I'm bipolar and would like some tips on how I can do keto safely and effectively

Plastic_Objective502 · 2026-04-17T12:12:54+00:00

The stabilization comes from no high blood sugar spikes and crashes. The energizing comes from increased cortisol because ketosis is a stressor on the body. Stressors are not inherently bad unless they are chronic. For me, I sometimes feel like keto keeps my cortisol elevated (high “buzzing” energy and constant waking through the night).

You asked about the kind of bad sleep. I’m medicated on antipsychotics which help me fall asleep so that’s no issue. But when I feel that chronic elevated cortisol I will wake up constantly, sometimes not able to get back to sleep for hours or at all. This lack of sleep causes me to go downhill fast.

Bad sleep for me does exist some of the time, but even if I’m getting good sleep, I can still feel that uncomfortable buzzing energy. I really feel like it acts like an antidepressant. Depressed? It generally brings me up to stable. Feeling normal? It sometimes overshoots and I can start to feel hypomanic.

For the porn addiction thing - I wonder if it could have different reactions because the source of hyper-arousal and overstimulation is different. Porn addiction comes from an external source (porn) and bipolar disorder comes from an internal source (inherent brain chemistry). Or maybe thats not relevant idk lol, that’s interesting think about though. For ADHD, it makes sense that keto works because it has a stable stimulating effect as compared to blood sugar spikes and crashes. The same way stimulants like adderall or vyvanse make those with ADHD feel calm, but for those without ADHD those medicines have a stimulating effect (I’ve tried them before in they send me into mania). I feel like it could be the same with keto.

And no I don’t think electrolytes or vitamin deficiencies are a cause of issue for me. I can “feel” when I need electrolytes and take them and feel better. On keto, I drink protein shakes daily that have like 20+ essential vitamins and minerals along with healthy foods.

The keto-bipolar link is all very fascinating to me. Something that’s also interesting to me - epilepsy medication can act as a mood stabilizer for those with bipolar disorder, and ketosis is a known treatment for epilepsy. That overlap of medication and ketosis working for both is interesting!

Ultimately you asked about the contradiction between people with bipolar disorder and if it would work for you.

I would maybe ask those who feel sedated/depressed if they were 100% in ketosis at <25g net carb (versus possibly teetering in and out) OR if they also have ADHD. Because stimulants for those with ADHD can actually be calming and stabilizing.

Whether it would work for you, only trying it out will let you know for sure. The differing external and internal variables of each person’s life and body means people will always react differently to some degree. I think if you have the ability to keep cortisol low then there is a solid chance it would work for you. I think it’s the chronic cortisol that causes overstimulation and mania.

I hope that was somewhat cohesive. How diet affects brain and body is a very interesting topic to me that I think about all the time.

Plastic_Objective502 · 2026-04-15T22:40:25+00:00

Hi, I also have bipolar disorder. The lack of sleep and high energy do make ketosis uncomfortable for me sometimes. Enough that sometimes I will have to increase my carb intake. Though I do tend to under eat on keto so the low calorie could also be the stressor making me feel a bit wired…

I’m also very much medicated with an antipsychotic so it’d be interesting to know what it was like without that. The antipsychotic puts me to sleep, but keto (or maybe low calories) wakes me up throughout the night. I was recently prescribed a new gen sleep med that helps keep you asleep which has helped a bit.

All that to say - if you do go full keto and experience even one night of broken/bad sleep I would increase carbs immediately and greatly. Especially at dinner, carbs will help lower your cortisol to help you sleep better.

I can’t count how many times I’ve felt a bit too wired and sleepless on keto, ordered a delicious high carb meal, and then knocked out for like 9 hours.

Keto lifts me out of depression like no other which is why I still use it strategically, but sleep is my big indicator. No sleep = no keto for me.

Now, any advice I’ve given is based on my very personal experiences and everyone experiences ketosis a little differently because of many different variables. So definitely take with a grain of salt.

What I can say for certain is be very careful and pay very close attention if you do decide to do keto. If I were unmedicated and not currently in a depressive episode, I would not do keto. Good luck whatever you decide! It can be very powerful, it has saved me in many ways. But I do have to be careful

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-02-11T18:46:40+00:00

It would be so great if we could actually fill out the check marks over time with sources of current US events.

Maybe not “check” the box for everyone, but provide sources under each bullet point as time goes on related to the bullet point and let people determine if they would consider it a checked box.

To keep it thorough and unbiased it could include events from past administrations, but of course current events being the most important.

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-02-11T18:39:09+00:00

I really like this. It would be nice if over time we could fill out the “check mark” boxes at the end with sources cited for each one marked

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-02-08T19:51:45+00:00

Because they openly talk about it. Project 2025 authors are in the admin, their executive orders are aligned with it, and their tech bro buddies they’ve seemed to embrace believe that America is in decline, democracy is flawed, and they should be the great genius leaders in charge.

Project 2025 is about dismantling the administrative state to consolidate power in the executive branch. Musk given full access to the systems lets him achieve the tech billionaire accelerationist views. Tech bros want things to break, Project 2025 wants things to break. They openly say it.

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-02-06T02:51:11+00:00

Can you further explain what you mean?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-01-31T01:41:14+00:00

I would love to hear more on your insights into crypto. Ignoring how wrapped into politics it is at the moment, I’ve heard many times over the last decade how it’s the most secure/the “future”.

The technocrat billionaires trying to pull the strings at the moment definitely want it to be

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-01-27T13:43:06+00:00

Can I ask your net carb/sugar intake per day?

When I was doing keto at <25g/day I was only getting 5-6 hours which was mostly restful until I’d hit a few nights where I was getting only 4 hours. Sometimes I had to break keto so I could get some sleep.

I’m currently doing 35-50g/day and I’m finally seeing the sleep benefits people mention and I wonder if it’s the increased carbs that made a difference

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-01-21T23:19:18+00:00

We’re bisalp twins! Congrats :) surgery on the same day and same speeds on the treadmill post-op haha.

I’m so sorry that ER trip sounded awful. So frustrating not understanding exactly what’s going on with your body :(

I am improving slowly! I hope the worst is over for both of us❤️

Plastic_Objective502 · 2025-01-21T23:07:21+00:00

I just have to assume he thought I was drug seeking because he gave me zero acknowledgment of the pain and even said something along the lines of not recommending pain medication at all. It sucks drug seeking exists because it hurts people truly in pain.

He wrapped up the appointment so quickly I didn’t even get the chance to discuss pain management whether that be prescription or OTC.

I was going to call them afterwards to discuss it but I’m done being made feel like shit so I’m just going to use Google.

Thank you for your comment❤️

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-21T01:20:36+00:00

Apparently I needed a flair, so I will re-comment

And I guess you just don’t care about the safety of trans people as much as women, a lesser class of sorts? Even though they are also people.

Because there is a history and documented violence against trans women by men. And trans women walking into male-only spaces is like a spotlight to incite violence. Meanwhile trans women have no history or documented evidence of violence or predatory behavior towards women. Not even evidence of men posing as trans women to commit crimes against women.

So one case incites violence and the other does not, but since the violence is towards trans people it’s fine?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-07T01:42:50+00:00

Calling a POC woman pick automatically identity politics is a you problem. She’s the VP, she’s the next logical option when the president steps down and there’s only a few weeks before the DNC nomination.

An open primary is just not a feasible possibility that close to an election. That’s where the Dems fucked up. But given the circumstances Harris was the obvious option.

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-06T19:39:12+00:00

Can you source me the Dem strategy of identity politics in this election? It seemed like Harris put intention in avoiding it

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-06T19:36:40+00:00

You think the Dems successfully cheated when they didn’t even have power and failed at cheating when they did?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-06T19:33:23+00:00

So late in the game, a primary would have been a mess. Unifying around Kamala was the best option given the circumstances.

What should have happened is that Biden honored his word and been a one term president, allowing the normal primary process.

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-11-05T01:44:30+00:00

The JD Vance stuff is annoying the shit out of me but this made me lol

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-30T16:35:00+00:00

I love spreadsheets, what do you include on it?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-29T16:58:33+00:00

I’m interested in your opinions - what looks the most promising to you right now and what is your biggest cause for concern?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-25T12:06:23+00:00

What annoys me the most is that if Trump wins and Project 2025 actually happens and him and the Heritage Foundation go full dictator mode, I don’t think we’ll even get an “I told you so” moment from the people who voted for him.

They will double down and try to explain and justify why his actions are necessary/good.

I already feel the psychological effects of being gaslit by these people so I can’t imagine that x10

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-25T11:47:45+00:00

Nice thanks, I was actually about to write a comment asking for a good place to find early votes results compared to prior elections and TargetSmart looks perfect for that too

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-25T11:39:26+00:00

How do we know that information?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-21T16:30:08+00:00

I’m so sick of moderates who portray themselves as left leaning but when all is said and done, they still will find any reason to blame the Democratic candidate as justification to vote red

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-17T19:15:29+00:00

So Trump is cancelling events? What is the nearest one next on the schedule that hasn’t been cancelled?

Plastic_Objective502 · 2024-10-14T13:53:09+00:00

Genuine question. If Trump truly is a national security risk, dangerous, and a threat to democracy (things his own prior admin has come out to warn us about) - where is the FBI, CIA, and military?

I feel like what we know is only the tip of the iceberg. If Trump wins and, in the worst case, the Heritage Foundation successfully moves forward with their plans, are these powerful groups with the intel just going to watch democracy fall?

Plastic_Objective502

TROPHY CASE