The only treatments that I have found that address mental health without weight gain are diet, exercise and psychotherapy. In fact I believe they are the most effective treatments.

In June I was on fourteen medications I am now on four. I changed my diet to eliminate ultra processed foods and refined sugar wherever and whenever possible. I also increased my exercise regimen to ninety minutes six times a week.

I believe medication maybe needed to help the sufferer begin making lifestyle changes and start exercising. However, there is no substitute to eating a healthy diet and moving. Humans were not meant to sit around worrying while eating food the body does not recognize; not yet anyway.

Fifteen years ago I went looking for an answer in a pill. I found a doctor willing to accommodate me. All these years later I've lost everything thing that matters, save my life. It really is amazing that I had to lose my family, my freedom, my fortune and almost my life before I would take the simple (but not easy) steps of changing my lifestyle.

I just came from one of my doctors and we are implementing the second stage of my detox. If all goes well I will be off Venlafaxine, completely in six more weeks, Bupropion, four more after that and Lithium in three more weeks. All that will be left is a low dose of Latuda that shouldn't take more then a month after that. If this works, i've already reduced everything by at lest two thirds, I will be drug free for the first time in fifteen years.

What I have to do is simple, but not easy:

Sleep seven to eight hours a night. Same time to bed, same to to wake everyday. Including weekends.

Eat a clean diet. No ultra processed foods (food I can't pronounce), no refined sugar at all. Lots of vegetables, fiber and protein. Good fats and low to no saturated fats.

Exercise ninety minutes six times a week. For me I lift weights, hike and bike vigorously.

Pay attention to my feelings. Recognize what is jut my body asking to be taken care of and what are feelings I need to look at and try to understand the difference, psychotherapy helps a lot.

Do something with my time that I care about.

And try to live in the moment instead of the past or future.

Might seem like a lot of work. Compared with what I lost I am overjoyed to do the work!

This is my path. I hope you find yours!