Hey hi there! Have you got your heavy metals in blood checked? I think that's something which could help you a lot absorb that's really good for your body from the diet. I had iron deficiency since ever. I got to know it s the aluminum in my body which is hindering the iron absorption or even some very essential vitamins .
Can we normalise not just posting all the positive stuff? Transparency is so important. You’re doing great, Lauren. Keep going! I’m so much the same with falling off the wagon. My ADHD brain likes to forget about the long game 🫠
A SETBACK IS NOT A RETURN OF THE ILLNESS. You've come so far 🎉 And I know you will be feeling better soon. Your determination has always been incredible. It still is!! I love you. ❤
Your looking amazing! As someone who worked in bars and the service industry for 12 years I became very good (at least I think so) at reading faces. And your face body language had dramatically changed. I thought you used to look like you were permanently pushing through living (struggling). Now you look so much more alive. So nice to see Lauren. ❤❤❤❤❤
Being on antilsychotics will make any human, schizo or not, really ugly. Clearly those pills dont make life any easier since she tried to reject them to begin with, but then neither does Americas pressures on peasants like myself and her any easier either. On or off antipsychotics. Now that any of you see this^^^pls understand why people are committing suicide more often now more than ever. This is not the time to be putting more pressure on anyone right now.
There's actually a secondary aspect to this that I think is worth mentioning because it's interesting. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder can cause flat affect, where you have reduced facial expression. As far as I'm aware, there are currently no medications that can treat flat affect. But I feel like I've noticed a remarkable increase in expressiveness in Lauren in these videos since she started keto, she looks so much more alive and happy - suggesting this may be one of the few treatments that actually improves flat affect. I have really bad flat affect myself so this is giving me hope and now I'm even more interested in trying keto than I was before.
@@JesusGreenBL True. Maybe there's also other types of diets that can improve this side effects. Maybe to some X diet is more effective, while to others Y diet is the way to go... to another Z diet... etc It's worth to try these things for sure and to invest on this treatments.
Thanks Lauren, my son is also on a 2:1 medical ketone diet to treat his treatment resistant schizoaffective disorder. His ketones fluctuate mostly between 2.8 to 5.5. If it drops below 1.8 he also feels off with drepressive symptoms. Your journey gives him hope to also be able to reduce his medication one day. ❤
I did Keto for a year and it caused a lot of instability and anxiety. I lost weight consistently and felt good physically but my moods were very very unstable. So, I stopped the keto diet and everything went back to normal. Remember that ketosis causes extra strain on the liver and kidneys. Obviously, everyone is different.
@@davidcool756According to scientific research ketosis is not difficult on the liver and kidneys. It can cure a fatty liver. Unless, you reach a ketone reading in the 7's, which is starvation. If you are interested in understanding the science of Metabolic therapy read Dr. Chris Palmer's book, Brain Energy. The you tube channel Metabolic Mind has a host of information as well.I wish you and your brother best!
@@davidcool756 The notion that liver and kidneys are negatively impacted by protein is a myth (spread by vegans). It's sugars, mainly fructose that damage those organs.
I found the opposite, helped greatly with my anxiety and depression episodes and hadn't felt so good in years. I did it lose weight so that was a positive effect from it that came with it without knowing. The only thing I find is keto is a hard diet to maintain and nowadays as long as I cut certain foods out I still feel okay.
@@xwanyatx So has our 2 daughters with bipolar and one with bipolar and schizoaffective. It has made all the difference in their mental health as well as physical health
Ketones of .2 means you were no longer in ketosis! This is a good wakeup call, and I'm glad you were able to experience the withdrawal effects of going off your medicine without anything more drastic happening. Keep it up!
I think this is a good example of how challenging this treatment plan can be. It's hard to imagine someone who is working class being able to access this kind of treatment if they are just trying to survive, unfortunately. But I hope that we find ways to make effective treatment more accessible for everyone in the future.
Metabolic therapy has completely changed my life. Within the first month, all of my horrible bipolar symptoms were gone. My memory has significantly improved and I lost 28 pounds in three months. Yes, it is challenging, but so worth it! There are resources available to help if you do the research. For me life began at sixty-three. My husband and I are considered middle class ❤
@@CashMoneyMoore if someone lives in a food desert and works multiple jobs it can still be much harder to buy fresh/healthy/appealing food and have the time and energy to prepare healthful meals.
Knowing yourself better and where things go wrong is so very underrated, and not just by those with mental illness. From my own experience, it was very easy to fall back into old negative expectations and needed reinforcement and encouragement that what I'm working on with myself will eventually produce results. Little steps or big steps forward, no matter the difficulty, are the only way of getting beyond the finish line to the next goal. Falls, slips or trips are easier to avoid when you are aware of what's causing the obstructions. Lauren, keep at it! I'm so happy to see you're not letting it get the best of you, and you're doing the best for yourself! You got this!!!
Psilocybin mushrooms have certainly had a beneficial effect on my mental health. They've been quite effective for me in managing my anxiety and depression.
Yeah. More people should try psychedelics. Not only in a medical environment because in some countries they are illegal. But with the right set and setting they can do wonders.
Your videos are important because they are educating people that mental illness is a very real brain disorder, with real deficits and constant hiccups in a person’s ability to perform. You are de stigmatizing this illness. It also highlights that much more research and better drugs must be developed to help those who are suffering. You are a lovely woman, whose bravery is helping multitudes. God Bless, and Thank you!
I’m loving the lighting in this video, the white light and less background colors, or maybe it’s the color correction really makes your skin and especially your eyes pop. It’s just really well done from a photography and editing perspective!
I have a 55yr old brother who has schizophrenia...coming from a 3rd world country with no access to different medical interventions for this condition the way a lot of you do, nonetheless, i remain hopeful that my brother will be okay... someday. Thank you Lauren for your posts as they help me understand my brother more.
you and rob are so lucky to have each other, just a random thought :) I hope someday I will find someone that cares for me when i'm doing well and when i'm not. I just think that people are so disposable nowadays, and replaceable - at least in the short term sense - via apps and the whole culture around that... that I don't see a future that me having a bad spell will be met with dedication by anyone. I think you two are lucky to have each other, because you take so much responsibility and accountability for how you are doing, and your interactions with him... and he is so supportive and dedicated to you. I hope things for you and your family are the way that i've seen them portrayed for us. Its easy to pretend to have and live a life that people actually don't online, this seems to radically honest and transparent in contrast. Also, am glad I found this channel at a point in my life where i'm really leaning into being healthier and doing better and addressing the problems I have... and one day, I hope anyways, companionship will be one of the things I work on. Looking back from where I am now, I realize that if I had a partner in life who was half as supportive and dedicated as rob is - or half as accountable and responsible for their wellbeing as you are - then I would likely have lived so differently, and so much better. The biggest barrier for me doing well and living well, is probably that I pursued a lifestyle of almost radical isolation and seclusion for the last 20 years at every chance I had the option to. It has not gone well for me, and the difficulties i've had to wrestle with have often been handled in unhealthy and counterproductive ways, which I would have likely addressed differently if I had accountability to and support of someone else in my life. Wishing us all the best in our collective journeys
As usual - you’re searching to find what (number) of things can be affecting how you feel. Even when not at your best, you’re still quite insightful. I think it’s important to think of the medical ketogenic process as putting your symptoms in remission not curing it. I may be wrong but that’s why being vigilant about your ketone levels is important. So glad you are managing to bring the levels back up & feel better now.🙏🏼💗
There is some evidence that it could be curative. Children using it for epilepsy often go on the diet for 1-2 years and are able to transition off of it and not have their seizures return. Remains to be seen for mental health treatment
Honestly schizophrenia and schizoaffective is a really difficult thing to deal with, but you’re a very inspiring and kind person and you’re doing great things! You have nothing to be ashamed of bc you’re an amazing person who reaches out to those who also deal with this horrible disorder. Thank you for your informative and useful videos and keep up the good work!
I watched a boy on a show. And he said it’s OK to not be OK. I loved that and you’re doing really good. I fallen off the keto wagon and increased medication’s and things and I feel tired from them. I’m gonna try to get back on ketoLauren, you’re doing great. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a wonderful mother wife friend.
I'm so sorry you fell off of the keto wagon 😢. It can be very difficult at times. All of my bipolar symptoms are gone, which is amazing. I'm struggling at the moment. I haven't cheated, but the past few days have been rough. There is room for you here in the wagon. I wish you the best. Hugs❤
I wish you feel better. I love to hear your clear and beautiful voice. I like to listen to your experiences. It helps, teaches us to have a understanding. Thank you. Be well 😊
Hi Lauren, have been on keto after doing research prompted by your videos in January. I want to say thank you. For sharing your experiences, as someone with schizophrenia I understand how daunting it can be to talk about everything going on. And for introducing me to the keto diet for schizophrenia, my symptoms, while not completely gone, have all improved dramatically. You're doing great work with this channel! Thank you!
Thank you for this! ❤ First of all, I want to express my deep appreciation for your honesty and authenticity. So many of us are following your mental health journey and rooting for you, but also are learning through your willingness to share. I did wonder about your macro ratios. I wondered if people should use body fat or food sources of fat to run on.. I am doing keto for mental health now too but I reduced my fat intake and thought maybe "true ketosis" was turning body fat to ketones.. I also stopped tracking macros a couple of weeks ago and noticed that I need more coffee, I don't have the "emotional stamina" I did.
Thanks for sharing how you troubleshoot your problems that arise, Lauren. I never noticed a difference between my ketone levels and how I felt. Sometimes ketones were high and I felt bad, and that never made sense to me. I still had a few lingering symptoms, so I switched over to the Lion Diet. Literally ground beef patties for breakfast and lunch, and a ribeye for dinner. I’ve been feeling good, but my ketones are lower which worries me (like .4, .7, .9 range) I just bought a jar of beef tallow, so maybe I’ll try cooking my steaks in it for extra fat. The good news is the lingering symptoms have gone away. No major anxiety, or the nausea that went with it. No intrusive thoughts. I believe I read in the comments of one of your videos to try carnivore if not all of my psychiatric symptoms went away. So thanks for having such useful dialogue on your channel. Have a great weekend! I wish your family and you the best.❤️
I am so happy that you have the tracker to help you understand what is happening in your body. I celebrate the science based support community you have to help you with your journey to better health. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
thank you. After watching your videos, i have been to my doctors, and I'm getting help for years. I thought what I was going through was normal. I now know different and now getting help
This was an important step in your journey, Lauren! You are a total rockstar and I'm so proud of your tenacity, courage and heart! Sending you warm hugs and prayers. Shalom 🤍🙏🕊
Bare down on the diet, especially as you go through the taper. Fasting has been a huge help to me. You look and sound great, we can all tell your on your way to success. 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Lauren. I hope you are well. I remember my experience several years ago after my licensed medical psychiatrist proscribed lithium bicarbonate medication without antipsychotic medication, I was consciously aware, myself, that my symptoms indicated my need for sleep, nutrition especially when I chose exhaustive schedules. My family relationships are damaged. My priority is establishing continuity of my relationships with my minor children who are the alchemical captains of my soul.
The same thing happens to me whenever I stop wheighing and counting everything I eat. My ketone levels drop and I start feeling bad. I also need to be above 3 to be free of my symptoms. It´s so worth it to keep tracking everything I eat, but I get so tired of it... It's hard work being in deep ketosis all the time. You are not alone! I've done this mistake a lot of times now, so I'm planning to make a whole bunch of recipes that has the right macros and then only eat from those meals. That way I don't have to weigh and count the macros for every meal, because I know that as long as I follow them I will be alright. I hope that will work for me. Maybe something like that could help you too
Yes I agree with that. I eat almost the same thing every day because I tracked and logged and know what foods and the right amount put me into ketosis!
I only just found your channel today and i've spent the last few hours watching your content, I've learned so much about myself and it's given me a lot of hope for my future. It's sad to hear that you're struggling and I sincerely hope things turn around for you - you're an awesome person and while I'm not qualified or knowledgeable enough to offer any advice I just wanted to write a few words of encouragement because It's clear you've helped many people on their journey of understanding and accepting themselves. Thank you for being courageous enough to share your journey with the world, we appreciate you!
That's interesting that intermittent fasting is sort of a "last resort". I've been doing IF for 6.5 years (without keto), and I love it. I'm actually about to try the Keto diet for 30-60 days (depending on how it goes), so I tested my ketones after fasting only 12-16 hours 3 different days, and was surprised to find I already hit 0.5-0.7 on a daily basis just from that. Excited to see how keto combines with this! Thank you for your honest videos, your journey has really been inspirational to me.
You are doing so well and it makes sense that there is a learning curve for all of this! 👍🥰 There is nothing wrong with tracking your ketones and diet more closely-many people, for a variety of reasons (ie Type I diabetes) have to closely track their diet. It is a small price to pay for the amazing results you are experiencing 👍 Keep up the great work!!! ❤
I've dealt with mental health issues as well for 20 years, now in my 40s... I do recommend 30-45 minutes a day of different types of exercises, especially cardio. I've had no choice but to do it to keep myself level.
You are very brave. I learn a lot from your experiences. Although I have my reservations about the intervention, simultaneously I pray that it will work out fine. This also gives me some hope and perspective for my son's treatment of his mental illness.
You are so courageous Lauren, sending you courage and strength of heart, have confidence, you've got this far and that was immensely demanding, you'll get through this, you will.
some days it's two steps forward and one step back with short term and long term goals. Adjusting your schedule especially with young children you may find more time for yourself for your own school networking when they start back to daycare, mother's day out programs and public/private education - just keeping going and don't give up your hopes and dreams. Best wishes for you and yours!
I think your health journey is great inspiration. I had a message come up clear in my mind today which is to listen to the thirst signal. 🙂 I experience thirst quite early, before I get a dry mouth.. so I realize I get more water and fluids than I need simply by not listening.
I think ideally all of us should be diligent about our health. It's just that for you and people trying the same path of treatment this diligence is more vigilant.
Honestly enjoyed the vlog about the ketogenic diet. Diet and exercise have also helped me very much to stay focused and 'on top of things'. Thanks to the Living Well with Schizophrenia channel!
🥰🥰🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (near Toronto) I totally understand your desire to be cured. I’m struggling with type 2 diabetes. To keep my blood sugars close to normal without meds I have to follow low carb which is a challenge. I wish you the best to always remember that you have to be diligent. I didn’t know about a continuous keto monitor. I believe that is the best for you. I have a continuous glucose monitor and it keeps me on track. Keep up the good work. You can do this. I support you! ❤
I'm wondering if you also could get irregular ketone levels in situations where blood sugar rises for other reasons than food, such as stress, fighting sickness like a cold, things like that. Exercise is known to lower blood sugar levels, so less exercise could cause a rise, like when travelling for long distances. There's a few reasons why brain fog could occur too, which might not always be for the reasons . I like what someone said about the gut biome too, and some artificial sweeteners can interfere with it in some people more than others. There's a lot of interesting theories that could be explored. It's great that you're getting the support you need, and how proactive they are in helping to figure things out when the unexpected arises. That's something going very right.
*reasons expected. This keyboard does weird things sometimes. Apologies. I suppose every commentator should also come with a disclaimer that we're not your doctor, but I figured you knew that by not having hired us. There can be a lot of helpful insight online, but of course it wouldn't be appropriate for any trained and licensed doctor or health practitioner to assume any stranger on the internet is their patient, let alone people who are not trained and licensed to practice medicine. Something feels odd yet slightly amusing that everyone might need a disclaimer for every conversation about health, even when it's obviously not itself medical advice but a sharing of information learned from allegory. Much of my own information about sugar and ketones came from having a reason to learn about diabetes and weightloss. I had to sort through information from allegories and experts alike for years and cross reference it. I also mostly phrased what I said in questions so you might have an idea what you could look into if you wanted to follow it up. Whether I'm licensed to give health advice or not, that wouldn't be a license to practice medicine for a specific person I've never met, and I acknowledge that. Everyone should. I aim to keep what I say general for a reason. I don't know of any reason a person can't or shouldn't share their personal allegorical information unless they've sign an NDA, have a court order, or it would in some way cause harm or break the laws where the speaker is, and in terms of general health information it has been my experience that the less people know about how health works the more harm it can cause. Sometimes information is the remedy, and truth shouldn't be a commodity. We're human (except the bots of course, sorry bots lol), even all the experts are human (right?), and that deserves acknowledgement too. We're all likely to need the benefit of common knowledge at some point, even if we need to look at it discerningly and verify information. I hope we can take some things in good humour, I hear that's good for our health. Wishing everyone well.
Hey you’re awesome! Doing great. I’m glad you are feeling a little bit better. I posted a comment on your last video. I am also doing medical Keto and have been for about a year…exactly a year in 5 days. I feel like for people like us, and when I say US…I mean people who have a chronic and severe debilitating mental illness where medications and other treatments have only partially worked and those benefits are short lived or just not acceptable. There’s a lot of people out there like I just described. It’s unfortunate that that this treatment-resistant population really doesn’t get talked about much at all because of stigma and also because of the treatment challenges. Though my depression feels like this long rope of sharp emotional pain that has lasted forever…it’s not exactly like that. Those are just the thoughts and feelings that come up when you have lived with this for so long. DEMORALIZATION. I am 43 now and my depression started at age 16 and never left, so 27 years. People should talk about it more, the extremes of mental illness…the details. You do a great job with this 👏 Probably the longest run of bed depression, I call it, where I literally did not leave my bed…only to go to the bathroom, and go downstairs to eat something and when I couldn’t get myself to go downstairs, I had someone to bring me food in bed. 8 months of that. I didn’t want to live but I was too scared to take my own life. That’s not a life. That was the longest bed depression, but I had many more that lasted 6 months, 4 months, 3 months, 1 months, 2 weeks etc. I did a rough estimate of the time I have lost being bedridden from depression and it adds up to 5+ years. So yeah it can be tough carrying all that history around for me. Anyway. I find this Medical keto treatment to be a miracle in a lot of ways, though imperfect. I’m in a similar situation in the sense that I was doing really great, then I call it like a shift where I went from really joyous and my cognition/memory was amazing…100%…have never experienced that before Keto and energy levels and stamina for physical exercise and mental tasks endless. Not so much Hypomanic but just really well for 5 months, to then what I call a shift where the first thing I noticed was the memory and mental decline and also my mood started to go down. But I was still able to do the keto diet and get high readings. I still am able to, but I’m not totally convinced that there is a direct link to ketone levels and mood state. I still am able to do exercise everyday, cold therapy, fasting, etc. I was actually experimenting with some extremes to see what might get me back on track. 3-4 very cold showers (5-10 mins) a day, doing some HIIT for exercise twice a day, mainly sprinting or going hard on a challenging hike close by for an hour. Doing what might be called a Fat Bomb…not completely sure but my versions. A little bowl of a few spoons of almond butter and some walnuts or pecans on top, then drenched in coconut oil and mix it into a syrup and eat that just to get that high fat absorbed with other macros. I do other ones with guacamole and eggs and some others. It’s not the most palatable thing but it really helps get the ketones up. Also drenching healthy food, whole food, in olive oil whenever possible is a good way to keep ketone levels up. Also I do MCT oil as well and that is a great additional tool to boost ketone levels. I do 2-3 TBSP 2-4 times a day in morning coffee and other times herbal tea. If I do that at along with some fasting and a lot of fat added to meals, usually in the form of olive oil and butter, I at least know through my monitor readings that I will not go lower than 1.5-2.0 mm and usually higher like 3.0 and above. But dips down to .5-.8 definitely do happen if I neglect one of these things. if you do use MCT oil, just be careful with your stomach! You have to build up slowly so your gut adjusts. Can give really bad diarrhea if too much too soon. It is hard to say what is what in my situation right now. The course of my illness taking over or something I am missing with the diet and the treatment. But I’m going as hard as I am able to most of the time…doing all of these things. There is no way I could have been able to do all this stuff and have the energy/motivation before medical Keto. It would have been either bed depression or a mixed state of ongoing dysfunction and depression. At least in this current slump I am still able to do these all things to help myself and like cook for myself etc, that’s huge! very empowering. I might be turning a corner in the past couple of days with some new things I’m trying but early days. I find that in the past, any short slump was corrected by messing with water and electrolyte intake. Either drinking more water with hymilayqn salt and electrolyte powder together, or just more water alone, or some variation for a few days usually got me back on track and sticking with it. I’ve tried a lot of stuff in the past 6-7 months of this slump but recently drinking electrolyte powder in water with added salt might be helping, just more concentrated and less water through out the day. So I am unconditionally sticking with this treatment because I know it’s the best thing treatment wise that I have discovered. You are doing great, and I commend you for doing your TH-cam channel and spreading good information to help people suffering. Especially in your journey with getting better…not easy I can imagine. I have been on Latuda or Lurasidone 3-4 different times in different combos. I have been on all of the Atypical Antipsychotics for TRD multiple times in different combos. I’ve been through the mill and back. It was actually helpful with my depression, but an hour after I took it I would get this unbearable akathisia for the night, I couldn’t bear it and I’m a trooper!…put up with a lot of side effects but after 3 weeks of that I couldn’t take that feeling. Horrible if you know what I mean. Even on 10mg, still akathisia. I think that you should titrate very slowly. 5mg per month sounds good like you said. But I don’t think there’s a rush. Maybe even 2.5mg a month to really smooth it out and re-assess after a month before titrating again. As long as you eventually reach your goal of getting off this med, while trying not to rock the boat because these rebound/withdrawal symptoms are absolutely real and that is probably a big part of the picture right now for you, along with other factors. I’m in the same situation with Klonopin, which has been brutal to get to where I am now. I went too quick last titration. Instead of .25mg down every month, which I had been doing for a while, I decided to try going down from 2.5mg daily to 2mg, and that set off some really bad rebound depression and now social anxiety…which is why I took klonopin (up to 5mg daily) for years. So it’s a process! but this track I feel like is the right track and I will keep trying everyday to get back to remission with this treatment, as I am sure you will too. I thought I would share some of my experience, but yours is different, as is everyone’s, and you can be up and running in no time. My slump has been extended and there are many factors, but you just keep going. Hope you are tip top soon!!
Lower readings on ketone levels can also mean, you are utalizing more of the ketones that are produced. The high numbers in the beginning might likewise be because you werent adapted to actually using them for fuel yet.
I don't have schizophrenia, but I do suffer anxiety and depression. The keto diet is definitely helping me and to withdraw from two strong psyc meds. Thank you Lauren for highlighting the benefits of keto. I've not ever been able to reduce my medications without having awful withdrawals.....so far so good now I'm eating keto 😊
Been following you for about 2 years - since my last admission. I decided to go back and watch your very first video 5 years ago. WOW you've come so far! It must be amazing to have it all documented like that. You certainly have a gift there Lauren!
3 meals a day I think is too much. Your body all it does all day long is to digeste food. I am in deep ketosis, when I have only a meal a day! I know shocking that someone can actually survive with only one meal a day. 😮 I think exercise it’s great, unfortunately I don’t do much. I actually got an amazing job because my mind is now incredibly clear and focused. Before I couldn’t even focus to read for 10 minutes. Now I feel happy, healthy and accomplished. I did suffered from depression and anxiety for as long as I remember. Good luck to you Lauren, I love seeing your content! I think you are amazing ❤
This sounds weird, but gun powder scales measure very small weights, and my dad used it to reduce his dosage of a medication. I know you’re in Canada, so I assume a compounding pharmacy might not be as expensive there. But I figured I’d mention there is a way to do it at home. I have to be very careful with tapering stuff myself, so I totally get it.
Hey Lauren, I was thinking that for someone who struggles, or has stuggled in the past, with an eating disorder this seems like it could very quickly and easily slip into dangerous territory. One is required to heavily focus on and scrutinize their food intake all day long and obsessively look at their macros, fat, calories, protein levels etc. And it's a very well-known fact that a by-product of a ketogenic diet is weight-loss. It seems like a very consuming program for the average person, but for a person with a disordered relationship with food and their body/weight, it seems like it could become obsessive or dangerous. I have never tried a ketogenic diet, but I have recovered from an eating disorder. I don't want to make assumptions or put my own triggers onto something that isn't really an issue. So I'm wondering if you have thoughts about someone who may be watching and wanting to try this, but also struggles with eating disorders?
Hello, I've battled various unsettling experiences too, such as being haunted by dark triad entities, among other things, and one of the most disturbing aspects has been the wild, vivid nightmares until they became reverse nightmares when i turned 16 and real life became depressing and the dreams during night sweet and beautiful, not to mention the surreal cross-synchronization of my 5 senses where I tasted colours, or felt and seened geometric patterns in various smells or even mention of certain concepts or even mere words themselves. These experiences often felt so alien and discomforting that I questioned my place in the world, feeling as though something was inherently wrong with existence itself collectively, along with the world, and the human body, in which this heightened sense of over-thinking duality made it seem as if my consciousness, my 'true' self, was separate from my human body. It was as if my mind, my gender, my organs, and all the physical aspects of my being were merely a vehicle, with "I" as the energy and observer driving it.
Sounds like some trips I've heard of. I hope you don't mind me bringing it up, it's just of interest to me. I've been told that with the same neural pathways that some drugs affect, sometimes in certain people other things can trigger those pathways. The senses switching is known as synesthesia, and it really is a fascinating condition. Some people see colours, but tasting them is also possible. It's a fairly benign condition itself so far I've heard, although in some cases might get intense simply because it's to do with the senses, which is why anything could be overwhelming. I have had some experiences of sensory swapping without drugs, so I know it can happen. When stressed, the body and especially the brain is capable of incredible ways of reworking itself to find ways of coping, and I wonder if for most people who see things when stressed it might have to do with that function. Neuroplasticity is amazing too, but it can be for better or for worse. Good and bad can be somewhat subjective and arbitrary values sometimes, which interact more with the sub- and unconscious parts of the mind than the conscious part. Some stress is considered good stress, not all bad stress. Even happiness puts a kind of stress on the body, but some stresses are needed to live and function. It's when we ignore or repress something stressful that it can get dysregulated and the body/mind has to find alternatives to get our attention. I find it's common that what's repressed is what becomes haunting, if not that some senses pick up on vibrations or how buildings are structured, like when a fan in a lab caused apparent poltergeist activity. Our instincts are also geared to get creeped out in liminal spaces so we could find a way back out, so we might not be consciously aware of why our instincts get riled if in a space with no windows and doors, for example, or no people. I don't necessarily have all the answers though, and I could be missing information. It's something a person can try to assess for themselves what their instincts are trying to tell them. It could be something intangible like a social structure, or policies. Whatever reality is, we're simply born here into it without explanation. It might be more important to simply do the best we can with what we've got, which can at least improve the experience of it. I don't think there's anything wrong with you for having those experiences, and see from what you wrote you've been doing the best you can. To get this far at least shows you've succeeded so far. You've made it through experiences not everyone could even relate to. For that, maybe you'll be the one with wisdom to share that not everyone has access to. I personally would love more stories I could see from perspectives like yours available to read or watch, if people like yourself are willing to share them. Whatever you choose, I hope you get what you need and things will be well.
@@arlenefisher1164 better, the more i share with others , including bad weed highs, the better it is, knowing that i'm not the only one with these things.
@@thewatcher7823 marijuana is quite of a powerful thing to me, next time i used it, i did so carefully and considered dose relationship dependance and it's effects. I preferred after that getting milder buzzes than reaching it's maximum peak effects.
Great experiment! Maybe you could also try integrating hormonal balancing into your daily routine? Nothing big, just little things like sound, smell, scenery, are a few things that have some level of impact on our hormone levels. Keep going and I wish you all the success!
IF and increasing fat to protein ratio, exercise and sleep are perfect. At some point, your body actually becomes so efficient at using ketones,so it naturally starts to utilize those ketones that you were expelling. Make sure that you’re counting total carbs- not net carbs. You’re doing fantastic Lauren!
If you read / listen to post-grad nutritionists (on the whole, not any particular one) on the subject of keto, the aspects that they still tend to be on the fence about is its 1) sustainability--how long, on average, people will stick with it; and 2) how long the effects can be maintained, at least without other problems ensuing. Some keto diets are undoubtedly healthier and more sustainable than others long-term, so just keep working with and adjusting for the long game as necessary. A friend's daughter who has Dravet Syndrome has depended heavily on a keto approach to minimize her symptoms as much as possible for at least 8 years now, so it can be done and the medical community is keenly aware of its beneficial application for the brain in cases like hers. They can't help but at least suspect that the potential exists for it to benefit other conditions that involve brain function.
My son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. He had his 1st appointment to start a keto diet and possibly water fasting with a naturalpathic dr. Will get a treatment plan next week after she asseses all of his meds , bloodwork and med records. Hopeful❤️
I dropped down 20mg on my med over a span of months, and it's still hard. But--on month 5--I'm finally doing better. I'm definitely doing better mentally than I was before I started Keto. Thanks again for sharing your journey.
I’m schizoaffective too. I’ve been feeling really good over the past 20 years, the side effect that I had is I feel hungry all the time. They wanted to change my meds but by doing so the doctor won’t know what I would feel like if started a different type of meds, so I decided not to change.
Hello and thanks for the video. My son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and was sent a hospital for ECT. So when I went to visit him there he was in bad shape, but luckily I was able to get him transferred from that hospital.
I agree with the slow tapering of antipsychotics. When I was taking the lowest possible dose of seroquel (quetiapine), my psychiatrist told me I could just stop it. So I tried to stop it, but the side effects made me the sickest I've ever been in my life. I had to start cutting these super small pills in half and I tapered them until I was maybe taking half a pill per week. Then I was able to stop taking them completely without any side effects. There's a massive difference between the lowest dose and no dose.
Have a look at the free PDF -- A Method for Tapering Antipsychotic Treatment That May Minimize the Risk of Relapse. It may explain the particular difficulty you had in withdrawing from quetiapine. It has one of the shortest elimination half lives of any psychiatric drug, at just six hours. So the withdrawal effects are very immediate and pronounced. The quacks who blithely prescribe these toxic drugs for all manner of off-label uses, in children as well, should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
Lauren, as an aside, I know that your blinking used to bother you, when others noticed it, and I have NOT seen blinking in quite a while. As others have mentioned your entire demeanor is more animated in a very natural way, and the blinking excessively is gone imo☺️. Another positive thing from all of your hard work. I wonder what Rob thinks, because it’s one of those things that when it’s not happening, it looks so normal, it took me a while to notice that, in addition to other positive results, this was a change for the good as well, and I’m sure people always tell you, even when you had the blinking issue, your eyes are still very beautiful. My adult daughter has POTS and EDS. I wonder if a drastic change in diet and exercise would help some of her excessive fatigue.
It makes perfect sense that exercise would increase the body's demand for energy and sends the signal to your liver to create more ketones. Logically, any moderate to intense exercise would have the same effect. You might have mentioned it before but heavy weight training might be helpful also.
I have had periods of outright hallucinations and delusional thoughts for up to six months at a time since having worked back the major breakdown (age 27- 34). What happened in that time was Dr. Hoffer’s Orthomolecular diet plus Dr. Hoffer. A ton of therapy and having to ditch my plans for my life. The latter both released family programming and tension of a bad economy and also I created my depressions; which aren’t normal for me . But depressions for me create schizoaffective manic episodes and to all of this a voice in a period of me struggling has managed to surface that (literally as anyone with actual schizophrenia will tell you) has said: “Jacquie is any of this real?”. Very bold clear and to the front and to which I could imagine reply “not really. Get rid of this”. It helps me get rid of OCD issues which inhibits my ability to see clearly and creatively as to how to address my health and lifestyle. A simple reassessment is an I getting enough healthy fats. Is there too much of any type of sugar in my diet. More greens.
Keep it up and thanks for sharing! As a keto coach I know tracking food could be stressfull but for medical tx its very important! And remember, life could be hard somerimes. Its ok not to feel ok sometimes.
FWIW, the run likely did not directly increase ketone production, but it did likely exhaust free carbohydrates and available glycogen stores (if any). For people who have a complex history with food, it can be helpful just to track (but not analyze) your food. Your brain will pick up on patterns over time and automatically adjust toward your goals. Then, periodically, sit down and see what your macros were a week or two ago. That information is still useful for developing a mental model that you can apply intuitively, and there's a lot less risk of triggering strong negative emotional responses to your food habits and sense of self-worth.
If a specific diet is the only thing keeping you from requiring the meds, and the meds are not desirable due to their side effects, then it may be best to never stop tracking and recording your intake, and treat it as a necessary component of your lifestyle moving forward. It seems it would be very hard to consistently intake specific ratio of macros without recording and tracking it. If tracking your intake closely forever is too burdensome, then it should be factored in as a cost of the keto intervention when weighing whether keto is actually a preferable alternative to the meds you've been taking (or other forms of treatment.)
Starting to think most health problems are just metabolic disorders… Which makes sense why especially in the US the reporting of illness across the board went up with the invention of mass production of food and the use of white flour etc… It also seems like medical keto is so so difficult to maintain on an ongoing basis…
Tracking is critical for me just for weight loss. I have a spreadsheet where I write down everything I eat every day so if I see an up blip, I can review it to see what happened. Take care of yourself, love from a Western grad now living in Barcelona.
Well said. Well done. Very impressive determination. 👏👏👏👏Your journey is giving hope to the rest of your brothers and sisters all over the world. No pressure.💕😊Thank you!
What she is explaining is the symptoms of withdrawal and Ketogenic diet helps with the symptoms- so when your off or lighten up you will feel the symptoms. Not everything is the “pre existing condition” which is a good thing but we need to help edit ourselves
I’m so sorry you’ve been having a rough time, but thanks so much for sharing and being honest, it’s hugely helpful. I just introduced MCT oil and have found it to really help my ketone levels.
My other thought about diet and this was confirmed by the dr was I noticed coloring additives alcohol yeast fermented foods etc would cause flares. So when the body or the immune system is hyper inflamed those things do cause flares. It basically kicks it up a notch but doesn’t necessarily cause the inflammation.
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines may be a good resource to help minimize withdrawal symptoms while tapering. It was published this year and is available on Amazon.
Also a nice one is breathing techniques. Keeping your body alkaline is crucial i believe. During ketosis you can become quite acidic! So staying calm and breathing, also cold immersion in water and doing mindfullness meditation is key! Thanks for sharing this btw! source: Wim Hof
This is really interesting. I think our liver reduces carbohydrates into glucose, so the brain runs on glucose rather than Ketones. Although I don’t have schizophrenia, I’m mega interested in how diet effect how our brain functions. I’ve been vegetarian for 16 months and have monitored my moods, it’s making me think that B12 deficiency can cause us real issues. Keto diet is very appealing, but as a vegetarian, it seems a lot harder. I know people who only eat meat and nothing else, they can manage their weight a lot better but suffer with the low carb headaches. Thanks for updating us and being transparent. I wish you the best
I did Hellofresh for 3 weeks. I mainly had chicken meals. I noticed that my schizophrenia had improved and I don't crave tasty meals as much. Been taking Olanzapine for years now. I have reduced to 7.5mg now and I only hear voices for 1-2 hours a day. If I am honest I probably should take 10mg but I'm not because I'm worried about weight gain on this meditation causes. I tried 2.5mg but that did not help with my schizophrenia.
Olanzapine does not cause weight gain. Weight gain is caused by a caloric surplus. If you continue to eat properly and exercise every day, you will not gain weight no matter how much Olanzapine you take.
Once you find the pharmacy, you should try their formula on the same dose that you are currently using. In my country, a small dose variation is acceptable compared to the medication you buy at the pharmacy. If everything is ok for a few months, then proceed to the 10% reduction.
You have the answer, “Stay consistent.” People who deal with a loved one with mental illness get tired of the “baby steps” or one step forward and two steps back.
Thanks for continuing to keep sharing all the ups and downs of this experience for you. It is a good reminder that sometimes change takes more time and effort than we expect.
Take care of yourself (we all know that you will!) -- there are a lot of people who may never meet you IRL but who care about you. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. ♥
Thank you so much for the vulnerable transparency! I'm heading back towards medical ketosis now and your tips are such a blessing.Thank you for showing the realistic picture of the ups and downs. Wishing you well on your return to consistent threes in your ketone production! How's that for a specific encouragement? 😉😀
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Long term us of anthypsictics caused you irreversible cerebral dysfunctions
I see dead people and my cereal talks to me .
Hey hi there! Have you got your heavy metals in blood checked? I think that's something which could help you a lot absorb that's really good for your body from the diet. I had iron deficiency since ever. I got to know it s the aluminum in my body which is hindering the iron absorption or even some very essential vitamins .
Can we normalise not just posting all the positive stuff? Transparency is so important. You’re doing great, Lauren. Keep going! I’m so much the same with falling off the wagon. My ADHD brain likes to forget about the long game 🫠
Having trouble understanding basic English?
Can't solve algebra equations, unless they are written on paper. Listen and read more closely, "the text book doesn't read."
Dr syl
@@ThePsudoAntagonist ?
@@laratheplanespotter she seems so much different from her normal videos.
A SETBACK IS NOT A RETURN OF THE ILLNESS.
You've come so far 🎉
And I know you will be feeling better soon. Your determination has always been incredible.
It still is!! I love you. ❤
Beautifully said ❤
@@Lo-jh3so thanks 🫂❤️🔥
Your looking amazing! As someone who worked in bars and the service industry for 12 years I became very good (at least I think so) at reading faces. And your face body language had dramatically changed. I thought you used to look like you were permanently pushing through living (struggling). Now you look so much more alive. So nice to see Lauren. ❤❤❤❤❤
Being on antilsychotics will make any human, schizo or not, really ugly. Clearly those pills dont make life any easier since she tried to reject them to begin with, but then neither does Americas pressures on peasants like myself and her any easier either. On or off antipsychotics.
Now that any of you see this^^^pls understand why people are committing suicide more often now more than ever. This is not the time to be putting more pressure on anyone right now.
@@TheMindian001idk my antipsychotic works for me. Makes me feel very normal and allows me to work everyday.
And I’m on the same one as Lauren.
Exactly. When I opened this video I thought immediatly: "she looks so pretty and fresh". Even the way she moves her arms looks less heavier."
There's actually a secondary aspect to this that I think is worth mentioning because it's interesting. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder can cause flat affect, where you have reduced facial expression. As far as I'm aware, there are currently no medications that can treat flat affect. But I feel like I've noticed a remarkable increase in expressiveness in Lauren in these videos since she started keto, she looks so much more alive and happy - suggesting this may be one of the few treatments that actually improves flat affect. I have really bad flat affect myself so this is giving me hope and now I'm even more interested in trying keto than I was before.
@@JesusGreenBL True.
Maybe there's also other types of diets that can improve this side effects. Maybe to some X diet is more effective, while to others Y diet is the way to go... to another Z diet... etc
It's worth to try these things for sure and to invest on this treatments.
Thanks Lauren, my son is also on a 2:1 medical ketone diet to treat his treatment resistant schizoaffective disorder. His ketones fluctuate mostly between 2.8 to 5.5. If it drops below 1.8 he also feels off with drepressive symptoms. Your journey gives him hope to also be able to reduce his medication one day. ❤
I did Keto for a year and it caused a lot of instability and anxiety. I lost weight consistently and felt good physically but my moods were very very unstable. So, I stopped the keto diet and everything went back to normal. Remember that ketosis causes extra strain on the liver and kidneys. Obviously, everyone is different.
Thanks for sharing the liver impact as my brother needs to be careful with his liver.
@@davidcool756According to scientific research ketosis is not difficult on the liver and kidneys. It can cure a fatty liver. Unless, you reach a ketone reading in the 7's, which is starvation. If you are interested in understanding the science of Metabolic therapy read Dr. Chris Palmer's book, Brain Energy. The you tube channel Metabolic Mind has a host of information as well.I wish you and your brother best!
@@davidcool756 The notion that liver and kidneys are negatively impacted by protein is a myth (spread by vegans). It's sugars, mainly fructose that damage those organs.
I found the opposite, helped greatly with my anxiety and depression episodes and hadn't felt so good in years. I did it lose weight so that was a positive effect from it that came with it without knowing.
The only thing I find is keto is a hard diet to maintain and nowadays as long as I cut certain foods out I still feel okay.
@@xwanyatx So has our 2 daughters with bipolar and one with bipolar and schizoaffective. It has made all the difference in their mental health as well as physical health
Im proud of you for being so honest. ❤
Ketones of .2 means you were no longer in ketosis! This is a good wakeup call, and I'm glad you were able to experience the withdrawal effects of going off your medicine without anything more drastic happening. Keep it up!
I think this is a good example of how challenging this treatment plan can be. It's hard to imagine someone who is working class being able to access this kind of treatment if they are just trying to survive, unfortunately. But I hope that we find ways to make effective treatment more accessible for everyone in the future.
Metabolic therapy has completely changed my life. Within the first month, all of my horrible bipolar symptoms were gone. My memory has significantly improved and I lost 28 pounds in three months. Yes, it is challenging, but so worth it! There are resources available to help if you do the research. For me life began at sixty-three. My husband and I are considered middle class ❤
Not sure what class has to do with it, you can prep 2 meals a day and be in nutritional ketosis no matter your income level
@@CashMoneyMoore if someone lives in a food desert and works multiple jobs it can still be much harder to buy fresh/healthy/appealing food and have the time and energy to prepare healthful meals.
This is exactly what I was thinking throughout this entire thing.
Knowing yourself better and where things go wrong is so very underrated, and not just by those with mental illness. From my own experience, it was very easy to fall back into old negative expectations and needed reinforcement and encouragement that what I'm working on with myself will eventually produce results. Little steps or big steps forward, no matter the difficulty, are the only way of getting beyond the finish line to the next goal. Falls, slips or trips are easier to avoid when you are aware of what's causing the obstructions. Lauren, keep at it! I'm so happy to see you're not letting it get the best of you, and you're doing the best for yourself! You got this!!!
Lauren you're such a good person. Your online dbt group meetings on discord helped me SO much a few years ago.
Psilocybin mushrooms have certainly had a beneficial effect on my mental health. They've been quite effective for me in managing my anxiety and depression.
Yeah. More people should try psychedelics.
Not only in a medical environment because in some countries they are illegal. But with the right set and setting they can do wonders.
Can I order from levishroomies if I'm in MN?
Your videos are important because they are educating people that mental illness is a very real brain disorder, with real deficits and constant hiccups in a person’s ability to perform. You are de stigmatizing this illness. It also highlights that much more research and better drugs must be developed to help those who are suffering. You are a lovely woman, whose bravery is helping multitudes. God Bless, and Thank you!
Yes, its so easy to hope that the problems are solved and so difficult to realise that it will be probably a lifelong struggle for us.
I’m loving the lighting in this video, the white light and less background colors, or maybe it’s the color correction really makes your skin and especially your eyes pop. It’s just really well done from a photography and editing perspective!
I have a 55yr old brother who has schizophrenia...coming from a 3rd world country with no access to different medical interventions for this condition the way a lot of you do, nonetheless, i remain hopeful that my brother will be okay... someday. Thank you Lauren for your posts as they help me understand my brother more.
you and rob are so lucky to have each other, just a random thought :)
I hope someday I will find someone that cares for me when i'm doing well and when i'm not. I just think that people are so disposable nowadays, and replaceable - at least in the short term sense - via apps and the whole culture around that... that I don't see a future that me having a bad spell will be met with dedication by anyone. I think you two are lucky to have each other, because you take so much responsibility and accountability for how you are doing, and your interactions with him... and he is so supportive and dedicated to you.
I hope things for you and your family are the way that i've seen them portrayed for us. Its easy to pretend to have and live a life that people actually don't online, this seems to radically honest and transparent in contrast.
Also, am glad I found this channel at a point in my life where i'm really leaning into being healthier and doing better and addressing the problems I have... and one day, I hope anyways, companionship will be one of the things I work on. Looking back from where I am now, I realize that if I had a partner in life who was half as supportive and dedicated as rob is - or half as accountable and responsible for their wellbeing as you are - then I would likely have lived so differently, and so much better. The biggest barrier for me doing well and living well, is probably that I pursued a lifestyle of almost radical isolation and seclusion for the last 20 years at every chance I had the option to. It has not gone well for me, and the difficulties i've had to wrestle with have often been handled in unhealthy and counterproductive ways, which I would have likely addressed differently if I had accountability to and support of someone else in my life.
Wishing us all the best in our collective journeys
As usual - you’re searching to find what (number) of things can be affecting how you feel. Even when not at your best, you’re still quite insightful. I think it’s important to think of the medical ketogenic process as putting your symptoms in remission not curing it. I may be wrong but that’s why being vigilant about your ketone levels is important. So glad you are managing to bring the levels back up & feel better now.🙏🏼💗
There is some evidence that it could be curative. Children using it for epilepsy often go on the diet for 1-2 years and are able to transition off of it and not have their seizures return. Remains to be seen for mental health treatment
I would spend longer than a month per decrease, be suuuuper careful. Two months at least
Honestly schizophrenia and schizoaffective is a really difficult thing to deal with, but you’re a very inspiring and kind person and you’re doing great things! You have nothing to be ashamed of bc you’re an amazing person who reaches out to those who also deal with this horrible disorder. Thank you for your informative and useful videos and keep up the good work!
I watched a boy on a show. And he said it’s OK to not be OK. I loved that and you’re doing really good. I fallen off the keto wagon and increased medication’s and things and I feel tired from them. I’m gonna try to get back on ketoLauren, you’re doing great. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a wonderful mother wife friend.
I'm so sorry you fell off of the keto wagon 😢. It can be very difficult at times. All of my bipolar symptoms are gone, which is amazing. I'm struggling at the moment. I haven't cheated, but the past few days have been rough. There is room for you here in the wagon. I wish you the best. Hugs❤
It’s hard. I hope you aren’t being too hard on yourself.
Yeah! This most be horrible in the first place! She don´t deserve anything else negative! Really feel for her! Damn!
@@Besotted85 this is getting kinda old... or should i say, what novel levels of communication..
I wish you feel better. I love to hear your clear and beautiful voice. I like to listen to your experiences. It helps, teaches us to have a understanding.
Thank you. Be well 😊
I've watched You progress. You're doing fantastic!! We're here in your corner, beautiful ❤
Hi Lauren, have been on keto after doing research prompted by your videos in January. I want to say thank you. For sharing your experiences, as someone with schizophrenia I understand how daunting it can be to talk about everything going on. And for introducing me to the keto diet for schizophrenia, my symptoms, while not completely gone, have all improved dramatically. You're doing great work with this channel! Thank you!
God bless you !!!!!!!!
Thank you for this! ❤
First of all, I want to express my deep appreciation for your honesty and authenticity. So many of us are following your mental health journey and rooting for you, but also are learning through your willingness to share. I did wonder about your macro ratios. I wondered if people should use body fat or food sources of fat to run on.. I am doing keto for mental health now too but I reduced my fat intake and thought maybe "true ketosis" was turning body fat to ketones.. I also stopped tracking macros a couple of weeks ago and noticed that I need more coffee, I don't have the "emotional stamina" I did.
Thanks for sharing how you troubleshoot your problems that arise, Lauren. I never noticed a difference between my ketone levels and how I felt. Sometimes ketones were high and I felt bad, and that never made sense to me. I still had a few lingering symptoms, so I switched over to the Lion Diet. Literally ground beef patties for breakfast and lunch, and a ribeye for dinner. I’ve been feeling good, but my ketones are lower which worries me (like .4, .7, .9 range) I just bought a jar of beef tallow, so maybe I’ll try cooking my steaks in it for extra fat. The good news is the lingering symptoms have gone away. No major anxiety, or the nausea that went with it. No intrusive thoughts. I believe I read in the comments of one of your videos to try carnivore if not all of my psychiatric symptoms went away. So thanks for having such useful dialogue on your channel.
Have a great weekend! I wish your family and you the best.❤️
I am so happy that you have the tracker to help you understand what is happening in your body. I celebrate the science based support community you have to help you with your journey to better health. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Thanks!
Good luck Lauren, be careful! 🙏
thank you. After watching your videos, i have been to my doctors, and I'm getting help for years. I thought what I was going through was normal. I now know different and now getting help
This was an important step in your journey, Lauren! You are a total rockstar and I'm so proud of your tenacity, courage and heart! Sending you warm hugs and prayers. Shalom 🤍🙏🕊
Bare down on the diet, especially as you go through the taper. Fasting has been a huge help to me. You look and sound great, we can all tell your on your way to success. 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Lauren. I hope you are well. I remember my experience several years ago after my licensed medical psychiatrist proscribed lithium bicarbonate medication without antipsychotic medication, I was consciously aware, myself, that my symptoms indicated my need for sleep, nutrition especially when I chose exhaustive schedules. My family relationships are damaged. My priority is establishing continuity of my relationships with my minor children who are the alchemical captains of my soul.
The same thing happens to me whenever I stop wheighing and counting everything I eat. My ketone levels drop and I start feeling bad. I also need to be above 3 to be free of my symptoms. It´s so worth it to keep tracking everything I eat, but I get so tired of it... It's hard work being in deep ketosis all the time. You are not alone! I've done this mistake a lot of times now, so I'm planning to make a whole bunch of recipes that has the right macros and then only eat from those meals. That way I don't have to weigh and count the macros for every meal, because I know that as long as I follow them I will be alright. I hope that will work for me. Maybe something like that could help you too
Yes I agree with that. I eat almost the same thing every day because I tracked and logged and know what foods and the right amount put me into ketosis!
I only just found your channel today and i've spent the last few hours watching your content, I've learned so much about myself and it's given me a lot of hope for my future. It's sad to hear that you're struggling and I sincerely hope things turn around for you - you're an awesome person and while I'm not qualified or knowledgeable enough to offer any advice I just wanted to write a few words of encouragement because It's clear you've helped many people on their journey of understanding and accepting themselves. Thank you for being courageous enough to share your journey with the world, we appreciate you!
That's interesting that intermittent fasting is sort of a "last resort". I've been doing IF for 6.5 years (without keto), and I love it. I'm actually about to try the Keto diet for 30-60 days (depending on how it goes), so I tested my ketones after fasting only 12-16 hours 3 different days, and was surprised to find I already hit 0.5-0.7 on a daily basis just from that. Excited to see how keto combines with this!
Thank you for your honest videos, your journey has really been inspirational to me.
You are doing so well and it makes sense that there is a learning curve for all of this! 👍🥰 There is nothing wrong with tracking your ketones and diet more closely-many people, for a variety of reasons (ie Type I diabetes) have to closely track their diet. It is a small price to pay for the amazing results you are experiencing 👍 Keep up the great work!!! ❤
I've dealt with mental health issues as well for 20 years, now in my 40s...
I do recommend 30-45 minutes a day of different types of exercises, especially cardio.
I've had no choice but to do it to keep myself level.
You are very brave. I learn a lot from your experiences. Although I have my reservations about the intervention, simultaneously I pray that it will work out fine. This also gives me some hope and perspective for my son's treatment of his mental illness.
You are so courageous Lauren, sending you courage and strength of heart, have confidence, you've got this far and that was immensely demanding, you'll get through this, you will.
some days it's two steps forward and one step back with short term and long term goals. Adjusting your schedule especially with young children you may find more time for yourself for your own school networking when they start back to daycare, mother's day out programs and public/private education - just keeping going and don't give up your hopes and dreams. Best wishes for you and yours!
I think your health journey is great inspiration. I had a message come up clear in my mind today which is to listen to the thirst signal. 🙂 I experience thirst quite early, before I get a dry mouth.. so I realize I get more water and fluids than I need simply by not listening.
Keto + IF + exercise are great for overall health including cancer prevention, not just mental problems, so they're really worth sticking to.
I think ideally all of us should be diligent about our health. It's just that for you and people trying the same path of treatment this diligence is more vigilant.
Honestly enjoyed the vlog about the ketogenic diet. Diet and exercise have also helped me very much to stay focused and 'on top of things'. Thanks to the Living Well with Schizophrenia channel!
🥰🥰🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (near Toronto) I totally understand your desire to be cured. I’m struggling with type 2 diabetes. To keep my blood sugars close to normal without meds I have to follow low carb which is a challenge. I wish you the best to always remember that you have to be diligent. I didn’t know about a continuous keto monitor. I believe that is the best for you. I have a continuous glucose monitor and it keeps me on track. Keep up the good work. You can do this. I support you! ❤
I'm wondering if you also could get irregular ketone levels in situations where blood sugar rises for other reasons than food, such as stress, fighting sickness like a cold, things like that. Exercise is known to lower blood sugar levels, so less exercise could cause a rise, like when travelling for long distances. There's a few reasons why brain fog could occur too, which might not always be for the reasons .
I like what someone said about the gut biome too, and some artificial sweeteners can interfere with it in some people more than others.
There's a lot of interesting theories that could be explored.
It's great that you're getting the support you need, and how proactive they are in helping to figure things out when the unexpected arises. That's something going very right.
*reasons expected. This keyboard does weird things sometimes. Apologies.
I suppose every commentator should also come with a disclaimer that we're not your doctor, but I figured you knew that by not having hired us. There can be a lot of helpful insight online, but of course it wouldn't be appropriate for any trained and licensed doctor or health practitioner to assume any stranger on the internet is their patient, let alone people who are not trained and licensed to practice medicine. Something feels odd yet slightly amusing that everyone might need a disclaimer for every conversation about health, even when it's obviously not itself medical advice but a sharing of information learned from allegory.
Much of my own information about sugar and ketones came from having a reason to learn about diabetes and weightloss. I had to sort through information from allegories and experts alike for years and cross reference it. I also mostly phrased what I said in questions so you might have an idea what you could look into if you wanted to follow it up.
Whether I'm licensed to give health advice or not, that wouldn't be a license to practice medicine for a specific person I've never met, and I acknowledge that. Everyone should. I aim to keep what I say general for a reason. I don't know of any reason a person can't or shouldn't share their personal allegorical information unless they've sign an NDA, have a court order, or it would in some way cause harm or break the laws where the speaker is, and in terms of general health information it has been my experience that the less people know about how health works the more harm it can cause. Sometimes information is the remedy, and truth shouldn't be a commodity.
We're human (except the bots of course, sorry bots lol), even all the experts are human (right?), and that deserves acknowledgement too. We're all likely to need the benefit of common knowledge at some point, even if we need to look at it discerningly and verify information.
I hope we can take some things in good humour, I hear that's good for our health.
Wishing everyone well.
Hey you’re awesome! Doing great. I’m glad you are feeling a little bit better. I posted a comment on your last video. I am also doing medical Keto and have been for about a year…exactly a year in 5 days. I feel like for people like us, and when I say US…I mean people who have a chronic and severe debilitating mental illness where medications and other treatments have only partially worked and those benefits are short lived or just not acceptable. There’s a lot of people out there like I just described. It’s unfortunate that that this treatment-resistant population really doesn’t get talked about much at all because of stigma and also because of the treatment challenges. Though my depression feels like this long rope of sharp emotional pain that has lasted forever…it’s not exactly like that. Those are just the thoughts and feelings that come up when you have lived with this for so long. DEMORALIZATION. I am 43 now and my depression started at age 16 and never left, so 27 years. People should talk about it more, the extremes of mental illness…the details. You do a great job with this 👏
Probably the longest run of bed depression, I call it, where I literally did not leave my bed…only to go to the bathroom, and go downstairs to eat something and when I couldn’t get myself to go downstairs, I had someone to bring me food in bed. 8 months of that. I didn’t want to live but I was too scared to take my own life. That’s not a life. That was the longest bed depression, but I had many more that lasted 6 months, 4 months, 3 months, 1 months, 2 weeks etc. I did a rough estimate of the time I have lost being bedridden from depression and it adds up to 5+ years. So yeah it can be tough carrying all that history around for me.
Anyway. I find this Medical keto treatment to be a miracle in a lot of ways, though imperfect. I’m in a similar situation in the sense that I was doing really great, then I call it like a shift where I went from really joyous and my cognition/memory was amazing…100%…have never experienced that before Keto and energy levels and stamina for physical exercise and mental tasks endless. Not so much Hypomanic but just really well for 5 months, to then what I call a shift where the first thing I noticed was the memory and mental decline and also my mood started to go down. But I was still able to do the keto diet and get high readings. I still am able to, but I’m not totally convinced that there is a direct link to ketone levels and mood state. I still am able to do exercise everyday, cold therapy, fasting, etc. I was actually experimenting with some extremes to see what might get me back on track.
3-4 very cold showers (5-10 mins) a day, doing some HIIT for exercise twice a day, mainly sprinting or going hard on a challenging hike close by for an hour. Doing what might be called a Fat Bomb…not completely sure but my versions. A little bowl of a few spoons of almond butter and some walnuts or pecans on top, then drenched in coconut oil and mix it into a syrup and eat that just to get that high fat absorbed with other macros. I do other ones with guacamole and eggs and some others. It’s not the most palatable thing but it really helps get the ketones up. Also drenching healthy food, whole food, in olive oil whenever possible is a good way to keep ketone levels up. Also I do MCT oil as well and that is a great additional tool to boost ketone levels. I do 2-3 TBSP 2-4 times a day in morning coffee and other times herbal tea. If I do that at along with some fasting and a lot of fat added to meals, usually in the form of olive oil and butter, I at least know through my monitor readings that I will not go lower than 1.5-2.0 mm and usually higher like 3.0 and above. But dips down to .5-.8 definitely do happen if I neglect one of these things. if you do use MCT oil, just be careful with your stomach! You have to build up slowly so your gut adjusts. Can give really bad diarrhea if too much too soon.
It is hard to say what is what in my situation right now. The course of my illness taking over or something I am missing with the diet and the treatment. But I’m going as hard as I am able to most of the time…doing all of these things. There is no way I could have been able to do all this stuff and have the energy/motivation before medical Keto. It would have been either bed depression or a mixed state of ongoing dysfunction and depression. At least in this current slump I am still able to do these all things to help myself and like cook for myself etc, that’s huge! very empowering.
I might be turning a corner in the past couple of days with some new things I’m trying but early days. I find that in the past, any short slump was corrected by messing with water and electrolyte intake. Either drinking more water with hymilayqn salt and electrolyte powder together, or just more water alone, or some variation for a few days usually got me back on track and sticking with it. I’ve tried a lot of stuff in the past 6-7 months of this slump but recently drinking electrolyte powder in water with added salt might be helping, just more concentrated and less water through out the day. So I am unconditionally sticking with this treatment because I know it’s the best thing treatment wise that I have discovered.
You are doing great, and I commend you for doing your TH-cam channel and spreading good information to help people suffering. Especially in your journey with getting better…not easy I can imagine.
I have been on Latuda or Lurasidone 3-4 different times in different combos. I have been on all of the Atypical Antipsychotics for TRD multiple times in different combos. I’ve been through the mill and back. It was actually helpful with my depression, but an hour after I took it I would get this unbearable akathisia for the night, I couldn’t bear it and I’m a trooper!…put up with a lot of side effects but after 3 weeks of that I couldn’t take that feeling. Horrible if you know what I mean. Even on 10mg, still akathisia.
I think that you should titrate very slowly. 5mg per month sounds good like you said. But I don’t think there’s a rush. Maybe even 2.5mg a month to really smooth it out and re-assess after a month before titrating again. As long as you eventually reach your goal of getting off this med, while trying not to rock the boat because these rebound/withdrawal symptoms are absolutely real and that is probably a big part of the picture right now for you, along with other factors. I’m in the same situation with Klonopin, which has been brutal to get to where I am now. I went too quick last titration. Instead of .25mg down every month, which I had been doing for a while, I decided to try going down from 2.5mg daily to 2mg, and that set off some really bad rebound depression and now social anxiety…which is why I took klonopin (up to 5mg daily) for years.
So it’s a process! but this track I feel like is the right track and I will keep trying everyday to get back to remission with this treatment, as I am sure you will too. I thought I would share some of my experience, but yours is different, as is everyone’s, and you can be up and running in no time. My slump has been extended and there are many factors, but you just keep going. Hope you are tip top soon!!
Lower readings on ketone levels can also mean, you are utalizing more of the ketones that are produced. The high numbers in the beginning might likewise be because you werent adapted to actually using them for fuel yet.
I don't have schizophrenia, but I do suffer anxiety and depression. The keto diet is definitely helping me and to withdraw from two strong psyc meds. Thank you Lauren for highlighting the benefits of keto. I've not ever been able to reduce my medications without having awful withdrawals.....so far so good now I'm eating keto 😊
Been following you for about 2 years - since my last admission. I decided to go back and watch your very first video 5 years ago. WOW you've come so far! It must be amazing to have it all documented like that. You certainly have a gift there Lauren!
3 meals a day I think is too much. Your body all it does all day long is to digeste food. I am in deep ketosis, when I have only a meal a day! I know shocking that someone can actually survive with only one meal a day. 😮 I think exercise it’s great, unfortunately I don’t do much. I actually got an amazing job because my mind is now incredibly clear and focused. Before I couldn’t even focus to read for 10 minutes. Now I feel happy, healthy
and accomplished. I did suffered from depression and anxiety for as long as I remember. Good luck
to you Lauren, I love seeing your content! I think you are amazing ❤
This sounds weird, but gun powder scales measure very small weights, and my dad used it to reduce his dosage of a medication. I know you’re in Canada, so I assume a compounding pharmacy might not be as expensive there. But I figured I’d mention there is a way to do it at home. I have to be very careful with tapering stuff myself, so I totally get it.
Hey Lauren, I was thinking that for someone who struggles, or has stuggled in the past, with an eating disorder this seems like it could very quickly and easily slip into dangerous territory. One is required to heavily focus on and scrutinize their food intake all day long and obsessively look at their macros, fat, calories, protein levels etc. And it's a very well-known fact that a by-product of a ketogenic diet is weight-loss. It seems like a very consuming program for the average person, but for a person with a disordered relationship with food and their body/weight, it seems like it could become obsessive or dangerous.
I have never tried a ketogenic diet, but I have recovered from an eating disorder. I don't want to make assumptions or put my own triggers onto something that isn't really an issue. So I'm wondering if you have thoughts about someone who may be watching and wanting to try this, but also struggles with eating disorders?
Hello, I've battled various unsettling experiences too, such as being haunted by dark triad entities, among other things, and one of the most disturbing aspects has been the wild, vivid nightmares until they became reverse nightmares when i turned 16 and real life became depressing and the dreams during night sweet and beautiful, not to mention the surreal cross-synchronization of my 5 senses where I tasted colours, or felt and seened geometric patterns in various smells or even mention of certain concepts or even mere words themselves. These experiences often felt so alien and discomforting that I questioned my place in the world, feeling as though something was inherently wrong with existence itself collectively, along with the world, and the human body, in which this heightened sense of over-thinking duality made it seem as if my consciousness, my 'true' self, was separate from my human body. It was as if my mind, my gender, my organs, and all the physical aspects of my being were merely a vehicle, with "I" as the energy and observer driving it.
How are you doing now?
Sending lots of love your way💕 Peace and positive support also🙏 Cheers from Tracey in Australia 🦘
Sounds like some trips I've heard of. I hope you don't mind me bringing it up, it's just of interest to me. I've been told that with the same neural pathways that some drugs affect, sometimes in certain people other things can trigger those pathways.
The senses switching is known as synesthesia, and it really is a fascinating condition. Some people see colours, but tasting them is also possible. It's a fairly benign condition itself so far I've heard, although in some cases might get intense simply because it's to do with the senses, which is why anything could be overwhelming. I have had some experiences of sensory swapping without drugs, so I know it can happen.
When stressed, the body and especially the brain is capable of incredible ways of reworking itself to find ways of coping, and I wonder if for most people who see things when stressed it might have to do with that function. Neuroplasticity is amazing too, but it can be for better or for worse. Good and bad can be somewhat subjective and arbitrary values sometimes, which interact more with the sub- and unconscious parts of the mind than the conscious part. Some stress is considered good stress, not all bad stress. Even happiness puts a kind of stress on the body, but some stresses are needed to live and function. It's when we ignore or repress something stressful that it can get dysregulated and the body/mind has to find alternatives to get our attention. I find it's common that what's repressed is what becomes haunting, if not that some senses pick up on vibrations or how buildings are structured, like when a fan in a lab caused apparent poltergeist activity. Our instincts are also geared to get creeped out in liminal spaces so we could find a way back out, so we might not be consciously aware of why our instincts get riled if in a space with no windows and doors, for example, or no people. I don't necessarily have all the answers though, and I could be missing information. It's something a person can try to assess for themselves what their instincts are trying to tell them. It could be something intangible like a social structure, or policies.
Whatever reality is, we're simply born here into it without explanation. It might be more important to simply do the best we can with what we've got, which can at least improve the experience of it.
I don't think there's anything wrong with you for having those experiences, and see from what you wrote you've been doing the best you can. To get this far at least shows you've succeeded so far. You've made it through experiences not everyone could even relate to. For that, maybe you'll be the one with wisdom to share that not everyone has access to.
I personally would love more stories I could see from perspectives like yours available to read or watch, if people like yourself are willing to share them.
Whatever you choose, I hope you get what you need and things will be well.
@@arlenefisher1164 better, the more i share with others , including bad weed highs, the better it is, knowing that i'm not the only one with these things.
@@thewatcher7823 marijuana is quite of a powerful thing to me, next time i used it, i did so carefully and considered dose relationship dependance and it's effects. I preferred after that getting milder buzzes than reaching it's maximum peak effects.
Great experiment! Maybe you could also try integrating hormonal balancing into your daily routine? Nothing big, just little things like sound, smell, scenery, are a few things that have some level of impact on our hormone levels. Keep going and I wish you all the success!
IF and increasing fat to protein ratio, exercise and sleep are perfect. At some point, your body actually becomes so efficient at using ketones,so it naturally starts to utilize those ketones that you were expelling. Make sure that you’re counting total carbs- not net carbs. You’re doing fantastic Lauren!
If you read / listen to post-grad nutritionists (on the whole, not any particular one) on the subject of keto, the aspects that they still tend to be on the fence about is its 1) sustainability--how long, on average, people will stick with it; and 2) how long the effects can be maintained, at least without other problems ensuing. Some keto diets are undoubtedly healthier and more sustainable than others long-term, so just keep working with and adjusting for the long game as necessary. A friend's daughter who has Dravet Syndrome has depended heavily on a keto approach to minimize her symptoms as much as possible for at least 8 years now, so it can be done and the medical community is keenly aware of its beneficial application for the brain in cases like hers. They can't help but at least suspect that the potential exists for it to benefit other conditions that involve brain function.
I'm so glad your feeling better and appreciate how sensible you are!❤
My son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. He had his 1st appointment to start a keto diet and possibly water fasting with a naturalpathic dr. Will get a treatment plan next week after she asseses all of his meds , bloodwork and med records. Hopeful❤️
I dropped down 20mg on my med over a span of months, and it's still hard. But--on month 5--I'm finally doing better. I'm definitely doing better mentally than I was before I started Keto. Thanks again for sharing your journey.
I’m schizoaffective too. I’ve been feeling really good over the past 20 years, the side effect that I had is I feel hungry all the time. They wanted to change my meds but by doing so the doctor won’t know what I would feel like if started a different type of meds, so I decided not to change.
I've had schizophrenia all my life since I was 7 years old I'm 34 now I hope everything goes well for you
Hello and thanks for the video.
My son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and was sent a hospital for ECT. So when I went to visit him there he was in bad shape, but luckily I was able to get him transferred from that hospital.
I agree with the slow tapering of antipsychotics. When I was taking the lowest possible dose of seroquel (quetiapine), my psychiatrist told me I could just stop it. So I tried to stop it, but the side effects made me the sickest I've ever been in my life. I had to start cutting these super small pills in half and I tapered them until I was maybe taking half a pill per week. Then I was able to stop taking them completely without any side effects. There's a massive difference between the lowest dose and no dose.
Have a look at the free PDF -- A Method for Tapering Antipsychotic Treatment That May Minimize the Risk of Relapse.
It may explain the particular difficulty you had in withdrawing from quetiapine. It has one of the shortest elimination half lives of any psychiatric drug, at just six hours. So the withdrawal effects are very immediate and pronounced. The quacks who blithely prescribe these toxic drugs for all manner of off-label uses, in children as well, should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
Wow! I am proud of you for learning all of this information and applying it!
Lauren, as an aside, I know that your blinking used to bother you, when others noticed it, and I have NOT seen blinking in quite a while. As others have mentioned your entire demeanor is more animated in a very natural way, and the blinking excessively is gone imo☺️. Another positive thing from all of your hard work. I wonder what Rob thinks, because it’s one of those things that when it’s not happening, it looks so normal, it took me a while to notice that, in addition to other positive results, this was a change for the good as well, and I’m sure people always tell you, even when you had the blinking issue, your eyes are still very beautiful. My adult daughter has POTS and EDS. I wonder if a drastic change in diet and exercise would help some of her excessive fatigue.
It makes perfect sense that exercise would increase the body's demand for energy and sends the signal to your liver to create more ketones. Logically, any moderate to intense exercise would have the same effect. You might have mentioned it before but heavy weight training might be helpful also.
I have had periods of outright hallucinations and delusional thoughts for up to six months at a time since having worked back the major breakdown (age 27- 34). What happened in that time was Dr. Hoffer’s Orthomolecular diet plus Dr. Hoffer. A ton of therapy and having to ditch my plans for my life. The latter both released family programming and tension of a bad economy and also I created my depressions; which aren’t normal for me .
But depressions for me create schizoaffective manic episodes and to all of this a voice in a period of me struggling has managed to surface that (literally as anyone with actual schizophrenia will tell you) has said: “Jacquie is any of this real?”. Very bold clear and to the front and to which I could imagine reply “not really. Get rid of this”.
It helps me get rid of OCD issues which inhibits my ability to see clearly and creatively as to how to address my health and lifestyle.
A simple reassessment is an I getting enough healthy fats. Is there too much of any type of sugar in my diet. More greens.
Your work is so important! Keep it up. Regarding getting kicked out of ketosis, a 36 - 48 hr water fast usually gets me back.
You're so beautiful and strong even with all the struggles and Your hair looks gorgeous! ❤😮
Keep it up and thanks for sharing! As a keto coach I know tracking food could be stressfull but for medical tx its very important! And remember, life could be hard somerimes. Its ok not to feel ok sometimes.
FWIW, the run likely did not directly increase ketone production, but it did likely exhaust free carbohydrates and available glycogen stores (if any).
For people who have a complex history with food, it can be helpful just to track (but not analyze) your food. Your brain will pick up on patterns over time and automatically adjust toward your goals. Then, periodically, sit down and see what your macros were a week or two ago. That information is still useful for developing a mental model that you can apply intuitively, and there's a lot less risk of triggering strong negative emotional responses to your food habits and sense of self-worth.
Keep fighting!!! Take your time you're doing great
If a specific diet is the only thing keeping you from requiring the meds, and the meds are not desirable due to their side effects, then it may be best to never stop tracking and recording your intake, and treat it as a necessary component of your lifestyle moving forward. It seems it would be very hard to consistently intake specific ratio of macros without recording and tracking it. If tracking your intake closely forever is too burdensome, then it should be factored in as a cost of the keto intervention when weighing whether keto is actually a preferable alternative to the meds you've been taking (or other forms of treatment.)
Agree :)
Starting to think most health problems are just metabolic disorders… Which makes sense why especially in the US the reporting of illness across the board went up with the invention of mass production of food and the use of white flour etc…
It also seems like medical keto is so so difficult to maintain on an ongoing basis…
Tracking is critical for me just for weight loss. I have a spreadsheet where I write down everything I eat every day so if I see an up blip, I can review it to see what happened. Take care of yourself, love from a Western grad now living in Barcelona.
Well said. Well done. Very impressive determination. 👏👏👏👏Your journey is giving hope to the rest of your brothers and sisters all over the world. No pressure.💕😊Thank you!
What she is explaining is the symptoms of withdrawal and Ketogenic diet helps with the symptoms- so when your off or lighten up you will feel the symptoms. Not everything is the “pre existing condition” which is a good thing but we need to help edit ourselves
Lauren, you are an inspiration to many, many people.
Your journey is very impressive. Maintaining equilibrium is a lifelong process. Peaceful path your way
You should take great pride in all you have done in the past few years. You are a survivor, have a happy life!!!
Love you and best wishes to you from Minnesota. Thank you for the update.
I’m so sorry you’ve been having a rough time, but thanks so much for sharing and being honest, it’s hugely helpful. I just introduced MCT oil and have found it to really help my ketone levels.
My other thought about diet and this was confirmed by the dr was I noticed coloring additives alcohol yeast fermented foods etc would cause flares. So when the body or the immune system is hyper inflamed those things do cause flares. It basically kicks it up a notch but doesn’t necessarily cause the inflammation.
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines may be a good resource to help minimize withdrawal symptoms while tapering. It was published this year and is available on Amazon.
Also a nice one is breathing techniques. Keeping your body alkaline is crucial i believe. During ketosis you can become quite acidic! So staying calm and breathing, also cold immersion in water and doing mindfullness meditation is key! Thanks for sharing this btw! source: Wim Hof
This is really interesting. I think our liver reduces carbohydrates into glucose, so the brain runs on glucose rather than Ketones. Although I don’t have schizophrenia, I’m mega interested in how diet effect how our brain functions. I’ve been vegetarian for 16 months and have monitored my moods, it’s making me think that B12 deficiency can cause us real issues. Keto diet is very appealing, but as a vegetarian, it seems a lot harder. I know people who only eat meat and nothing else, they can manage their weight a lot better but suffer with the low carb headaches.
Thanks for updating us and being transparent. I wish you the best
I did Hellofresh for 3 weeks. I mainly had chicken meals. I noticed that my schizophrenia had improved and I don't crave tasty meals as much. Been taking Olanzapine for years now. I have reduced to 7.5mg now and I only hear voices for 1-2 hours a day. If I am honest I probably should take 10mg but I'm not because I'm worried about weight gain on this meditation causes. I tried 2.5mg but that did not help with my schizophrenia.
Olanzapine does not cause weight gain. Weight gain is caused by a caloric surplus. If you continue to eat properly and exercise every day, you will not gain weight no matter how much Olanzapine you take.
Once you find the pharmacy, you should try their formula on the same dose that you are currently using. In my country, a small dose variation is acceptable compared to the medication you buy at the pharmacy. If everything is ok for a few months, then proceed to the 10% reduction.
Great idea!
You have the answer, “Stay consistent.” People who deal with a loved one with mental illness get tired of the “baby steps” or one step forward and two steps back.
Thanks for your honesty Lauren. It's really helpful. Your eyes are still super sparkly which is lovely to see . Keep going ❤x
There are a lot of keto foods that could still spike your blood sugar if you aren't eating enough fat to slow it down.
You look well, what your doing seems to be treating you well... positivity!
Thanks for continuing to keep sharing all the ups and downs of this experience for you. It is a good reminder that sometimes change takes more time and effort than we expect.
I so appreciate you and your journey… I’m proud of you❤️
Take care of yourself (we all know that you will!) -- there are a lot of people who may never meet you IRL but who care about you. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. ♥
Excellent, Lauren! You are so lucky to have a keto coach. Definately taper off the anti-psychotic and be patient and watchful.
I hope Lauren can be a coach one day !!!
Thank you so much for the vulnerable transparency! I'm heading back towards medical ketosis now and your tips are such a blessing.Thank you for showing the realistic picture of the ups and downs. Wishing you well on your return to consistent threes in your ketone production! How's that for a specific encouragement? 😉😀
spoil yourself... We love your genuine vulnerability. You heal many people in pain. Your eyes speak to their Soul. Stop being hard on yourself too!