Hi. I haven't followed the Cutler program, but have had improvement from severe OCD over the years. I first had an amalgam filling at about 10 years of age and by 12 I had acute OCD. It was absolute hell. I had so many rituals and anxieties that my life was awful. When I stopped having amalgams at about 15 years of age and my braces came out, my symptoms started to subside. I still have many phobias and anxieties but the OCD has virtually gone, something I never thought would happen. I no longer have to do any rituals where as once I had to do them all day. I am convinced mercury was the cause, aggravated by braces and eating fish. I became a vegetarian at 16 so while the lack of protein from not following a good diet may have affected my health - I have PCOS and other health problems - I think cutting out tuna must have helped the OCD. I still get compulsion to blink and like "tics" but they have got better since getting some of my amalgams removed. I notice they get worse after meals or certain foods.

OCD is definitely a debiliating and cruel illness and it makes me so profoundly sad to think of the terrible suffering it brings being caused by those we trust to care for our health.

I have heard of people recovering from OCD after safe amalgam removal. My anxieties and phobias cause me and my family a lot of stress, but I remain hopeful that my anxiety levels will decrease once I am completely amalgam free. As the years have gone by I've learnt how to manage my phobias, but the panic attacks can strain relationships and friendships and I am doubtful of ever having a romantic relationship because most people can't cope with my phobias. I find I cope with life better on my own because then I can do what I like without awkward questions.

But while the phobias are connected to OCD, there is a difference. With the OCD I had to do physical or mental rituals all day, but the phobias affect me differently. If I am not in a situaion that triggers one, I am ok. I've thus learnt to minimise the expose.

I have a phobia of being poisoned now, but am trying to get it under control. I lost a lot of weight by avoiding so many foods, but now I live by the rule of "in moderation" and so have put weight back on - by this I mean mostly soya and non-organic foods.

I have had improvement in health since getting some amalgams out - I'm going slowly with the removal because of how badly I believe I was affected when the amalgams were put in - so I have no doubt that I am mercury poisoned. Most people don't believe me, though, so I don't really talk about it with anyone.

But I do believe improvement is possible from OCD. Whether we will ever be completely anxiety free I don't know - I try to remain realstically hopeful - but ny own experiences and those I've heard of give me great encouragement that OCD is often caused by heavy metal toxicity and thus once the toxicity is reduced the symptoms subside.