28 April 2009ALLERGIES: THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE ADDICTION TRIP
These, then, are the basic way stations of the addiction trip. As indicated, however, there is nothing static about any of these stages; the patient moves from one to another and from stimulatory to withdrawal phases, as his problem develops. The ultimate trip, in this regard, is the progression from mania to utter depression in manic-depressive disease. As this disease develops, the periods of stimulation become increasingly shorter and less frequent, while the periods of withdrawal, or depression, become longer and more common.
An unrecognized variation of exposure to an addicting substance may result in an unexpected increase in symptoms. A chronically tired beer drinker who is allergic to the grain in his brew may experience a sudden lift from a few shots of whisky (++) and then experience a delayed hangover (- – -), before returning to his accustomed state of fatigue (- -).
A person with “brain-fag” (- – -), who is actually allergic to the cane sugar in his coffee, may experience a psychotic episode (++++) after eating a hot fudge sundae, loaded with such sugar. This may be followed by a deep depression, with an eventual return to his ordinary state of mental exhaustion. This hot-fudge-sundae side trip, superimposed on a long-standing susceptibility to cane sugar, might be represented by the following progression: minus-three, plus-four, and minus-four before a return to minus-three. All of this typically takes place without the victim himself understanding the source of the problem.
The stimulated food or chemical addict can go along for years without seeking medical advice. He is oblivious to the source of his problem and may not even know that he has a problem. Alcoholics, for instance, are notorious for their ability to deceive themselves about the extent of their problem. Advanced food addicts are no less self-deceiving.
The increasingly frequent hangovers, or minus reactions, bring the addict to the doctor. This onset of negative symptoms, either localized or systemic, is regarded by one and all as the “onset of the present illness.” Except for a minority of patients, most addicts of this type are improperly diagnosed and treated. Usually they are given synthetic drugs, such as antihistamines, pain relievers, or tranquilizers.
Because of the hidden nature of food and chemical allergies, the orthodox doctor usually does not diagnose the demonstrable cause of the illness. Despite the individual nature of the problem, he gives some mass-applicable remedy and does not deal with the specific needs of the patient. And because of the polysymptomatic nature of the illness, he often dismisses the patient’s many and varied complaints as signs of hysteria, neurosis, or hypochondria.
The result is that ecologic disturbances—which may be America’s greatest single health problem—are often bypassed by the medical profession and only faintly glimpsed by its victims. Millions of people are undergoing needless drugging, hospitalization, or even surgery, because the environmental cause of their problem is not understood.
*6\110\2*
Random Posts
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.