Cant say ive heard of it but keep us udated im curious how u get on.

Yes, if you type in mental health diet in TED talks on you tube you will find some interesting stuff. One change you can make is to drink water!! And a second is to find ways to balance emotions.
I have a community group that is called Planned Optimistic Adventures.....please stop by.

There is not a doubt in my twisted mind that there is a link between what I eat (or don't eat) and my PTSD symptoms. Keeping my weight up is my challenge, but I am convinced that my unhealthy weight loss is not that far different than my sibling's unhealthy weight gain. Both are intensely diet and exercise related. When we lay on the couch eating jelly donuts together, I will lose weight while my sibling gains weight. We will both end up going down the psycho drain together.

I don't do fad diets, but I solidly believe diet is a subject worth studying.

Ive heard they've proven a link between sugar and depression...

I'm sure there's a link as well..... Let us know what you find out will you sweetie...... I went to an in service once by a pdoc that specialized in anxiety disorders and he said the first question he asked everyone was 'what is your caffeine intake?'

The biggest thing I can do to help myself with PTSD (or anything else, physically) is to avoid Processed foods! Evil evil gunk in them! My body wasn't raised on them, and I avoid them, so if I do end up with any... ew ew ew....

I have not had caffeine in 15 years or so. Helped enormously with GERD and with sleep. I weaned off slowly, however, and didn't go cold turkey.

Lots of veg. I love my carbs, but I do best with my symptoms if I eat some raw veg every day or if my cooked veg are kept varied. E.g., parsnips and turnips instead of carrots and potatoes. Similar tastes when cooked, but not the same nutritionally.


And I avoid "bad fats". I know sugar is the enemy (and I do keep that to a minimum, I admit), but any fat that i ssolid at room temperature? I swear I feel sluggish after having it in any way shape or form. Canola or olive oil, I'm fine. Butter? Blech.

Mind,t his is a lifestyle I've had since, oh, age 10? on the fats and age 4 on all else. My mom was very supportive of me eating as my body demanded, not as a book did. Turns out my body functions best if I do that, and if I ignore all that "food pyramid" or "diet book" guidelines.

We're genetically weird, each and every one, so what works for one may not work for all, but thsoe are my suggestions. Based ont he fact I have low non-fasting cholesterol, excellent nutrient absorption, etc., obviously it works for *me*.

And I'll note I cook from scratch, but that is part of it --- cooking was good times === cooking means relaxation ---- cooking is of itself an act that eases my anxiety.

So if cooking from scratch stresses you out, screw that!

I ramble, sorry, I just know that docs are amazed that after nearly 30 years on epilepsy meds and all the time on PTSD meds know (almost five years) that my bloodwork and liver and kidneys are chugging along so well. ANd I say it's b/c I stick to what feels "correct" for my body. Not my taste buds (chocolate!) or my self-comforting (chocolate!) but... my body.

So what I like to do is, before a meal, close my eyes and picture not what tastes good but ask myself, "OK, what foods do I crave in my bones, not my brain?".... inevitably, it's like I get imagesin in my head of something. Spinach or rice or whatever. Weird, but true. My momtaught me to do that so young that i can't even tell you how it works or how to do it.

I guess I eat SOuth Beach without fish? Huh. I dunno. ....

Timely post. I woke up depressed and feeling like crap today and I know it's because I ate crap yesterday. Oh well back on the horse.

I just made a Beef Bean Thyme Soup...loaded with onions, carrots (sorry Leo), garlic and thyme (from my garden last summer).

Anyone remember the Life Cereal Mikey commercials... My daughter is the house "Mikey" she hates soup...and she ate it.

No doubt about it for me. That's why Thursday night is my monthly night to go to my hospital's nutrition class. I graduated from a two year course through my hospital and my monthly classes now are follow up.

These monthly classes are hour long presentations by a team of nutritionists and how nutrition affects mental and physical health.

I am on day 4 of this diet and here is what I have found so far. I get hungry in the afternoon and the 3pm snack does not cut it for me. yesterday a had a bit more for snack and that worked.

both yesterday and today I have had a ton of every and my mood has been good. I cannot believe what I am getting done.

I noticed late yesterday that my thinking was a bit clearer but today my mind is flipping from task to task because I have so much energy. I need to rein that in a bit and be more like yesterday. focused and getting things done.

the bad is i am having trouble getting to sleep. when I lay down I have a float of questions and idea come to my mind. this I need to do and want to do. it seems to take longer for the trazodone to kick in. last night I took a a lorazepam and that helped me get to sleep faster.

one last thing I did not expect. my pain levels seem to have dropped a bit. I am finding I have less pain during the day and I can be more active. pain is from bone spurs, arthritis, fibro, and a knee injury.