A friend with depression

#1

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#2

YES!!
I am off my medication since commencing keto, and managing pretty well despite severe PTSD.
I have just started zero carb one week ago and can feel a change in my mood since then.
I suppose you would call it more mellow - less stressed.

Just my experience.
I wish your friend well and send much love.
It is a bugger of thing to deal with xx

#3

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(Running from stupidity) #4

It can. But it’s not a miracle cure, that needs to be stressed. My symptoms decreased initially (as did my ADHD symptoms, slightly), and it’s def not as bad as it has been, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the actual issues. I got triggered a bit a while back (significant increase in stress) and now am back on the depression rollercoaster. Still full keto, and it’s not as BAD as it was, but it’s not GOOD either.

One of the ways it helps is that other things improve - often weight, pains, brain fog, and so on. So tangential to the depression but an overall improvement.

Having said all that, I have a meeting today with my psychiatrist about my ADHD meds, and one of the discussion points will be the depression and the how of dealing with it.

#5

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(Running from stupidity) #6

I suspect I’ll need it - to quote my doctor: “Give him one last chance, juice, and then we’ll see about finding someone new next year if this meeting is like all the others.” :slight_smile:

(Michael King) #7

I wish you well.

#8

Carnivore works best for me. Low-ish carb paleo (under 100 carbs) is better than SAD but I saw little benefit going keto from paleo.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #9

What REALLY helps my depression, especially if I’m having a terrible almost-can’t-make-it-through-work day is exercise and lemme stress, I absolutely HATE exercise, but the feel good chemicals that I get afterward last a few days. And for those who can’t get out of bed or put on pants they feel so bad, lay there and do leg lifts while you cry. You gotta start somewhere.

(Mike W.) #10

Sometimes I feel like we’re long lost brothers…

(Lazy, Dirty Keto 😝) #11

Like @juice said, it has definitely helped with my depression in the sense that I have more mental clarity and I feel like I am able to process things a little more easily as a result. If that makes sense. But it hasn’t actually “gotten rid” of my depression. I think it has, more or less, helped me manage it more easily. But then again, is there really a “cure” for depression? It’s all about managing it, in my opinion.

(Bob M) #12

I think it depends on what causes your depression. I had some depression, likely caused by/exacerbated by very low fat, high carb eating. That went away. Now, I’m never depressed.

This woman has some interesting articles on her site. Here’s one:

#13

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#14

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#15

You are welcome :slight_smile:
I was on antidepressants for over 20 years.
They made my life hell, but depression would have ended my life so they were a necessary evil.
The change came about for me when I was diagnosed coeliac at 60 years of age.
I started feeling so much better off grains (I didnt look for gluten free alternatives - just cut those foods out of my diet).
That led me to paleo and it was a natural progression to move towards carb restriction and then keto.

All the while my mental health was lightening and I was secretly reducing my medication dose.
I finally admitted to my family and doctor that I had been drug free for three months which really surprised everyone!
At the time I was dealing with severe grief over the loss of my husband to cancer, as well as serious trauma related to my job.
I now no longer work due to PTSD, but I have resisted attempts to get me back on drugs.
My doctor is supportive and I believe I am far more stable on this WOE than I ever was on drugs.

I have now moved into a carnivore state for a while to see if that will just lift that last little bit of darkness I have. Who knows?

I wish your friend well. It is a long, hard, lonely journey but there are options that may suit some people that are not drug dependant. Then again, maybe drugs are OK for your friend and a low carb/keto/carnivore diet will give a great additional boost.
xx

(CharleyD) #16

I concur with @juice that it depends on where the depression originated. With trauma, it’ll only resolve with dealing correctly with what caused the trauma but nutrition absolutely will help. Get away from sugar and Omega 6 fatty acids and the brain can heal itself with good fats.

Some books I grabbed to help me with my own issues below:

For trauma:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC0Q0C/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

For nutrition:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N802BNX/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWREER7/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

(Nancy Shah) #17

I’m a psychologist and I love keto but diet cannot treat trauma!!! It can make you feel better temporarily, but what your friend really needs is a therapist, preferably doctoral level trained and certified in EMDR. I have seen this treatment work miracles in even the most heinous trauma situations. Please have your friend google it and read the book “Getting Past Your Past” by Francine Shapiro. Trauma does not and cannot heal by diet alone. Trust me on that one!

#18

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(Omar) #19

keto can take the depression from “hopeless” to “can live with”
Not a cure

(Running from stupidity) #20

True, but it’s not capable (in all people) of stopping it crashing back to “hopeless.”