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Posted 11/4/2011 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor put me on a very low-carb diet a few weeks ago for health reasons. It's supposed to help avoid heart disease and diabetes. No potatoes, bread, desserts, pasta, white rice, etc, etc.

However, the diet has affected my mood - adversely. In the past week, I've had a depressive episode every day for a few hours. Normally, I'm very stable and this doesn't happen.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm wondering if my brain chemistry has changed, and whether the problem will go away once I'm used to this new way of eating.
Posted 11/4/2011 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, Railey, and welcome to the Bipolar Forum,

Everyone is different in regard to the digestion of foods. For those who
are sensitive to carbohydrates, however, you may have been experiencing the highs associated with sugar, particularly, before your
physician put you on the diet.

Now, your system may be trying to adjust to a more stable supply of proteins and vegetables, and your body is crying out for a little more carbohydrate. It will adjust, usually . Give it another week; you'll probably feel great. If not, check back with your doctor.

Your doctor is a smart person to try to help you in this way.

Let us know how you get along, please.

I.G.
Posted 11/4/2011 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you are going through a stage of withdrawal.  It might feel bad for a while and you might even start to crave the foods you have just given up.  But I think in the end it will be worth it.

I found this on the web.  Thought it might help you through.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

Posted 11/4/2011 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
I had marked improvement on low-low-carb diet. Everyone is different!
Posted 11/5/2011 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the input. I do think that I'm in some kind of carb withdrawal.

Even though the diet is very healthy, I think a gradual change will be better for me. I've decided to modify it by adding back some (good ) carbohydrates for a while.

I value my mental stability too much to do anything to compromise it.
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