[littlemiss1970]

I know that I'm suppose to eat a balanced diet, exercise, get good sleep and take my meds. Even tho I know these things I still have trouble following them. I eat way to much sugar, pop and I totally skip lunch. The main reason I am asking for help is because I was recently having some really good days then I crashed hard and couldn't stop crying today. I know I'm on the right combo of meds cause I recently had them evaluated by my pdoc and we changed my ad...I started to feel really much better. But today I've had a tough time. My question is do you guys notice feeling like crap If you don't eat well? Is there really proof that there is a link between diet and feeling more stable? A small part of me thinks that diet has nothing to do with it...it's just the wonderful ups and downs of bp. I've just had a really emotional day. Why the hec can I not have consecutive good weeks at a time? If not then why even bother with these dam meds? Please help. I feel so defeated. Sigh

[Crazy Hitch]

You're completely right with your first sentence and I'm sure most others will agree with it and be able to offer you some advice and support here.

I'm no good at offering advice. My mood is now finally "stable" but I'm afraid my diet is cr&p so there's no correlation there.

I guess it's about a lifestyle change really. I tend to move through all or nothing healthy changes.

I did a detox healthy eating plan once and I must admit it did make me feel health. I saw a qualified nutritionist who drew up a plan for me.

For me, personally, my moods don't swing according to my diet but my eating changes once my moods have changed. Depressed = carbs. Hypo = barely eating.

Be well.

[sideblinded]

The answer is absolutely yes.

I totally changed my diet to just protein fruit smoothies, vegetables and only fish and chicken. No soda or junk food and not only did I lose weight but I feel much better. Good luck!

MDD
GAD
ADHD ?

[Mountainbard]

What I eat, and whether or not I take my supplements, has a huge effect on my overall health, mood, and feeling of well-being (or lack thereof.) I've been making a concerted effort to get back to a healthy diet (no sugar, whole foods, healthy protein and reasonable carbs intake) and taking my supplements (b-complex and Omega-3 fish oil), and it's really beginning to make a difference for me. As a start, I quit drinking sugary drinks on the 1st of August, and that has helped me drop some weight, and also keeps me better hydrated, since I drink a lot of water now.

I still get the sugar cravings but they're diminishing. When I do slip and have sugar, especially a sugary drink, I really feel like crap afterwards. So I guess my body's telling me to stick with the healthier regimen, and stay away from the junk food.

Food is a type of chemical, no different than medication. So yes, it makes a huge difference. And if you have a deficiency, it's even more important to pay attention to getting what your body and brain need to function. I had a blood test that showed a B12 deficiency and now have regular injections--huge difference in mental clarity and energy.

If we can only eat so much, there's no point in filling up with crap that does nothing to support our well being. That doesn't mean no donuts or ice cream from time to time, just not all the time. And when I do have ice cream, I make sure it's really good so that it's a special thing (also, tastes better).

[ozzy1313]

I am very depressed right now and pretty much all I am eating is cookies, sweets, peanut butter, and cereal.

I was eating healthy- green smoothies, beans, nuts, etc. Seems like too much work right now, but I am sure my poor diet plays a part in my mood. I also havent' worked out in over a week.

I could have written your post almost word for word today.

[LastQuestion]

The nutrients acquired through a healthy diet provides many benefits which promote stability. It helps reduce the oxidative damage which occurs during episodes and other periods of stress as well as address, in some part, the inflammation that is typical of many mental illnesses. Reducing the physiological damage caused by acute and chronic stress may also mitigate the neuronal cell damage which has been found to be common in individuals with bipolar. By preserving brain tissue from the destructive nature of episodes and mood swings the ability to cope with life stressors could, possibly, be less impaired than it otherwise would be.

Furthermore, many foods contain additives which are harmful (MSG and similar flavor enhancers) and more still promote excessive oxidation, such as sugary foods, and there is evidence that those containing high-fructose corn-syrup can interfere with how insulin interacts with the BLB, which impairs the formation of memory in rats after chronic administration in high amounts. Much remains unknown regarding how many important roles insulin fulfills, but it is certainly diverse.

I could go on about the benefits of diet, and perhaps it may be best to just make a thread condensing all I have learned, but the reality here is that sleep, diet, and exercise are all commonly understood to positively influence mood, cognition, and long-term well-being regardless of whether or not someone has an illness. I can say with confidence that medications don't make people with mental illness normal and even if they did could not replace sleep, diet, and exercise. Our bodies are placed under greater stress than most others and the consequences of neglecting self-care are often proportional to the amount of stress one is under.

In my view, it is not a matter of whether or not good self-care can be beneficial. The issue centers upon how willing one is to make the lifestyle changes necessary to attain the benefits which are possible. Sometimes this can take months, years even, as change is hard, yet it is something which can be done so long as one is determined to change how one chooses to live.

[littlemiss1970]

Thanks for all this info! I appreciate everyone's feedback. Lastquestion, you really have great insight as to how vital it is to take care of our bodies. I really struggle with the sugar I consume. This may sound stupid but yesterday morning I felt really horrible...I had a nutritious breakfast of oatmeal, then actually ate a balanced lunch and by dinnertime I started to feel really good. I avoided the pop and sugar...I think that eating properly really does have a huge impact on one's overall mental health. Again thank you everyone for yr help. I really appreciate it. :-)

[Crazy Hitch]

Thank YOU for bringing up this thread - making me feel a bit naive and that in fact my moods might be correspondent to nutritional intake. I'm thinking twice about that pancake for breakfast with Nutella .....

[littlemiss1970]

Ya oatmeal is very satisfying! What they say about nutrition seems to be really true.

[~Christina]

Yes, What you eat is very important at least I think so.

I avoid carbs like a plague.. They have a depressive effect for me and increase my Fibro pain, I may have a carb once or twice a month. I stick with lean meats a couple times a week , But mainly do veggies and fruit.

Don't think "diet" that seems to always fail. Think of it as a lifestyle change.

Stick to "clean" foods .. meaning avoid 99% of processed food. It's hard at first but you'll feel better physically and mentally . Honestly it's cheaper for me to eat healthy.

Yeah it's fine to treat yourself once and awhile

[Manic Trance]

the best I have ever felt was when I ate this diet for 6 months where I only ate:
Green vegetables
Low glycemic fruits (not tropical basically)
Meat
And really that was it.
I also only drank green tea, not coffee or black tea, eliminated alcohol and stopped smoking cigs and weed... Obvs...
OMG! I became a person I did not recognize and felt terrific! Still there were ups and downs, but I radically narrowed the scope. It was amazing!
Why I couldn't keep it up, is unclear. But, did it work? Oh HELL yes!

[Homeira]

I crashed about two months ago. It got so bad that I seriosly considered to end my life. I have a son, so not being around for him would be the greatest tragedy of all. Cried and cried ( not the sobbing kind of crying, just tears... ). But I have managed to stop smoking, and start eating a lot more vegetables. I stay away from too much fruit. Make veggie-smoothies and vegetable-soups. I get injections of B12, and take iron supplements. Eat some nuts and sunflower-seeds every day. It has made a difference in how I feel. Now I am not as depressed and have more energy. If making changes in your diet seems like too much right now, then take supplements!!! I had a blood-test done and I was very deficient in B12 and iron. make sure to get blood-tests to see if you are lacking in those two. That in itself will make you feel depressed, confused and lethargic. After one month I already feel better!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by littlemiss1970

Ya oatmeal is very satisfying! What they say about nutrition seems to be really true.

Steel cut oats are best. They are not as nearly as processed as quick oats. The result - they have a lower glycemic index, and help you have level blood sugar throughout the day, which, in turn, stabilizes mood.

It took me awhile to switch from instant oats to steel cut oatmeal, but I made the switch and am really happy with the results. Here goes:

1) Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Food Jar, Cranberry: Storage & Organization: Amazon.com

for one person. For two people, they have a larger thermos

2) organic steel cut oats from Trader Joe's or Costco

3) some dried fruit or berries. Berries are more convenient because you do not need to cut them. Costco and Trader Joe's sells packages of dried fruit or berries without preservatives. Trader Joe's non-sorbate pitted prunes are wonderful - they are moist even though there is no preservative (sorbate).

Dried fruit or berry would give you some sugar that your body seems to like, but it will be sugar wrapped in fiber, and sugar wrapped in fiber does not cause your blood sugar to spike as nearly as much.

So before going to bed, boil water and rinse off the thermos with boiling water. Put dried berries on the bottom, covering about 1/3 of the bottom of the thermos.

Add 1/4 cup steel cut oats (I do not have a measuring cup with a spout so I use a funnel to avoid making a mess on the kitchen counter).

Then, pout 3/4 cups of hot water. tighten the screw and go to bed.

4) In the morning, you will have a pleasantly warm oatmeal with puffy, soft fruit or berries waiting for you.

5) You can add sea salt and/or butter for taste. Note that adding butter would also lower the glycemic index of your oatmeal.

Finally, this oatmeal has a good amount of protein, so you will be off to a good start.

If you have several dried options - dried blueberries, raisins, craisins, etc. - and rotate through them, you will have some variety.

Another very good natural sweetener is maple syrup. I get dark grade B maple syrup from Costco and it lasts me forever.

Honestly, this is worth the effort and the taste IS far better. I was decluttering the other day and happened upon a small amount of quick oats. I cooked them in a microwave as I used to do in the past, but the result could not compare with the steel cut oats. So no more quick oats for me.

***

You can also sprinkle flax seeds once you get the oatmeal out of the thermos.

***

Important! Once you have emptied the contents of the thermos into a bowl, put a few droplets of hand dish detergent into the thermos and fill it with water. At some later point, in a few hours, you can easily wash the thermos with a long handle brush. You do not need a special bottle brush for it because the rim is wide.

[littlemiss1970]

Thank you for yr suggestions I really appreciate it. I'll have to go but a thermos as I don't own one. I'm going to take yr advice and try it! I also take omega 3s and b12. I think they help too. My depression is always up and down...I'll have three or four awesome days then I'll crash. I think eating better has alot to do with it. Thx everyone!

[hamster-bamster]

Littlemiss, if you drink weak coffee with milk with your breakfast, it might help, as caffeine is a mild antidepressant and the liquid in coffee cannot hurt, either.

[Standup2me]

I quit coffee, and I feel so much better
I don't have that buzzing feeling anymore

[hamster-bamster]

People's reactions to coffee vary widely - experimenting is the only way to determine yours.

[littlemiss1970]

I love my morning coffee and I can't imagine live without it!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by littlemiss1970

I love my morning coffee and I can't imagine live without it!

You do not have to live without it - it actually protects from Parkinson's. When people react negatively to coffee today, in the here and now, that future protective benefit is not worth it, but since you like coffee, there is no reason not to drink it.

[Homeira]

Hmmmm to coffe or not to coffee... that is the question! well, I drink about two cups of coffee pr day, with milk. I enjoy it, and it doesnt really bother me in terms of my moodswings. But of course, we are all different. There are some decaffinated types of coffee on the market. I drank that for a while when I was going through a very "high" period. At that time regular coffee was too strong for me. That was about four years ago, when I was first diagnosed.

[Bipolartist]

Recently I came out of a "good eating" spell when my zyprexa was increased. Oh my, the insatiable appetite I have when I take more zyprexa. I've heard this is the case with most mood stabilizing meds. It stabilizes my mood, then makes me crave junk (probably because that's all I keep on hand to snack on at night). Then the more crap I eat, the worse I feel... Both because I think a lot of carbs and sugar screw up our blood sugar and they cause weight gain, both of which make me feel like crap. Last night I ate 3 Little Debbie snack cakes right before I went to bed, had crazy dreams and woke up exhausted after 10 hours sleep. Now today I'm depressed and so tired, I'm bloated and feel so fat. Every day is a new day and never too late to stand up to your cravings and start eating healthier. Sugar is addictive, so just like breaking any addiction be prepared to go through some cravings you will have to fight, but the healthier you eat, the better you'll feel and the better you'll feel about yourself.

[littlemiss1970]

Good! Cause I love it and it helps wake me up

[BNLsMOM]

Omega 3 fish oil with a high EPA count is proven to help with mood. It is also amazing for your joints and protects heart health.

There is a book out there that deals with what is called the GAPS diet. It claims to help with mental illness like schizophrenia, depression and even ADD and ADHD. I haven't finished reading it, but there is a diet that goes along with it that supposedly helps people with these issues. I imagine it would balance bipolar as well.

There are lots of websites out there that deal with treating bipolar and depression with nutrition and exercise.

For me, I know when I am eating well, taking my fish oil and vitamins and exercising, I feel more balanced. There are still mood swings, but nothing I would put in the category of my bipolar illness.

[Seaswept]

I struggle bigtime with eating right. I feel better when I eat healthy and lower the amount of carbs. The bipolar brain is impulsive and thats the reason I eat the wrong things, I believe. I eat impulsively. Funny though, when I'm manic, I dont even think about food. I'm too busy to eat lol.