most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-25T13:43:25Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/123089 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb HuntingBears 2012-05-28T17:04:18Z 2013-03-04T21:38:28Z

<p>Today I've eaten eggs, prawns butter and avocado and I feel really anxious/depressed</p> <p>Does anyone else get depressed on low carb?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123094#123094 Matthew Caton 2012-05-28T17:22:31Z 2012-05-28T17:22:31Z

<p>When I was first starting out with Paleo, I tried to it low-carb. Everything seemed to be well, but after about a month and a half, I started getting*<em>very anxious and stressed out</em>*.</p> <p>What ends up happening is your body must break down protein for glucose needs, and it releases a lot of cortisol to make this happen, leaving you feeling anxious, and stressed, which inevitably leads to depression.</p> <p>Do some carb refeeds. Around 250 grams twice or three times a week. Make your first one today. You'll still be "fat-adapted" with infrequent carb refeeds, but you won't suffer from low glycogen stores.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gulfcoastpersonaltrainingllc.com/" rel="nofollow">Matthew Caton NSCA - CPT</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123096#123096 Karen P. 2012-05-28T17:32:53Z 2012-05-28T17:32:53Z

<p>Yes. Upping carbs in the form of sweet potatoes, other starchy vegs, fruit, and occasional rice has been helpful for anxiety and better sleep.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123103#123103 Veriria 2012-05-28T17:46:56Z 2012-05-28T17:46:56Z

<p>I can't say that I was especially depressed, but since I started adding in a lot of carbs (ala a smoothie most mornings consisting of at least 2 bananas, berries, coconut milk, and some whey protein isolate), I've actually been <em>happy</em>.</p> <p>I've never normally been a happy person :D</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123114#123114 Shannon 2012-05-28T18:10:39Z 2012-05-28T18:10:39Z

<p>Try taking 5-HTP at night to boost serotonin levels. Beware that high serotonin can also leave you depressed, so I found after the first 2-3 weeks that scaling back to every other night or every 3 nights works well for me. You have to play with it a little to find your own sweet spot. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123117#123117 Daphne 2012-05-28T18:16:09Z 2012-05-28T18:16:09Z

<p>Yes, I started low carb about a month ago and just this past week started feeling very anxious....with a constricted stomach and a feeling like cortisol was circulating.. Now I have always struggled somewhat with anxiety depression but my instincts are telling me this particular phase is due to the low carbs and I have been including some fruit and carrots and potatoes this week. I had a couple of bananas the other day and they tasted really good. This is a process. Best of luck to you... I do know that wheat and sugar are not the answer for me. I had a little bit of chocolate yesterday as I was feeling so low and it gave me digestional issues right away.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123137#123137 Irene 2012-05-28T19:02:48Z 2012-05-28T19:02:48Z

<p>are you sure its not caffeine that's causing u to feel anxious and depressed?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123138#123138 VB 2012-05-28T19:07:25Z 2012-05-28T19:07:25Z

<p>I will be honest with you - I do not feel depressed when I eat low carb BUT I almost NEVER eat low carb. I make sure to add some starchy vegetables/tubers on a daily basis. Why? I do not believe in low carb. DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. </p> <p>I know about people who do well on low-carb diets. My guess is that their blood sugar levels/metabolism is so screwed up, they have to do it in order to re-start it.</p> <p>However (and this is my belief) long-term low-carb diets are not sustainable. I have no research or experience to back it up, but this is the deduction I have made from reading tons of literature on traditional cuisines and hunter-gatherer's diets.</p> <p>And I am probably one of the happiest people on earth. Little things make me happy. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123146#123146 MiMintzer 2012-05-28T19:57:05Z 2012-05-28T19:57:05Z

<p>I think I average maybe 150gm carbs a day. So far today I've eaten two TJ apple chicken sausages, handful of walnuts, and right now I'm eating goat milk yogurt with frozen blueberries and strawberries with cinnamon. I don't feel depressed and in fact I think I am doing much better than pre-Paleo diet. I was on two or three different antidepressants and now I'm off and I don't miss them. I feel much more even keeled. I do have problems with not being able to sleep well but I don't think that it's carb related. Being cooped up indoors can make me a little edgy...are you getting enough sunshine and/or Vit D3?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123164#123164 Arrowsican 2012-05-28T21:00:18Z 2012-05-28T21:00:18Z

<p>I felt more depressed and less energetic when I was eating VLC. I'm still pretty low carb now, but I make sure to get some "safe-starches" which has really helped.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123169#123169 Grottenolm 2012-05-28T21:24:36Z 2012-05-28T21:24:36Z

<p>Only when I'm not getting enough fat. If I stick to fat being 75% ~ 80% of my calorie intake and the rest split between carbs and protein, I feel happy and insanely productive.</p> <p>However if the fat percentage slides down and the protein goes up, I get anxious. I suspect prolonged gluconeogenesis is hard on the body.</p> <p>Eat mostly fat. What little protein you eat should be high quality, like liver, eggs and whole fishes/sea creatures.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123180#123180 coffeesnob 2012-05-28T22:45:25Z 2012-05-28T23:18:32Z

<p>Low fat makes me even more depressed. Also, one low carb meal like the breakfast described should not have a dramatic effect on your mood. Maybe you are just having a bad day and that has nothing to do with your diet? </p> <p>Are there any ongoing factors other than the diet that are contributing to your depression/anxiety? </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123219#123219 PaleoVenus 2012-05-29T01:54:16Z 2012-05-29T01:54:16Z

<p>Yes, avoiding carbs makes it harder for me to manage major depressive disorder. I do not pretend to understand why that is the case, just n=1. Now I try to carb-cycle, ala LeanGains, and just eat the majority of my carbs on workout days. This seems to be pretty manageable for me.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/123224#123224 raney 2012-05-29T02:20:53Z 2012-05-29T03:49:08Z

<p>I go through phases, during a low-carb streak...</p> <p>At first: I'm tired, a little depressed, a little cloudy, just sort of feeling overall like I'm missing something. I do get a little anxious after the tiredness passes, I feel that I have more energy than I know what to do with; I usually don't sleep more than five hours a night during this phase. This lasts the first couple days.</p> <p>After that: I break through a wall (low-carb flu) and start feeling really, REALLY good. I'm elated, I'm giddy, I'm clearer than I've been in a long time, I feel like I've figured it all out. A fatty meal makes me feel like I'm flying on several illegal substances. Still sleeping five - six hours a night, but could care less because I have energy. I mean I have ENERGY! This lasts another three or four days.</p> <p>At this point I'm seven - ten days in, and I start noticing that I'm snapping at people here and there. Irritability sets in; I'm not seeking trouble per se, but if anyone shows any sign of weakness or stupidity at all around me, I have ZERO patience and I pounce like a starving lion aiming to rip the throat out. If I continue in this phase, I feel like I might lose my job; it requires both patience and the ability to support those of lesser capability.</p> <p>Around three - four weeks of &lt;20g carbs, in deep keto - my irritability levels off a bit, but never completely. I feel like a predator, I'm more aggressive than I like to see in myself; if I become impatient or irritated with anything in my life, I simply cut it out. Emotional ties or value doesn't weigh in at all. I feel like I'm operating at a closer to mammalian level, really eschewing the advances in society we've made over the last thousand years. At the same time, I'm thinking exceptionally clear, I write a lot, I create, I'm busy as can be, utterly discontent with sedentary life. My house stays exceptionally clean, I get ahead at work, and generally feel like a production-machine, but at the same time, incapable of emotional attachment or really loving.</p> <p>Needless to say, I eat potatoes these days. It fascinates the hell out of me from a psychological standpoint, though.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/127322#127322 leftybanks 2012-06-13T01:02:23Z 2012-06-13T01:02:23Z

<p>I was going to post about this in a new thread until I found this one. </p> <p>I've been dealing with this now since I started low-carb, about 10 days ago. Overall, it's gotten better, though there were a few days where things felt very "dark" and I exhibited classic signs of depression (i.e. what counselors use to evaluate depression) for much of the day. I initially assumed this was more psychological in origin, i.e. this change in diet and the fact that I needed to do it b/c of my health, was depressing but at a certain point, I realized this was definitely physiological too, that my entire body was feeling depressed and not just "all in my head."</p> <p>It has gotten better over the last 3-4 days, though now it's more cyclical. If it hits, it'll usually be in the late afternoon, before dinner. Sometimes it'll hit late morning too, before lunch. (And yes, I see a pattern forming here). I should add: I still have that light-headed, dizzy-when-I-stand feeling though I don't know if the two are connected. </p> <p>Eating a good meal wipes this out; if anything, I can be a little manic afterwards (which is a bit troubling in itself. I feel like I'm a dietarily bipolar or something).</p> <p>Based on reading through other testimonials, it seems that my symptoms may reflect:</p> <p>*Dehydration (the light-headedness more than the depression) *Lack of sodium (see above) *Wheat withdrawal (this would be the Dr. Davis thesis) *Low-carb flu caused by the switch from burning glucose to ketones</p> <p>I should add, about half the days so far, I've also been intermittent fasting; not eating b/t 7pm - 11am. I often skipped breakfast before going low-carb/paleo so it wasn't that hard to adapt but I'm wondering if, in the process, I'm just adding to the stress that is apparently impact me and my mental state. </p> <p>I do eat some starchy carbs during the day but nothing that would amount more than half a cup of white rice). I also have at least 1-2 helpings of fruit a day. </p> <p>Thoughts from the rest of y'all? </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/130373#130373 Mintyloly 2012-06-25T13:50:29Z 2012-06-25T13:50:29Z

<p>I am bipolar and cannot do low carb high protein I get seriously clinically depressed, so carbs are low, tons of green veg but I add in a couple of packs of blueberries a day. some days the odd banana. Needs must.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/130379#130379 Wayne daniels 2012-06-25T14:22:24Z 2012-06-25T14:22:24Z

<p>Low carb raises cortisol which is bad</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/142747#142747 amy 2012-08-15T00:12:13Z 2012-08-15T00:12:13Z

<p>when being on low carb your seretonin depletes making some people feel depressed.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/142767#142767 Colin 2012-08-15T02:50:28Z 2012-08-15T02:50:28Z

<p>Yes I have the same experience when I low carb, I've tried about 4 times and each time it happens. I tried lots of salt, extra water, medium chain triglycerides, chromium, magnesium, amino acids which just make me feel funny, but nothing seems to work. There are a lot of people who feel this way so your definitely not alone. Best advice on this page so far I think is from either Mathew Catton or Karen P. Dr. Cate has a good write up on this and I think she's gonna have a chapter in her next book about it.</p> <p><a href="http://drcate.com/got-fatigue-from-low-carb-diet-enter-contest-win-books/" rel="nofollow">http://drcate.com/got-fatigue-from-low-carb-diet-enter-contest-win-books/</a></p> <p>As for me I threw in the towel and keep my carbs at around 100 grams usually from roots and tubers, it works well I feel really good and have lots of energy. Hope this helps.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/176667#176667 Sarah 2013-01-29T23:48:06Z 2013-01-29T23:48:06Z

<p>I struggle with bipolar/depression/anxiety though it's been in check for almost 2 yrs with medication and some therapy. I am over 200lbs and only 5'5" and I decided once and for all to get back to my natural weight of around 135lb. With this said, I've stopped eating all sugar and about 3 wks ago, eliminated flours and white potatoes/rice. I am now experiencing a lot of anxiety coupled with some depression. I don't weigh myself so I don't know if I'm even losing much weight. So, my input is that I need to keep twikking my daily dietary needs until I find the right balance. I cannot and will not allow myself to slip into brain chemical imbalance with results in a relapse into active mental illness.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/123089/does-anyone-else-get-depressed-anxious-on-low-carb/183234#183234 Bristlebeard 2013-03-04T21:38:28Z 2013-03-04T21:38:28Z

<p>Turns out I'm a weird one here, as anytime I do keto, I feel great. I get tons of energy, and I need less sleep. I wake up refreshed and ready to go. I also have more energy during the day, and get less fatigued as the day goes on.</p> <p>The reason I'm not in keto anymore is that my weightlifting performance goes down. I can't lift as much, or for as many reps as when I'm eating carbs.</p> <p>Have you thought that maybe you're not getting enough fat? You need to get energy from somewhere.</p> <p>That said, maybe I'm/you're just an exception. Eat the way that makes you feel best.</p>