Fired by my psychiatrist?

[@LivingWellAfterSchizophrenia]

JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITIES Metabolic Therapies for Mental Disorders: www.metabolictherapysupport.com/ Schizophrenia Peer Support Community: www.schizophreniapeersupport.com

[@nou712]

So, how exactly does a diet suppress schizophrenia? Is there anything to back this up besides anecdotes? You can't trust your own experiences or senses as a neurotypical person let alone someone with anything schizophrenia related. This doesn't seem like a stable state of affairs, it's just going to cause another relapse. You said it yourself in a video 4 years ago, if you think you don't need your medication it's a sign of going back into psychosis. Have Rob on standby to make sure you get medicated when inevitably things get worse. I'm not surprised this is how your psychiatrist reacted, it's not a back and forth dialogue of what you think is best. You don't have the same training and schooling to know any better. I hope you reconsider all of this.

[@nou712]

So, how exactly does a diet suppress schizophrenia? Is there anything to back this up besides anecdotes? You can't trust your own experiences or senses as a neurotypical person let alone someone with anything schizophrenia related. This doesn't seem like a stable state of affairs, it's just going to cause another relapse. You said it yourself in a video 4 years ago, if you think you don't need your medication it's a sign of going back into psychosis. Have Rob on standby to make sure you get medicated when inevitably things get worse. I'm not surprised this is how your psychiatrist reacted, it's not a back and forth dialogue of what you think is best. You don't have the same training and schooling to know any better.

[@zen7309]

Hope you can get through. GJ GL

[@5p674]

Why not stick with your program and then if you continue to experience symptoms of psychosis, go back on conventional meds.

[@irish80122]

Also a clinical psychologist (saw there was another one in the chat -hi). I think one piece that one has to consider is liability. Our liability goes up considerably when we step off of what is well-established best practice (I.e. in a practice guidelines paper by a major medical organization). Honestly he has already taken on additional liability with continuing to see you using this intervention, and it’s possible he is uncomfortable with something you are doing that may make him feel like it’s further from standard of care. While it’s true your job isn’t to make your provider comfortable, I do think communication is key. Ask “you seem a bit uncomfortable with this, can you help me understand why, or is there something I am not considering?” That doesn’t just patch the issue in the session but hopefully gets to the root so you can really consider and get past whatever hang up there is.

[@Findusbengal]

I am also a clinical psychologist. I would not feel comfortable with this as a clinician at this stage of research, but I understand why she wants to try it.

[@MichaelKMorris]

It's sad so many doctors have to toe the party line or face discrimination. The best doc I ever had had to flee the state because the local authorities wanted his license. His cardinal sin, you ask? He saved over 200 babies for mothers who had previous miscarriages...by prescribing extra bedrest and 1 oz of alcohol daily... Nevermind he was successful where the rest failed. The "great risk" of fetal alcohol syndrome (really?) over rode all considerations. So he fled Arizona and is practicing in WA now.

[@jiriwiesner]

I think this is good feedback to Lauren's concerns raised in the video.

[@Jointknight]

It's because he was taught the wrong answers and can't shift.

[@JimiSurvivor]

@@MichaelKMorris Even if a medical doctor were to save 300 babies how would that substantiate their claims in another area?

[@levanamoonshadow]

Lauren, many of us are rooting for you, and also worried about you. I’m overjoyed that you’ve found relief from symptoms- you’ve had to be so strong for so long in enduring such distress. My concern is that that you are showing some impaired reasoning and decreased insight. We all exhibit these things at times, but it is paired with the discontinuation of meds that is worrying. As others have stated you are well-spoken, and I’m glad you are such a strong advocate for your care. I agree that psychiatric care should involve collaboration. But it seems that you so desperately want keto to work, that you are missing red flags. I think Rob’s involvement also makes it hard to gain insight, because he is so enmeshed with you in this. Please keep us posted.

[@wendi2819]

Tread lightly. There's people on here who think they are her Gatekeepers! Awhile ago one of them got their hackles up when I tried to respectively say things I see as Red flags and was reported. I have a conflict that leaning so hard into one alternative treatment is also a stream of income. Her care team, like a lot of alternatives aren't doctors or psychiatrists with licenses and years and years of scientific training.

[@levanamoonshadow]

@ I have no concerns with being reported, but thank you 🙏

[@Brainjoy01]

I think it might be you with the decreased insight, respectfully. Have you read into her sources at all? I'm healed from Big Pharma with carnivore since 2016. Maybe its YOU.

[@mdav30]

A quality psychiatrist of this generation is not going to warmly mirror back to you your experimental treatment. It would be irresponsible of them. So you need to decide whether you want a psychiatrist, can handle the inevitable tensions your new approach brings, or whether you want to go with a different treatment team altogether. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the psychiatrist's job to forget his or her medical training and expertise and make you feel comfortable. You're inevitably going to have to show that you can stay stable on your treatment and they're right to be skeptical - that's the challenge. But you're not going to have it all ways unless you find a unicorn psychiatrist who doesn't like medication for schizophrenia and likes metabolic treatments. But then you'll get a positive bias instead of a pessimistic bias. In the end, you're the protagonist here, it's up to you to go it your own way.

[@eternodisperare]

💯

[@tleemf6923]

🤔and yet it IS the responsibility of those genuinely careing fir the ENTIRE WELLBEING of another human struggling with mental unwellness and supporting them in addressing of ALLLLL OF THE CONTRIBUTING approaches to HEAL the WHOLE PERSON ,MIND BODY AND SOUL .NOT JUST THE BRAIN ...Regardless of anyone trained from old books on medicine and body ..IT IS TIME FOR NEW KNOWLEDGE to shine light into often dark archaic practices based on CREATING PATIENTS DEPENDENT ON THEIR DOCTORS ...for without sick patients ..there is no need for doctors completely dialed into their relationship with big pharma meds ...In my tien interior B.C canada ,to recieve provincial funded mental health support threw counseling and phsyciatry YOU HAVE TO BE TAKING CHEMICAL PHARMACUIDICLES..!!! MY phsyciatrist AND family doctor both divorced me ...and I am both saddened AND absolutely EXCITED ABOUT MY FULL MIND BODY SPIRIT FULL SND WHOLEISTIC APPROACH to my ENTIRE SELFS WELLBEING .... I am still on pharma meds ,tjou have cut back under half now ,as I take responsibility for my anti inflammatory diet ,regular exersize and time in nature ,swimming, meditation practice ,ongoing daylh personal growth and healing practices . ALL INFLAMATION BEGINS IN THE GUT ...ALL MENTAL ILLNESS STEMS FROM INFLAMATION IN THE BRAIN ...All external factors have emmence influence when hydration and PROPER CLEAN EATING APPROACHES are not present or possible ..What a different world it would be ..if my "PLAN G" threw my health care which covers my 800$ a month big pharma meds ,instead , covered 800$ worth of fresh non gmo foods and supplements to support cognitive repair and function...what a different world it would be indeed. MY Son Whom had Schizophrenia and other layered complexities, sought out street drugs to make him feel human, to contrast the numbed, deadening,zombie like exhausted state he experienced from being overmedicated with phsyc meds to NOT IMPROVE HIS QUALITY OF LIFE ...but RATHER to more easily manage him in the community....my Son passed from a poorly functioning Liver ,from a damaged heart from years of phsyc med over medicatION ,from adverse affects to enforced pfizer and maderna shots ,and a lethal dose of fentynol He sought out after gaining 110 lbs from phsyc meds in 6 months ,and after he was tired of sleeping for 16 hours a day from phsyc meds ... Sooooo phsyciatry needs to OPEN UP..tooo WAKE UP if it GENUINELY is committed to saving lives and ENRICHING LIVES ...

[@rpink8531]

????

[@sinforoso1974]

@@tleemf6923 yes, yes yes!!!! imagine that pschyatrist don´t want to really understand what is behind the mental distress and that this is not their responsibility!!! so, what the hell is their responsibility? to overmedicate people gatekeeping the statuos quo to keep on comfortably profiting from human suffering? disgusting comment

[@julieann376]

It sounds like you’re doubting her interpretation of the entire exchange. In fact, it sounds like you’re telling her she’s wrong about what happened during a conversation that you didn’t witness. Nothing she has ever said on this channel has given the impression of someone looking for comfort and hand holding from her doctors. I give her more credit than that. She didn’t say that her dr disagreed with her. She said there was unexpected tension and that he seemed to feel threatened. I’ve met plenty of mental health professionals who have insecurities that bleed into their clinical life. They’re human too. If a doc gets testy because his patient talks about info that conflicts with what he knows, that’s the doctor’s problem, not the patient’s. The fact that she couldn’t have an honest convo with him, despite an established and apparently trusted relationship, and that she has to consider tactfulness to guard against his defensive tendency is ridiculous. But very believable.

[@AntidotestoAnxiety]

You are so incredibly articulate. Your choice of words, the flow of them. You are verbally gifted!

[@Mira20153]

I do not think, that the psychiatrist felt "threatened" and to me personally to drop such a claim in public is pretty cocky. It's all good, that you try new ways to get better - kudos for it! I guess, psychiatrist hear this 'I found a new way of treatment' on a regular basis through out the years and have seen a lot of failure and hurt especially, when they are not scientificalky proven (yet). Also, a psychiatrist / psychologist / therapist first goal is not to make you feel comfortabke, but to ensure, you are safe and make progress in therapy and not by try and error, but with the tools they know, they work.

[@mab790]

Agree. She is cocky. Not helpful for someone with a severe mental illness.

[@contribution741]

@@mab790 I don't think she's being cocky, I just think she's happy that she's getting good results. At the end of the day, time will tell. If this new diet controls her symptoms in the long-term, that would be amazing. It's still early days though, hopefully all will be well for her. I feel for her because I believe the electric shock therapy she got for depression triggered more severe mental illness. Just my opinion.

[@Mira20153]

@@contribution741 I think, ppl misread my comment. I think it is great, she's trying something new and that it seems to help her so far - that's why I wrote kudos to her. My point was to critisize her attitude towards the psychiatrist.

[@nobodyimportant7804]

@@contribution741 She is clearly not getting good results as her behavior in this video is textbook psychosis.

[@juliejones7927]

I agree! She’s making the medication seem detrimental. She’s very arrogant. And she’s undermining a Psychiatrist. He went to school for probably 8 to 10 yrs. He knows far more than her. She’s talking faster a lot faster. She’s very opinionated. She thinks she’s got the right solution going in blindly. I’m not sure this channel is for me. I do not want to become like her.

[@Dark89Avenger]

I am a clinical psychologist and even tho I am very sceptical about metabolic therapies I will follow your progress with great interest.

[@mjwmjw3864]

Watch the cheese slide off the cracker with the rest of us.

[@lindalong321]

Can you at least acknowledge the progress made? Give any credence to her experience so far? HEAD IN THE SAND!

[@HousePetMarla]

​@lindalong321 nothing about that comment was antagonistic or dismissive. It's okay to be skeptical of something you haven't tried yourself and to be frank, attitudes like yours are why some people get turned off by keto. A lot of keto users meet any skepticism with an almost cult-like aggression. It just reinforces people's prejudices.

[@claireelizabeth746]

@@lindalong321 I don't believe this was a head in the sand response. I think this was a great reply from a clinical psyc

[@Bombabingbong66]

Why are you sceptical ?

[@Lildashindoll]

You’re sounding a little more off now. They probably care but it sounds like you need them to say YES to you. That’s also not ok when you have a breakdown and “Nicole” isn’t available to address your medication needs. It’s a bid ask. I hope you’re well but also be reasonable with them.

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

She is definitely experiencing some sort of delusion or mania or both. I hate that she is relying on her "keto coach". Her keto coach will not be able to prescribe meds when shit hits the fan, and I fear it will. She was inpatient psych last year.

[@Doodleyandmee]

anosognosia.

[@kateelario6235]

​@@kathrynquinnstreeter4238You're not a mental health professional. Stop diagnosing strangers.

[@loureed4303]

I agree 100%

[@ohhimark742]

It sounds like you're trying to change his mind. He's there to give advise, and his professional opinion was that you shouldn't be experiencing withdrawals this far out. You can take it or leave it, but expecting him to change his whole practice off of hearsay is kinda silly. Just go enough to stay an active patient and keep him in the loop in case you need medication later. It's so difficult to find doctors I trust, I keep them untill they retire or move away

[@benjones1452]

No, not really, we come to our clinicians with a range of symptoms and side effects, and some of our experiences are really quite rare, based on our unique circumstances, whether genetic or epigenetic. Coming off medication is not that common, it is a field where pharmaceutical therapies are failing even while they are being widely prescribed. There is little follow up, and what there is feeds back into the conformation bias that failing to take their medication leads to relapse. What we should be able to expect is a curious and intellectually engaged professional. It is important to like your doctor, but if they are brittle or dogmatic and require us to be the adult in the room, then find another, because as Max Planck said of physicists: “Science advances one funeral at a time.”

[@ohhimark742]

@@benjones1452 he's not the one "advancing science" here. He has been supportive with her choice to manage her condition with diet and even going entirely off medication. Her identifying as "cured" and becoming suspicious of his motives when he doesn't take her home research as gospel is showing a concerning pattern. If anyone is "advancing science" it's the keto coach who I bet has no medical license to lose

[@Jen-oo8ss]

Honestly- he’s just trying to keep you alive. Of course he’s going to be concerned- and I wouldn’t immediately think that he was feeling threatened? Did you ask him?

[@petrosstyle2981]

a doctor can decline treatment at any point if they feel they are unable to help you.

[@JimiSurvivor]

They don't like losing patients. If I were in charge of Lauren's treatment I would release her from my care. Many pdocs will not treat people who do not comply with treatment.

[@RustyShakleford1]

Not in canada they need a real reason

[@whatsthestorymorningglory96]

This comment is putting unnecessary pressure on a person who most def doesn’t need any extra pressure. I am really asking myself where it comes from. Do you want her to be afraid which might be exacerbating her symptoms? Where I live it is even not true btw

[@brett2595]

I would like to add .....unlike your keto coach.....your psychiatrist has a medical license issued by the government to help you.

[@melissawingfield8666]

Did you tell your psychiatrist you felt that way, that you got the feeling that he might not want to work with you? You shouldn't have to walk on egg shells around anyone on your care team.

[@QGuides]

That is absolutely correct. What in the world. If he’s struggling with learning he may not know what he thinks he knows, he can talk to HIS therapist about it. 😂

[@annied3276]

I don't know that it's so much walking on eggshells as it is Lauren feeling that it's important to try to connect holistic with conventional. People like her realize the importance of introducing alternative therapies and treatments to the world of western medicine. If Lauren and others like her can create bridges rather than burn them, then I think what she's doing is well worth the effort and will eventually result in massive improvements to Healthcare.

[@watchthisheadspace]

Psychiatrists deal with meds

[@ChaiChai1965]

He obviously never threatened to fire her. She's projecting and making yet another nasty video about a man who literally helped her do what she wanted to do. She's emotionally exhausting and abusive because he doesn't want to conform to her way of thinking. Fun fact. He doesn't need to. He doesn't have to.

[@annied3276]

@@ChaiChai1965 I didn't hear anything nasty, just that they disagreed with each other and rather than getting biligerant, she stated that she backed down, remained respectful, and is now working to understand his point of view and continue a positive doctor/patient relationship with him. Nothing nasty about that.

[@thescrappay]

Do you feel 10 months of improved /diminished symptoms is a long enough time for you to influence others to eat keto with the promise that it will eliminate their symptoms and they can eventually ween off of their medication? I think your progress has been incredible, but I worry that people will follow your lead while not having access to the same resources and support that you do. Medication compliance is already difficult for many people struggling with schizophrenia and bipolar. I would like to see keto work for everyone in the long term, but it can be very hard to maintain or may not be as effective for others as it has been for you. Your psychiatrist is concerned because there is not enough information available on this, and I don't think that is unreasonable at all.

[@alexanderh8129]

yea i have worried this. she has advocated very strongly for ppl to keep with a care team but i guess she isn’t in 100% control of how people interact with her content. she feels like she has almost a duty to share these results and i respect that personally.

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

You took the words right out of my mouth and put them in a way that is more tactful than I am capable of being. Frankly, I am angry that she is preaching this to vulnerable people on the internet.

[@LambHasaLittle_Marie.]

I totally agree and share the same concern. I'm also worried she is not reminding viewers that she has schizo-effective disorder and not Schizophrenia which causes severe psychotic symptoms that can be more difficult to treat. Although keto might be able to help lesson the severity of schizophrenia, being monitored by your physician is key to making sure you're things safely and necessary for YOU. I've always sensed a lot of narcissism with this woman unfortunately.

[@alexanderh8129]

@@LambHasaLittle_Marie. her schizo affective is schizophrenia with a mood disorder also present. so she does essentially just have both

[@Sandy-of6gq]

I think she makes this disclaimer in every video- it's not easy, cheap and may not be accessible to everyone. She does seem like a very motivated and conscientious person who stuck with it and got good outcome for the time being so that's a valuable piece of information and her sharing that this is an option is legitimate imho.

[@tammygauthier8348]

Listening to this video it sounds like early signs of relapse vs discontinuation syndrome would be an important differential to consider

[@resilientmamabear9726]

Way back in 2012 I did a similar thing. I read a book that used vitamins in place of my bipolar meds. I went to see junior psychiatrist (NHS patient so was seen by whoever was on the rota) and she said as I hadnt relaped in 7 years I coukd try to be med free. I bought all the vitamins needed and came off my meds. I lasted only a month. When I went back to see my psychiatrist. This time she was fully qualified psychiatrist and she didnt hold back on telling me the risk of relapse was extremely high. I had two small children at the time an had grown up seeing my mum becoming really unwell and I didn't even want to risk relapse for them. Did I like what the psychiatrist say? Hell no but I knew I was playing with my own memtal health to say I didn't need meds. I am in no ways saying your journey is like mine. But I just think maybe your psychiatrist was worried. What would you do if your psychiatrist did suggest meds again? Could using both meds and keto keep you well? I wish you nothing but health in whatever way it takes to keep you there 🥰

[@Jess-bee]

They’re probably worried they’ll get sued if it goes wrong

[@cremebrulee4759]

As they should be. This is an unproven treatment modality. Psychiatrist prescribed medication.

[@breannahanslitpircio]

Not really a thing in Canada

[@aeiouaeiou100]

@@cremebrulee4759 Did you listen? The dispute was about withdrawal from medication.

[@andrewoats]

@@Jess-bee what’s she going to sue them for? Not forcing her to take unnecessary medications?

[@JimiSurvivor]

@@andrewoats Recommending UNPROVEN therapies

[@Barnaclebeard]

Psychiatrists prescribe medication. That's it. If your intervention does not center around medication, a psychiatrist has nothing to offer you.

[@emmamunro7208]

100%

[@wednesday55]

@@emmamunro7208 Yeah, my psychiatrist ghosted me as soon as I tapered off my meds. Never even bothered to follow up and see how it was going. They just exist to write prescriptions. They don't actually care about your well being.

[@rainygreene9161]

In some places it's difficult to get in with a psychiatrist. If she left now because metabolic therapy is working and faced some type of issue later (where she thought she may need to take a pharmaceutical medication) she may not be able to get in to see someone. With someone dealing with such an intense mental health diagnosis she could find herself in a really bad spot and not be able to get into a new psychiatrist who would also have to get to know her, hear her story and start all the way back at one.

[@Davotheledge]

@@rainygreene9161 Exactly. It's not black and white at all. I've dealt with the same issue multiple times.

[@LaChana26]

​@@rainygreene9161But then in the meantime she'd be occupying a patient slot that could be given to someone who actually needs/wants to receive treatment from a psychiatrist, i.e. meds

[@ChaiChai1965]

You really need to stop bashing and shaming your psychiatrist on the internet. The man helped you taper and get off your meds. He helped you reach your goal and yet all you do is criticize how he's cared for you. You have no right to ask a conventional doctor to become a functional medicine doctor because that's what YOU want. Find a functional medicine doctor. Your doctor went to school to become a conventional doctor. It's his life. His work has helped you, and I can't count how many times you have made insulting and condescending videos judging him for doing what he was trained to do. There are plenty of functional medicine doctors who specialize in metabolic health you can go to. Stop trying to change your psychiatrist. Stop publicly shaming him. Obviously, he didn't fire you and wasn't going to. This is yet another passive-aggressive video. I am rooting for you. But I also see that you deliberately try to get patients to mistrust and lose respect for a profession and paradigm that others need. It's selfish, grandiose, and transparent behavior. Your doctor got you off your meds. Say THANK YOU.

[@a.mie.533]

Couldn't agree more!

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. She has bashed this poor Doctor COUNTLESS TIMES. She wants to cure an illness for which there is no cure. She is completely (as much as I hate to say this) delusional. She thinks she is a miracle to modern psychiatry. I just can't root for her anymore. She needs to leave this guy alone.

[@cady__]

She’s is very emotionally manipulative. Your comment is so spot on

[@Brainjoy01]

Paid for and written by Big Pharma!

[@Rory-r9w]

​@kathrynquinnstreeter4238 the way you say this is messed up. I get what you're trying to say but trying to say she's delusional for wanting to cure an "incurable" illness is wild. What a horrible take, I can't even wrap my mind around why you'd say that. It's delusional to not want to suffer every day? No. That's not what delusional means, and misusing it like that is problematic. She's probably done with trying everything under the sun, because sometimes withdrawal symptoms aren't withdrawal. They are permanent from the medication. It may be unattainable to try these things, but it's not delusional to want to feel better. Source: have a degree, have worked in behavioral health for years.

[@cremebrulee4759]

Psychiatrists prescribe medication. That is their function in mental health treatment. Very few of them would be comfortable with experimental, unproven, non-medical treatment modalities. You shouldn't expect support from your psychiatrist for a non-medical treatment.

[@dawnricherson9672]

Many psychiatrists prescribe for people who have no need of medication. It’s a racket. It’s evil.

[@merg-vh5sx]

He should be able to deprescribe meds he prescribes. All doctors should but absolutely zero psychiatrists know how to.

[@ImNoclue]

@@merg-vh5sxsure they do. First you assure the patient that getting off the drugs is easy and there shouldn’t be significant side effects. Then you either stop the meds or wean them off rapidly based on expert guess work. Then, when the patient suffers withdrawal symptoms you call it reemergence of their mental heath problems and put them back on medication.

[@merg-vh5sx]

@@ImNoclue Lol. People who know, know.

[@KaylaDeStefano]

The bigger issue is him basically not believing she's experiencing withdrawl symptoms from withdrawing from the super low dose of the medication he prescribed her as the "meds should be out of her system" by now. This has nothing to do with it being a "non-medical treatment."

[@shastajustice3753]

"Fired"? How about stepped away for any number of reasons including they haven't researched what you are proposing nor do want to follow your lead. Don't overthink it.

[@beezilneverleft3176]

There is a lot of overthinking, overanalyzing, obsessing and verbal repetition in this video.

[@juliewiser8460]

@@beezilneverleft3176 Agreed.

[@beambrains]

​@@beezilneverleft3176100% cause she's manic and delusional. Simply eating "better" isn't going to cure a mental disorder as serious as schizoaffective. Hopefully she opens her eyes before she ends up in a psych ward again.

[@alexanderh8129]

@@beezilneverleft3176shes nervous chill out 😭😭 no need to deep it so hard

[@Sandy-of6gq]

Seems like the psychiatrist's tipping point was her challenging him on withdrawal symptoms duration and not the keto itself. And yes- she does seem to tiptoe around his ego which is on him. She is the vulnerable one here and getting fired by the psychiatrist could bring severe consequences so of course she's nervous.

[@Zaeiouy_dB]

Thanks Lauren for continuing to share your journey. Your commitment to helping others learn from your experience is helping my wife make more of an effort. She's been battling schizoeffective/bipolar/depression since being diagnosed 33 years ago in England a year after our second child. I can already tell in these past few months that reducing carbohydrates has improved her life significantly... she's not fully committed yet, but You are a shining light in what is possible. Keep going!

[@jeanpaultongeren125]

that is amazing

[@andrewoats]

@@Zaeiouy_dB That’s wonderful! I hope she continues to show commitment. It’s not easy but neither is taking psych meds, gotta pick your hard.

[@liamkeene89]

I really think you’re underplaying how much training goes into being a psychiatrist and the sheer amount of medical knowledge they have. Most people who have gone through medical school are going to have some level of knowledge of the ketogenic diet, due to its use in epilepsy in children as a treatment. However, there still isn’t any high quality scientific data such as double-blind studies showing the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in treating mental illness. You can’t expect a psychiatrist to make decisions that are not evidence based or to encourage their other patients to try keto as a treatment based on your anecdotal experience. I think what’s happened is that your psychiatrist is wary of the fact that he’s completely taken you off antipsychotics (at your request), and if your Schizoaffective Disorder symptoms return and you end up in psychosis or hurt yourself he might be seen as liable.

[@susannesteininger7648]

This, a thousand times.

[@andrewoats]

You accidentally hit the nail on the head. Doctors are afraid to reduce meds even when a patient doesn’t need them anymore due to fear of being thought liable. It’s the same reason they do too many c sections; if that goes wrong there’s a perception they did everything they could.

[@nou712]

@@andrewoats The problem is, does one wish to risk their patients life by not medicating? There's no tangible proof of the ketogenic diet working. Do you want to play with a malfunctioning brain? Or do what has been proven to have efficacy. I'm sorry i understand that it's rough and unfair that there is no hope outside of medication that has side-effects, but that's just reality.

[@Lipolimtown]

Preventative measures Liam. When anhedonia situations happen in younger age due to stress, drug or alcohol use, abuse etc etc. these diets need to be implemented right away to give people the chance to restore brain function. That should be the outlook, not constant management with medications that don’t do much or these situations looked at as “chemical imbalances that need to be corrected.” How is this not clear in psychiatry or psychology right now?

[@contribution741]

There are no double-blind studies on vaccines either but they stick the kids like a pincushion...

[@snaify]

I’m so sorry you had communication difficulties in a medical power dynamic. It’s definitely complex. Good for you for going the extra mile to meet your provider where he is. I hope your transition smoothes out soon!

[@ChaiChai1965]

There's no power dynamic if she's off medication. Psychiatrists deal with meds. She's not taking any.

[@feralart22]

I think that you are exploring what works for you, and honestly, that's what we should all do. Big kudos to you for being brave and for going out of your way to try and set up a great support team for yourself. I have nothing but respect for you, and don't see you as anti-ANYTHING.

[@simm1992]

To play the devils advocate. You asked you psychiatrist for his professional opinion but since it didn't resonate with how you feel and what you read online you are displeased. The thing is, if Scientists in the medical field rush things, people die. A surgeon who tried to create synthetic windpipes faked his results and killed several people. I am not saying that metabolic therapy is bad but your psychiatrist is responsible for what happens to you under his care. If he didn't held you back and something happens that is his fault. I think that metabolic therapy will be huge in the future, the articles i can find on the subject shows incredible results. However, unless they follow the very very very strict rules regarding new treatment options, the will put peoples life in danger.

[@millalaure]

Agree :)

[@richardbrewis436]

I was diagnosed as having a schizotypal personality disorder in 2007, after being arrested by police and incarcerated. My journey has been one of ups and downs as well. I relate to your struggle and all those who live with this condition. Stay strong Lauren Kennedy West, I know there is a warm light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for posting.

[@RaysDad]

I take my hat off to anyone who has trusted medical therapy, undergone ECT and the medication merry-go-round, and still makes a strong effort to understand the needs of therapists and interact with them in a constructive way.

[@alexanderh8129]

medication merry go round?

[@aeiouaeiou100]

@@alexanderh8129 Yes, trying 10 antipsychotics and SSRIs over multiple years only to find out none of them really work (and don't work on a vast amount of people) and realizing you wasted many many months of your life trying them while they only emotionally destabilized you more. Many of us have been there.

[@piddlydiddly]

@@alexanderh8129 as someone with *just* ASD and MDD, I've been prescribed 4 ssri's, 2 snri's, mirtazapine, beta blockers, an antipsychotic and a "newer a-typical" ssri, to no avail, indeed it is a "medication merry go round". I've also undergone 7 rounds of CBT alongside medication.

[@HD-nc7yu]

the needs of therapists? you mean to make a living?

[@RaysDad]

@@HD-nc7yu My therapists never helped me much but I helped them (back when I had good insurance).

[@kristapatterson7591]

I have spoken to two Psychiatrists at the Royal Ottawa. They both specialize in Schizophrenia and they both say Lauren's illness will come back. It may be 2 year or 10 years but it is not gone. Lauren speaks like she has a superiority complex over her Psychiatrist.

[@beezilneverleft3176]

I have doubts any doctor would give a prognosis for a patient they hadn't personally examined. It'd be unethical for them to do so.

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

Regardless, this will be a failure.

[@reinerschafer1708]

@@kathrynquinnstreeter4238 Is this based on any science or are you just looking into a crystal ball?

[@JessePup]

Medications have half-lives. It’s pharmacology. When he responded to your reported withdrawal symptoms, he was referencing proven, medical science. It seems like you didn’t like his response because he didn’t openly subscribe to your chosen modality. I’d personally prefer a medical professional who is not going to bend to make me happy, but is rather going to share his recommendations based on his training and foundations…to each their own, I guess.

[@panaceiasuberes6464]

In the end it all comes down to the same issue: she's resisting the idea that she's ill.

[@bjornolson21]

Just because a medication is out of your system doesn’t mean you can’t still be experiencing side effects left behind from them. Especially meds that fuck with your brain chemistry

[@hslfja]

@@bjornolson21 Yes. I’m less familiar with the post-acute withdrawal symptoms of antipsychotics, but SSRIs have a well-documented discontinuation syndrome for many people, based on the changes they have caused in the brain

[@marissa2649]

I feel like a lot of information was withheld in this video, so can’t really comment on the situation, but to expect a professional to weigh in on something outside of their expertise is crazy.

[@annaoneal4709]

Yep

[@bjornolson21]

Why is asking about withdrawal out of their area of expertise?

[@abbey9378]

Like many of your viewers, I am happy for you but also worried about you. You've said in prior videos that your delusions often relate to medical professionals being against you or threatened by you, and other delusions relate to assuming that everything everyone does is "about you" when it's really about themselves. In this case, it seems like you might be exhibiting these types of delusional thoughts. It could be worth exploring this to make sure you aren't experiencing a return of symptoms. As other commenters have said, it seems like you so badly want keto to work -- without any medications at all -- that your optimism might be clouding your judgment and making you miss red flags in your thought processes. It's not your doctor's job to tell you that everything you're doing is for the best if they disagree. It's actually their job to push back if they think you're doing something that isn't best for your health or wellness. If you are only interested in working with a care team who will mirror everything you do and say, then no psychiatrist will likely meet your needs. It sounds like you're trying to convince your doctor rather than take his advice. The fact that his education and experience differ from your experience does not mean that he feels "threatened" by you, it means that he disagrees with you. If he feels "threatened" at all, it's almost certainly not because he is worried that you're right and he's wrong. It is more likely because he is worried that his liability will increase if he keeps treating you while knowing that you aren't following standard, scientifically-backed treatments? Imagine someone hires a lawyer who's an expert in their field, then tells the lawyer they disagree with their advice because of what they read online. Then imagine that person notices the lawyer seems put off by their disagreement. Would it be rational for that person to assume the lawyer is "threatened" by them or worried that the client might know more than them? Or would it be more rational to assume the lawyer simply disagrees with the client, and might be annoyed or concerned that the client is so confident about something that their training shows them is incorrect?

[@Stolimel]

Something tells me the psychiatrist said something she didn’t like and had to part ways based on traditional Rx therapy vs whatever she is trying now. I would never be able or want to blast my health issues on yt or any other platform. I get weird vibes from her that may not be genuine. Take everything w a grain of salt. Things are not always as they seem. Just my opinion.

[@annaoneal4709]

Yep

[@cady__]

Agreed - what she is doing with her channel is irresponsible and dangerous. I believe the doctor was clear with her that she’s having symptoms and she is frustrated. On one hand I have compassion because she is going through something people with schizophrenia do - thinking they’ll cure themselves. It’s part of all of it for the mind to go back to thinking it will be cured once it feels good. I feel for her, however, her trying to do this not just for herself but in a KZbin channel with tons of followers is not okay. I worry about how many people she has convinced to get off their meds 😔

[@kateelario6235]

She's said outright that she is not anti-psychiatry. I think ya'll are just jealous she's able to start living life to the fullest.

[@NormaJean951]

@@kateelario6235using the haters bullshit on people who are genuinely concerned is really pathetic.

[@AnaGuillenBachs]

Don't ask an elm for pears. It is a saying in Spanish that would say: a psychiatrist has been taught to prescribe psychiatric medication, she/he has not been taught to withdraw that medication or to understand metabolic therapies.

[@boinkadoinkk]

it is a psychiatrist's responsibility to be knowledgable about the medications they prescribe, and that includes being able to effectively take people off of any medication that is not appropriate for them. how else would any patient be able to find a medication regimen that works for them if, like most psychiatric patients, the first few medications aren't the best suited to them?

[@AnaGuillenBachs]

@@boinkadoinkk I understand your answer and yes, in an ideal world it should be like that and they should learn about metabolic therapies but, unfortunately, the pharmaceutical lobby is very powerful and is the one that finances most universities.

[@owlosaurus66]

​@@AnaGuillenBachs God you are paranoid. My psychiatrist took me off medication just fine and metabolic therapies don't work for everyone. Not everyone is the same after all.

[@AnaGuillenBachs]

@@owlosaurus66 "God you're paranoid" Really that's the way you justify your point of view? In this KZbin Channel that rise awareness about mental health? This is the END of this conversation.

[@DavisonVideo]

Your entire face is more expressive now and it's astounding and beautiful! Amazing job, Lauren!! 😊

[@Hasmik-r1q]

I immediately noticed this too!

[@theblackbird123]

In the 5 years of being diagnosed with schitzophrenia i have seen 6 psychiatrists and the only doctor that acctually helped was my GP been struggling with sleep. For years mentioned it every appointment. All 6 psychiatrists said "well you seem to be coping well". Same with how much im stuggling with my voices

[@The333Wanderer]

🙏

[@rubyraeurlockertherealone2511]

Thank you for sharing your perspective Lauren, you're always very insightful and I learn a lot.

[@Nevernow721]

Psychiatrist's get their college degree, go to medical school for four years, and then four more years of residency. I think many have seen the results of these types of therapies. They've also seen, as a group, millions of people helped by psychiatric meds. Lauren, you are nine months into this. BTW, do you realize how hard it is in the US to even be able to afford a therapist or a psychiatrist? To be able to afford meds? Im happy for you, but im also a bit concerned. I know that its not your intention, but this approach is going to, in its own way, stigmatize this community even more.

[@kateelario6235]

You're mad that she's doing better?

[@findekind94]

​@@kateelario6235if that's your takeaway from that comment, you might want to do some deep soul searching about where that came from. But go ahead, discredit the years and years and years of experience of professionals by saying someone's mad at her seemingly doing "better" at the moment

[@InternetFad]

Curious, what do you have a psychiatrist for at this point if you don't want medication anymore?

[@alexisfrancine4545]

In case she needs to get back on quickly maybe?

[@dominicaaaaa5547]

I mean it's been a big change and it's still early days isn't it? Lauren seems like a nice woman and I think she has good intentions - I believe that keto has helped her a lot too I mean she's got no reason to be dishonest has she. Was checking Reddit though and the responses were a lot more critical / negative and now I wonder ..well idk. I really hope things keep going well for Lauren though she / anyone who has gone through schizophrenia for years deserves all of the mental health luck I'd say.

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

​@@alexisfrancine4545 then maaaybe this isn't such a good idea

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

​@@dominicaaaaa5547she scrubs her YT comment section thouroughly so that is the only place people have to go for a dissenting opinion. She, despite what she preaches, is not interested in a critical and nuanced discussion regarding this.

[@dominicaaaaa5547]

@@kathrynquinnstreeter4238 perhaps Kathryn, to me though she seems to be doing well and I believe Lauren has good intentions. More time will tell whether the diet and lifestyle change has worked won't it? But I wish her and anyone with schizophrenia all the best tbh whether using meds (which most people need I'm sure) a keto diet / lifestyle or any other way.

[@Familylawgroup]

Yes, you have given your viewers the impression that your care team was 100% on board with your keto experiments. Why would you deliberately misrepresent your care team’s views and support when you have told your viewers how important transparency was supposed to be to you? Keep in mind, Nicole is NOT a medical professional but that doesn’t mean her life experience and professional observations aren’t valuable. Did Nicole go with you to any of your medical appointments so that she could also be100% informed of the medical concerns? Shouldn’t your care team be fully engaged with all people whose advice you are accepting?

[@benjones1452]

That is an unfair misrepresentation, if you go back through the record she has been very open about the degree to which she struggled to assemble her 'team', and who played which parts in it.

[@nobodyimportant7804]

She is likely a narcissist and has fallen into quack "medicine" I hope she is not permanently damaged.

[@favoritesonline]

Thank you Lauren. As a caregiver to my daughter, your videos are so helpful to our family.

[@keelakaper6456]

I’m a dental hygienist and it’s like the patients saying they don’t need any radiographs (x-rays), but still want the dentist to see them. Dentist must let them go (hygienist too), because we cannot diagnose without regular x-rays. High liability plus supervised neglect. Ethical/moral boundaries. There is so much you aren’t addressing.

[@andrewoats]

@@keelakaper6456 Then how did dentists survive prior to the very modern trend of taking regular X-rays? I never had an X-ray till maybe 2006 when I started going to Aspen, famous for over treating but the only place that took my insurance at the time. Prior to that I saw multiple dentists over three decades of life and not once did they take an X-ray 🤷‍♀️

[@boinkadoinkk]

this is a huge reach. psychiatry is in no way comparable to dentistry, assessing and treating anything psychiatry is always purely clinical, which is not the case for dentistry in the slightest.

[@beezilneverleft3176]

​@@andrewoats MULTIPLE dentists over 30 years and not one X-ray? Even without dental insurance (on and off) I always got xrays once a year over the last 45+ years, per standard of the many dentists I've seen. 2006??? My first dental xray was before 1984. They typically like to do bitewings once a year, and a full set every five. And dentists will usually take a full set for all new patients for a starting point. And it's a known fact that dentistry "prior to the modern trend of taking x-rays" sucked. My elderly mother has horror stories of dentistry in the pre modern era. My deceased elderly father lost all his teeth and had full dentures by 40. My husband's elderly barber talked about being hospitalized due to a dental infection that put him intensive care and almost killed him. Do not denounce dental improvements. Dental history among humans is terrible.

[@keelakaper6456]

@@andrewoatsgum disease (periodontal) went highly undiagnosed. Periodontal disease is actually loss of bone below the gumline that is measured by the probe but really is detected by x-rays since it is not 2 dimensional. Bone goes all the way around the tooth (4 walls). Therefore, people lost their teeth early in life due to that just as much as decay (which is also unseen below the gumline, near bone level). If a dentist was seeing you without taking regular radiographs, even someone with great periodontal health and low caries risk, should have them at 2 years intervals due to things that create quick bone defects and tooth loss. Otherwise they are practicing supervised negligence. I went into a practice that wasn’t doing probings on any of their patients (dentist bought into practice and inherited their patients). He also had not been taking regular x-rays. The amount of people who we had to tell that they had stage 3/4 periodontal disease and they were losing some teeth and needed surgery to save others was devastating. But you do you. We base x-rays based on a person’s caries risk. Low caries risk, they are extended out a bit. High decay/caries risk, they need more frequently until they are stable. Same goes for probings/X-rays for gum disease. I mean wooden teeth, dentures, or having no teeth at all is a look too. 👍

[@NormaJean951]

@@andrewoatsthat’s a lie but go off 😂😂

[@atomiclisa]

Good for you for bringing this up with your doctor, that can be so difficult to do! There's not much research in the efficacy of metabolic therapy with SPMI which psychiatrists depend on. That said, the therapeutic relationship between patient and doctor is the MOST important central factor in treatment and this should include free exploration of all feelings and attitudes toward each other.

[@Hopeful567]

Thank you so much for this, Lauren. I've enjoyed learning more about your journey with metabolic therapies. I recently had a similar, but opposite experience where my psychiatrist of 5 years was no longer a good fit for me. I tried to make it work for nearly a year, but it ultimately came down to us having different opinions on how to approach my care. I came to a point where I realized that she couldn't support me in the way that I needed anymore. And that's ok. I've been with a new psychiatrist for almost 3 months now, and she's a much better fit. All that to say, I am not suggesting that it won't work out with your psychiatrist. I hope it does if that's the right thing for you. I only want to suggest that sometimes our providers can walk with us for a part of our journey, until they can't anymore. And that's hard, and also ok. Wishing you all the best.

[@goldencaulfield1840]

I sympathize with you Lauren. Patients very often come in with all they can handle without having to sit there and try to figure out how to have a verbal fencing match with their doctor. You are the best Lauren !! 😊😊

[@roxythomas8256]

Thanks to God, Dr Palmer and you, my daughter is doing much better with very small doses of medicine and metabolic diet, recently I found a psychiatrist willing to help to monitor her and a great therapist, she is in religious counseling, therapy , low dose of medication and metabolic diet, she is 23 year old girl full of dreams, fixing to go back to school and work. Thank you Lauren for sharing all this information with people like us. You are doing a great job, God bless you. My daughter was almost killed back on April at the hospital trying so many different medicine. Thank you Lauren for your great Job.

[@NormaJean951]

Religious counseling? Are you sure you aren’t schizophrenic too? You probably gave it to her.

[@gloriacapulong3657]

Hi Lauren, I have ADHD and I just want to say your videos are really helpful. I'm navigating my own challenges establishing trust with my psychiatrist/care team. I'm at a point in my journey where I am needing to change my medication and try different tools to manage my symptoms...it is difficult because I've had bad experiences where I was not taken seriously, because of the stigma around ADHD meds and women with ADHD. It's challenging having to be my own advocate and become an expert at different treatment options. Especially when I'm still figuring out what works for me. Luckily, I'm building a trusting relationship with my therapist who understands ADHD and is very open to collaborating and growing together. It's really validating to have someone who I can trust and help advocate for me. I'm working on being honest yet effective when communicating to my psych and she has been a good stepping stone to build that confidence. Even though we have different mental health journeys, hearing your experiences really resonates me. The way you mentioned asking more questions to your psych and creating a curious and respectful dynamic is also very helpful advice. I really appreciate you authentically sharing your experiences!

[@jeanjennings6357]

I’m not sure how common malpractice litigation is in Canada, but frankly, your psychiatrist is wise to limit their liability to this course of treatment. Perhaps some sort of formal acknowledgement by you to your care team absolving them of any bad outcomes.

[@joycezaid3909]

Thank you for clarifying your post regarding your experience with this diet, and the withdrawal from no longer being on your medications. This is about YOUR experience, not advocating one way or the other to stop meds or working with your care team. My experience is that being on meds, therapy, and support from family, close friends, and support groups. For myself, not doing those things guarantees I will eventually relapse, and lose all the progress so painstakingly gained these last 17 years. I have the life I love today because I made the choices to maintain my stability. What works for me might not work for someone else. And that's ok. I appreciate your honesty and frankness, and your willingness to say that maybe you didn't explain it in the right manner. You absolutely ROCK!!!

[@TheDailyDoseofMentalHealth101]

To be fair, your psychiatrist job is to primarily prescribe medications. Since you are not taking them anymore he/she might want to make room for a new patient due to the high demand of people needing psychiatric medication.

[@PhoenixFeathers]

Good point.

[@Stamshaw]

I hope your are well and kudos on your constant documentation for your schizophrenia , sharing it. You are the only one that's on an English speaking wave. It takse alot of energy to post you feelings online .. My mum passed in June and it looks liek she took an overdose... Im battling internally at the moment and am worrying im going crazy. X

[@Dan-k4c]

I am sorry for your loss! ❤️

[@shawz0311]

Just want to say, I hope things improve with you and just keep getting better. I commented last video that I didn't think you should prioritize getting off meds, but I know that even if that is not a goal you personally have, that staying on your meds is probably generally speaking a problem that affects many schizophrenics. However, when I commented that I had forgotten from earlier vids from you that, that had always been a goal of yours. So let me apologize and wish you all the best going forward with your care, hope you guys have a good one, and best of luck, peace!

[@CashMoneyMoore]

Well if the psychiatrist isn't serving you anymore maybe it's time for you to mutually part ways...

[@hopegold883]

So much black and white thinking in these comments. And yet they clearly like these videos, in which she consistently expresses a nuanced, sincere approach and seems to only want to not give up on her quest to live well and help others so the same.

[@js70371]

You are helping so many people through your honesty in your journey. Thank you so much for spreading knowledge and awareness. 🙏

[@Barnaclebeard]

That remains to be seen.

[@lynnmarieanderson1744]

You’re playing games with your mental health. Having schizo-affective disorder is serious. I understand what you’re saying about psychiatrists. I have bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder and have had a number of them, there were about only 2 that I liked that I felt they really cared about how I was doing. I don’t think it’s realistic to think that you will never need to be on any medication. Many people take psychiatric meds even if they don’t have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, a lot of people have trouble with severe anxiety and depression. As for this ketogenic diet, I’m not knocking it, we all know you feel better eating healthy and exercising, so it’s good you’re doing that. I myself might incorporate some of the things you are doing in my life. However, you still might need to take some kind of medication just to keep you stable. Maybe not as many meds as you once needed, and that’s good, but these psyche meds were created for a reason, many to actually help people with mental health issues live better lives, it’s okay to still need to be on a couple of medications. Just try to live well!!!

[@TheRunningLeopard]

@@techreviewsMTRBro wtf.

[@Heron2020]

It is the psychiatrist’s job to make you feel comfortable, not your job to make the psychiatrist feel comfortable.

[@Chucanelli]

This was my reaction, too! I had to fire a psychiatrist once. He just wasn’t listening to my experience. (In my case, Adderall was keeping me awake for days and I wanted to be able to take it as prescribed, so we needed to adjust the prescription. He just wasn’t having it.)

[@tleemf6923]

Yessss

[@ValentinaKajcinovska]

Lol

[@rpink8531]

Ditto!!!

[@lleennyy26ll]

I disagree. Keeping her safe is the job

[@SheriMorgan]

Thank you Lauren for all your support and information! I found Nicole from you and in her group course! I absolutely love her and think the Brain Fog course is amazing! You are a true Warrior Princess! Sending you Love & Light from California 🤍🤍

[@infinitejest.4994]

Wow. I’m glad you continue to take control of your mental health. You are contributing to research and awareness. Well done.

[@jduggan4129]

My first psychiatrist dumped me as a patient. Made my anxiety and depression so much worse. Love you guys. California Joanna

[@Sanosarah]

I can never get all the way through one of your videos without feeling the need to comment. I think what you're doing is incredible and I'm so happy it's working for you. I just want to validate your thinking by seconding that what doctors know about medication withdrawal is incomplete. I have experienced extreme withdrawal symptoms from relatively low doses of psychiatric medications and all I ever heard from medical professionals was essentially "That's not possible." There's plenty that medicine does not understand, it's to be expected.

[@angelathomason8908]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and this process. I am a Clinical therapist for 25 years and I find older psychiatric MDs are reluctant to explore anything new unless it's presented by a female sales person from big pharma. Maybe look at a psychiatric nurse practitioner who has been in practice for 5-10 years. I have found that they are nurses first, and prescribers second. They tend to be up on newer treatments and more open to collaboration. MDs are taught that they are the experts and top of the food chain in mental health. Not always the best at listening and considering other options. Good luck in continuing to build your team.

[@axelkolle9994]

Best of all things necessary to you: Strength, compassion , understanding and open communication from all sides.

[@Tuliplqce446]

If rob has high cholesterol considering statins is not a bad thing. I don’t know anything about his family history but it shouldn’t be shunned and set aside

[@adambaker9702]

Just glad to see you doing well. I'm doing well finally as well!

[@NeverTakeNoCut-offs]

Doctors 1) want to help you 2) Don't want to get sued

[@drewott8162]

Yes but in the reverse order. Actually flip it around, and make "not want to get sued" so strong that they barely even want to help you.

[@Hasmik-r1q]

This is Canada. Suing isn't big like it is south of the border.

[@stevenjambrozy2057]

This is a really descriptive perspective, yet be careful...your main goal, in least in terms of doctor interactions, seems to be to get off meds totally...it seems logical he parted ways with you...

[@paulievew]

You are a pioneer. Not many other people on a frontier like this, especially professionals. My 'care team' didn't really work together either, but the medical systems in place don't help disparate professionals collaborate. We are breaking new ground though. Don't give up!!!

[@nobodyimportant7804]

She is reckless and you are cheering her on. For what purpose?

[@NormaJean951]

Or you have delusions of grandeur. The fact that you truly believe this very sick woman is some kind of revolutionary just makes it clear that you are very very sick.

[@Susanne-qp8vj]

You might find the answer to this question if you listen to the following podcast on KZbin: "Bipolarcast Episode 18: Dr Dominic D'Agostino" It's a discussion between Dominic d'Agostino an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine with experience in the field since 2006 and Iain Campbell who published recently in Nature Magazine on the topic of Bipolar Disorder. Iain Campbell put his own bipolar into remission with ketogenic diet, something that was not possible using traditional therapies. Dr. Campbell has a PhD in Global Health from the University of Edinburgh and is a principal investigator on a pilot trial of a ketogenic diet for bipolar

[@debbiev.1311]

Trust your instinct, Lauren!! ❤️ You have been doing this responsibly & I'm sure have been approaching your care team(including said psychiatrist) responsibly as well! It's not your job to make your psychiatrist feel comfortable...whether it's ego/fear/lack of knowledge on their part (counter-transference); it is never ok to put the onus on the patient! He/she is the professional & responsible for their own reactions! Hoping all the best for you as you continue to navigate your care & care team!! 🙏🏼

[@nightshadehelis9821]

I got fired by my gastroenterologist. I have crohns disease and get examined often. My doctor asked if I would be ok with him basically "checking my oil" and I jokingly told him "only if you don't put both hands on my shoulders while doing it". He didn't laugh. A couple hours later his office called and said that they would no longer have me as a patient.

[@emmamunro7208]

😂😂😂😂

[@carolineheffernan7368]

Wow, guess he's sensitive!!

[@lactate]

He definitely overreacted lol

[@wvwvxv]

Bc it was inappropriate

[@trappart9209]

honestly although I love such humor when you are not familiar with a person it can be too much of a joke I guess 😅💀

[@ForestSageStyles]

It is still viewed that metabolic diet to treat mental illness modality scares them. Your brave and I would encourage you to keep on track. You’re a pioneer onto something that could help many.

[@Nevernow721]

Psychiatrist's don't scare easily. Hers knows her history. We shouldn't even be in this conversation.

[@thunrx1508]

Some providers have a very difficult time saying “I don’t know”. And me included but I’m working on it. So this can be a difficult convo

[@FtungusAmungus]

A very good point.

[@10Rice8Fun]

A big part of not being rigidly in charge of a stranger's brain is having the ability to mutter the three words "I don't know." welcome to life, those are good words to know! learning is good to know, too :) working on it don't exist, just do it! and stop waiting at the expense of the misery of your patient.

[@ImNoclue]

Those three simple words would clear this whole thing up.

[@nobodyimportant7804]

Her doctor should have said "I don't know because keto is unproven and long-term adherence to keto is dangerous"

[@ImNoclue]

@@nobodyimportant7804 The doctor who knows nothing about therapeutic ketogenic diets should opine as to their safety?

[@paraguayandreams]

You look so healthy, truly glowing. Haven’t watched the video or any in a minute and the change is real

[@Florence-m6g]

I am glad for you that you found something that is working for you. Unfortunately, there are some people (like me) who have a liver that produces cholesterol and they need to be careful about the amounts of fat they eat to avoid having high levels of cholesterol. Maybe that is also the case for your husband and that is why his GP is concerned and wants to give him statins. It is very nice of your husband to support you by eating the same kind of food but maybe it is not good for his health because the needs of his body are different from yours. Of course, it is a bit tricky in the kitchen if everyone needs to eat something different. But maybe your husband should focus on eating what is good for him because, by staying healthy, that is how he will help you the most in the long run. Anyway, congratulations on your journey. It is always very interesting to follow pioneers like yourself.

[@minedarksanctuary453]

You seem to me at least. (Please forgive me if I’m out of line) much healthier and natural in your approach to life. It seems to do you wonders and everyone here is proud of you! Stay strong. Take care of yourself. We’ve got your back!

[@QGuides]

Hello my love that’s called people pleasing. You bringing forward new information to your mental health professional is not challenging them. It’s exactly what you said a collaborative discussion. Not all of them are comfortable and pleasant. This is what adjusted adults are supposed to do.

[@NormaJean951]

This isn’t new information. She is not Jesus. These diets have all been tried. They don’t work and have very real consequences. She is being challenged because she is psychotic and needs help.

[@Rhee1231]

You are a gem. Thank you for sharing this. Thought it was only me who was having similar experience with psychiatrist who is not open to keto.

[@taracmonroe]

I think you should just continue keto if it's working and you prefer it to meds. Your psychiatrist may not have much faith that your intervention is working as well as you think or that it will last. If you relapse, you know you likely need medication. I've become comfortable with medication for the foreseeable future and will be eating as cleanly as I can and exercising to lower my risk of the side effects of the medication. I've grown to be grateful that the medication exists tbh... also it's nice that you have a "care team." I don't even feel that my psychiatrist cares much; we meet every three months for 5 minutes per session.

[@roccodonato6236]

When it comes down to it, your mental health provider is never wrong. It's your job to step out of traditional therapy risk or not. Good for you Lauren! Don't pay attention to the negative comments. And your absolutely right. Some of these medical professionals are very haughty and egotistical. You know how you feel better than anyone else no matter how many degrees they have. Be well.

[@lleennyy26ll]

Numerous reasons why i posted. Iv followed her for years. She has different personalities/ personas at times,especially the last 6months,she seems the professional ketogenicist here.She was contradicting herself and if the family cannot see it,it needs to be said. I dont mind being called out for not having a clue. Im either right or wrong. If im right the harm shes doing to herself and family is/could be massive. If im wrong im the fool only. Il go make a coffee and get on with my life. Commmenting is something iv never done on youtube before btw.

[@a.mie.533]

😊I like your comment - my perception of her goes into a similar direction ... but I could be wrong, too ...

[@sheryl7638]

Thank You Father for Lauren!! Thank You for blessing her and empowering her and protecting her to keep going and to keep trusting! We pray In JESUS Name Amen❤🙏 Youre going in the right direction and youre on the right path . I will say it again The world needs you!! And we are extremely thankful for your brave pioneering spirit that is shining light and truth and advocacy for the most vulnerable people who are under so called "care teams" with profound power and influence over their their lives. I'm thinking about my son and from what I see him experiencing...the thought comes to me that there is really nothing more intrusive than injecting medication into another persons body.

[@KendraWest-xk6po]

If I had a Keto 'coach' I would be wary of what the 'coach' was saying. I could easily say I was a life coach and start helping people to think about their life, yet I wouldn't have a degree that it takes 12 years to earn. Anyone can say they're a coach. Psychiatrists spend 4 years to get their bachelor's, four years in medical school, and four years in residency, which is when you work at the hospital under a supervisor. Your psychiatrist can't fire you because you were not hired for anything. He doesn't need you for anything, you need him. Sorry girl, but this is the truth. 😕

[@reinerschafer1708]

Yep, psychiatrists learn everything their predecessors learned. It takes years to hammer that into their brains. It's probably why psychiatry has not advanced very much and seems leave the mentally ill, chronically mentally ill. It's like they have given up even looking for a cure. They just keep doing the same thing over and over again, year after year, decade after decade with quite poor results.

[@imterpsfan2]

Girl? This sounds so condescending.

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

​@@imterpsfan2 The truth doesn't always have to be dressed up. Keto coach is not even in the same universe as doctor. I could call myself a keto coach and start seeing clients tomorrow and there would be 0 repercussions for doing so.

[@Susanne-qp8vj]

​@@kathrynquinnstreeter4238 I hope that they are in the same universe. What if the keto coach is a trained nutritionist with years of experience? I don’t think it’s productive to pit different disciplines against each other. We need good, respectful exchange at eye level-then a lot can be achieved

[@laurentmichel4006]

Your doing something revolutionary for schizophrenia treatment bringing this option to the public.

[@Kate-dv4bz]

1) these professional you speak are probably not licensed professionals with medical degrees. and these research that you’ve been doing probably are biased because you want it work these research papers probably conflict of interest. Correlation does not equal causation. You’re only feeling better because you’re in remission . Maybe in a couple months or even a year your symptoms will come back, especially if you’re not medicated. And it will come back twice as bad. It seems that you want to do things your way and your way might not be ethical or the correct way. You’re taking advice from people who don’t have medical degrees, who hasn’t been studying medicine for 8-9 years in a proper university and has bias. Rather doctors and psychiatrist Learn it all not just one way of treating things.

[@maddyfox8545]

Hate that we have to pander to the enormous egos of our specialists in order to pursue a more wholistic approach. After all, it’s we who are the ones who have to live with our illnesses. Good luck to you. I’d encourage you to not over pander to your specialist. There are others out there who can be more supportive. You don’t need to deal with fragile egos on top of everything else you’re going through. I admire your efforts to just keep on trying. Sometimes it’s so hard to get up off the canvas when we are knocked down time and time again. I see you and I salute you! 😊

[@a.mie.533]

Well, if you consult a specialist and ask for help, but then go off the path they recommend you, based on their expertise and experience, what do you expect?! You know better than him what works for you - right? So then, be consistent and keep to your non- medical advisers...

[@lactate]

Exactly. Why pay to go see him then spend the whole hour telling him why he's wrong?

[@jenagain-s8t]

How are you feeling this week? Please update your progress frequently where you are advocating this highly experimental approach so strenously

[@kathrynquinnstreeter4238]

Worries me we haven't heard from her

[@jenagain-s8t]

Yes. I'm sure this is a big transition for Lauren. But where she has sold it so hard as part of a partner$hip with Metabolic Mind and changed her branding to cured, it is important to share progress and setbacks to avoid overselling to a vulnerable audience

[@shawnrisley2404]

I'm always in the both/and camp. Trusting your own experience while listening to authorities, the willingness to see things through, tolerating the discomfort of not knowing the end result. Thanks for communicating with us throughout your experience.

[@aleksandracatt]

I’m wondering too why she hasn’t posted yet? I’m really curious about this keto diet and how it’s going for her now that she’s off meds. But she still didn’t post any updates. And tbh she sounds bit off in this video m like she’s rambling a little. Idk is it still meds withdrawal symptoms or possibly she’s sliding int psychosis. Just my thoughts. Idk. I hope we hear from her soon. And I hope she okay.

[@jenagain-s8t]

Yes. I wish her well and she is pioneering here but I think it is premature to rebrand this as a cure

[@jamiebothamley3903]

I don't think we should underestimate the value of education. Just because you want something doesn't make it write

[@desstheprincess5056]

i just want to say you look very expressive in your face this video! good to see you doing well

[@BrooksFoodLooks]

Nobody likes to hear they are wrong. Then throw in hundreds of thousands of dollars in school and years of being wrong, even the littlest bit, and they will protect what they learned incorrectly, even with the proof sitting right in front of them. Denial is a hard wall to knock down, I wonder if the Psychiatrist would even recommend or suggest this to others, because at this point, to me, it seems they should be. Anyways, always glad to see you lively, and if you ever want to become an activist on this subject, I would encourage it and try to support however my little self can. This is about helping people, not about establishment pride in their education. Take care Lauren!

[@benjaminro341]

Based and smart comment! I have only met 2 critical psychiatrist in my 5 year mental health circus.

[@EMILY4DAYS]

We have so many issues because yes, we do have to stroke people's egos to get adequate care & service. That speaks more to the overall system than the people who are there to receive care.

[@Empress_of_Justice_444]

Please stay on your meds, stay blessed.

[@AbelZorin]

I hope you feel Great ,Much Love to you and your Family from Helsingborg Sweden from Abel Zorin

[@beccafranklin6683]

I wonder if you have heard of the feel better live more podcast by Dr Chatterjee. It’s the biggest health podcast in the UK and I think you would have a brilliant conversation with him and he might know how to help you find a way to raise awareness of your experience and a metabolic approach to mental health. Well done Lauren, you are really a shining light of hope you many people.

[@jojoco120]

Thank you for being will to fight this fight for those who will come behind you.

[@markwickens2756]

Traditional psychiatrist has their training and understanding. When a patient starts “freelancing” with new ideas, they get worried/alerted for the patient and don’t know what to do. For the patient, to receive obviously erroneous information about how long withdrawal lasts is frustrating. Patient should not be the one psychologically carrying the psychiatrist who lacks this knowledge or is not curious to use it as a little research project. What an opportunity. Hopefully soon enough we have “functional medicine” psychiatrists who are open and curious and are able to offer metabolic psychiatry. Wheels turn slowly. We need Matthew Phillips (neurologist) back in Canada from New Zealand to spread these new ideas re brain and metabolism among our doctors.

[@laurieconover7243]

.... Yes, wheels turn slowly and even more slowly when we enable them to stay in ignorance by stroking their ego ...

[@rebecav6151]

When you see the amount of fads that cycle through the mental health industry and resulting treatment failure in your patients that follow these fads over evidence based medicine, you tend to be a bit more critical. It’s not fear of the unknown, so much as the experience of seeing tragic failures from untested and unproven theories.

[@markwickens2756]

@@rebecav6151 Like Chris Palmer says, for epilepsy purposes, we have a huge amount of research about ketogenic diet. It’s well-researched, safe. We can’t say the same about anti-psychotic meds. They give obesity and diabetes to the people taking them. Plus plenty of other side-effects. So, should a psychiatrist inform their patients about these options? Is it their professional duty? As a psychiatrist, if you choose to be wilfully blind (and safe) and write prescriptions that lead to horrible illnesses (metabolic syndrome), aren’t you breaking your hippocratic oath?

[@jennifersinclair5988]

Lauren, really this is so mature of you. I am so impressed. I've heard a doctor put it from his point of view: if you don't want my opinion, then don't ask me. I have really struggled with communicating with my doctor about my 'non-anemic iron deficiency'. I really do need iron supplements, even though my blood work looks good. I had a long couple of decades of heavy menstrual bleeding, and I think my reserves, in my marrow etc., are depleted. Certainly I suffer the symptoms if I don't take iron. Luckily iron is available here without prescription, so I can medicate myself. And to be fair to the doctor, he said do please bring in information about the condition. But he trusts his numbers, and he is worried that I will suffer from iron overload. So, fair play to him. I resorted to just not mentioning the problem to him anymore, and he doesn't really ask. Like, he's busy. He's really helped me in other ways. So I think your way of respecting the doctor is really good. It does seem to be true that doctors do have a lot of pride, but I think not so much the younger ones. But they are definitely only human!

[@lindenchisholm]

I never told my psychiatrist that I treated my bipolar depression with psychedelics because I didn’t know how he would take it. He noticed I was doing a lot better and I ended up being discharged from his services.

[@emmamunro7208]

He "fired you" ?

[@mr.giggles4995]

I was able to get off effexor thanks to DMT

[@mr.giggles4995]

I managed to get off effexor because of my DMT experience.

[@lindenchisholm]

@@emmamunro7208 No, not really. He was trying to retire and was downsizing his practice, letting people go he thought could make it on their own.

[@emmamunro7208]

@@lindenchisholm oh that makes sense

[@merg-vh5sx]

You said this all so well. So carefully.

[@David_four_twenty]

It could also be that very few people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will have such positive responses with metabolic therapy.

[@beckykeeler1789]

Your right, schizophrenia, and schizo affective are almost like missing part of the brain tissue . Your not talking about a healthy brain. That's why we need to be on medication in the first place. Because our brains do not function like normal brains do. I don't ant to be totally negative either. But I would have to really see how well it goes in the first place before I go off my meds.

[@beckykeeler1789]

Because I would want to make sure this Keto diet works first because I would never want to go go back to the way I was living before in another world.

[@kneelbeforethelord917]

@@beckykeeler1789 Well she never once went off her meds first when she started the Keto Diet. She started the diet and within like 3-4 weeks was improving drastically with her Symptoms and she noticed her meds were making her tired and feeling off. She kept with the keto and started very slowly lowering her meds and that's how she got completely off them. She didn't just start taking her meds down before knowing something was working like you are insinuating here.

[@David_four_twenty]

@@kneelbeforethelord917 and I am not saying that is untrue. However, what I am saying and what I think Becky is saying is for example, that it may be a good idea to establish with studies involving many people, say, the number of people with such symptoms needed to try metabolic therapy, to reveal 1 person with such positive outcomes from metabolic therapy.

[@jonnaramirez9445]

My son did the keto metabolic diet he went manic didn't do well with it and eventually had to go back on medications. I'm sure it's not like this for everyone. Just be very careful.

[@rugs_mcfly]

I'm struggling like hell to change my diet. For so long I've used food as a coping mechanism. Having to completely give up certain foods is incredibly hard for me. It's even harder living with family members who eat the same foods I'm trying to avoid. And for so long now I've said to myself that I'd do anything to heal my mental health and I finally learn about medical keto and I can't even seem to start.