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Oliver Seligman

Posted:

03/2025

Managing

Bipolar 1

Started Journey

06/2022

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"When I first started implementing ketogenic therapy, very quickly I noticed a change. And I noticed this kind of calmness descending over my mind and my body. It was like breathing a huge sigh of relief. It's like, "Oh, that's nice!" And that was that was a very, very cool experience. And that immediately gave me hope, there's something to this."

My Journey

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My Strategies

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My THINK + SMART Profile

Key Symptoms Addressed

Migraines, exhaustion, irritability, mood swings, tension in my whole body, muscle weakness, eyesight problems, overheating, and feeling thirsty most of the time.

My Top Three Strategies

Ketogenic Diet, Meditation, and Walking in Nature.

T H

Therapeutic

  • My original care team was a nutritionist and psychiatrist provided by the keto-bipolar research project I participated in. This worked well. I could chat to the nutritionist regularly to help integrate keto and get over the challenges it presented.
  • Lithium requires blood tests every three months. I lowered very gradually from 1000 mg to 350 mg over 2.5 years by myself. I told my doctor I was lowering and he was okay with this, but he was merely in the background in case I got ill.

I

Integration

  • I had an MRI scan, some blood tests, and a test to check that I had bipolar but had been stable for 3 months.
  • I take vitamin D, calcium, toxaprevent, digestive enzymes and magnesium.

N

Nutritional

  • I try to stay in ketosis by being disciplined, and occasionally I break it.
  • Sometimes I miss breakfast. I like to drink bulletproof coffee every morning with my wife. It is a fun ritual we always do.
  • I don't track macronutrients.

K

Ketosis

I use a Keto-Mojo. I aim for anything over 1mmol/litre and sometimes get 2.5mmol/litre. I test every few weeks when I feel like it, or if I think I have had too many carbs.

S

Sleep

I have tried loads of strategies. Meditation, wearing blue light glasses an hour before bed, breathing techniques, etc. The one that works the best is for me to take 1 drop of melatonin at bed time. This generally works really well.

M

Move

I sometimes go for gentle walks in the woods or gentle swimming in the sea or lakes.

A

Avoid

I reduce my total screen time to around 2 hrs a day. I don't smoke, drink or hang out with people who are negative (occasionally I have to, but generally I avoid them).

R

Rebuild

  • The Ishayas' Ascension meditation has transformed my relationship with thoughts, feelings and my life in general. It has given me a sense of peace, happiness and an enjoyment of life.
  • Ice bathing is amazing. It is such an adventure and makes me feel wild and alive.

T

Track

Helpful Links

Dr. Ken Berry

Metabolic Mind

Bipolarcast