While I cannot give 100% of the credit to fermented food, for pulling my son back from the abyss of schizophrenia, I believe that powerful components of properly-fermented anaerobic lacto-fermented foods all contribute to improving metabolism, digestion, and mood.

Why, within minutes of eating did he leap off his chair, screaming, clutching his legs, grabbing his upper arms, screaming “Hurt! Hurt!”? Later, when he learned more words beyond “tree, fire, and wheel”, he described the feeling in his head, “like ants crawling in my brain.”

Can dietary changes really improve some symptoms of autism, childhood onset schizophrenia and related problems?

We first “met” Kathleen over the Internet because of C.R.’s interest in healthy eating. C.R. began to explore the Pickl-it web site in order to write about natural fermentation for her natural foods blog. What she found was an extraordinary story about a boy variously diagnosed with autism,  schizophrenia, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (in other words, an atypical autism spectrum disorder) and his heroic mother’s search for answers.

Kathleen’s story is extremely compelling and important reading. So we’re going to allow Kathleen to tell it (she’s a natural writer), over the course of a few interview posts.

Part 1: Heartbreak and Hope

Parental Alienation Syndrome may be the one of the more damaging forms of child abuse you never heard of.

She gave up Continental holidays and traded in her car for the tube, but is happy she made the choice to pay to see a private psychologist.

Mental illness and addiction are mental, physical and spiritual diseases—is medication always the answer?

If you are involved with someone who seems to be “stubbornly” clinging to a painful memory, there’s a right way and a wrong way to help them.

The multiple, sustained traumas of an ongoing civil-war, torture, rape, drought, and famine contribute to mental illness in Somalia. Treatment is primitive and in most cases consists of restraining the mentally ill in chains.

There could be a few reasons a person is resistant to therapy. It could be a deep, unresolved issue or it could simply be that the therapist you are working with is not right for you.

Do you know how much you’ve already paid for therapy? How much more therapy you’ll probably want/need and what the tab will be? Remember, if your health insurance pays for therapy, there are some hidden and not so hidden costs you may not have thought about.