I have a quick question about eating issues. Technically, I have Bipolar 2 depression so although I manage it I've accepted it as part of my life.
I'm slowly becoming more resilient but I have trouble with either not eating or eating way too much when I have an episode. I did see a dietitian and it was all solid advice but when my brain feels like mush I suddenly don't care. I just want to eat carbs and sugar or I don't want to eat at all and I drink so much soda! I was to where I had replaced diet soda with unsweetened iced tea.
Does anyone have any tips? I've gained and lost the same 15 lbs for the last 3 years. I'm overweight and I really do want to lose at least half of it.
It builds/repairs itself with fats, but it RUNS ON pure sugar, and sugar alone.
People with chronic pain, certain addictions, & certain disorders CRAVE sugar/simple carbs.
So I’ve learned to use it a couple few ways.
1. As a tell. THIS is happening. (For me, “this” is pain. My brain is attempting to create more endorphins to deal with that pain, and as such is craving sugar. Simple fix? Sugar. More complicated fix, lessen the pain, so my brain isn’t working so hard, and demanding sugar for that work.)
2. Account for it. (My actual diet? Is 90% , or more, meat & veg.)
- But I deliberately -decades ago, on a dieticians advice- add pure sugar to my daily routine. I add sugar to my coffee, and drink soda. I don’t particularly like either? But even if I forget to eat for a week, my brain is being fed, daily. So it doesn’t “worry” about where it’s going to get its sugar. Each and every single day. A couple hits of sugar, and occasionally it also gets whomping loads of sugar via bread/potatoes/pasta. Its sugar supply? Is secure.
- When I’m in pain I can feeeeeel I sugar-hard my diet. Again, so my brain doesn’t worry about its supply.
That “worry”? Not a conscious worry, is like holding my breath. At a certain point? My body will WORRY about its oxygen supply. And start freaking the hell out, and sending chemical messengers, and all kinds of biological imperative to BREATHE. BREATHE NOW. But when we’re just breathing? There’s no worry. So I add sugar to my day, to prevent the SUGAR! SUGAR NOW! crisis. Even if I forget to eat anything else, there is sugar. Here, coming, and expected.
POOF went the carb cravings…. After about 3 months of daily supply.
German dietician, in a clinic dedicated to torture & starvation recovery (short term, long term, & eating disorders). NO ONE, but no one, does treatment of starvation like the Germans. At this point, it’s cultural guilt. Based upon a century of focus. As well as the near constant influx of refugees. Most American dieticians study the German ones, HARD. But I happened to be lucky enough to recover in a German clinic dedicated to torture & starvation. Took me almost a decade to actually implement what I was taught INTO my life? But I also left early. They said I’d be with them 2-3 years. I left after a few months. Just decided I was well, now. And walked out. There are THREE points in my life I really wonder about “what if”? WHATIF I’d stayed on with MEUSOC, who have wildly different protocols than the entire rest of the military; and WHATIF I’d stayed in Germany, the full term; and WHATIF I’d left my husband before marrying him or f*ck-American-laws-and-ran-with-my-kid-going-dark-side-criminal-again?
I’ve made a helluva lot more than three mistakes in my lifetime. But those three? <low whistle> The worst of them, to date.
3. Predict It. Lay in supply when I know I’ll be needing it, soonest. Not now, but nearly.
My mum was one of the scientists who INVENTED “diet” (aspartame) products, and, as such has followed what happens over time. Aspartame is “just” the chemical created that makes bananas in milk sweeter than bananas or milk individually. A chemical reaction between bananas & milk. Creates a calorie free “sweet” flavour. In their lab, working on another project, bananas & milk was a popular snack. So they sourced it. For kicks. Because they were scientists. WHY that happens, the 1+1=3 synergy. Which happens to be a chemical, that they named, aspartame. And? In the short term? Aspartame does nothing. Like tobacco (which is seeeeriously carcinogenic on the long term). But in the long term aspartame makes cell membranes less permeable. Which both makes people INFINITELY more hungry (as each and every individual CELL is being starved of nutrients) AND infinitely less able to lose weight, as not only can cells not get what they need, cells -including fat cells- cannot release what they’re being ordered to. Avoid aspartame. Full stop.
I eat to a routine. Along with a good sleep routine and daily exercise, that’s my number 1 form of medication.
I treat meals like medication. They happen at the same time every day, and are about the same thing every day. Whether I’m hungry or not.
Meal replacement shakes are my silver bullet. My GP monitors my nutrition levels pretty closely, because I’ve been badly malnourished at times. So I take some supplements, and use the quality meal replacement shakes (good ones, not shitty diet-fad ones) for at least 1 meal per day. It doesn’t require energy or motivation, all it required was getting into the habit.
(Also courtesy of a dietician, because when I’m depressed I’d just stop eating completely left to my own devices!).
Hi @frogthroat I was like you years ago with my diet but now ive got type 2 diabetes so...
Can't have diet drinks because they've got artificial sweetners in like "Aspartame" which is just as bad for you on many levels. To compensate for my food/depression cravings now ill often eat a small amount of fruit or a chicken/salad sandwich to fill me up as a treat instead. I used to binge on sugar like sweets and chocolate/cakes and it's just dangerous.
Sometimes now i may suck on a few boiled sweets to relieve the craving. I feel alot healthier now.
It builds/repairs itself with fats, but it RUNS ON pure sugar, and sugar alone.
People with chronic pain, certain addictions, & certain disorders CRAVE sugar/simple carbs.
So I’ve learned to use it a couple few ways.
1. As a tell. THIS is happening. (For me, “this” is pain. My brain is attempting to create more endorphins to deal with that pain, and as such is craving sugar. Simple fix? Sugar. More complicated fix, lessen the pain, so my brain isn’t working so hard, and demanding sugar for that work.)
2. Account for it. (My actual diet? Is 90% , or more, meat & veg.)
- But I deliberately -decades ago, on a dieticians advice- add pure sugar to my daily routine. I add sugar to my coffee, and drink soda. I don’t particularly like either? But even if I forget to eat for a week, my brain is being fed, daily. So it doesn’t “worry” about where it’s going to get its sugar. Each and every single day. A couple hits of sugar, and occasionally it also gets whomping loads of sugar via bread/potatoes/pasta. Its sugar supply? Is secure.
- When I’m in pain I can feeeeeel I sugar-hard my diet. Again, so my brain doesn’t worry about its supply.
That “worry”? Not a conscious worry, is like holding my breath. At a certain point? My body will WORRY about its oxygen supply. And start freaking the hell out, and sending chemical messengers, and all kinds of biological imperative to BREATHE. BREATHE NOW. But when we’re just breathing? There’s no worry. So I add sugar to my day, to prevent the SUGAR! SUGAR NOW! crisis. Even if I forget to eat anything else, there is sugar. Here, coming, and expected.
POOF went the carb cravings…. After about 3 months of daily supply.
German dietician, in a clinic dedicated to torture & starvation recovery (short term, long term, & eating disorders). NO ONE, but no one, does treatment of starvation like the Germans. At this point, it’s cultural guilt. Based upon a century of focus. As well as the near constant influx of refugees. Most American dieticians study the German ones, HARD. But I happened to be lucky enough to recover in a German clinic dedicated to torture & starvation. Took me almost a decade to actually implement what I was taught INTO my life? But I also left early. They said I’d be with them 2-3 years. I left after a few months. Just decided I was well, now. And walked out. There are THREE points in my life I really wonder about “what if”? WHATIF I’d stayed on with MEUSOC, who have wildly different protocols than the entire rest of the military; and WHATIF I’d stayed in Germany, the full term; and WHATIF I’d left my husband before marrying him or f*ck-American-laws-and-ran-with-my-kid-going-dark-side-criminal-again?
I’ve made a helluva lot more than three mistakes in my lifetime. But those three? <low whistle> The worst of them, to date.
3. Predict It. Lay in supply when I know I’ll be needing it, soonest. Not now, but nearly.
My mum was one of the scientists who INVENTED “diet” (aspartame) products, and, as such has followed what happens over time. Aspartame is “just” the chemical created that makes bananas in milk sweeter than bananas or milk individually. A chemical reaction between bananas & milk. Creates a calorie free “sweet” flavour. In their lab, working on another project, bananas & milk was a popular snack. So they sourced it. For kicks. Because they were scientists. WHY that happens, the 1+1=3 synergy. Which happens to be a chemical, that they named, aspartame. And? In the short term? Aspartame does nothing. Like tobacco (which is seeeeriously carcinogenic on the long term). But in the long term aspartame makes cell membranes less permeable. Which both makes people INFINITELY more hungry (as each and every individual CELL is being starved of nutrients) AND infinitely less able to lose weight, as not only can cells not get what they need, cells -including fat cells- cannot release what they’re being ordered to. Avoid aspartame. Full stop.
Thank you so much Friday for this detailed explanation. I like details. I’m curious about that torture technique. Not curious enough to hear more right now. More concerned than curious. I’m also cautious about Germans, even though I have a German heritage. Probably explains why I tend to be so intense. My mother raised me like a true German. If you don’t do it right, do it over. Not much grace, mercy, and kindness in that, especially for those of us trying to recover from trauma who need a soft hand.
Appreciate the things that you share. Thanks for being here. Have a good day.
I have had lupus for more than 20 years and it was highly recommended in healing for that.
And too much spinach, unfortunately gave me kidney stones. I was enjoying a lot of spinach salad. Unfortunately, I forgot about balance. Balance is very important.
And too much spinach, unfortunately gave me kidney stones. I was enjoying a lot of spinach salad. Unfortunately, I forgot about balance. Balance is very important.
Some things to consider; Those with
with CPTSD/PTSD have higher levels of cortisol consistently and long term- the stress hormone(which can make us hold body fat, crave sweets, it does make it harder to lose weight and can make for those "ups and downs" in weight and although you say "I have bipolar 2"(consider that if you've dealt with a stressful life or stents of stress that went on for 3(+) mths it is similar particularly if impactful to you. Not to mention that there is now a medical corelation between "trauma and bipolar" those with trauma are more likely to *be bipolar*, have that gene express itself that way so this may well apply to you anyway and one is not immune to stress/it is not mutually exclusive.
So getting cortisol checked/under control could be worth looking into, for some this has more to do with things like getting set up with a therapist(so they may adress *chronic burn out*) that "brain mush* that you talked of- and slowly looking over life, work and relationships in life and adjusting them to a pace/way, that is doable for you, yet gives some so your nervous system can recover.
This impacts cortisol/the nervous system as well(it all plays off of eachother).
There is of course, the element that has to do with chemicals(depression) but I don't know what medications suite you/what side effects your prone to(etc). So I can not speak of you personally, but I remember sering even MDs recomend 5htp(for depression) and it curbing the appetite as well(perhaps you can ask your MD or a neuropath) if this would interact with your current medication(s) or if it's a good fit for you.
This is a tricky area, as someone with bipolar can *go manic*, or in your case hypomanic(so it's best to ask a doctor) or at the very least a nurse practitioner who has been to many seminars on mental health/medication management(and continues to)But note sometimes those who specialize in big pharma just haven't been taught about natural medicine which is why some turn to those who specialize in natural medicine(someone with heavy experience in these matters and learned about interactions)and just like MDs they can specialize in certain conditions too(ask them)!
Unlike a poster above, I am aware that for example, as a nation we are putting sugar in things where it's not nutritionally or medically necissary so sugar addiction simply due to how our food is made, predisposition to things like PCOS for example(for bipolar folks) which are insulin resistant(and predisposed to type 2 diabetes), being sensitive to it(for things that mimic mood swings)- means "just adding sugar" "as a nutritional element", is probably not advised from any of my reading(if anything being checked for things like PCOS if female, insulin resistance, diabetes, and managing cotrisol/insulin could be far more beneficial for bipolar folks as a demographic(that way).
Yes the body converts many things *into something like sugar*, that doesn't mean "just add refined sugar"(not the same thing). Particularly for a group who is also predisposed to celiac disease/gluten sensitivity(carbs are "also broken down to something similar to.." it means "more likely to be cranky, and have mood swing like behavior" from things that don't go with their particular and unique body/concerns and that *some things break down more slowly and evenly*, and that is preferable(that is why some are even advising Keto for mental health) am I saying go to that extreme? Absolutely not. I am saying staying leveled is a many layer approach- and so are food issues.
I would also consider the psychology behind food/eating- we eat to "feel" what we repress, we minimalize to *contain emotions*(repress), that's a trauma response- so it's likely there is a need to adress the psychological aspects(talk to that same therapist about that component) and it's roots for you as an individual(biuld up to it, anyway).
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