How to Overcome Fatigue – Coping with, and Persevering Through, Detox

Update - Back to walking 15-20 minutes a day. Looking forward to trying acupuncture more regularly, at my husband's insistance and selfless sacrifice of his own wants, to help deal with some detox symptoms I've been struggling with lately. Determined to not give up, and to keep clinging to God.

Often people with adrenal fatigue discover that at the root of their fatigue problems is a “body burden” such as systemic candida (when candida turns into a fungal form and takes root in your intestinal tract and spreads to other parts of your body*), parasites, or maybe even Lyme disease. This is good news to discover what is going wrong in your body. But then as you go through detoxing your body of this body burden, you may feel like you are in a war. Despite the fact that people may (and quite frankly already have) misjudge me, I am going to open up about what this war is like, because I am sure that there are other people out there who must be suffering  the same way. And for this experience to be worth something, I want to comfort others with the comfort God has given me.

Die-off, or detox, from candida, releases seventy-nine different toxins into your body, two of which are acetaldyhyde and ethanol. Here are is an article which talks about some of these die-off symptoms: http://www.thecandidadiet.com/candida-die-off.htm, and another blog which talks about some one’s personal experience with die-off symptoms:  http://myjourneywithcandida.blogspot.com/2010/02/toxins-or-candida-die-offno-one-told-me.html.  Some of the die-off symptoms I deal with are fatigue, flu-like symptoms, unexplained sadness and anxiety, and off and on, tremors. (I know that may shock some of my family and friends, but this has been going on for months - just decided not to hide it anymore. Especially as they snuck up on me Sunday and my whole church family knows anyways!)

Just realize it is NOT a spiritual problem when you are going through detox symptoms like depression or anxiety. Because some people will misjudge you if they see you crying because of detox.  Don’t let people’s well-meaning, but hurtful, comments about “just trust the Lord” or “just be thankful and have a good attitude”  be used by Satan. Don't let it give you false guilt on the one hand - it is not your fault, and feeling guilty will keep you from leaning on God who you desparately need during detox! Or on the other hand, don't let it make you bitter – people probably aren’t intentionally being hurtful, and may just need to be educated on this as candida detox is not a well-known topic! These will only deepen any temporary detox depression into real depression! Remember-  you can persevere, be thankful and trust the Lord in the midst of detox symptoms, but still feel temporarily sad or anxious because of the toxins being released in your system.

That is not to say that there is no spiritual element to this. Certainly Satan attacks with even more discouragement when we are physically weak, especially temptations to not keep taking your probiotics or anti-fungal drugs ;) (or whatever you need to take to get rid of your particular body burden).  Remember –the alternative of just staying sick is not worth the temporary avoidance of detox symptoms, no matter how bad they may be (but realize it is OK to temporarily slow down if things get too rough!). I ask myself when I am tempted to give up, "Would I rather be bed-ridden or walk around with a cane?"  Or just other general temptations you deal with at other times can get stronger, whatever those may be (losing your temper, impatience, lack of trust, etc.).  And you stand strong in the Lord by clinging to Him through this whole process, resting in His love and grace, resisting these temptations through His strength, and accept His forgiveness when you fail (because as a sinner, you will fail sometimes!)

You can also stand strong through die-off by accepting help when people offer it (hard for me to do with my pride!).  Or by getting the rest you need and not pushing yourself too hard- your body needs more rest when you are going through die-off. You can stand strong by listening to music – I listen to either Christian or classical depending on the mood I am in. Or doing something for someone else who is sick or struggling – I like to write encouraging notes, or paint mugs for people. It helps me not be isolated from others, and helps me keep my mind off my own problems. Or watching or reading something which brings you joy – I am currently watching episodes of “The Waltons” - that may be the last thing you would choose to watch, but you get the idea.  Or doing practical things to ease the die-off symptoms, like drink tons of water or take Epsom salt baths (draws the toxins out of the body) or easing off your dose of anti-fungals temporarily.  Or take a supplement such as Milk Thistle which helps your liver process toxins faster. (Researching for this article I just read about an essential trace mineral called Molybdenum which may really help with candida detox- will post more about it later if it helps me!)

And remember you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength – not your own strength, so let Him carry you.

* Some conventional doctors deny the existence of systemic candida probably because one of the root causes can be over-use of antibiotics, but thankfully my doctor does not. Nor does M.D. Joseph Brasco, co-author of “Restoring Your Digestive Health”, whose protocol I am following. Also, here is an article by Dr. Oz which validates the connection between candida and chronic fatigue: http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/jacob-teitelbaum-md/candida-eliminating-yeastfungal-overgrowth.