Lauren, I wish you success in your battle with Schizophrenia. To that end, have you considered all possible alternatives to medication? Specifically, have you tried deliverance? If not, I encourage you to do so. It does work. Truly. I have been healed several times myself, but I have two second-hand accounts that are absolutely astounding. First, a friend of mine told me a story about how his brother disappeared for two weeks. His brother had ingested an entire sheet of LSD and spent most of that two week period wandering the city streets. He says he has no memory of what happened during that time, but he was eventually picked up by the police. Later, it was discovered that he had somehow contracted HIV during those two weeks. He wasn't the least bit discouraged though. He said, "God told me in a dream that if I fast and pray, He'll take away my HIV." After that, rather than taking any medication, he fasted and prayed continuously and was miraculously healed of the virus. His blood work came back HIV negative, and it still is to this day. Next, a Navy chaplain shared the following story with me. I had asked him if he'd ever seen a miracle. This is what he said... One night, the priest had been called to the home of a man who was completely bedridden and dying of cancer. He had assumed it was to perform the man's last rites. However, when he arrived at the home, the bedridden man was standing at the front door to meet him. Shocked, the priest asked why he had sent for him. "I don't know what to do," the man said. "Since God healed me, is it a sin to keep taking my medication?" Anyway, those are just a few of the many examples I have of miraculous healings. I can share a few more that have been medically verified as well. That way, you can see them with your own eyes and know that they are true. Praise God, the Lord is loving and gracious! He can do all things, and He can heal you of your Schizophrenia. Will you give it a try? If you need someone else to fast and pray, please let me know. I will gladly petition the Lord on your behalf. Until then, I hope you will take care. Thank you for your time and God bless!
Do you think this could work with someone with epilepsy? I believe the ketogenic diet was created for individuals with epilepsy. I struggle with epilepsy and I haven't found a doctor that is willing to help me figure out if a keto/metabolic therapy could work for me. Interestingly, epilepsy is misunderstood by so many! Depending on the severity of and where it's located, you can have hallucinations. This happened to me, and it's definitely jarring. I think what you're doing is amazing, and I wish more people had access!
Honestly your channel has been a trip. From demistifying shizophrenia which I knew almost nothing about to now questioning the mainstream psychiatry model. I'm so happy you and your family are doing so well!
Thank you so much for all of your posts. My daughter just went through her first real psychosis this year and was an inpatient for 3 months and she got a diagnosis of schizo-effective disorder. As a mother your videos gave me hope and for my daughter you gave her understanding and learning. Our whole world seems to have changed so quickly and you alleviated darkness and fear. Thank you so much!!! Her future is filled with hope.
Dear Lauren, because of you I´ve started Keto Diet some weeks ago and hope to be able to report, how it affected me in 3-6 months. Thank you for your content, bravery and intelligence.
Wonder how many years until you feel accustomed to such an awesome life after dealing w/illness for so long. Happy happy for you!! Thank you for sharing your journey Lauren!!
Thank you for bringing all this forward. In my family there are many mental disorders; from Schizophrenia to anger issues. I have cancer for the third time. Your videos has helped me approach my healthcare provider about medical keto, every one of my providers is 100% for it. So thank you for your encouragement. ❤❤❤❤
Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 I’m a mum of two doing a masters in psychotherapy and I want to commend you on your bravery and humility vlogging your journey. My recent paper I submitted was using a ketogenic diet to reduce psychiatric medication. You are the living proof that this is possible and that my late nights were worth it. My lecturer thought my topic was a ‘unique’ article but you (and others) are the reason I’ve gone back to uni in my mid forties to pursue new ground. Thank you for believing and trusting the process!
Your youngest son is so freaking cute and he is the perfect mix of you both. I also have schizoaffective disorder and am really thinking about having a baby within the next couple of years and I am just inspired that you were able to have a child even through mental health issues and still being on medicine like I am.
I am SO happy to see you doing so well!! I've been following you for a few years and you have helped me more than you can imagine! I was also living with schizophrenia, I too went off meds (for my own situation-not because of your experience) and I TOO am living soooo much more splendidly and alive like I haven't been in many years. It is definitely not the path for everyone but l'm so thankful it was possible for us! Wishing you all the joy and continued success!♥️♥️♥️
Wow, what an accomplishment! I can see the results from the happiness in everyone's eyes, Rob and the children, and of course, yours too. Thank you for sharing with us, Lauren. 👏
Don't be alarmed if you get more withdrawal waves over the next year or more. It takes a long time to heal from meds, and as they get flushed out of your system, it can make symptoms flare again. You've got this! I love how joyfully you engage in life and with your family!
Seeing your journey over the last few years has been such a trip. I admire your resilience and strength of character! Take it easy on your ankle! I think it might feel frustrating to be limited on your way of coping but I'm sure you will be okay seeing how much more capable you are with dealing with stressors! I don't know you personally but can't help but feel happy for you and be proud of all of your progress, especially when things get tough again. Your eyes are shining so bright!
I believe everything happens for a reason. I clicked on your video for a reason. Soo happy to have found you. I’ve been searching for answers for a while now
Im very happy to see your journey and how you take full responsibility for managing your mental health and staying stable. Its wonderful. I think you deserve time to process and celebrate your accomplishments. Even taking a youtube vacation if you need to go on holiday! You deserve a reward for your progress and diligent work on self care!
I have really loved and appreciated how raw and honest you have been. I want only the best for you, and I really appreciate you taking me on this journey.
My wife has just been off for almost 2 months as well. After a long long journey! We don't do metabolic therapy but we try to workout a lot, and she likes planting trees as a new hobby which work really well for the mind
It’s a miracle really. A cure for a devastating chronic disease that will work for some part of the population. I hope word continues to spread and more studies are done.
Hello Lauren ! First time actually posting a comment on one of your videos. I'm french and I have psychosis (we don't have a clear diagnostic yet but it seems to be schizophrenia for my psychiatrist). When I was under a lot of meds and you were off of them, I got so jealous I didn't want to watch your videos anymore and I couldn't live with the fact that I was under antidepressants, anxiety pills and antipsychotics... I stopped taking all of them after believing they were poison to make me forget that I know I'm in a simulation and everybody around me is a robot here to spy on me. I had a week without side effects and I felt relief. However hallucinations came back after that and I had to take a new treatment (I felt that the treatment I stopped taking made me too tired. I wasn't happy with them ... At all.). This new treatment doesn't have any side effects on me and symptoms are gone! Now it seems to me that you and I are on the same page and it feels great to follow your footsteps even though we don't follow the same path. I am finally happy for you and for me. I really missed this feeling of being myself again.
I live in France and I"m taking Olanzapine also, yeah life in France is not easy without these drugs.. and there are not a lot of videos on withdrawal in French :/
Lauren, my heart is soaring with love and hope and gratitude for you and your beautiful family with regard to your willingness to share your soulful journey with us. Every waking moment I pray my daughter will realize her need to heal from her condition. It has gone on for so long, and her noncompliance toward any and all help has taken its toll. I am praying for a great miracle. Your desire to heal and commitment to the difficult work is just so inspiring. Again, thank you for filling my own deeply broken heart with hope that my precious child can overcome her ever-darkening symptoms of delusions, hallucinations and paranoia and psychosis. May God continue to bless you. Your husband needs to be cloned. He is so strong and kind and gentle-definitely “a keeper” who is worthy of being your partner and the father of your children. Seeing you singing and bouncing on that trampoline with your adorable little boy brought tears to my eyes. Indeed, I am weeping yet again as I write this. Wishing you a speedy ankle-break recovery, too-a minor nuisance when compared to the heroic, lengthy journey you’ve been on.⭐💙⭐💙⭐💙⭐💙⭐
I had a psychotic episode a decade ago. Was forced (via threats) onto antipsychotics for 2 years. Consequently 2 years where I had depersonalisation/soul death. Hopefully going for counselling soon, to try and get over the overwhelming disgust I feel towards myself for 'complying' with medication being forced on me.
So happy to see this post! You are awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing what you've learned and showing the rest of the world that there is life at the end of the tunnel! :)
I have experience being of with meds completely 7 years. However, unfortunately the symptoms came back impacting my daily functions and forced me to start over again. Hope you take note on your symptoms and immediately consult your doctor whether to continue meds soonest to prevent the negative and executive symptoms blows.
I wish everything goes well for you lauren. Its important to note that psychosis relapse doesnt usually come instantly after quitting antipsychotics. Id say 1 to 2 years from now we can tell more about if your diet is actually working medically.
@@elleroberts765my son was fabulous off medication for five months - then the psychosis came back unfortunately So we need to be cautiously optimistic - this may not work for everyone
@@elleroberts765 no, it doesn't normally. You can go for months or even years after stopping antipsychotics before having a relapse. Some people will obviously relapse sooner, but it is possible to go for years without symptoms and then BAM!
Hi Lauren! Thanks for the update. You look great. Except for the ankle. :( Sorry you broke it' but glad you are in the gym to keep up with motion. I am going to say it. I am jealous. Eating a "normal" diet is so much easier! Bread is easier. And cheaper. I am glad you are med-free!!!! And are working through the withdrawal. I started Lurasadone recently and I like it. Keeps the hallucinations at bay. But does not help with insomnia. So, does Keto help with insomnia? Did you have it? You and your family are in my nightly prayers. Blessings!
Thanks, Lauren so good to hear from you and about the important work you are doing. All the best to your wonderful, supportive and brave family and team.
You keep doing you! Ive loved watching your journey as well through the last few years, and though it’s hard for me to change to a new diet, I do believe in all you’re saying. Reducing medication without consulting with your psychiatrist is dangerous for sure, I’ve seen that in my own life. But you’re doing great! Keep it up.
My partner quit cold turkey off of a high dose (dangerous, do not do this!). The withdrawal lasted about 2 months and was horrendous to watch. My heart goes out to anyone dealing with withdrawal.
Very interesting. I hope it goes well for you. I've been on my own journey of meds, trauma, dx schizotypal and depressed and I've come to think that schizophrenia and mental illness may be a much bigger umbrella than many realize. Some may respond to trauma therapy, some to keto diets like yours. I hope we are able to learn more and grow and people do not take the wrong message from your videos and just drop their meds. As my friend Monica Cassani says, everything matters.
What a different attitude and approach than from a year ago. Good for you. Try new methods. You can't live if you don't learn. And learning means stepping out of your comfort zone. If it isn't working, you can always get back on your meds or a new concoction.
Getting off meds is not just extreme pleasure. Getting off meds is the realization of immortality and the realization that everything is heaven. When you realize that, it's so good, it's infinitely good. It's not just good. It's good to the infinite degree. It's so much goodness that you can't contain it. your body can't hold it. Your entire body shakes and shudders in a cosmic orgasm of bliss. It's perfection. It's total peace. It's absolute love, that's truly getting off meds.
@damamae950 Yes that's also just extreme pleasure. It's also the realization of immortality and the realization that everything is heaven. When you realize that, it's so good, it's infinitely good. It's not just good. It's good to the infinite degree. It's so much goodness that you can't contain it. your body can't hold it. Your entire body shakes and shudders in a cosmic orgasm of bliss. It's perfection. It's total peace. It's absolute love, that's truly pooping in the toilet.
@ hi, what do you mean? Your reference to diabetics "just willing themselves without insulin" is sarcastic, of course, but it's also a non sequitur, it doesn't address the comment above. I believe that your point is about the stigma surrounding medications, yes? This is a straw man argument, you raise it and then attack it as if it's the stigma that makes taking the medication a problem, but I don't think that is the 'real' problem, is it Shelly? The problem is that the medication we are discussing is highly toxic, and often ineffective. Perhaps not as toxic as the condition it hopes to mitigate but life shortening nonetheless, with the possibility of getting horrible ticks that are highly stigmatic, not to mention that many either don't tolerate them well or that this medication has very limited efficacy. You are right that medication is important-and no one should attach shame or stigma to its use, this benefits everyone who needs it. I am also sure you have interesting and important contributions to make to this discussion. I believe your experience is important and can help all of us. Likewise, I understand that this challenges us, and keto may not help all of us, but we can discuss it rationally with respect.
@@benjones1452 it's also an issue that patients aren't given the option of deciding for THEMSELVES, whether the medication is, or is not more toxic than the condition it aims to treat! And arguing about possible risks posed to themselves or others if ill and unmedicated, is a red herring also. Since the coerced nature of current 'treatment' pressures many into concealing symptoms and going more dangerously under the radar. And alternative routes, without medication, even WITH safeguards built in, such as monitoring or even restricted physical freedom initially, are not offered. Insulin compliance is not coerced, even IF your comparison was valid. Is a fear of mental illness, and a distancing yourself from it via othering people, the real issue?
Thanks for sharing, Lauren! I look forward to the upcoming video on down-titration. I am at 2 weeks and 2 days on zero medication. I feel some withdrawal symptoms. I am glad to hear at month two they begin to subside. I hope your family and you have a great day!
Thank you Lauren for sharing this! I’m going through potentiation at the moment after doing the ketogenic diet for two months. Your info is really great!
Over two plus years ago I got found one of your early posts sitting in my YT Mailbox! Curiosity Smiled at me and soon I was watching AND subbing before the video was over so as not to miss anything in the future! For you Lauren, it's been a much longer journey and I cannot fathom the gambit of emotions you are experiencing in being completely off your psychiatric medications. I wonder if you ever thought this would be possible all those years ago! You sharing your REAL life in your REEL videos is such a gracious and selfless act too. I read the comments in here and you and rob and the Kiddos have helped many in more ways than you can see! Thank you for seat. LOVED hearing that "Hic Up" @ 2:04 🤣 MOO From COW-lumbus, Ohio 👋
I got off my meds and was good for a few months and then spiraled back….I look forward to a 6 month update and will look into metabolic minds, thanks for sharing 😊
Lauren that is so great that you are safely off of your meds and feeling good. Sorry about your ankle. The convention you went to sounds interesting and promising for a new future in treating mental illness. I wonder if keto might help in treatment of depression. I will search online.
I have suffered from anxiety and depression progressively worsening during the past 25 years. It is only after various factors coming together (keto, exercise, fasting, mindfulness) that I finally feel I am getting better. I am also beginning to enjoy my life a bit, as my generalized anxiety disorder slowly falls into oblivion. I think it is these experiences when we enjoy ourselves what will define us in the future, and these experiences will uplift us in times of hardship. We may never again become our sad and sick selves and I do not regret that at all.
This is when I wonder if you have pre-symptomatic schizophrenia? Since the symptoms are the condition, symptom free, is condition free. Since the symptoms can happen, gradually or suddenly, to anyone, pre-symptomatic does not mean you don't also have it. The notion of remission is only appropriate to conditions in which a causal agent, such as a virus or cancer cell, remains present in the body. A proneness to malfunction mentally more easily than physically, is no more 'remission' than Laura's healed broken ankle will be, even IF that bone is left weaker than before.
Your journey inspired me to try a few diet adjustments for my seasonal affective disorder which is quite severe. I've been intermittant fasting (18:6) and eating low carb. Also I've been taking vit B1 as nutritional yeast. I dont want to jinx it, but my SAD has not crept in yet.
Very very excited for you / just need to be cautiously optimistic as my son fine off medication for five months then the psychosis started again - so have to get a bit excited but not 100% going to work for everyone so please keep monitoring
Address the root causes of psychosis: Prolonged stress Prolonged exhaustion Loneliness Tackling any complex trauma can help. Eg if symptoms like emotional disregulation, clutter, avoidant attachment, people pleasing, are happening.
Inspite your broken leg..you still run.never give up the race of life and its challanges it throw at us..Wow so inspiring...send u great heart felt hug.. happy holidays to you and your family 🎉❤
I am a bit nervous to ask this question, I do not, at all, intend any offense or judgment. I've been following along on this part of your experience treating your mental disorder but I may have missed your answer or address to this question: If you were on the lowest therapeutic dose of your medication/s, what is the motivation to stop completely? Were you still experiencing disruptive or negative side effects on that dose? If you were not, why did you not choose to continue to take meds *and* treat your mental illness with metabolic therapy (assuming there is an additive effect of the two types of therapies)? Thank you for sharing your experiences, the good and bad. Take care!
I think this is actually a great question, and probably one that will inevitably be answered differently by each different individual. For me, it was undeniable the benefits I felt each time I reduced the amount of antipsychotic that I was on. It really drew my attention to the negative ways it impacted my experience of life and how I felt or even who I was. (Important to also address here that it has very much positively impacted my experience of life by reducing symptoms at various points as well). I've always been concerned though as well about long term side effects of these types of medications. Another factor here, is that many psychiatric medications, especially antipsychotics, can impair metabolic functioning. This all informed my decision to work toward and at least give it a try getting completely off antipsychotics, and to see if it would be possible to manage my illness without them after implementing metabolic therapies. I've definitely been open to the possibility of needing to go back up on a low dose if necessary - but so far it doesn't seem like I'm going to need to do that. If I ever do have an onset of symptoms again though, I'm open to using antipsychotics to help manage that more acutely in the future.
@@LivingWellAfterSchizophrenia Thank you kindly for your thoughtful response and again for sharing your experiences! That all makes sense. Your videos have been helpful to me personally, and clearly others also. Take care!
HALLELUJAH🙌 PRAISE GOD!! THANK YOU JESUS!!🙏❤ AMAZING GRACE!!! HOW SWEET THE SOUND!! Keep looking UP!!😀 We LOVE you Lauren!! GOD LOVES YOU MORE!! 🤗 The truth is Everything God has for you in the future is BETTER than before! The truth is Your past does not define you. The truth is You are who God says you are.😊 Thank you Father For the blessing of this precious soul Lauren that You gave to the world❤🙏 and her precious family! This beautiful family is BLESSED!! BLESSED INDEED! In JESUS Name Amen❤🙏😇
back in 2016 i was diagnosed with bipolar and suddenly put on all these psychiatric drugs that did nothing but ruin my life. I couldnt hold a job because the meds made me dizzy and I couldnt drive. Life got better after I quit the pills.
I have a theory. It is that the feelings and uncertainty of whether or not you can survive without Neuroleptics are greatest during this "withdrawal" period. Hence the apparent rebound effects from being off. I believe with education on the power of understanding that we can mitigate these effects in others. Thank you for being a guinea pig in this.
Beautiful video with heartwarming moments and gorgeous scenery. And I can't wait for the deprescribing in depth video!!! Tapering my olanzapine is the hardest part for me in this keto journey. Otherwise, when did the excessive blinking stop? Soon after stopping latuda or did it happen sooner and I didn't notice? It must be wonderful to be off of psych meds and trusting metabolic therapies despite the ankle challenge which by now I hope you're well-healed. Thanks for the update!! This brings me lots of hope but gosh, what can make withdrawal easier?
Would you mind elaborating on the symptoms of withdrawal? I’m going off of one of my two antipsychotics (with my psychiatrist), and I understand it’ll be different person to person and situation to situation, but it would be interesting to know what symptoms you experienced with withdrawal. Also hope the ankle heals fast! Sending love -
On August 2nd I broke my heel & I had to wear that annoying aggravated AirCast Boot up until exactly 1 week ago today! & the day before I got off the AirCast I got new upgraded meds for my Schizophrenia/depression/insomnia. I had my own theme song for 2 months. "Skitzo's in the room, he's wearing an AirCast boot. Skitzo's in the room, he's far too medicated to be cute."
I don't understand medical keto. I'm personally on keto too but it's by no means taken away all my symptoms even ON medications. Bipolar is cyclical. Schizophrenia is episodic. It will happen to you when you least expect it.
Are you measuring ketones? Are you actually in ketosis? It surely won’t work for everyone, like any treatment, it’s probably dependent on many individual factors and genetics. But it certainly has worked for some.
What will you do if you experience any symptoms currently? are you terrified of that happening & will you take any anti psychotic medication to help short term
Why would she be terrified? She lived with symptoms, and hospitalisations, throughout the decade she was on meds. It seems to be the folk who've never had psychosis, who're terrified about it.
I've been off my meds since 2007. For a long time I used nothing. I did suffer. Now I use a few crumbs of ativan when I get what I call 'fizzy'. When it starts to boil up inside, a tiny bit helps get that sad and dangerous edge off. I'm 65 now and my control is much better. You don't have to suffer if you are moderate in all you do.
I agree! I am 60 years old as well. I was on massive, I mean massive dosages of Seroquel, lamotrigine, Wellbutrin and Clonazepam all at the same time! I weighed 308 lbs and used the keto diet to lose weight. I was worried about the huge dosages with my new body size so I decreased them all, until I was on much much smaller amounts. Then I suffered a traumatic brain injury. Was on no psych meds for awhile because my brain was truly not functioning. During brain injury recovery many parts of the brain are damaged and emotions, cognition, filters are all broken or missing. Thank God for meds. I was put on an antidepressant and a low dose of lorazepam to bridge the gap between therapy and rewiring my brain. Meds are not evil, they can make living possible, but they can also be a crutch for avoiding hard work or a temporary bridge until the road is repaired. Still on Keto...
*JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITIES*
Metabolic Therapies for Mental Disorders: www.metabolictherapysupport.com/
Schizophrenia Peer Support Community: www.schizophreniapeersupport.com
Woah, drop those weights down from 15 pounds to 10! ;)
Best wishes that your ankle heals up fine!!!!
Lauren, I wish you success in your battle with Schizophrenia. To that end, have you considered all possible alternatives to medication? Specifically, have you tried deliverance?
If not, I encourage you to do so. It does work. Truly. I have been healed several times myself, but I have two second-hand accounts that are absolutely astounding.
First, a friend of mine told me a story about how his brother disappeared for two weeks. His brother had ingested an entire sheet of LSD and spent most of that two week period wandering the city streets. He says he has no memory of what happened during that time, but he was eventually picked up by the police.
Later, it was discovered that he had somehow contracted HIV during those two weeks. He wasn't the least bit discouraged though. He said, "God told me in a dream that if I fast and pray, He'll take away my HIV." After that, rather than taking any medication, he fasted and prayed continuously and was miraculously healed of the virus. His blood work came back HIV negative, and it still is to this day.
Next, a Navy chaplain shared the following story with me. I had asked him if he'd ever seen a miracle. This is what he said...
One night, the priest had been called to the home of a man who was completely bedridden and dying of cancer. He had assumed it was to perform the man's last rites. However, when he arrived at the home, the bedridden man was standing at the front door to meet him. Shocked, the priest asked why he had sent for him. "I don't know what to do," the man said. "Since God healed me, is it a sin to keep taking my medication?"
Anyway, those are just a few of the many examples I have of miraculous healings. I can share a few more that have been medically verified as well. That way, you can see them with your own eyes and know that they are true.
Praise God, the Lord is loving and gracious! He can do all things, and He can heal you of your Schizophrenia. Will you give it a try? If you need someone else to fast and pray, please let me know. I will gladly petition the Lord on your behalf.
Until then, I hope you will take care. Thank you for your time and God bless!
Do you think this could work with someone with epilepsy? I believe the ketogenic diet was created for individuals with epilepsy. I struggle with epilepsy and I haven't found a doctor that is willing to help me figure out if a keto/metabolic therapy could work for me. Interestingly, epilepsy is misunderstood by so many! Depending on the severity of and where it's located, you can have hallucinations. This happened to me, and it's definitely jarring. I think what you're doing is amazing, and I wish more people had access!
Honestly your channel has been a trip. From demistifying shizophrenia which I knew almost nothing about to now questioning the mainstream psychiatry model. I'm so happy you and your family are doing so well!
To be honest, I think that mainstream medicine as a whole is kinda f*cked up.
Thank you so much for all of your posts. My daughter just went through her first real psychosis this year and was an inpatient for 3 months and she got a diagnosis of schizo-effective disorder. As a mother your videos gave me hope and for my daughter you gave her understanding and learning. Our whole world seems to have changed so quickly and you alleviated darkness and fear. Thank you so much!!! Her future is filled with hope.
Dear Lauren, because of you I´ve started Keto Diet some weeks ago and hope to be able to report, how it affected me in 3-6 months. Thank you for your content, bravery and intelligence.
That's lovely. May your ketone levels stay up and nurture your brain!
I would suggest you to go read book "The 23 Former Doctor Truths" now. She talks about same things!
58 page "book"? More like a pamphlet. Goodreads reviews says avoid
Wonder how many years until you feel accustomed to such an awesome life after dealing w/illness for so long. Happy happy for you!! Thank you for sharing your journey Lauren!!
You are one brave wonderful person , your strength is absolutely amazing , wishing you and yours nothing but the best
Thank you for bringing all this forward. In my family there are many mental disorders; from Schizophrenia to anger issues. I have cancer for the third time. Your videos has helped me approach my healthcare provider about medical keto, every one of my providers is 100% for it.
So thank you for your encouragement. ❤❤❤❤
Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 I’m a mum of two doing a masters in psychotherapy and I want to commend you on your bravery and humility vlogging your journey. My recent paper I submitted was using a ketogenic diet to reduce psychiatric medication. You are the living proof that this is possible and that my late nights were worth it. My lecturer thought my topic was a ‘unique’ article but you (and others) are the reason I’ve gone back to uni in my mid forties to pursue new ground. Thank you for believing and trusting the process!
Your youngest son is so freaking cute and he is the perfect mix of you both. I also have schizoaffective disorder and am really thinking about having a baby within the next couple of years and I am just inspired that you were able to have a child even through mental health issues and still being on medicine like I am.
I am SO happy to see you doing so well!! I've been following you for a few years and you have helped me more than you can imagine! I was also living with schizophrenia, I too went off meds (for my own situation-not because of your experience) and I TOO am living soooo much more splendidly and alive like I haven't been in many years. It is definitely not the path for everyone but l'm so thankful it was possible for us!
Wishing you all the joy and continued success!♥️♥️♥️
Wow, what an accomplishment! I can see the results from the happiness in everyone's eyes, Rob and the children, and of course, yours too. Thank you for sharing with us, Lauren. 👏
Don't be alarmed if you get more withdrawal waves over the next year or more. It takes a long time to heal from meds, and as they get flushed out of your system, it can make symptoms flare again. You've got this! I love how joyfully you engage in life and with your family!
Seeing your journey over the last few years has been such a trip. I admire your resilience and strength of character!
Take it easy on your ankle! I think it might feel frustrating to be limited on your way of coping but I'm sure you will be okay seeing how much more capable you are with dealing with stressors! I don't know you personally but can't help but feel happy for you and be proud of all of your progress, especially when things get tough again.
Your eyes are shining so bright!
I believe everything happens for a reason. I clicked on your video for a reason. Soo happy to have found you. I’ve been searching for answers for a while now
You are Free sister spread your wings soar high your taking great steps🦅
Thank you for sharing you journey through the years. You have helped others in important ways.
Im very happy to see your journey and how you take full responsibility for managing your mental health and staying stable. Its wonderful. I think you deserve time to process and celebrate your accomplishments. Even taking a youtube vacation if you need to go on holiday! You deserve a reward for your progress and diligent work on self care!
Congratulations Lauren! I am so happy for you, after all the effort and persistence and dedication you have put in :)
I have really loved and appreciated how raw and honest you have been. I want only the best for you, and I really appreciate you taking me on this journey.
Congratulations,hope your ankle heals quickly and we are behind you all the way.😊
Wonderful, Lauren (and Rob)!!! Keep on enjoying life. Best wishes for you! Thinking of you and sending love!!!
My wife has just been off for almost 2 months as well. After a long long journey! We don't do metabolic therapy but we try to workout a lot, and she likes planting trees as a new hobby which work really well for the mind
It’s a miracle really. A cure for a devastating chronic disease that will work for some part of the population. I hope word continues to spread and more studies are done.
Hello Lauren ! First time actually posting a comment on one of your videos. I'm french and I have psychosis (we don't have a clear diagnostic yet but it seems to be schizophrenia for my psychiatrist). When I was under a lot of meds and you were off of them, I got so jealous I didn't want to watch your videos anymore and I couldn't live with the fact that I was under antidepressants, anxiety pills and antipsychotics... I stopped taking all of them after believing they were poison to make me forget that I know I'm in a simulation and everybody around me is a robot here to spy on me. I had a week without side effects and I felt relief. However hallucinations came back after that and I had to take a new treatment (I felt that the treatment I stopped taking made me too tired. I wasn't happy with them ... At all.). This new treatment doesn't have any side effects on me and symptoms are gone! Now it seems to me that you and I are on the same page and it feels great to follow your footsteps even though we don't follow the same path. I am finally happy for you and for me. I really missed this feeling of being myself again.
That’s great news. What is your new treatment?
Congratulations! What is your new treatment/meds?
@@omgIcnow thank you! I'm currently taking Olanzapine
@@elenagallmeier6082 thank you! I'm now taking Olanzapine (it might have another name in English, idk)
I live in France and I"m taking Olanzapine also, yeah life in France is not easy without these drugs.. and there are not a lot of videos on withdrawal in French :/
Lauren, my heart is soaring with love and hope and gratitude for you and your beautiful family with regard to your willingness to share your soulful journey with us. Every waking moment I pray my daughter will realize her need to heal from her condition. It has gone on for so long, and her noncompliance toward any and all help has taken its toll. I am praying for a great miracle. Your desire to heal and commitment to the difficult work is just so inspiring. Again, thank you for filling my own deeply broken heart with hope that my precious child can overcome her ever-darkening symptoms of delusions, hallucinations and paranoia and psychosis. May God continue to bless you. Your husband needs to be cloned. He is so strong and kind and gentle-definitely “a keeper” who is worthy of being your partner and the father of your children. Seeing you singing and bouncing on that trampoline with your adorable little boy brought tears to my eyes. Indeed, I am weeping yet again as I write this. Wishing you a speedy ankle-break recovery, too-a minor nuisance when compared to the heroic, lengthy journey you’ve been on.⭐💙⭐💙⭐💙⭐💙⭐
I had a psychotic episode a decade ago. Was forced (via threats) onto antipsychotics for 2 years. Consequently 2 years where I had depersonalisation/soul death. Hopefully going for counselling soon, to try and get over the overwhelming disgust I feel towards myself for 'complying' with medication being forced on me.
So happy to see this post! You are awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing what you've learned and showing the rest of the world that there is life at the end of the tunnel! :)
I have experience being of with meds completely 7 years. However, unfortunately the symptoms came back impacting my daily functions and forced me to start over again. Hope you take note on your symptoms and immediately consult your doctor whether to continue meds soonest to prevent the negative and executive symptoms blows.
7 years without meds is great. Are you sure you were diagnosed right?
❤WOW what a ride with you Lauren❤ thank you thank you thank you and beautiful Rob and your loved ones❤
I am so happy for you and your family!
I wish everything goes well for you lauren. Its important to note that psychosis relapse doesnt usually come instantly after quitting antipsychotics. Id say 1 to 2 years from now we can tell more about if your diet is actually working medically.
@normative1058 Actually it normally does.
@@elleroberts765yes, that’s what I thought too.
@@elleroberts765my son was fabulous off medication for five months - then the psychosis came back unfortunately
So we need to be cautiously optimistic - this may not work for everyone
It can take months and month and then psychosis can come back happened to my son
@@elleroberts765 no, it doesn't normally. You can go for months or even years after stopping antipsychotics before having a relapse. Some people will obviously relapse sooner, but it is possible to go for years without symptoms and then BAM!
Hi Lauren!
Thanks for the update. You look great. Except for the ankle. :( Sorry you broke it' but glad you are in the gym to keep up with motion.
I am going to say it. I am jealous. Eating a "normal" diet is so much easier! Bread is easier. And cheaper. I am glad you are med-free!!!! And are working through the withdrawal. I started Lurasadone recently and I like it. Keeps the hallucinations at bay. But does not help with insomnia.
So, does Keto help with insomnia? Did you have it?
You and your family are in my nightly prayers.
Blessings!
Thanks, Lauren so good to hear from you and about the important work you are doing.
All the best to your wonderful, supportive and brave family and team.
Very happy for you. Thank you for sharing your journey with the world. It's going to help a lot of people.
Hand on heart. You are kind of amazing. You deserve every moment of happiness. When is that Ted talk?
Lauren, you are amazing! I hope you never have to go back to your symptoms. ❤
You keep doing you! Ive loved watching your journey as well through the last few years, and though it’s hard for me to change to a new diet, I do believe in all you’re saying. Reducing medication without consulting with your psychiatrist is dangerous for sure, I’ve seen that in my own life. But you’re doing great! Keep it up.
❤Oh Lauren, this is wonderful news❤ So very very very happy for you 🥹
My partner quit cold turkey off of a high dose (dangerous, do not do this!). The withdrawal lasted about 2 months and was horrendous to watch. My heart goes out to anyone dealing with withdrawal.
I’m so elated for you all! This is wonderful news! ❤
Very interesting. I hope it goes well for you. I've been on my own journey of meds, trauma, dx schizotypal and depressed and I've come to think that schizophrenia and mental illness may be a much bigger umbrella than many realize. Some may respond to trauma therapy, some to keto diets like yours. I hope we are able to learn more and grow and people do not take the wrong message from your videos and just drop their meds. As my friend Monica Cassani says, everything matters.
Yes unfortunately KETO diet does not work for everyone
What a different attitude and approach than from a year ago. Good for you. Try new methods. You can't live if you don't learn. And learning means stepping out of your comfort zone. If it isn't working, you can always get back on your meds or a new concoction.
Getting off meds is not just extreme pleasure. Getting off meds is the realization of immortality and the realization that everything is heaven. When you realize that, it's so good, it's infinitely good. It's not just good. It's good to the infinite degree. It's so much goodness that you can't contain it. your body can't hold it. Your entire body shakes and shudders in a cosmic orgasm of bliss. It's perfection. It's total peace. It's absolute love, that's truly getting off meds.
However, if one needs to resume medication, that is OKAY too.
@damamae950 Yes that's also just extreme pleasure. It's also the realization of immortality and the realization that everything is heaven. When you realize that, it's so good, it's infinitely good. It's not just good. It's good to the infinite degree. It's so much goodness that you can't contain it. your body can't hold it. Your entire body shakes and shudders in a cosmic orgasm of bliss. It's perfection. It's total peace. It's absolute love, that's truly pooping in the toilet.
Thank you. You are giving me hope as a person with psychosis myself ❤
I wish we would associate meds with no stigma. Then diabetics should just will themselves without insulin.
@ hi, what do you mean?
Your reference to diabetics "just willing themselves without insulin" is sarcastic, of course, but it's also a non sequitur, it doesn't address the comment above.
I believe that your point is about the stigma surrounding medications, yes? This is a straw man argument, you raise it and then attack it as if it's the stigma that makes taking the medication a problem, but I don't think that is the 'real' problem, is it Shelly?
The problem is that the medication we are discussing is highly toxic, and often ineffective. Perhaps not as toxic as the condition it hopes to mitigate but life shortening nonetheless, with the possibility of getting horrible ticks that are highly stigmatic, not to mention that many either don't tolerate them well or that this medication has very limited efficacy.
You are right that medication is important-and no one should attach shame or stigma to its use, this benefits everyone who needs it. I am also sure you have interesting and important contributions to make to this discussion. I believe your experience is important and can help all of us. Likewise, I understand that this challenges us, and keto may not help all of us, but we can discuss it rationally with respect.
@@benjones1452 it's also an issue that patients aren't given the option of deciding for THEMSELVES, whether the medication is, or is not more toxic than the condition it aims to treat!
And arguing about possible risks posed to themselves or others if ill and unmedicated, is a red herring also. Since the coerced nature of current 'treatment' pressures many into concealing symptoms and going more dangerously under the radar. And alternative routes, without medication, even WITH safeguards built in, such as monitoring or even restricted physical freedom initially, are not offered.
Insulin compliance is not coerced, even IF your comparison was valid.
Is a fear of mental illness, and a distancing yourself from it via othering people, the real issue?
Thanks for sharing, Lauren! I look forward to the upcoming video on down-titration. I am at 2 weeks and 2 days on zero medication. I feel some withdrawal symptoms. I am glad to hear at month two they begin to subside.
I hope your family and you have a great day!
I love your bravery in going ‘natural.’ Wow!❤
Congrats Lauren. I look forward to the day I can put the memories away that brought Zyprexa into my life.
Thank you Lauren for sharing this! I’m going through potentiation at the moment after doing the ketogenic diet for two months. Your info is really great!
Good luck.
Imagination is the coolest, best thing ever. If you ever occasionally revert to hearing voices, KNOW with confidence you are normal and fine!
thank you so much for spreading awareness of ketogenic and other metabolic therapies! 🙏
Rejoicing with you Lauren This gives hope to all of this. Bless you!
Over two plus years ago I got found one of your early posts sitting in my YT Mailbox! Curiosity Smiled at me and soon I was watching AND subbing before the video was over so as not to miss anything in the future! For you Lauren, it's been a much longer journey and I cannot fathom the gambit of emotions you are experiencing in being completely off your psychiatric medications. I wonder if you ever thought this would be possible all those years ago! You sharing your REAL life in your REEL videos is such a gracious and selfless act too. I read the comments in here and you and rob and the Kiddos have helped many in more ways than you can see! Thank you for seat. LOVED hearing that "Hic Up" @ 2:04 🤣 MOO From COW-lumbus, Ohio 👋
I also broke my ankle! Lying here in bed the day after surgery, watching your vlog. We can get through this, teamie! I believe in us!
I got off my meds and was good for a few months and then spiraled back….I look forward to a 6 month update and will look into metabolic minds, thanks for sharing 😊
Lauren that is so great that you are safely off of your meds and feeling good. Sorry about your ankle. The convention you went to sounds interesting and promising for a new future in treating mental illness. I wonder if keto might help in treatment of depression. I will search online.
Congratulations on the big big changed despite setbacks. Glad gym workouts are a good alternative. Take good care.
Congrats Lauren. What a wild trip!
I have suffered from anxiety and depression progressively worsening during the past 25 years. It is only after various factors coming together (keto, exercise, fasting, mindfulness) that I finally feel I am getting better. I am also beginning to enjoy my life a bit, as my generalized anxiety disorder slowly falls into oblivion. I think it is these experiences when we enjoy ourselves what will define us in the future, and these experiences will uplift us in times of hardship. We may never again become our sad and sick selves and I do not regret that at all.
Remission ≠ CURE.
Live well Lauren with your Schizophrenia!
🧡
This is when I wonder if you have pre-symptomatic schizophrenia?
Since the symptoms are the condition, symptom free, is condition free. Since the symptoms can happen, gradually or suddenly, to anyone, pre-symptomatic does not mean you don't also have it.
The notion of remission is only appropriate to conditions in which a causal agent, such as a virus or cancer cell, remains present in the body.
A proneness to malfunction mentally more easily than physically, is no more 'remission' than Laura's healed broken ankle will be, even IF that bone is left weaker than before.
Your journey inspired me to try a few diet adjustments for my seasonal affective disorder which is quite severe. I've been intermittant fasting (18:6) and eating low carb. Also I've been taking vit B1 as nutritional yeast. I dont want to jinx it, but my SAD has not crept in yet.
good to see you Lauren. I'm currently suffering from depression and not a lot of paranoia, delusions. but some visual hallucinations.
Very very excited for you / just need to be cautiously optimistic as my son fine off medication for five months then the psychosis started again - so have to get a bit excited but not 100% going to work for everyone so please keep monitoring
Address the root causes of psychosis:
Prolonged stress
Prolonged exhaustion
Loneliness
Tackling any complex trauma can help. Eg if symptoms like emotional disregulation, clutter, avoidant attachment, people pleasing, are happening.
Inspite your broken leg..you still run.never give up the race of life and its challanges it throw at us..Wow so inspiring...send u great heart felt hug.. happy holidays to you and your family 🎉❤
Thanks for sharing your experiences and giving hope for the families that are dealing with these situations. God bless you and your family
So happy for you and your family.enjoy your life ❤
I think the remission is your life style and you'll have to keep it up. You've done great!
First, love the hair. In Norway my grandmother would have called you a boostapere.
Thank you. I continue to hold you in the light.
I'm so happy for you!!!
I am a bit nervous to ask this question, I do not, at all, intend any offense or judgment. I've been following along on this part of your experience treating your mental disorder but I may have missed your answer or address to this question: If you were on the lowest therapeutic dose of your medication/s, what is the motivation to stop completely? Were you still experiencing disruptive or negative side effects on that dose? If you were not, why did you not choose to continue to take meds *and* treat your mental illness with metabolic therapy (assuming there is an additive effect of the two types of therapies)? Thank you for sharing your experiences, the good and bad. Take care!
I think this is actually a great question, and probably one that will inevitably be answered differently by each different individual. For me, it was undeniable the benefits I felt each time I reduced the amount of antipsychotic that I was on. It really drew my attention to the negative ways it impacted my experience of life and how I felt or even who I was. (Important to also address here that it has very much positively impacted my experience of life by reducing symptoms at various points as well). I've always been concerned though as well about long term side effects of these types of medications. Another factor here, is that many psychiatric medications, especially antipsychotics, can impair metabolic functioning. This all informed my decision to work toward and at least give it a try getting completely off antipsychotics, and to see if it would be possible to manage my illness without them after implementing metabolic therapies. I've definitely been open to the possibility of needing to go back up on a low dose if necessary - but so far it doesn't seem like I'm going to need to do that. If I ever do have an onset of symptoms again though, I'm open to using antipsychotics to help manage that more acutely in the future.
@@LivingWellAfterSchizophrenia Thank you kindly for your thoughtful response and again for sharing your experiences! That all makes sense. Your videos have been helpful to me personally, and clearly others also. Take care!
@@LivingWellAfterSchizophrenia were you on any mood stabilising medication? In some of your videos, you seem hypomanic.
@@BipolarCourage where?
@@louisehogg8472 this past year. Extremely elated, loads of energy to run etc, super passionate that this diet has cured all.
Thank you Lauren! I’m so happy for you ❤🎉😊
Resilience unlocked!
Its good you are still exercising when you have your injury. I know how much you enjoy it.
So happy for you! ❤
HALLELUJAH🙌
PRAISE GOD!!
THANK YOU JESUS!!🙏❤
AMAZING GRACE!!!
HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!
Keep looking UP!!😀
We LOVE you Lauren!!
GOD LOVES YOU MORE!!
🤗
The truth is
Everything God has for you in the future is BETTER than before!
The truth is
Your past does not define you.
The truth is
You are who God says you are.😊
Thank you Father
For the blessing of this precious soul Lauren that You gave to the world❤🙏
and her precious family!
This beautiful family is BLESSED!!
BLESSED INDEED!
In JESUS Name
Amen❤🙏😇
back in 2016 i was diagnosed with bipolar and suddenly put on all these psychiatric drugs that did nothing but ruin my life. I couldnt hold a job because the meds made me dizzy and I couldnt drive. Life got better after I quit the pills.
❤You are the best! Heal fast, and thank you for sharing
I have a theory. It is that the feelings and uncertainty of whether or not you can survive without Neuroleptics are greatest during this "withdrawal" period. Hence the apparent rebound effects from being off. I believe with education on the power of understanding that we can mitigate these effects in others. Thank you for being a guinea pig in this.
Congratulations! 2 months in was a big deal. Some of the withdrawal anxiety took 8 months for me. So cool! Michael
Beautiful video with heartwarming moments and gorgeous scenery. And I can't wait for the deprescribing in depth video!!! Tapering my olanzapine is the hardest part for me in this keto journey. Otherwise, when did the excessive blinking stop? Soon after stopping latuda or did it happen sooner and I didn't notice? It must be wonderful to be off of psych meds and trusting metabolic therapies despite the ankle challenge which by now I hope you're well-healed. Thanks for the update!! This brings me lots of hope but gosh, what can make withdrawal easier?
You and your life are so beautiful and inspiring, just like this video!
Would you mind elaborating on the symptoms of withdrawal? I’m going off of one of my two antipsychotics (with my psychiatrist), and I understand it’ll be different person to person and situation to situation, but it would be interesting to know what symptoms you experienced with withdrawal. Also hope the ankle heals fast! Sending love -
she did in another video
@ I see, I probably missed that lol. Thanks!
Thank you for this Video! You spend so much hope. I will go on ketogenic diet after christmas.
Another beautiful and inspiring video!
so proud of you!!
On August 2nd I broke my heel & I had to wear that annoying aggravated AirCast Boot up until exactly 1 week ago today! & the day before I got off the AirCast I got new upgraded meds for my Schizophrenia/depression/insomnia. I had my own theme song for 2 months.
"Skitzo's in the room, he's wearing an AirCast boot.
Skitzo's in the room, he's far too medicated to be cute."
I don't understand medical keto. I'm personally on keto too but it's by no means taken away all my symptoms even ON medications. Bipolar is cyclical. Schizophrenia is episodic. It will happen to you when you least expect it.
Are you measuring ketones? Are you actually in ketosis? It surely won’t work for everyone, like any treatment, it’s probably dependent on many individual factors and genetics. But it certainly has worked for some.
What will you do if you experience any symptoms currently? are you terrified of that happening & will you take any anti psychotic medication to help short term
Why would she be terrified? She lived with symptoms, and hospitalisations, throughout the decade she was on meds.
It seems to be the folk who've never had psychosis, who're terrified about it.
Congrats...take care of the ankle...that was painful...be careful...very careful...
So now you can say “I used to have” schizo-effective disorder. It is so wonderfully freeing! 👏🏼👏🏼
Glad you are doing well.
I've been off my meds since 2007. For a long time I used nothing. I did suffer. Now I use a few crumbs of ativan when I get what I call 'fizzy'. When it starts to boil up inside, a tiny bit helps get that sad and dangerous edge off. I'm 65 now and my control is much better. You don't have to suffer if you are moderate in all you do.
I agree! I am 60 years old as well. I was on massive, I mean massive dosages of Seroquel, lamotrigine, Wellbutrin and Clonazepam all at the same time! I weighed 308 lbs and used the keto diet to lose weight. I was worried about the huge dosages with my new body size so I decreased them all, until I was on much much smaller amounts. Then I suffered a traumatic brain injury. Was on no psych meds for awhile because my brain was truly not functioning. During brain injury recovery many parts of the brain are damaged and emotions, cognition, filters are all broken or missing. Thank God for meds. I was put on an antidepressant and a low dose of lorazepam to bridge the gap between therapy and rewiring my brain. Meds are not evil, they can make living possible, but they can also be a crutch for avoiding hard work or a temporary bridge until the road is repaired. Still on Keto...
I’m starting my keto tomorrow. So excited.
I am glad you decided to wean yourself from the meds.
So precious!! ❤
You'be grown on me a good deal. I wish our psychiatrists in Australia would take us all out for lots of exercide.
You are a warrior.
no inflammation🔥
no mental epilepsy⚡️
👍
You’re so happy all the time- I’m wondering if you’re usually hypomanic when not depressed or symptos
How dare she be happy, eh? Maybe being clear of symptoms and of paranoid folk shouting 'take your meds!', has something to do with it.
❤ Thank you for sharing!
Wow, fantastic, congratulations.