Recovery from psychosis is a long, grueling process. 

The last time I had a manic episode was in the spring of 2021. I was a marketing and development director for a nonprofit organization. I had many work responsibilities, projects, and collaborations that I could no longer manage. After I got out of the hospital and started the recovery process, the thought of all the unanswered emails and voicemails rapidly accruing day-by-day brought on waves of anxiety and guilt. I wanted to keep up with everything, but I knew healing would take time, whether I liked it or not. I wanted people to know why I was unresponsive, and that I wasn’t being irresponsible or negligent. I shared my story with my network on social media thinking that, for better or worse, at least people would know why I was out of touch. 

I wasn’t expecting it, but I received an outpouring of support. Many friends and acquaintances reached out, recounting their own battles with mental illness or opening up about a loved one grappling with similar struggles. It was a huge relief to realize I did not have to bear the burden of my illness alone. I feel fortunate that I was met almost exclusively with empathy and support that aided in my healing, but I also understand that depending on an individual’s social circle, this may not always be the case. Many people told me I was brave for sharing my story.

I understood they meant “brave” as a compliment, but I didn’t like the subtle undertone that there is implicit shame with having mental illness, and it's remarkable anyone would admit to it so openly. “Brave” implies that discussing mental health requires extraordinary courage, when in reality, it should be seen as normal as revealing any other physical illness. Especially given that 1 in 5 Americans are living with mental health conditions.

The story of my mental disorder that I share now is one I didn't even know was possible when I opened up back then. It's not a chronicle of suffering from a life-long illness called bipolar disorder type 1. Thanks to metabolic therapies, including a ketogenic diet, it’s a story of hope and healing. 

I now describe myself as being happily in remission from neurometabolic dysfunction. Ketogenic therapy has completely transformed my life, allowing me to regain my physical and mental health. I never imagined that today, I would be actively seeking opportunities to broadcast my story far and wide to benefit others and push for systemic change in the mental health care system.  

Sharing Stories Is One Way to Push for Change 

The promising, emerging field of metabolic psychiatry is exploring the intersection of metabolism and brain health to explain how and why ketogenic therapy is such an effective treatment for some people struggling with mental health conditions. Current research, including pilots and Randomized Controlled Trials, is investigating ketogenic therapy as a treatment for psychiatric conditions including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, major depression and more. It will take time and rigorous investigation to understand the underlying metabolic mechanisms that impact brain health, and how interventions targeting metabolism can treat mental disorders. 

I am hopeful that the psychiatric field is on the precipice of a new understanding of what causes mental health conditions and how they can be treated more effectively. While ketogenic therapy is not a panacea and there is a lot to learn about how it works and for whom, one thing is abundantly clear: the current mental health care system is failing far too many people. Given the current milieu in which countless people are either deemed “treatment resistant,” left completely disabled by their conditions, or suffer medication side effects that greatly diminish quality of life, it is essential we raise awareness and collectively push for a sea change in the field. 

Openly sharing stories of mental health struggles is a step anyone can take to address this epidemic and push for better, more effective and comprehensive mental health care treatments that target biological root causes through precision psychiatry. There is so much more to learn and so many people are suffering; they deserve real answers and better care. 

While the percentage of people whose illnesses can be corrected through ketogenic therapy is unclear, it is worth noting that many individuals who have succeeded with metabolic treatments had originally been given a severe DSM-5 diagnosis. They were told they had a chronic, lifelong illness, and would need to take high doses of medication indefinitely, regardless of unwanted side effects. Many have been surprised to find that ketogenic therapy is a healthy adjunctive or alternative form of treatment that not only lessens mental health symptoms, but can lead to full remission; it often allows people to drastically decrease, or even completely eliminate, medication. Increasingly, individuals with this experience are joining the metabolic psychiatry community, devoted to sharing their stories and raising awareness. 

For people like us who have responded amazingly well to ketogenic therapy, sharing our stories of healing and remission can be impactful. Amplifying one highly effective cutting-edge treatment that addresses an underlying root cause of dysfunctional brain metabolism underscores the need for more innovation in the mental health care field. No human being should be written off as “treatment resistant”: We need to demand progress in treatment modalities to fully restore people’s lives. Raising awareness of ketogenic therapy, an option that can be a transformative cornerstone treatment for some people, also gives desperate patients and families a new option to explore. 

Pioneering, Compassionate and Liberated People Are Sharing Their Stories of Remission 

When I embarked on my metabolic treatment journey in the spring of 2021, I was struck by the lack of ketogenic therapy success stories. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of organizations like Metabolic Mind, this landscape has transformed. Today, a growing number of individuals diagnosed with a range of mental health conditions are stepping forward to share their inspiring tales of healing and recovery. Rather than merely brave, I view these individuals as pioneering, liberated, and compassionate advocates. They have delved into the science behind metabolic therapies, surmounted challenges, and achieved remission.

When we use "pioneering" to describe lived-experience advocates, it acknowledges the innovative science behind metabolic brain dysfunction. I’ve met so many people whose stories of lived-experience mirror my own. They have grasped the science behind metabolic therapies, figured out how to implement them despite limited resources, and put their conditions into remission. They’ve achieved this even though many brilliant doctors and scientists haven’t yet heard of metabolic strategies for mental disorders. What sets metabolic therapies apart is their focus on addressing the biological root causes of mental health conditions. Most non-communicable diseases, from diabetes to cancer, appear to have roots in metabolic dysfunction. Neurometabolic dysfunction presents unique challenges, with complex side effects impacting cognition and perception, but as more individuals share their experiences with metabolic therapies, it becomes increasingly evident that these treatments offer more than just symptomatic relief. They address the underlying physiological mechanisms contributing to mental health conditions, paving the way for long-term healing and recovery.  

Many of us who have found healing from metabolic brain dysfunction understand that our journey doesn't end with our own recovery. Armed with a powerful combination of transformative personal experience and an understanding of the impact of metabolism on brain function, we are driven to spread the word out of compassion, hoping to make these treatments widely known and accessible.

Like me, many individuals coming forward to share their healing stories barely survived neurometabolic dysfunction: Now that we live happy, healthy lives thanks to metabolic treatments, how could we not shout this message from the rooftops? People in remission from severe mental illness often “escaped hell” and the ravages of suicidality to find a better life. We are liberated. 

I never imagined life could be this good again. I have now met many people in remission who share my perspective; they have a growth mindset and are future-focused. Not only have they gotten back to baseline, but like me, they have experienced post-traumatic growth and are focused on optimizing their repaired brains. Today, I stand proud of my journey from mental illness to wellness. 

My experience is not a dark secret but a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative potential of metabolic therapies. There is no reason to be ashamed that I once had a physical illness, treated the root cause, and am now fully recovered. Because symptoms of neurometabolic dysfunction can express themselves through severe psychological states like depression, anxiety, or psychosis, many people mistake them for personality traits. They are not. Now that I am in remission, I understand that I was never my illness. Like someone who “beat cancer,” I see my experience as something to celebrate. I refuse to carry any cultural baggage associated with my former condition, and I will be a tireless advocate for a future of precision psychiatry that effectively addresses and treats physiological root causes. We can all do our part to help eradicate any lingering stigma associated with having a mental health condition.