Elisabeth Sloetjes

Started July 2023

Recovered From Bipolar 2 with Rapid Cycling

Key Symptoms Addressed

Less fatigue

mood swings became much milder

from weekly cycling to monthly cycling

and no suicidal ideation anymore!

In My Own Words

“After two months of a ketogenic diet I had more energy and could do more things with my kids and in the house. My mood was more stable. Step by step I took back my responsibilities and improved my marriage and family life. I am working again, although my health care providers told me I could never work again. I still have mood swings, but they are much milder, and I have more energy to cope with it. I don't consider myself as having a diagnosis anymore, because I can cope with it - it is not who I am.”

THINK

Nutritional Foundation

Therapeutic

How I build clinical & emotional support & manage medications

I started on my own because the dietitian did not have good info for me for mental health and the psychiatrist could only support with extra blood tests for lithium.

Integration

Lab results I track & supplements I take

Extra blood tests for lithium.

Nutritional

How I eat, incorporate fasting, & approach macronutrients

Try to stay in ketosis and for me it is better above 2.0 Mmol/L. This I have recently discovered.

Ketosis

Target ketone levels & testing methods

I test my ketones now 2x a day but did not test for a year (when on carnivore). I did not feel optimal then because I was in ketosis under 1.0 Mmol/L (probably).

SMART

Everyday Strategies

Sleep

How I optimize my sleep

Blue light glasses. In the morning special glasses with 'sunlight'. EVERYDAY day getting up at 5:30 and going to sleep at 22:00. I meditate at least 30 minutes, just before bedtime, this way I fall asleep really fast because I am so tired. Try to get a multiple of 90 minutes sleep cycles (so 6 hours or 7.5 hours or 9 hours). Nap time in the day used to be very long but is now 15 minutes maximum.

Move

How I keep active

I walk my dog every day or a few times a day. I try to sprint a few times a week and sometimes do weight training at home.

Avoid

What I limit or stay away from

I don't drink, smoke or use drugs. I limit social media and phone use when necessary. I don't put music on when doing stuff in the house.

Rebuild

How I manage stress, build resilience & find purpose

I meditate everyday for at least 30 minutes to 90 minutes. This has changed my life. Also during the day I try to stay aware of my body and meditate every hour for about 5 minutes (when I remember) while doing activities. I am tapering lithium VERY slow, way slower than my psychiatrist advised. It is called hyperbolic tapering.

Elisabeth Sloetjes

My Top 3 Strategies

Therapeutic

Integration

Nutritional

Ketosis

Sleep

Move

Avoid

Rebuild

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