Your back story sounds similar to mine, regarding the anxiety and depression.
Back in February, when our first cases showed up here in Seattle, I knew what was coming. I started to stock my freezer a bit and ordered seeds for my garden. But beyond having a little extra time to physically prepare, I couldnāt have prepared for the emotional aspects. I found myself in a constant state of anxiety, near and sometimes in total panic. I wasnāt sleeping. My gut was always burning with worry and my chest was constantly constricted. Even though I practice mindfulness meditation daily, it was providing little relief. I remained Keto for the most part, but definitely reverted back to eating my feelings by making tons of Keto treats and big complicated meals, all of which I was eating ALL DAY AND NIGHT. I was most certainly over consuming carbs. Put too many low carb foods together and eat them all dayā¦the result was a small weight gain, mind fog, body aches and depression.
So I started Keto over again. I stopped the treats and complicated meals. I went back to Keto basics like bacon, eggs and steak. I opened up my tracker and began tallying and planning again. I decided not to attempt extended fasts for now but did reinstitute the four and six hour eating windows. Throwing myself into the procedural aspects of dietary compliance allowed me to focus my nervous energy in a positive way. Iām still cooking, but Iām cooking stuff Iāve planned for and eating it at designated times.
I also took on the task of cleaning up my yard and converting my hobby seasonal veggie garden to a year round one. By the time this year is over, I hope to have much more permaculture going on back there. But itās at least eight hours a day of back breaking work, which leads to physical exhaustion at night- no more insomnia.
On the mental front, Iām so glad I started my meditation practice months ago. Because so much time is spent wondering if youāre even doing it right, itās not a short term solution to stress and anxiety. But I think it does help me focus my attention more productively and allows me a little grace. What HAS helped me in the short term is EFT practice (tapping). I use an app called the Tapping Solution. Itās normally kind of spendy, but theyāve opened up a huge portion of their library for free right now, in response to our current circumstance. Iām not your typical new age-y kind of gal. I donāt know why tapping works. I only tried it because my OB/GYN recommended it for increased anxiety due to peri menopause. But it does work. Itās like it surgically removes all the emotional discomfort.
So the results thus far have been some new weight loss, although itāll be a while yet before Iām back down to my lowest ever and can start focusing on new weight loss. My mind is much more clear and the fog head has abated. And while Iām still grieving the losses of people I know, missing my kids and parents, worrying about the world over more acutely than I ever knew I could, Iām finding that I can hold them, without lashing out behaviorally to my own detriment in an effort to numb them. With that, I find pockets of space that hold gratitude and hope. It sounds like youāve begun the process of carrying forward in our new circumstance as well. Just remember, on the daily, to summon for yourself the same grace and compassion you summon for others.