Day 72- Congratulations, Lowanna & Bunny's Disppointments

[Bunny Berry]

Today I want to congratulate Lowanna and Andrew on winning one of our wonderful Blendtec blenders, and I talk about the tabboo topic of raw food depression.

I'd love your feedback.

[Mandie]

Congratulations Sarah Beth and Lowanna!

And you are very right, it is hard to be a raw foodist where there are no potlucks and/or group outtings. It is incredibly difficult in southern/rural holland :(. I am the only raw vegan in this provence of the netherlands, I believe. There are a few vegetarians, but no one even knows what a raw vegan is here. So I take pride in being different, but it is very lonely too.

Not too worried about health care though.....its just common to have full coverage here. But when I lived in south carolina....I had no insurance and couldn't get it. I lived on luck (which is not a dependable way to live). But here, people don't even know what its like to _not_ be covered.

[Adina]

Bunny, I recognize this. I was doing personal work, Diligently, for a year and a half and thought that would be it. Imagine my surprise! Later I came across a therapist who said 5 years was only the beginning. So, yes, it's a life long journey, and yes, it looks from the outside a lot has happened in this year for you. Big hug!

[Elaina Bloxom]

Hay Bunny, I want to thank you for a great video, and am going to try to give you some suggestions which might help you!!! Alot of medications come from plants, so if you can find out which herbs and plants help lift depression, you might be able to change over to them, not only would they be cheaper, but you wouldn't have the bad effects of medication. I think St. johns wort is one of them! Maybe you could go to a naturopath they would have alot of other herbal information for you. Also, If you need to make extra money to go to Hippocrates, you might want to look into selling stuff on Ebay, also, you could try craigslist, they're both a great resource for making extra money. (I list alot of stuff on there and make extra money all the time!) I also just want to let you know I was on medications for years with Bipolar disorder, I went off of them over a year ago after going raw, and haven't had any flareups, since. So I know alot about taking medications. Currently I'm looking for herbs that would be mood stabilizers, so when I saw your video, I thought I would let you know about herbs, I know you probably already know about them, but the worse case scenario is you take them and they don't help you, best case is you take them, they help you, and you save money!!! Thanks for a great video! We love you! Elaina

[Elaina Love]

Bunny, I have had a similar experience with depression after being with my raw family for days or weeks. there is a big let down when we get back home and get into our routine. I've also noticed that eating sweets like agave, dates, and high glycemic foods contribute to that depression. I notice a huge drop in energy and actuallly feel depressed when I eat sweets, so I try and avoid those and just use stevia to sweeten things. I also added living B vitamins to my daily diet. SInce it's liquid I just add a tsp. to my water in the morning and that has had a really nice effect on my mood and overall energy and well being.
Love,
Elaina Love

[Lori]

hey funny bunny, i love listening to you, you really get all your feelings out, i just freeze and act crazy in my videos:)
i started raw a year a go also, i actually found YOU at that time. I feel like i am a stranger in this at times also, i could never hang with matt and angela, because i would feel so fake haha with all the cheating i do..:). but you know, we have to do the best we can with what we have. and you are doing this and more, you are on here making others smile, encouraging others in their struggles and this is a form of therapy also. I have been on prozac and other anti depressant before, even thought about going back on a couple of times. One thing i did after my university insurance ran out was ask my doctor for their samples. they all have samples, that could tie you over a bit. and my sister found a website where you can buy any meds for half price. i will find that again and send you the link. has your doctor ever told you the origins of your depression? some is event caused, childhood, loss, ect.. others chemical imbalances. alot of my depression was events. not saying "no" takes a toll on your mental and emotional state. childhood issues, talk therapy ,art therapy and screaming at your parents can help hahahah i did all three:).got it all out..but don't stop your meds, your brain is dependent on them, and it is a bit dangerous to stop. cold turkey works for some personalities, not for all. now for extra money: you are an artist i think?, you were drawing bunnies in your last peas on earth videos where you not? do pet portraits for people, that is pretty big, and offer it on a huge sites like craigslist, or e-bay. so you don't have to leave your house. i am a member of freecycle, and get alot of stuff i need off there, tv,s clothes, furniture, computers ect, i also find alot of stuff people throw out, like bikes and sell them. if you have a real good raw recipe you made up, sell that online. You know, you do alot for others, take that energy and i hope you put some towards yourself, you are too cute, and i love watching your videos.

take care

[Terry Aley]

I would have a conversation with your doctor. Explain that you have no health insurance and ask him for the options. He may have sample packets he can hand out. (I have a friend who is a psychiatrist. He literally has boxes and boxes of free samples the drug companies send him.) He could probably help you find a program to sign up for discounted medications. And generic medications are usually much cheaper.
Whenever I go from a high frequency event like a family function, to alone at home, it takes me some time to bring my frequency level back down to normal. You'll be back to normal in a few days.

[jane.lovetoall]

Every major pharmaceutical company has a prescription assistance program. Take a look at Lilly's to see if you qualify. http://www.lillycares.com/index.jsp

[rhonn1]

Bunny,
First, I want to let you know that the thing that got me back to RawFu after months of absence was your tweet about needing a hug ... so {{{{Bunny}}}}

I am one of those people without a meetup group, and since I spent the spring at a show without any other raw foodies, or even The Hubby (who is so wonderful about trying to eat anything I experiment with) ... I fell right back into my cooked food life. I will admit that having a kitchen to which I had to haul 5 gallon buckets of water for washing, did add to my lack of food experimentation.

So now I'm trying to get back to it. I'm in NY, about 40 miles from Manhattan, and I again have a real kitchen (okay, I have to replace my hot water heater, but that is relatively minor.) The Hubby and I are designing a solar powered food stand, and doing the regular cleaning and set-up of our summer festival. Monday I have to attend The Fancy Food Show in NYC, but fortunately I'm attending with a raw foodist, so we'll both be particular about our sampling. I will still have to try some things that relate to work, but it won't be a food orgy.

Health Insurance:
We only carry catastrophic health insurance. That means no assistance with office visits, or medications, or dental, but if something serious occurs, it pays 80% of procedures or diagnostics. I buy my meds in Mexico. I stock up on things that I or my friends need often, and that seems to work. I also have a fabulous dentist in Mexico. A good friend just spent a week at our house on the border, while he go some major reconstruction done for less than 25% of what it would have cost him in the states.

I'm hoping to show up more here ...
I need you folks in my life.

Rhonni

[Debbie]

It can be very lonely and difficult not having anyone around you who shares in your passion to change your diet and lifestyle as all of us have chosen. That is why I feel so dependent on all of you and the wonderful groups out here on the wide-world web. If it wasn't for Raw Fu, and the other social networks, I probably wouldn't be able to stay on this journey. It can be tough, especially during these first few years. It's also tough economically, when you are living two lives within your family...you know, you eat raw, the other members don't. So you cook two meals every time you cook. Even though the family is supportive in the sense that they don't tell you how to eat (not anymore, anyway), and even though they try some of the stuff, they still won't join you...so it makes it tough at times both emotionally, and financially...which adds to the stress at the time. However, the bright side is you are focusing your intention on what you want and what you believe. And as long as you continue to focus on that which you want, and what you believe, it will provide you with all that you want...it will...have faith and keep on.

To help with the immediate imbalance, definitely check out natural herbs and super foods that help. I find Kava Kava, or St. John's, or vitamin B rich foods or foods high in magnesium have always helped. But every once in a while you need something more, so don't feel bad if you do. In my family we all suffer from OCD, and depression...which is from the OCD...so it can be tough...

Hang in there Bunny! You are a wonderful, and giving spirit! We can all work through this together!!! Love you! Peace!

- Debbie :O)

[Adina]

Have you seen this post over at Crazy Sexy Life?

June 25, 2009

Do You Ever Feel Lonely?
by Natalie Rose


“Always follow the highest you know.”
—J.J. Dewey, The Immortal

Do you ever feel lonely as you pursue the higher truths of this diet-lifestyle? Well, you’re not alone. If I had a tomato for everyone who has recently described to me this aspect of cleansing, I could make a batch of gazpacho big enough for all of you!

I am the first to admit that turning your back on the common ways of thinking, living and eating is challenging. I’ve felt deeply lonely at times. I’ve cursed having to give up certain foods and drinks, and I’ve felt massive disapproval from the crowd for questioning commonly accepted beliefs. But the incomparable bliss that comes with living according to your highest good is more than worth it!

Whenever you move away from the herd mentality and toward advanced knowledge, you initially experience a sense of loss, deprivation, and solitude. This is the moment when “the knight comes face-to-face with the dragon.” You may either run from it and return to the comfort of the herd or slay it and heed your soul’s deepest desire for growth. Of course, it’s scary to face the dragon. It takes courage to stand up to the social norms—the parents, friends, spouses, and authority figures—and say, “I’m no longer going to conform to what everyone else does because it is not serving my highest good.”

So many of you are coming to the realization that all that you’ve been told about food, health, the origins of illness, and the methods of correcting them are wrong. That is not an easy place to find yourself in, when the rest of the world appears to be going along quite happily with all the nonsense. When other people appear effortlessly healthy and thin despite their mainstream diets, you might wonder why you have chosen this path or why you must work harder than others.

What you forget is that these other people, all appearances aside, are not functioning well: they need their coffee or their cigarettes or their drugs to keep them going. You have no idea what they do to create the appearance of being okay. I work with models, actresses, socialites and 99% of the time the story is the same: they either eat next to nothing (and purge when they eat more) or live off of chemical stimulation. It’s not helpful to compare yourself to them.

Try not to let self-doubt and fear lead you to the most uncomfortable place of all—the depths of loneliness, where you are stuck looking at the truth while still slumming it with the herd. If you do find yourself there, take the opportunity to slay the dragon! It’s a matter of personal choice. You can continue to follow the path of least resistance (the herd) or you can exercise intelligent resistance and choose the higher path.

In truth you are not alone. It’s time to recognize each other and feel a part of a very special community. When you discover how many brilliant, hip, highly educated people have come to the same conclusions you have, you will be able to leap up and slay the dragon faster that I can open a young coconut! Of course, it’s not exactly that easy, nor is it supposed to be. You are the frontline of this movement, clearing the path for those who will follow and need your guidance.

Whenever you feel torn about the changes you’re making, remember that the herd is blindly following a path of destruction, led by an even blinder authority whose rules strip each individual of his or her power. It takes courage and a sense of personal responsibility to follow this higher path, but it will empower you and lead you to a life of beauty, truth and radiance.

Follow your soul’s impulse to leave the herd and soar on the wings of independence and advanced knowledge to the light!

Posted by Natalia on June 25, 2009 at 8:08 am

http://crazysexylife.com/2009/do-you-ever-feel-lonely/

[Bunny Berry]

LN Dolls, so true that David's truths are not mine. We all have our own, and they are inside of us. More greens. Hmmmm...I've heard that somewhere before and keep forgetting it. :)

[mango]

girl i am right there with u i live with 3 men who are total meat eatter bring a veg in size and u thought u feed them dog poo
Mandie said:

Congratulations Sarah Beth and Lowanna!

And you are very right, it is hard to be a raw foodist where there are no potlucks and/or group outtings. It is incredibly difficult in southern/rural holland :(. I am the only raw vegan in this provence of the netherlands, I believe. There are a few vegetarians, but no one even knows what a raw vegan is here. So I take pride in being different, but it is very lonely too.

Not too worried about health care though.....its just common to have full coverage here. But when I lived in south carolina....I had no insurance and couldn't get it. I lived on luck (which is not a dependable way to live). But here, people don't even know what its like to _not_ be covered.