I've struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for most of my life. In my late twenties, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism) I've been overweight most of my life as well. I've tried numerous times to get healthier by making changes to my diet. Nothing ever worked very well or had lasting results. In fact, the last thing I tried was the ABs diet. That diet had me eating every 2-3 hours with lots of fruit, whole-grain, nuts, and lean meat. I was addicted to the food. When I would eat, I would feel really good for about an hour or two. But, then I would crash. I mean like flipping a light switch off. I would go from a great mood to feeling like the world was ending, and the only cure seemed to be to eat more carbs. I would also self-medicate often with alcohol, marijuana, and occasionally narcotic pain killers or muscle relaxers. Only problem was the marijuana buzz was often ruined by panic attacks, and alcohol was quickly loosing any perceived benefit as well ( in retrospect, I think it was the water in the micro-brew beers that had any positive effect on my mood until the alcohol dehydrated me anyway). Thankfully I knew better than to lean on the rx drugs. I was miserable.

My two children are also on the autism spectrum, and my wife was doing a lot of research on various treatments for autism. I remember reading a couple articles about autism and gluten. Around the same time, I saw one of my FB friends post about being on a paleo diet. I started reading about paleo, and was convinced it was the solution. So about 9 months ago, I jumped right in and cut grains cold turkey. I had a horrible time. My stomach hurt, my chest hurt, I felt like I was dying. I didn't really know what or how to eat, but I was conviced that I should stay paleo. I was desperate enough before trying this, that the thought that the paleo diet might kill me was ok. I knew I could not go back to my previous lifestyle.

After two weeks of thinking I was going to die from paleo, I came across some forum posts about Jack Kruse. Most of the posters, indicated that Jack was crazy, but I was desperate enough to give crazy a try. I came to this website, and decided to give the Leptin Rx a chance. And I'll tell you, that very first day the BAB saved my life. The day before I was having a hard time eating, because of the stomach and chest pain and light-headedness. But that BAB wend down so easy and I immediately felt great. It was amazing. I felt so full of energy, and there was no longer any pain in my stomach or chest. I was also surprised that going from six meals to three was easy, a relief actually. Also, the carb cravings stopped instantly. I used to have major carb cravings in the evening. Sometimes I would lay down for bed, and feel a panic attack coming, and have to get up and eat some cereal to calm down. But now at night, I felt perfectly calm. No carbs, no problem. I would also say before I was a little afraid of the dark, and used to keep a lot of night lights on. But after the Leptin Rx, I preferred the darkness. In fact, I found the dark to be comforting, almost like the feeling of a soft blanket around me.

I should also add that from the beginning of my experiment with paleo, I lost a total of 50 lbs in a fairly short time. That was not my main goal, but no complaints. I'm skinny now. I have no physical symptoms of anxiety at all. I have no food cravings (except sometimes I crave the coconut mana, lol). I don't feel hungry, ever. And most importantly, my mood is stable, no more feeling like the world is ending out of nowhere. I am not miserable any longer! I don't even think twice about using any kind of drugs, and I'd much rather drink spring water than beer.

I do have better energy. I have more mental clarity. I feel now like how I imagined "normal" people feel. I am excited every morning when I wake up. I always look forward to breakfast. I don't feel hungry or like I have to eat it, I just plain enjoy eating it. Sometimes I impress myself with how much meat and fat I can eat for breakfast. If I eat too much, I do wake up drenched in sweat, though. lol.

The straight truths laid out here on this website have been such a blessing. I feel like I've been given a second chance at life. I also look forward to the future, as I know that the more I follow Jack's protocols, the better things will get.

I wanted to share this hear so that others who are skeptical may be encouraged to go ahead and give the Leptin Rx a try. In my case, the Leptin Rx with a keto-genic epi-paleo diet was the perfect cure for my anxiety, depression, and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia.

 

What does Leptin RX means? Newbie, learning..

 

Hi Daizy, welcome! That is the Leptin Prescription. http://www.jackkruse.com/easy-start-guide/

 

Thanks for the link, nonchalant.

 

If I just got rid of my anxiety and palpitations life would look up.

 

ah, this is very interesting. i have read that the paleo diet would help with mental health problems, but i hadnt seen anything specific to anxiety.

im only on day 2 of paleo, but my anxiety has always been bad. im actually having problems leaving the house at the moment. i need to address this to try to get more sunlight. but, i am just very, very insecure all the time. my reluctance to talk to most people is based on this terrific insecurity and feeling that i am "bad" in some way or that i have done something wrong. if i feel that i have displeased someone, i literally cant stand it, and it feels like my skin is crawling with anxiety.

if i could get some improvement with this whole issue through nutrition and other lifestyle changes i would be over the moon, because its crippling to my life.

 

LC, you can change profoundly if you embrace change….I know that sounds kind of silly, but it really is the key…if you change what you are doing now to something different everything will change….begin at the newbie section and read about the leptin reset…it is the foundation for all that goes on around here.

I've been where you are now and I'm not there now because of changes I made through this site….welcome and dive in …..

 

Welcome, Lavender! It's not our minds that are stressed, it is our cells. We feel a general anxiety, and then blame it on whatever is bothering us at the moment -- family, job, money, etc. But it goes deeper than that.

I actually didn't know I had anxiety, until it left me. Eating what my body needs (animal fat, seafood), drinking quality water, and getting energy directly from sunshine and grounding and water all allow my body to relax now.

I hope you try eating seafood regularly, like daily.

 

Welcome Lavender! Please start a journal in the journal section .... Dr. kruse needs context to be able to direct you.

Do you have Dr. K's book? The Epi-Paleo RX ...it is a great overview of all of this.

Please listen to all Dr. K's podcasts .... on the home page.

keep reading and asking questions .... we are all here to help .... we have all been there ...

 

thanks i am planning to add seafood to my diet. i have been relying on the small local shop this week.

i will make a journal i dont have the book yet.

 

A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress really well............Stress is always present in life by quantum design. Do not run from it, let it sculpt you. How you handle it depends on whether your a diamond or a piece of charcoal. In my opinion, the decision of action is the work of a cosmic creator behind the veil of lady evolution’s quantum mechanics.........If you think you can grasp her magic, think again: her story flows in more than one direction on this spectrum of energy and information. This is why carbon can be both soft and rock hard, yet it still is made of carbon atoms. Life is made of stresses........in the same fashion.

 

Christopher, if only you knew that the cure was to eat more crabs, not carbs!
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

I may have to add this to OSF 8.

 

A humorous sign I saw at the crab tank of an asian grocery store:

 

See even the asian carb dealers know the deal..........

 

lol

 

You are not alone with those feelings you have -me and my sister both have symptoms similar to yours. Just keep experimenting and taking notes. And use Jack's guidelines esp. circadian biology

 

She is long gone Mike.

 

Do you mean what I think you mean?

 

Never mind. I figured it out.
Not everyone will make it.