Finding Fettle

In September 1999. I went to the emergency room with severe heart palpitations; I was convinced that I was dying of a heart attack. After a battery of tests including an ECG, EKG and a variety of blood tests, I was sent home. The next night, after experiencing identical symptoms and a trip to the hospital at 2am, I was sent home again. On this second night I was told that I was most likely having an anxiety attack. I had never heard this term before and found it laughable as I was rarely stressed and did not think that I had any real neuroses. I had no problems interacting with people (although perhaps I was a trifle shy) , was not afraid of being trapped in elevators, and did not feel the need to flush the toilet with my foot. In fact I had spent a lifetime honing an ability to control my emotional responses. I did not (unfairly, in retrospect) think, regardless of the problem, that there were excuses for bad behaviour.

After months of symptons and a battery of tests including an MRI, nothing was found. I had to accept the fact that for the first time in my life I was not in control of my demeanour. I needed to find a way to fix this. I analyzed it extensively - both to understand how it happened, and to find a solution. The causes were numerous - stress relating to the relationship I was in (it was very passionate), bad drugs, an introspective personality and a horrendous diet. I stayed in the relationship, and introspective; I gave up the drugs and started to obsess about diet and how it contributes to overall emotional, mental and of course physical fettle.

As we know, healthfulness is achieved through a delicate balance, the answers to which are often intuitively available to us. With this blog, I will endeavour to share my research, analysis, and opinions on health issues and how diet can contribute to both specific and general improvement as well as a better understanding of our own beings.