoid caffeine and processed crap late at night. Avoid bright screeens.;

@Princess Arabia Apologies if you guys don't feel I'm taking your advice seriously. I'm actually up and down right now because at times I think I'm feeling better, but then I get the symptoms in again. I had a weird moment of bliss like I hadn't experienced for a long time on friday night where I didn't even have to meditate, my mind was still and the entire room was enough to satiate me. Then I got hit with some symptoms on and off over the weekend. One moment feeling a child like uncaring freedom like being reminded of what it was like to be a 15 year old and then feeling like I was doing deep breathing exercises to make sure an anxiety attack doesn't arise. I think my dietary changes are kicking in. Maybe the improved Omega 3 or B12. I'm getting my Methyl results back this week so I'll report in. Thank you for your guys support. Unfortunately my local doctors keep on getting antagonistic when I mention low b12, they just say "there's no reason to do any further tests", and they are focusing on my stomach problems and have prescribed me an anti-spasmodic medication and told me they'll call me in a month. I am of course likely not taking that shit. I have tried to remove gluten in case that could be causing it, but for some strange reason exercise seems to be the thing aggravating the symptoms more than anything else. The difficult thing is in the UK you have to see a General Practitioner before you get referred anywhere else. I called the non-emergency number twice and they do shit like ecg's and stuff and then just refer me back to my GP. Hopefully once my MMA test comes back with a definitive answer, I'll take that to my doctor and they'll finally recognise what they issue is.

I've been trying to figure out my depression and anxiety for many years. Although I feel at times I've had it under control, I notice that a lot of the things that used to give me joy I avoid now because it just stimulates an anxiety response/depression rather than joy. My depression/anxiety issues started randomly about 9 years ago and I've never been able to make much sense of them. I tested a theory out regarding stimulation - PLEASE READ. A couple of years ago - I meditated/sat for about an hour to calm my mind, then went for a 3 hour hike, and after 2-3 hours my mind would be very peaceful. I came back from that walk at peace. As soon as I got home I started listening to music like rock or trance music, stuff that emotionally/mentally stimulates you, and there was a brief moment of enjoyment and remembering how music used to make me feel all those years ago, but then the feelings of uneasiness and depression started to kick in after a few minutes and the music just starts to make me feel bad. And I'd feel a lack of peace for the rest of the day. The type of music is largely irrelevant, whether it's negative or positive music. Although ambience music/peaceful music seems to be low stimulation and has a calming effect rather than an emotionally stimulating effect, so I started listening to more of that because it didn't trigger the anxiety. It seems in my current state, anything that stimulates my brain significantly triggers depressive/anxiety feelings, and this probably why I started to enjoy walking/hiking so much because it de-stimulates the mind, but I'd have to dedicated hours and hours to it to get the desired effect. Could it be a damaged central nervous system? Could it be clinical depression/anxiety? Why does my brain/mind respond negatively to stimulation now? The only things I've been able to really enjoy over the last several years are things that have a calming effect on me like hiking and ambient music.

I've been on nofap for most of the last 8-9 years because I notice I feel mentally and emotionally shit after. Not so much physically unhealthy but irritable and depressed.

1. how did you know you had issues with heavy metals 2. What results have u got?

How are you feeling now on your medications? Any side effects? Do u feel good in general?

Damn u got those b12 levels through food? Nice. I'm currently eating Salmon 2-3 times a week, Tuna 1x per week, and something like Chicken/Beef once per week. Also milk everyday, and an actimel. What are your thoughts on cholesterol? Part of me is concerned about eggs because of cholesterol

You could experience awakening but still go on to live a poor quality of life. Leo has had awakening experiences probably more than most here, but he talked at one point about being suicidal due to a gut issue. Awakening does not equal the rest of your life being of good quality. Most people who have good lives are not awake. The thing that really matters is enjoying life which you can do whether you've had enlightenment experiences or not.

I understand but it's not what you're thinking. It's not a case that I'm alone with my thoughts and I feel depressed WHILE exercising. I can be alone with my thoughts just fine, but exercise/physical activity itself is causing me to feel like shit after.

How am I supposed to find out? Also did you experience issues with exercising? I'm noticing massive builds up of random depression, anxiety, lightheadedness when just walking. My doctors think its just in my head, but I don't think it is.

It makes no sense that my omegas would be that out of whack. Before my test I was consuming a DHA supplement every day plus also consuming chia seeds daily and according to cronometer I was getting a great omega 3/6 ratio.

Had two tests done. One said I had 42 ug/l, one said 85 ug/l Both tests were within range but not sure if these are low because different sources give different optimal ranges. I've been suffering with depression/irritability/anxiety after exercise/physical activity. The more I exercise, the worse I feel. I don't know if ferritin is the cause. Iron is at 15.9 umol/L. Showing on the lower end of the acceptable range. Any thoughts?

@Jason Actualization Hello Jason. I got some more lab results back, apparently my omega 3 ratio is not good despite supplementing, although the test was BEFORE I started eating meat, especially fish. I also had concerning testosterone levels apparently. I have very little sex drive. Although the total testosterone level is marginally high, it is now generally agreed that the 'free testosterone' is a more accurate estimation of the true testosterone level in the blood. By this reckoning, you do not have excessive testosterone in the body. The high total level is likely to be down to a high level of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) level. SHBG is a protein made by the liver which transports hormones in the blood. It favours testosterone and oestrogen, but can potentially transport all hormones, including thyroid hormones. When hormones are carried on SHBG, they are not active, and only free hormones (those which are unbound) are able to enter cells to cause effect. If SHBG levels are too high, the effective level of hormones may be too low to exert proper effect. SHBG can be elevated after intense training programmes (although will often drop in the immediate aftermath of an event), in hyperthyroid states, if too much thyroxine is taken and if there is chronic liver disease and in other circumstances. Lowering the SHBG level may have an impact upon general performance, and will increase the amount of testosterone available to your body. Increased protein intake and a number of supplements - eg Boron, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc Vitamin D, Fish oil (or any other polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements) and Tongkat Ali - may all help lower SHBG levels. The omega 6:omega 3 ratio is on the higher side of the target, at 19.93 :1 - compared to the ideal of less than 2:1. (The report has omitted the ':1', apologies). The omega 3 index at 5.8% is just within the preferred range however (the index is the proportion of your serum that is omega 3 fatty acids). Omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids are 2 different classes of polyunsaturated fats. They are both important constituents of our diet and form building blocks for many substances in our body. Omega 6 fats are primarily converted into a range of pro-inflammatory hormones and omega 3 into anti-inflammatory hormones. A balance of both is important. In a western diet, there tends to be an imbalance in most people because there is a large amount of omega 6 in our diets from chemically extracted vegetable oils, and a relative lack of food sources of omega 3 like cold water fish and grass fed or wild meat. Target ratios are quoted to be between 4:1 and 1:1 of omega 6 to omega 3. Most Americans are believed to have a ratio in the region of 20:1 (similar to your ratio). The ideal omega 3 index is around 8% - most western individuals are in the region of 4%. The hypothesis is that those with too much omega 6 make too many inflammatory substances - which may lead to long term damage to the body. Correcting the balance is possible by increasing the omega 3 intake (1g daily is advised), and reducing the intake of omega 6.

@Ulax Do you think it would have been possible to resolve your issues without drugs or not? Part of me finds it sad that natural solutions don't seem to work for some people and the only thing that does work is a drug that could do harm as well as good.

Evidence?

Imagine regardless of what you do you struggle to really care about anything because you're that emotionally flat lined.

I don't know. It's been so long, I sometimes struggle to even care anymore if it is possible. When that happens I just try going to sleep and seeing how that will make me feel in the morning.

I also admit I'm struggling with apathy and low motivation. I often feel like I don't even care.

Meditation is difficult as I have ADHD unfortunately. This is why Eckhart Tolle's idea on just being helped me. I didn't need to focus, just sit and let everything be as it is. I've been doing it for 1 hour a day for years.