Emerging scientific understanding underscores a crucial connection between nutrition and mental wellbeing, revealing that inadequate intake of essential nutrients can have significant consequences for health.
Among these, vitamin B12 stands out due to its vital role in maintaining the proper function of both nerves and brain tissue. The severity of B12 deficiency was dramatically illustrated by Michelle Griff’s recent experience, which left her severely debilitated.
Michelle recounted a harrowing period during which she initially struggled to comprehend why she couldn’t speak or move. As she explained in a recent video, “I was so naive about what the next two years would look like.”
She continued, “Thinking I had a virus and that I would be okay in a few days, this was the beginning of the most terrifying thing I’ve ever been through. I couldn’t even talk or hold a conversation. My whole body was in chronic pain. I had heart palpitations, slurred speech, a drooping face, and chronic neurological symptoms.”
Even after initiating treatment with B12 injections, Michelle was informed that recovery could be a lengthy process spanning several years.
Her ongoing challenges include:
- Digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, excessive gas, and persistent pain.
- Pain described as comparable to the intensity of labor contractions.
- Chronic dizziness.
- Episodes of leg weakness (“My legs go jelly still…”)
Michelle acknowledged that while she is significantly improved from her worst days, these symptoms persist.
The National Health Service (NHS) corroborates this understanding, stating that vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia commonly manifests in a wide array of symptoms that develop gradually and worsen over time if left unaddressed.
As the NHS advises, “See a GP if you’re experiencing symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia.”
The organization further emphasizes: “These conditions can often be diagnosed based on your symptoms and the results of a blood test. It’s important for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.”
Treatment typically involves either injections or oral supplements, with the duration of treatment varying depending on both the cause and severity of the deficiency.
Injections are frequently employed initially to rapidly restore B12 levels, particularly in cases of severe deficiency.
