Understanding the Power of Diet, Sleep, & Substances with Dr. Chris Palmer

Join us for an enlightening interview with Dr. Chris Palmer, a leading psychiatrist and researcher dedicated to metabolic approaches in mental health. In this discussion, Dr. Palmer elucidates his method for understanding and treating mental disorders, emphasizing the importance of foundational elements such as proper sleep, optimal metabolic function, and a clean diet. With nearly three decades of experience, he explores the transformative role of the ketogenic diet in managing psychiatric conditions and assisting with medication withdrawal. Discover how this dietary intervention can reshape brain metabolism and bring new hope to individuals facing treatment-resistant mental illnesses.
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[@Irishrose777]

I left a comment awhile back about wanting you to interview Dr. Chris Palmer. So glad you did! His stories are amazing and inspiring. Diet changes don’t work for everyone but keto has helped me immensely. Good luck to anyone out there wanting to try it!

[@mcb00]

How long did it take to help you?

[@Irishrose777]

@@mcb00 it took a month or so to adjust to it. I used to get dizzy spells from high blood sugar from eating carbs. That’s the first thing I noticed going keto. My brain was calmer and clearer and blood sugar was in check

[@mcb00]

@@Irishrose777 so you noticed all the benefits in a month? In addition to less dizzy and more calm, it helped other things?

[@Irishrose777]

@@mcb00 yeah I haven’t gained more than a couple lbs over the last two years so that’s been a plus. Are you thinking of trying it?

[@mcb00]

@@Irishrose777 you've kept it up 2 years? Wow. Yes I don't see myself staying on it for life, but 3-6 months

[@nitzaperez7173]

I wish there would be more Doctor like this🙏

[@brendansmyth5053]

I’m celebrating 5 years PAWS this week. 🎉 I improve every year ✅ What a crazy ride! Doctors here in Australia have zero clue unfortunately. 😫🇦🇺

[@MrMushkin85]

i'm in 3 years, hope you heal soon

[@brendansmyth5053]

@@MrMushkin85 thank you 🙏🏻 you too! It’s the slowest healing journey.

[@mindsigh4]

Australia, UK, US, Europe, wherever there's a market, the -d-r-u-g-d-e-a-l-e-r-s- , er, i mean pharmaceutical co.s, are going to be there...

[@brendansmyth5053]

@@mindsigh4 there is a lot of drug money to be made and the market is so willing to try anything. Informed consent by the drug pushers (GP’s) is needed.

[@Justlikemagic96]

What helped you the most during your healing journey, Dear?

[@DiogoSantos-ix5sl]

I don’t know why people are so unsatisfied with this interview; it’s amazing. It’s only shortcoming are not having been longer and not having addressed directly akathisia style symptoms.

[@taperclinic]

Thank you for the support.

[@scoobydadog246]

He comes across as such an 'arse... typical psychiatrist. Brutal with the sleep 'plan' You need to talk to Dr. Georgia Ede. and all the other docs and people like Hal Cranmer witnessing dramatic improvements in people with dementia, and autism with keto/carnivore diets.

[@acinematrail]

I was surprised at his insistence on 8 hours sleep. I’d focus on gradual diet change first as this may set the way towards improved sleep. I get the sense from watching his other interviews that he has patience, and I doubt that he is unaware of severe benzo withdrawal issues.

[@iloveYah88]

glad to see the physicians finally talking about what the psychiatric survivors have figured out long ago, in order to survive the prescribed poisons. Ketosis, intermittent fasting and right light relationship with sunlight exposure is the way to survive the assault from psychiatry.

[@Eliokd]

Does intermittent fasting help with this condition?

[@MichaelJLink]

I've been following a keto/carnivore diet for about 8 months now. My anxiety and depression has been minimal. I'm at my 1 year mark of being totally off xanax after 25 years and all of my symptoms are physical such as muscle tension pain, weakness, and benzo belly issues. I used trazodone to sleep initially during withdrawal and then stopped it and now I take nyquill. My goal is to stop that in a few weeks. My pulmonary doctor also advised getting to the point where I can sleep with no pills. I feel like I'm healing but it's an extremely slow process. I started physical therapy last week for my neck pain and to help with restoring my overall strength.

[@CashMoneyMoore]

Congratulations on your progress. 0 substance sleep soon!

[@OliveGreen0516]

I've heard a lot about keto diet being key to great health recently. It's crazy to hear it helps stuff like this. I really need to look into this. Hope you continue to heal ❤

[@matt_staton]

How are you doing today? Are you still keto / carnivore?

[@MichaelJLink]

@@matt_staton I am more low carb with some cheat meals here and there. I'm 21 months off Xanax now and still have all physical symptoms: fatigue/weakness, muscle tension (neck, shoulder, bicep), benzo belly (bloating), and some partial loss of feeling in my lower legs... Everything is still taking a vey long time to heal. I did 30 sessions of physical therapy last year and was doing better, but a few months later everything came back so I've done another 20 sessions so far this year and am still going. Feel like I need to find some way to function the way I am cause I'm not sure my issues are going to completely heal or not.

[@5057birth]

Interesting interview… However, this doctor must not have encountered many patients going through acute attracted benzo withdrawal. Most of us dream of 7 to 8 hours of sleep, but are lucky if you get one or two. I can’t understand why he wouldn’t know that our nervous system is so hyper sensitized that this could be nearly impossible. I would love to be getting a good nights, sleep, out in the sunshine, exercising and being with people, but the reality is, I am bedridden in extreme pain, my head has explosive pain 24/7so it’s very difficult to sleep. I used to be an avid exercise an outdoors person but now I am lucky if I can walk to the bathroom. My nervous system is so sensitized that I cannot tolerate light, sound, and smells. Most of us would agree that good nutrition, sunlight , good sleep and exercise are what will get us well, but honestly, it’s extremely frustrating and upsetting to hear a doctor act like it’s a matter of the will to accomplish these things.

[@BirdieHaze2207]

I thought the same thing, was up and running around the block for 4 days or more without a wink! Then in you lay down and close your eyes you get the terror wave and you’re jerked out the minute you start to cross over, and then that’s it for another 48 hours. Totally chemically fuelled.. there are no choices in this. Even years after coming off the AD with akathisia I’d walk or jog up to 30 kms in a backyard, then March in a walk in cupboard all night. I couldn’t eat I was so, so bad.. or even stand still to prepare food at all. Chemically induced torture.

[@mariekejansen7658]

How to sleep while in Akathisia🤷‍♀️

[@pikkuoo]

Exactly! He has a hammer, so everything looking like a nail to him.

[@LanceJones-mh7tz]

I agree. I tried sleep restriction therapy myself. It had horrendous consequences. I was awake for 5 days straight and ended up in the emergency department with hallucinations. 20 months later I still can’t get adequate sleep. I think his ideas would work great for someone that is not going thru med induced brain damage.

[@CashMoneyMoore]

Benzos are incredibly difficult to wean yourself off of. I just don't think he can get into the minutae in a 45 minute interview covering many topics but I assure you he has sympathy and knows it's an incredibly difficult path. However I myself know people who have gotten off of all benzos, slowly but surely, using some of the methods he described and the ketogenic diet. Here is an interview with one of the patients who experienced it somewhat, and one of the hosts of that interview is still slowly but surely weaning himself off. - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJuvgqaJl8mjl9E It isn't impossible.

[@michaelayalaathotmai]

Go full carnivore and then listen to what he says again. I recommend lots of max intensity HIIT exercise. Sprinting or swim sprints. Get a pure clean diet and release adenosine. Sauna does help too. Develop your callouses to two 30 minute sessions. You just can't sleep well and heal eating junk and not exercising. Resistence exercise is also vital. Muscle growth is a marker for new brain growth - particularly the hippocampus.

[@beagsp23]

Thank for this interview, It is a motivation to start doing certain changes. there is another possibility and that is a light of hope..

[@franrushie.510]

No one talks about the emotional state… I know from experience when I gave up my anger and resentment… my mental issues went away… I’m reading the good drs book and it makes me want to write my own book…doctors don’t seem to get to the causes of problems…

[@Golgibaby]

Timestamp: 12:40 Real talk and solution focused actually addressing the problem. Sleep and eat right!

[@ryanlebear]

I have to say, when I went carnivore is when I'd seen substantial improvements after around 12 months going through protracted withdrawal. It was quite incredible.

[@heathersmith6177]

I hate been keto under 20 grams a day for 16 months after reading Dr. Chris Palmer’s book “Brain Energy”. I have done carnivore off and on during this time. How has your experience with carnivore helped with PWS? I am tapering klonopin and ambien after many years. I hate these drugs so much and what they have done to my brain. More research has to be done even if it is our only N=1 studies that we share in comment sections.

[@matt_staton]

Are you fully recovered now?

[@DiogoSantos-ix5sl]

I’m surprisingly already implementing this strategy slowly; this will help me be more methodical. I’ve seen slow healing :)

[@CashMoneyMoore]

Keep it up! And keep us posted.

[@matt_staton]

How long have you been off benzos?

[@matt_staton]

I started keto / carnivore at 11 months off benzos. I’ve been keto / carnivore for 46 days and it’s helping a lot. I pray for all of us that are going through this. May God bless us and heal us.

[@nitzaperez7173]

Thank you Doctor witt-Doerring for this wonderful video 🙏

[@taperclinic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DiogoSantos-ix5sl]

Really wanted to learn about protracted akathisia and how to best address that. I guess it is included in overexcitable nerves…

[@gggariepy]

Oof, I really appreciate Dr Palmer, but in my experience and the many others that I've read, sleep restriction is a terrible terrible idea for people with a benzo injury. Tried it in acute last year when I slept 1-3h a night (paid 700$ for 6 week CBTi therapy), and it did nothing but harm. CBTi also specifies that sleep restriction should never be less than 5 hours, so a 2-hour sleep restriction should never happen.

[@gggariepy]

I also have perfect sleep hygiene and environment and it made no difference either. It's not a question of will or lack of trying.

[@McStorch0]

I agree. In wd you sleep when you can. We aren’t normal people trying to fix a sleep problem.

[@scoobydadog246]

Yes, I was shocked by his attitude. Typical psychiatrist. Kind of sadistic. Please Look into Dr. Georgia Ede. - who is much more knowledgeable about dietary intervention and an amazing, compassionate woman. Also from Harvard. When ppl mention Palmer to her,, she just gets quiet. I can tell she doesn't care for him - so you are not alone :)

[@kadambarichowdhary7337]

I have been in withdrawal while I was in consultation with a functional Medicine expert. I have autoimmune - celiac and already had been gluten free for 7 years prior to withdrawal…. What diet could a person like me would have helped… benzo withdrawal takes its own time depending on the time and each individual’s physiology, withdrawal as such pushes us into insomnia, take advice only from the ones who are living through it and have experience like doctor Josef … I have never had alcohol no drugs no cigarettes my entire life… I am from a family in India where homeopathy is the way even in fever, o was the unfortunate receiver of benzodiazepines after marriage and it is a trap …

[@HelenMason-ym1xc]

I'm so disappointed in Chris Palmer as a guest here. I've read his much anticipated book and I was hoping that he would address withdrawal, akisthesia and sleep deprivation on this platform. I'm so disappointed that someone with his credentials knows so little about how our taken as prescribed benzodiazepines withdrawal sleep symptoms. His saying sleep is so important if we are going to heal and then giving us basic sleep hygiene tips which we are all doing is ridiculously lacking in knowledge and causes further distress to people with drug induced insomnia. I hope everyone going through this gets well soon

[@5057birth]

I totally agree. It seemed he had no knowledge of what people go through in Benzo Withdrawal. I don’t have akathisia, but along with most in protracted withdrawal, it’s impossible to sleep because of our nervous system is so hyper sensitized. Very upsetting interview for those of us in this condition.

[@kirakeynow]

@@5057birth I am pretty sure he knows it - this is the reason why he researched this topic. Watch other videos about him, he actually really cares and I believe his messages - I am on a low carb diet for weeks and I feel better.

[@carolmorehead5507]

Couldn’t agree more with you!!

[@EC-yd9yv]

🤯...I hear you!! God help us...🙏💖✨✨

[@Maria-zr7ph]

Yeahhh I’d like to see him talk to everyone in the thick of that 😅I would sob uncontrollably for months and months because I couldn’t sleep. And no, I didn’t use drugs or supplements like he suggested. I was too scared to take anything. It’s just a bit tone deaf for those of us in withdrawal. I would be up for days at a time and only slept 3-4 hours for soooo long. Idk just makes it seem like we didn’t will ourselves to sleep enough 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@nmeyerho]

I’m curious if Dr. Josef has used ketosis for withdrawal and what the general finding was. Did it improve symptoms? Accelerate healing time?

[@racheldahliamusic]

I'm slowly getting better. Still having dizziness and what I call soul slippage. The akathesia has calmed mostly. I have to take each day by day. It's controlling my life atm and I was co dieting the carnivore diet...

[@heathersmith6177]

Dr. Ken Berry, Dr. Georgia Ede and many others can help if you want to put yourself in therapeutic ketosis (not internet “cracker and brownie” ketosis. It is not a fix all. Yet it might be worth a shot for those of us who have tried ALL THE THINGS.Real food keto has helped me and I hope it helps you.

[@katherinelalli776]

From Dr. Palmer's McClean Hospital bio: "For over 20 years, Dr. Palmer’s clinical work has focused on treatment resistant cases, and recently he has been pioneering the use of the ketogenic diet in psychiatry, especially treatment resistant cases of mood and psychotic disorders." "Treatment resistant" meaning....people who did poorly on psychiatric drugs? Bio says nothing about treating people who were harmed by psychiatric drugs.

[@baileystruss7319]

Interesting. But im not sure I understand how ketosis addresses med damage.

[@mcb00]

The assumption is that it optimizes healing by improving metabolic/mitochondrial function and reducing Neuroinflammation

[@DiogoSantos-ix5sl]

Mitochondrial function improves, it reduces brain inflammation too!

[@heathersmith6177]

It has been shown to decrease brain injury symptoms and energy dysregulation of the brain. This I know for sure, it helps heal the body. It’s not a fix for PWS but it can certainly put your body in a better state to heal and it might just help symptoms in some. When you are in enough pain you will try anything!!! It is a treatment that can help tremendously for many.

[@kathalanaoneg1456]

Hum Ketogenic diet, sounds appealing to me.

[@CatherineMarionArt]

I had hypothyroidism and took medication to control it for years. My hypothyroidism resolved by itself and I have been off medication for 7 years now. The only thing I did was reduce the Venlafaxine I was taking from 300mg to 37.5mg. Perhaps it was playing on my thyroid? I was diagnosed with thyroid problems not long after starting antidepressants.

[@Justlikemagic96]

Keto helped with my lifelong severe mental issues but unfortunately it stressed my body the f out and worsened my physical withdrawal symptoms a ton. insomnia, vision issues, hearing sensitivity, and tinnitus all amplified while i was on it and i also ended up with a binge eating disorder because of it.

[@elaabel590]

Is a vegan ketogenic diet really possible? I have seen a few books on this recently. What is your advice for vegans who struggle coming off psychiatric drugs?

[@TsStone]

Of all the really good info and knowledge I’ve gotten from this channel, this was the first bad one. I have no trust in this guest.

[@Walsh25]

I agree - typically doctor / never been there so he can’t even fathom what we go through / sleep was only reason ever took it period now learn to sleep again after we messed ya up Bye boy

[@katherinelalli776]

It sounds like his studies are in how to treat "mental disorders" with diet and not about how to treat psych drug withdrawal with diet. I think I just don't trust Drs at this point, having been so badly misled for so long. His Harvard and McClean Hospital credentials make me think he is not that different from other psychiatrists.

[@katherinelalli776]

It sounds like his book is about the diet to treat "mental disorders" and not a diet for people who are in withdrawal from psych drugs. "Dr. Palmer's ground-breaking theory is that abnormalities in brain energy metabolism are likely root causes of psychiatric conditions." It's really problematic that it's not made clear.

[@adriandelacruz9970]

Hes not in the boat of those whove been damaged bt drug/ meds. He can't say that if hevñ've experienced it

[@geoff_onYT]

need time stamps!

[@nitzaperez7173]

Dear God, I wish I knew about this Doctor I know he wouldn't never put me in Xanax now I am going to start weaning off from Xanax, I pray to God to give me the strength to do this. God I wish I had known about this doctor😔

[@johanncoetzee7287]

Never try to withdraw from benzodiazepine!!! After weaning myself off that dangerous life-threatening medicine, my eye plugs fell off. Now I'm shocked that I never realised what the Bible is about!! After getting off the benzodiazepine, I realised how does the person look and the personality of my wife and family members. Your eyes will shock your soul when you realise what's happening in your life and the world!! Now I'll live such a life, knowing that this life is time restricted. Never stop benzos when you are also drinking other anti epileptic medication, sedatives, stimulants and benzos for 26 years!!!! Your life will be shocking disastrous despite being on the keto diet for 3 years and for the rest of my life. At least it helps me with my sleep and in this new life methods. Stop benzos and pit yourself in the grave and see what's religion. If I only help one person to stay on benzos for the rest of their life, then I feel I've withdrawn for a good reason, despite being so confused. I still drink Ativan when I get major seizures. Prepare yourself for a status epileptic seizure after completion of the benzos, despite still drinking anti epileptics and being in good ketosis according to my ketosis meter. Good luck making the wise decision!!

[@stevie_89]

Thanks for this video. Is there any evidence that the keto diet can help with akathisia (other than the Jordan/Mikhaila Peterson Lion Diet, which is anectodal?)

[@jordanhansen7053]

It helped me, it works by creating more GABA as well has clearing glutamate from the synaptic cleft.

[@kathalanaoneg1456]

I live outside and wake up with the sun, so I have a longer day to suffer. I don't need to be in a tent because I have plenty of money. So my medical records look like I'm a I'm a homeless crazy person..

[@babycakesweetiepie77]

Can i use keto diet with chronic kidney disease?

[@eleanorsendeavors29]

Yes, there are keto doctors who address this...

[@VisnuGD]

People have reversed CKD type 3 with keto and carnivore diet

[@zahraelhatt6657]

Anxiety and sleep are not good friends...so saying something self evident such as "you need to sleep" is not cutting it.

[@bawsypvp5481]

time stamps would be nice

[@glynisansara]

I disagree. My belief is that Dr. Palmer truly cares about his patients and understands mental illness.

[@fionen]

CBTI sounds like a mania trigger. Oh you mean people can gain weight on keto, I never would have guessed 🙄

[@ardyes]

Carnivore is better than keto

[@ajax700]

What are the differences? Best wishes.

[@nicolelambic]

Ketosis is a metabolic state. People eating carnivore are in ketosis as well.

[@ardyes]

@@nicolelambic that's true but you often don't eliminate plants filled with oxidates and anti nutrients on a keto diet where as on carnivore you do. It's much better for your gut microbiome when you are in a compromised state. Jordan Peterson went through akathisia and iatrogenic damage from benzo and ssri use. It helped him

[@ajax700]

@@ardyes Peterson knows nothing, about mental health, and about medical drugs dangers, or he wouldn't have got addicted to a benzo. Best wishes.

[@MiguelCorreiaDaCunha]

@@ajax700 I hope your loved ones or you don't develop cancer and you never succumb to despair someday. That way benzos won't look tempting... Also that you have a little chat with mr. Dunning and mr. Kruger, so you can reevaluate your gigantic medical knowledge. "BeSt WiShEs"

[@katherinelalli776]

I don't think i can trust another dr who has a theory about my brain.

[@almasalazar8318]

Why don't you watch more of his interviews?

[@elaineremains]

now how the heck do you get off pills helping you sleep when they are psych meds that you can't get off of for quite some time,, if ever????? this was a very hopeless interview for me

[@relaxingclips7697]

I dislike this guest's recommendation.

[@scoobydadog246]

He's an 'arse! Please see Dr. Georgia Ede! She will give you hope!!

[@almasalazar8318]

He has had great success with this protocol.