While it doesn't work for everybody because it's difficult to get it right, Paleo-ketogenic has more impact towards a better mental health than plain Paleo (because the body fully switches to ketones to feed the brain, by changing the chemistry). Fermented foods, offal, coconut oil, home-made goat kefir etc are a must in such a treatment to get the best out of it.

I would say that is far from failure. You'll see lots of stories here about people going off of medication for illnesses, being cured from a lifetime of blindness, and suddenly becoming the next Einstein thanks to the magical healing powers of eating Paleo.

I believe that eating paleo paves the way for health, but that there is no shame in taking medication if you have already tried alternative methods. I will probably be attacked for this...for not thinking paleo is the Almighty Answer, but I do believe that there are biological differences between humans, and some of us are just more wired to respond to certain things in our environments, from an interaction between genetics and our life experiences. We are born with variation in how our brains are wired, so what works for some may not be enough for others.

Basically, eating right isn't going to make your health perfect. You can only try to correct dopamine or serotonin on your own through diet so much.

I think it's sad to think that eating right will cure all mental illnesses. Right, okay, so how about we take all the soldiers suffering from PTSD, NOT address their emotional trauma and just feed them paleo? Will they be cured? No.

I would try to look at your life as a WHOLE and not just focus on food, assuming that it is causing your mental illness. Are you currently working on your anxiety through a therapist? That could be a great first step. Have you looked at what is different about your life lately that is causing so much anxiety? Are you getting enough sleep? Or you exercising to take care of yourself well enough? Maybe you can try meditation for a while, relaxation techniques and slowly wean off the drugs if you find that it helps you cope with life's hurdles.

how about your exercise routine?

You have an illness and are taking medications. No shame in that. I'm sorry that someone somewhere is making you feel less important than someone with cancer or some other disease that requires a lot of drugs. Don't make yourself sound like a tweaker. Work with your doctor to taper down if that is your goal.

I'm having that same problem. After 8 months of weaning off lexapro I had to up my dosage because of the returning anxiety and crying spells. I'm down to 5 mg a day for maintenance be still have anxiety and consider upping it. Don't feel like a failure. I'd rather live a happy life on lexapro than life in a constant state of stress, anxiety, guilt and shame.

I'm a psychologist, and I'm saddened to hear that anyone feels like a failure for needing medications to help with conditions like depression and anxiety. Nutrition is one thing, but if your brain's chemical makeup is imbalanced, then you are doing a good, good thing by helping it be rebalanced.

Is it possible that, down the road, you won't need them, whether because of therapy, psychological changes/growth, or nutrition? Sure.

But I believe that every person is put on this earth to live the happiest, most fulfilled life they can. So if taking a pill helps you live the life you were meant to live, then I believe it's actually an imperative (not a failure) to take that pill and try to live the best life possible.

I'm going to echo the other answerers and say it is most certainly not a failure. I'm assuming your diet is pretty dialed in, and that's awesome! I'm willing to bet you're benefiting from paleo in other arenas.

When it comes to anxiety, I can relate with your story somewhat; I started paleo to try and 'cure' myself (so to speak) of panic disorder and depression, and I do believe it helped, but I also utilized other behaviors and lifestyle changes, including psychotherapy, exercise, and lots and lots of self-reflection. I don't know if you've tried it, but cognitive-behavioral therapy really helps when it comes to anxiety, be it panic disorder or generalized anxiety. Also, having pills (In my case, Valium) on hand helped to make me feel more secure in certain situations, and though I didn't take them often, I did use them when I felt I needed to and they were a huge aid in my overcoming crazily debilitating panic attacks.

I definitely feel for you and want to reiterate that doing what you need to do in order to mitigate your anxiety and depression in no way makes you a failure of any kind. Keep at it (and possibly look into therapy, if you feel that'll help!) and I'm sure you'll have a brighter future ahead of you.