My son is allergic to green peas and his reactions are life threatening. He is intolerant to a lot of other foods as well, and as we’ve found out, so am I.

We changed our family diet some years ago now, for the sake of us all. I used to cheat, but I also kept track of my diet, and after a while my wife noticed that when I ate certain foods I would become very depressed 2 days later. (Almost to the hour.) Unfortunately chocolate was the worst! She mentioned this bizarre discovery to our allergy specialist who said “Yes, food does cause mood swings!”

Food allergies and intolerances are very different things. Food allergies trigger the immune system, and the sufferer’s body reacts, for example with swelling or hives. Food intolerance is about thresholds. You can eat the foods that you’re intolerant to, but you’ll have a reaction if you go over your threshold. Food intolerance is very common; much more than people seem to realize.

The reactions can be amazing. In me the intolerance causes depression. My wife feels bloated and lethargic. The kids get aggressive and irritable. Other people report anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, obsessive compulsive behaviour and even social phobias. Migraines and stomach aches are also common.

So, avoid the colours, flavours and preservatives! Yes. But normal fresh foods also contain natural chemicals like salicylates, amines and glutamates. Many people eat these in abundance, and even on their own they can cause plenty of problems. The chocolate I eat may be free of colors, flavors and preservatives, but it is very high in natural amines which causes me plenty of grief.

If you eat problem foods every day, and take the symptoms of intolerance for granted, then you may be missing something that is key to your mental health. If this could be you, then it is really worth following it through.

Our family kept to a strict chemical-free diet for some years to remove the problem foods. A common way for an allergy specialist or dietician to test for the culprits is to prescribe a strict chemical free diet for a few weeks until symptoms disappear. They will then give a series of oral “challenge tests” to see which food chemicals and artificial additives are causing problems.

I once took aspirin as a challenge, and it won. Apparently aspirin is pure salicylate, and it sent me out of my tree.

More information:
RPAH Allergy Unit
Food and Mood Guide

What is Music Therapy?
It’s an established therapy for a wide range of conditions. According to the American Music Therapy Association it is used to alleviate physical pain, elevate mood, assist relaxation, induce sleep, and lessen muscle tension. As a treatment for an illness like depression it is an adjunctive therapy, that augments the other treatments being used, but doesn’t replace them. It focuses on reaching therapeutic goals, which sets it apart from straight music entertainment or education.

Who are Music Therapists?
Degree qualified allied health professionals, trained in music therapy, music, psychology, behavioral sciences, disabling illnesses, and a spattering of other things. They are normally part of a wider team of health professionals, working in general or psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, community mental health centers, rehabilitation centers, prisons and schools. There are also plenty of music therapists in private practice.

How Does it Work?

I don’t know. Honestly. It confuses me no end and I would need to sit in on a session to get a good feel for it.

Here is the best explanation that I’ve found, from the Association of Professional Music Therapists.

“There are different approaches to the use of music in therapy. Depending on the needs of the client and the orientation of the therapist, different aspects of the work may be emphasized. Fundamental to all approaches, however, is the development of a relationship between the client and therapist. Music-making forms the basis for communication in this relationship.

As a general rule both client and therapist take an active part in the sessions by playing, singing and listening. The therapist does not teach the client to sing or play an instrument. Rather, clients are encouraged to use accessible percussion and other instruments and their own voices to explore the world of sound and to create a musical language of their own. By responding musically, the therapist is able to support and encourage this process.

The music played covers a wide range of styles in order to complement the individual needs of each client. Much of the music is improvised, thus enhancing the individual nature of each relationship. Through whatever form the therapy takes, the therapist aims to facilitate positive changes in behaviour and emotional well-being. He or she also aims to help the client to develop an increased sense of self-awareness, and thereby to enhance his or her quality of life.”

Does it Work?
It’s been the subject of study for a long time now, and there is no doubt that it is effective for a range of illnesses (in combination with other therapies). The evidence is a bit light-on for depression, for lack of robust studies, although there is plenty of empirical evidence to suggest that it helps. Based on the description above, I expect that it is highly dependent on the individual. As with most every treatment many depressed people would benefit from the therapy, and many others wouldn’t.

Would I try It?

In a word, no.

Links:
The American Music Therapy Association
Canadian Association for Music Therapy
British Society for Music Therapy
Association of Professional Music Therapists (UK)