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What happens when traditional approaches to mental health treatment fail you? For Crystal, a lifetime of anxiety, panic attacks, and disordered eating led her down an unexpected path of healing through food as medicine.

After experiencing a terrifying adverse reaction to psychiatric medication that left her with memory issues and dissociation, Krystal found herself questioning the conventional wisdom of medical experts. "If I can't trust the experts, then who can I trust?" This pivotal moment led her to explore ketogenic therapy under proper clinical supervision—a therapeutic approach where the body uses ketones instead of carbohydrates for fuel, creating profound shifts in brain chemistry and mood regulation.

The results were transformative. Not only did Krystal's anxiety and depression improve, but physical symptoms she'd struggled with for years—hand tremors, TMJ (which doctors said would require surgery), and insulin resistance—disappeared within months. Perhaps most remarkable is how this dietary approach helped her break free from dependencies on ultra-processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and vaping—substances she'd used to emotionally self-regulate since childhood.

Throughout our conversation, Krystal shares practical wisdom from her journey: visualising cravings as waves that eventually crash, setting clear boundaries with potential trigger foods, practicing mindful eating, and changing her language from "my anxiety" to "the anxiety" to shift her identification with mental health conditions. Her story illuminates how interconnected our physical and mental health truly are, and how making conscious choices about what we consume—not just food, but media, relationships, and thoughts—can transform our experience from the inside out.

Whether you're struggling with mental health challenges, looking to break free from dependencies, or simply curious about alternative approaches to wellness, Krystal's journey offers hope that healing is possible, even when conventional treatments fail. Follow her on Instagram at @krystalanastas or @sheeatspower for more insights into ketogenic therapy and mental health recovery.

Have you found healing through unconventional means? We'd love to hear your story—drop us a message or follow along at @looselyspeakingpodcast.

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