The Incredible Human Brain:

A Journey From Fat and Miserable to Slender and Happy

By Sasha Biggers

No one believes me when I tell them I have lost 75 pounds. I really did not lose them. I
healed them. Through the course of a 10 year personal journey, I have not just achieved and
maintained a 75 pound weight loss, I have overcome debilitating unhappiness and a handful of
relentless pain conditions. This is a story of how I discovered and utilized the innate intelligence
of the human body to go from fat and miserable, to slender and happy.
The Backgroud:
I started as a happy child. I had two older brothers and really awesome parents. We took
frequent vacations, visiting relatives in California and going to the beach, camping in Utah,
Yellowstone, and Colorado, and boating at Lake Powell. My parents did many things that
delivered a really great life for our family.
My mom taught preschool out of the home and always had terrific activities like
American Indian day, with teepees, pow-wows, and freshly popped Indian popcorn. Or she had
Hawaii luau day, with a swimming pool ocean, fresh cut pineapple, and vinegar with baking soda
volcanos. For anyone who has not seen one of these volcanos, you have missed a spectacular
display of a fun chemical reaction. Vinegar is an acid (acetic acid), and when it is combined
with a base, like baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), the acid donates a proton to the base, in this
case, creating sodium carbonate which decomposes to carbon dioxide, and it is seen as bubbles
that come foaming and spilling out of the homemade volcano model.
My dad was a jokester and adventurist, taking us on rambunctious joyrides in the car
through open fields, while singing alternative lyrics to various songs, my favorite being the
irreverent church-song parodies. He took us sledding on ominously high, but genuinely safe
mountain slopes. I loved going to the swimming pool when Dad would give us dolphin rides.
He would swim all around the pool, diving down deep, and doing under water flips with us
attached to his back.
My favorite memories of childhood are our family Halloweens. Both parents being
impressively creative and artistic, helped us create some of the coolest costumes ever, like a MyLittle-Pony jumper with a multi-colored mane, or paper-mache Gremlin headpieces and
grotesque alien body suits. Every costume was homemadesuperior to anything store bought.
All in all, early childhood was filled with grand memories and overall happiness. I only
remember fighting with my parents over eating my veggies and other foods. I hated green beans.
I hated sloppy joes. I hated quite a lot of foods. I remember times when my mom would make
me sit at the dinner table until I finished everything on my plate. I could easily distort my
memory into believing I sat there for hours and hours. My parents tried ever-so-mightily. Alas,

I was an ever-resistant, picky eater. I only wanted cereal, pasta, bread, cheese quesadillas, or
mashed potatoes. From what is commonly known about diet, this kind of eating paved the way
for unhealthy weight gain, and I got chubby.
There are scientific indications that body weight is a trigger for puberty. This is apparent
in my case. Puberty, for girls, begins when the body has enough nutritional stockpile (fat) to
support fertility and child bearing. Leptin, a 146 amino acid protein metabolite of fat cells, sends
signals to the brain regarding nutritional status. Leptin receptors are identified on the
hypothalamus, the part of the brain that releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH),
which triggers the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH), both influencing the sex organs to release estrogen and testosterone.
(http://www.nichd.nih.gov) This marks start of puberty.
The beginning of the unhappiness that plagued me for many of my years was clear and
obvious during puberty. I notably started to withdraw from my parents and brothers around nine
years old. That is about the time I started to develop little buds on my chest. My mother had me
attend my elementary schools maturation program a year early as she could see I was an early
bloomer. Without any major life events to blame, puberty was the onset of my depression.
According to the book, Gender Differences at Puberty, by Dr. Chris Hayward, children who are
early bloomers exhibit more signs of depressive symptoms. (depression.about.com)
Much research has shown estrogen is a contributing factor to depression and mood
disorders. Estrogen inhibits vitamin B6, which is needed as a precursor for the coenzyme
amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD). Estrogens can potentially inhibit AAAD in the brain and
reduce serotonin synthesis. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com) Serotonin in a monoamine
neurotransmitter commonly associated with mood balancing. AAAD is also a precursor for
other neurotransmitters, including dopamine, associated with the brains reward and pleasure
centers. With the surge of estrogen during puberty, it is no wonder I got moody.
Entering junior high at age 11, I was awkward and self-conscious, as most pubescent kids
are. Emotional disturbance was compounded by further weight gain. Not only was I gaining
weight via natural growth, but my poor dietary habits nudged my weight into overweight. With
the last name Biggers, I was a grand target for the relentless taunting of classmates. I was dorky
and plump, teased incessantly, and completely miserable.
By the age of 12, I was unhappy enough that my parents had me go to the doctor. With a
history of chemical imbalance in the family, along with my current misery, I was put on
imipramine. Imipramine is a trycyclic antidepressant belonging to the chemical class of
dibenzazepines. It works by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin
neurotransmitters available in some parts of the brain. (http://www.medbroadcast.com) I do not
recall my exact reception to the drug, but I do think it helped balance my mood, at least for a
time. But there was a distinct physical reaction I had in which I would get extremely lightheaded upon standing, often resulting in fainting. Imipramine has a long history of
cardiovascular effects. The most common is orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure
when you stand from sitting or lying down. It is safe to assume that is what I was experiencing.

Other potential cardiovascular side effects include tachycardia, impairment of left ventricle
performance, right bundle branch block, and atrioventricular block. (http://circ.ahajournals.org)
Imipramine is anticholinergic, which is to say it blocks the binding of acetylcholine, a
neurotransmitter that, among many other functions, helps lower heart rate by way of the
parasympathetic nervous system. Imipramine also antagonizes adrenergic and M2 muscarinic
acetylcholine receptors, which can lead to increased heart rate. The more serious side effects of
imipramine occur in people with pre-existing heart conditions. So my doctor did an EKG to
make sure my heart was not in danger. The EKG was normal, but the medication was changed.
I do not have a clear memory on which medications I took throughout my teens, or the
durations, but I recall disliking the side effects and not wanting to take anything at all. By the
age of 14, I was wrought with suicidal ideation. I wrote a note to my friend telling her if I had a
gun, I would end it all. She showed her mother, who in turn called my parents, and there was an
intervention of sorts, with more medication and counseling. I overcame the suicidal thoughts,
but at ages 15 and 16, I was still very depressed and incredibly angry. I was bitterly withdrawn
from my parents, and writing teenage suicide poetry. Though no longer suicidal, I did write
about death and darkness, sadness and despair. I hated my parents. We fought all the time.
They would ask why I hated them, and I did not have an answer. In desperation, my parents had
me go to further counseling, including hypnosis, to try and find the root of my unhappiness. I
recall fabricating an answer for the therapist who told my dad we made great progress,
meanwhile I had no real answer for myself why I was so unhappy.
I moved out of my parents house at 17 years old. As good parents, they insisted I stay,
but I was beyond relieved to get out. I had a job and paid a fair amount to rent a room out of
someones house. The relationship between my parents and I improved dramatically, some
months later, when I moved three hours south to Cedar City to attend Southern Utah University.
My experience there was quite a monument to growing up. I was a starving student, making
$500 a month, with $325 due each month for rent and utilities, leaving very little money to live
on. My roommates and I ate like poor college students, buying cheese and tortillas in bulk,
frozen $1 pizzas, and ramen by the case. I was broke, depressed, and desperate, turning to my
parents for help. Despite the years of torture I put them through, they graciously supported me.
I ended up moving back to Salt Lake City after only seven months, though I did not move back
in with my parents as the embers of my seething teenagehood were still quite warm.
For the next seven years, I worked, paid rent, and lived in various areas of the Salt Lake
Valley. In those years, I never felt especially depressed. I had a respectable job at American
Express with a lot of perks and benefits. But during that time I really started to gain weight. A
40-hour-a-week sedentary job, and a steadfast poor diet, sent my weight from 175-190 pounds in
one year. Other issues with my sedentary job included a time in which I thought I was
narcoleptic because I could never stay awake at work, regardless of how much sleep I had. I also
developed highly painful shoulder spasms, which I attributed to the detriments of sitting at a desk
all day. I would often go home in tears from the pain. The company had an ergonomic specialist
who came to adjust my desk to be ergonomically correct. The problem persisted.

I went to the doctor who injected my shoulder with a corticosteroid. This is because
corticosteroids work to reduce inflammation. They restrict capillary dilation, and limit the
accumulation of leukocytes and macrophages that swarm the site of an injury, resulting in
swelling and pain. Corticosteroids restrict the release of kinins, which induce vasodilation and
inflammation. New research suggests that corticosteroids may inhibit the release of arachidonic
acid from phospholipids, thereby reducing the formation of prostaglandins, which contribute to
the inflammatory process. (http://emedicine.medscape.com) The steroid injection was to no
avail. I started researching causes of shoulder pain, and was self-diagnosed as having
fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep,
memory, and mood issues. (www.mayoclinic.org) Abnormalities in the central nervous system
(CNF) are associated with pain in fibromyalgia. Substance P is a pain-transmitting neuropeptide
found to be elevated in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of patients with chronic pain disorders,
including fibromyalgia. Also found in the CSF, are decreased metabolites of serotonin,
norepinephrine, and dopamine, which all play a role in inhibiting pain perception. Fibromyalgia
may be related to an autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Stress triggers the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and this axis is found to be hyperactive in patients with
fibromyalgia. (http://www.jaoa.osteopathic.org) The HPA axis is a complex, multi-structural,
self-regulated feedback system involved in homeostasis maintenance. The hypothalamus
releases corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), which trigger
the pituitarys release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the production
and release of cortisol at the adrenal gland. (http://www.hindawi.com)
I deemed it plausible that I had fibromyalgia. With no surefire treatments available, and
pain triggered every time I worked, along with the weight gain and excessive sleepiness I
associated with work, I decided it was time to leave the desk job.
In 2004, I earned an Associates of Science Degree in Medical Assisting, and was hired
to work at the doctors office where I did my school externship. Depression remained dormant,
and the shoulder pain subsided, though weight gain was steady. I was not happy with my
weight, but I was satisfied everywhere else in life. The new job was exciting and I was learning
a lot. I legitimately found my niche in medicine. I was living with three great roommates and
was having a lot of fun. But what I really wanted to do was move to California. Ever since I
was young, I dreamed of living in Hollywood. For a time, I wanted to be an actor, but more than
that, I wanted to live in the big city, with all the action. At the age of 25, I did it. I moved to Los
Angeles. I lived with my best friend in West Hollywood, one block from the Sunset Strip. We
went to the beach every week, and got invited to parties in the Hollywood Hills. I was in The
City of Angels, Tinseltown, La-la Land. It was my dream come true!
Living the dream was incredible for about a year. Then resurfaced my old foe:
depression. For reasons unknown, I became severely depressed in Los Angeles. I spent hours
and days crying for no apparent reason. I cried at home. I cried at work. I slept easily for 12+
hours. I forced myself to go out with friends, but found myself miserable and self-conscious at
my failure to engage in fun. I did not understand how I could be so depressed despite living my

dream in California. I gained even more weight, devastatingly topping off at 232 pounds. I
sought psychiatric care and began taking medication again, this time Lexapro.
Lexapro is the brand name for the drug escitalopram. It is an antidepressant in the class
of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Serotonin is delivered via neurotransmission
in which a pre-synaptic neuron releases a neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, into the synaptic
cleft, the space between neurons, and the post-synaptic neuron provides receptors that bind with
the neurotransmitter stimulating a further chemical cascade of communication. The serotonin
that is not bound to a receptor on the post-synaptic neuron is taken back by the pre-synaptic
neuron for recyclingthe process known as reuptake. Escitalopram interferes with the reuptake
of serotonin, leaving more of the neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft to be utilized as receptors
become available. This inhibition of serotonin reuptake downregulates, or decreases, the number
of serotonin receptors in the pre-synaptic neuron, further decreasing the amount of serotonin
reuptake. The process of downregulation takes 2-4 weeks, and explains why these types of
antidepressants usually take that amount of time to produce efficacy.
(http://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com)
At the start of taking Lexapro, I was already in complete crisis and utter desperation. I
needed the medication to work instantly! Without the instant alleviation I very much needed, I
had a panic attack in the parking lot before work, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to fathom going
in to the office. I called my dad who suggested I take a day off and he would call my employer
to let them know I was having a personal crisis, and needed time off. This did not go over well
with my employer, who questioned how I could dare coming back to work after having my
father call in. Work became increasingly dreadful as my mental state continued to decline,
undeterred by medication.
I gratefully ended up getting a new job at an office in Santa Monica, hoping things would
improve. This new job was blocks from the beach, and I would go there on my lunch. My
intellect told me I should be ecstatic to be living and working in Los Angeles, and taking lunch
breaks at the beach. Still, I was extremely emotionally unstable. A slight disagreement with a
co-worker had me sobbing in the bathroom for close to an hour. I could not pull it together for
the life of me. This happened twice. Again, depression was sabotaging my job.
Another risk to my job was when my back went out. I woke up one morning and
collapsed on the floor with my back in torrent spasms. I screamed for my roommate in the other
room. He came and tried to help me up, but I was absolutely crippled. I ask him to call our
friend who was known to pop pharmaceutical pills recreationally. I needed pain relief STAT!
Eventually, he arrived with hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever combined with
acetaminophen (Tylenol). After taking the pill, my pain was lessened, but I was still crippled. I
needed a doctor, but could not walk. My friends tried to wheel me on our office chair to get to
the car, but I could not sit. I was, however, just barely, able to crawl to and hunch myself into
the car.
The doctor I saw said there was nothing he could really do since I had no known injury.
The only consolation offered was in the form of a prescription for hydrocodone and carisoprodol,

a muscle relaxer and pain reliever. The combination was top-notch for helping me cope with the
pain. But I was bed-ridden, and doped up for a week. I missed the entire week of work, and
upon returning, was still in a great deal of pain, so had to leave work early on several occasions.
I was quite aware of the disappointment this kind of absenteeism can be for an employer.
Although paranoid of losing my job, I was still employed.
My back pain never went away completely, but I was managing. The depression was still
rampant, and I continued going to a psychiatrist for medication, and went to a therapist for
counseling. I would tell my psychiatrist things were not improvingthey were getting worse
every day. He advised me to keep taking the current medication, and every other visit he would
prescribe another one to take in addition. He eventually had me taking two different
antidepressants, an antipsychotic, and an antianxiety medication. I was on four different
psychotropic medications and still, persistently tail-spinning, and feeling crazier than ever!
There is a biological explanation for this. Psychiatric drugs perturb neurotransmitter pathways
in the brain, and in response to that perturbation, the brain undergoes a series of compensatory
adaptations in an effort to maintain normal functioning of those systems. In scientific terms, the
brain is trying to restore its homeostatic equilibrium. (http://www.psychologytoday.com)
At the point I am at today, I sincerely believe that the administration of those
psychotropic medications made my mental state much worse indeed. The human brain is
innately intelligent beyond our current comprehension. The number of processes in which the
brain is intricately, and whole-body, cooperatively responsible for, has a depth to which we
underestimate astronomically with our present understandings. The brain knows exactly what it
needs to do to preserve existence. When we start manipulating its functions by adding
exogenous chemicals to promote desired effects, we offset a plethora of natural chemical
cascades that are mandatory to the overall balance of our biological systems. I am not even
slightly surprised that four psychiatric medications had me spinning further and further out of
control.
Whilst being unsuccessfully overmedicated, to complicate my emotional battles, I had
resurgences of back disablings. With no known injury, medical intervention was fruitless, and
only provided the suggestion that I needed to lose weight. I sought chiropractic care, with only
minor relief.
I also started having frequent, intense abdominal pain. I would wake in the middle of the
night with a stabbing pain in my belly that no over-the-counter pain reliever could touch. One
early morning I awoke with the pain at an insanely excruciating level. I was keeled over,
screaming and crying. I took Tylenol, Advil, and Pepto-Bismol. Nothing helped in the slightest.
As the pain continued into the evening, I recklessly drove myself to the ER. After embarrassing
myself in the waiting room with my pain-invoked dramatics, I was called back to a room and
they did an ultrasound. I was diagnosed with gallstones. My white blood cell count was within
normal range, indicating no gallbladder infection, so the need for immediate surgery was not
indicated. I was given an injection of Toradol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that
reduces the hormones that cause inflammation. (www.drugs.com) Then they sent me home with
hydrocodone to take in the case of subsequent attacks.

When I got home, I looked up the cause of gallstones. I found an article stating
contributing factors of gallstones are the three Fs: fat, female, and forty. Well, I was fat and
female, but I was only 26 years old! I was too young to be having this kind of disease in my
body. Upon further research, I learned gallstones are composed mostly of either cholesterol
(cholesterol stones) or bilirubin (pigment stones)*. Because I was obese, my conclusion was I
had cholesterol stones.
What I found to be of particular interest is the role of estrogen in gallstone formation.
Estrogen increases the amount of cholesterol in bile, and reduces gallbladder motility, therefore
boosting the occurrence of gallstones. Estrogen lowers the amount of plasma LDL (low density
lipoprotein) by accelerated conversion of hepatic cholesterol to bile acids, and increased
expression of LDL receptors on cell surfaces. (circ.ahajournals.org) Bile acids, along with
oxysterols, act as ligands on nuclear receptors, promoting cholesterol homeostasis.
(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17346171) This is great news for a decrease in overall blood
LDL cholesterol levels, and a decrease in cardiovascular disease development. But this elevated
level of cholesterol in bile, caused by estrogen, and stored in the gallbladder, scandalously
increases the risk of gallstone development.
So the fact that I was fat and female, combined with the exogenous estrogen I supplied
via my birth control pills, probably explains why I had gallstones earlier than age forty as
proposed by the three Fs theory. The intense abdominal pain I was suffering, and my research
into gallstones was hugely eye opening. I stopped taking birth control pills and decided I needed
to start eating better, and lower my cholesterol.

The Awakening:
After two years of the worst depression of my life, frequent abdominal pain attacks,
debilitating back pain, and the highest weight of my life--severely obese by some charts, with a
BMI of 34, the light at the end of this black-hole tunnel was officially turned on when my
therapist asked what I eat. I told her, Im too depressed to eat. I like pizza and pasta, but I
usually just have Capn Crunch. She said, Good lord, girl, you need to get some nutrition! I
argued that I hate vegetables and salads, unless they are drowned in ranch dressing, and I could
not bear to gain any more weight. She said, I dont care how much ranch dressing you drown
them in. You need nutrition for your brain to work properly. So it began.
I started to force feed myself vegetables disguised however I could palate them. Still
very conscious of the high caloric value in ranch dressing, I sometimes opted for the less-tasty,
but more nutritionally rewarding options like cottage cheese or hummus. It was not so bad. As I
became more vigilant in getting my brain and body nutrition, and disregarded the fear of weight
gain, I was eating veggies with whatever additives helped me consume them, along with other
nutrient rich foods I had not previously considered. It was strange to me that I felt more satiated
eating these long-hated veggies, and never-thought-to-eat-before foods, than I ever did with
Capn Crunch, pizza, or pasta. I started to eat more fruits, which I was never averse to. I just did
not opt for them very often. Within a very short time, perhaps a week, I started to feel noticeably

better. I stopped crying so regularly. I went out with friends and enjoyed myself. I did not sleep
so long. The abdominal pain attacks became much, much less frequent, reduced by as much as
perhaps 90%. I even felt like being activea state I had not felt in quite some time.
This remarkable elevation in mood and quality of life convinced me that nutrition is
much more the key to happiness than medication can ever be. I have done ample amounts of
research that support this conclusion.
A nutritional study conducted at the JSS Medical College in Mysore, India, found that B
vitamins, particularly vitamin B2 and B6 , were associated with improved mood in study subjects.
(www.indianjpsychiartry.org) These vitamins are found in many food sources including
vegetable oils, fish, spinach, beet greens, asparagus, and avocado. This study also found that
subjects with depression have, on average, 25% lower levels of folate, which can be found in
spinach, asparagus, broccoli, lentils, and various beans. A similar study published by the Society
of Biological Psychiatry, noted that folate and vitamin B12 are needed for single-carbon
metabolism involved in the synthesis and metabolism of serotonin and other monoamine
neurotransmitters and catecholamines. Folate helps maintain normal brain concentrations of
tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor in the synthesis of serotonin and catecholamines.
(http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com)
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are a common theme in studies regarding nutrition and
depression. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are key structural components of the phospholipid
membranes in tissues throughout the body and are especially rich in the brain. Fatty acids
affect receptor function, neurotransmitter uptake, and signal transmission.. N-3 fatty acids
inhibit synthesis of cytokines and mitogens to reduce inflammation.
(www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) Studies are revealing that low cholesterol diets and
cholesterol-reducing medications are contributing to an increase in depression. The brain is a
lipid rich organ that requires a sufficient amount of lipids in the form of polyunsaturated fats to
maintain optimal bio-functionality. N-3 fatty acids, amply found in fish, have been found at
much lower levels in study participants with depression. (www.sciencedirect.com)
Other clinically significant nutritional correlations find that iron helps promote the
synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelin (the insulating layer formed around nerves). Iron is
also needed for oxygenation and helps energy production in the brain. Vitamin C, a potent
antioxidant, reduces oxidative stress. It is also required as a precursor for the conversion of
dopamine to noradrenaline. Vitamin C has a bonus anti-stress effect, and plays an important role
in protecting against oxidation. Vitamin E protects against peroxidation, a process instigated by
toxins or infections. Vitamin E also helps maintain the integrity of cellular structures in the
brain. Zinc protects the brain from free-radicals and supports whole-body accumulation of the
ever-important polyunsaturated fats. Zinc may also play a part in modulating synaptic
transmission, and is needed for DNA synthesis. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,
www.indianjpsychiatry.org, www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com)
Wow! I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg for all the ways in which nutrition
supports mental health and the body as a whole. As I continued to focus on nutritional intake in

my diet, the improvement in my mental status continued to rise. I was still employed at the
office by the beach, but a change in my place of living increased my driving commute from 1
hour each way, to 2 hours or more each way, thanks to Los Angeles traffic. It was rather
unfeasible to continue working there much longer. I stayed at that job only for another month.
Then I got a job in Pasadena. Not as charming as a beachfront city, but it had its perks.
While working in Pasadena, I saw an ad for Dahn Yoga on one of my lunch breaks.
Since I was feeling inclined upon my new mental elevation to be more active, and I had heard
yoga is great for back problems, I gave it a whirl. Nutrition was the definite turning point in my
mental wellness, but Dahn Yoga cinched the deal. Any form of yoga involves some element of
meditation, and meditation has long been credited for its mental benefits. Many studies have
been conducted, also, for its body healing potential. I felt such a sense of calmness, strength,
self-connectivity, and clarity upon my participation in the Korean-tai chi-Qi gong inspired yoga
practice. I started my day with Dahn Yoga before work, then took walks daily on my lunch
breaks. The most profound, impactful experience I had with Dahn was taking their workshop by
the name of Shim Sung. It was a three day, all-day yoga participation that delved into the depths
of the inner being. Tears of sadness faded to tears of enlightenment. I felt myself truly healing,
emotionally and physically. For the days following the workshop, everything was illuminated.
There was no pain, no strife, and no misery. I understood the inner-workings and full purpose of
humanity. It was extremely profound. I called my parents to tell them how much I love them,
how sorry I was for the grief I put them through, and how much they really mean to me. All of
my relationships fell under a new light, and I viewed everything with no judgment and zero
negativity. It was immensely healing.
I do not remember at what point I began taper off my medications. I did so slowly, and
wisely, as recommended in the medical community. With my history of mental instability, and
the belief instilled in me since I was young that I have a genetic, chemical imbalance, I still
stayed on one antidepressant. But I felt freed! I was happy, empowered, and released from three
other make-me-crazy psychiatric medications.
In addition to Dahn Yoga and walking, I bought a bicycle, and started riding. I also
started hiking. Wow! This was a Sasha I had not known for 20 years. I was feeling grounded
and centered, productive and happy. I lost 10 pounds in six months. This may not be drastic, but
to me it was huge! It was effortless. I had not lost any weight in 20 years. I was paying no mind
to the calories I consumed, only the nutritional value in the foods I ate. Adding that to my newly
embraced exercise regimen, which I hate to even call exercise because I enjoyed it so much, I
was dropping weight without trying, and getting my happy back.
As time progressed, I sought to increase my world of yoga. I participate in other forms
including hatha and kundalini. I love them all! I have never become a yoga contortionist, and
have always opted to participate at level I or level II in terms of ability. My purpose for yoga
was not so much fitness as it was mental calming and balance. Physical fitness, strength,
flexibility, and weight loss were just welcome side effects.

In studies of yoga and meditation, there is statistically significant reduction in measure

of present moment pain, negative body image, and inhibition of activity by pain. Also found
was a positive effect on mood disturbance, and psychological symptoms, including anxiety and
depression. (www.ijaweb.org/article) Kundalini yoga has been studied and shown to stimulate
the right hippocampus, influencing the right lateral amygdala, in turn stimulating the
ventromedical hypothalamus with stimulation of the peripheral parasympathetic system. The
increased parasympathetic activity is associated with subjective sensation, first of relaxation and
later, a more profound sense of quiescence. Activation of parasympathetic system results in
decreased heart and respiratory rate. (www.msmonographs.org) Kundalini has also been shown,
by cascade effect, to decrease noradrenaline, and decrease the production of corticotrophin and
cortisol. Meditation studies show a significant increase of dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, and
an increase in the level of amino acid neurotransmitters, particularly glutamate and gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA), with regular practice. (www.msmonographs.org)
Through the yoga-network I made connections with many spiritually influential friends.
I attended workshops, book-clubs, and focus groups. I was in-tune, for the first time, with all
that had ailed me, and also all that had supported me in years past. I experienced what some
schools-of-thought call awakening. I have never been the same since.
Despite my spiritual awakening, nutrition-induced mood improvement, and increased
physical activity, I continued to have back problems, though to a much lesser severity. I also
experienced a return of the shoulder pain I had back when I worked the desk job. I shared my
recent experiences to my chiropractor, and expressed the wonder to him, why, if all physical
ailments stem from emotional or psychological roots, as some spiritualists claim, am I still
having back and shoulder problems in spite of my spiritual growth? He provided another
awakening moment: He said, How can your body and mind maintain homeostasis while you
keep poisoning yourself with medication? I had not thought of that. I was still taking that one
antidepressant to ward off the perceived, inescapable potentiation of a genetic chemical
imbalance. At that moment, I decided, I was going to be medication free. I tapered off, again
slowly and wisely, and became 100% free of medication.
By deep personal experience, I have become a staunch advocate for nutrition, yoga
and/or meditation, and regular exercise. For me, the combination has provided an undeniable
healing from tenacious depression, incapacitating back pain, recurrent shoulder spasms, and
persistent gallstone attacks. I have lost and maintained a 75 pound weight loss and have been
pain free for several years. The human body is awe-inspiring in its capacity to maintain balance.
All it needs is adequate support in the form of diet and exercise. I will continue to support the
incredible human machine that I inhabit.

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