veganism: I have been vegan for almost 4 years. During that time, my bipolar disorder, GAD and self injury have gotten worse. I make sure to get enough B12, iron, and omega 3s, but I've always wondered if somehow my veganism was making me worse. I DO NOT want to start eating animal products again, but I wonder if there's any truth to my fears. Please post links to back up your claims if at all possible.|||Sweetie, this is a question for your psychiatrist, and not a bunch of strangers on YA. Make sure he knows your a vegan since he may need to adjust your medications.|||Well you need to delve into this yourself. Getting your family Dr to do an evaluation of your eating habits. Yes if you have a mineral vitamin or element deficiency it can cause all kinds of problems, and the longer it goes unchanged, the more damage can be done. It is your life, it is your health, its you duty unto yourself to do something about it. You cite 3 simple things I know you watch more but I think you do not realize how the elements tie into each other for maximum absortption to the body. I would if I were you keep a journal, wrte the food, the quanity, cooked or raw, for each meal and snack. After one week of this, take it to your dr, he may send you to a nutritionist for evaluation which would be wonderful! I wish you luck, you need to possibly read more, and impliment more foods in your diet for peak nutrition. Its not about where the food comes from, its about maintaining life in your body.|||If a diet were contributing to a mental illness it would do it through a chemical deficiency...however, this is unlikely and even more unlikely to be brought on through a vegan diet. Obviously you have some problems you are dealing with but what a crock to say that your self injury flare up is because of your diet. If anything syndromes like that are due in particular to social or emotional triggers. (Speaking from exp.) Go to your doctor.|||It is possible, though it certainly isn't causing your mental illness. (Big duh there.) There are some nutrients that are known to help with mental illness that are harder to get as a vegan, tryptophan being one of them. This link talks about some of the amino acids, where to get them, and how we use them. I'd suggest looking at it and thinking about whether you might be deficient in any. http://www.alive.com/645a2a2.php?subject鈥?/a> That being said, sometimes you need to change treatments because your current approach isn't working. Sometimes your life circumstances change, sometimes it's your body's reaction to the treatment. If you're taking medications, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dose or the type of meds you're using. In the meantime, do whatever you can for your health and well-being... get some exercise, spend some time outside, and take time for yourself as often as you can. Avoid things that could wind up making you feel icky (like too much booze, sugar, caffeine, white flour, your neighbor's yappy dog... whatever). Remember, this too shall pass. :-)|||You may be anemic from lack of protein. I am Because I eat almost no protein. Your mental illness may be manifesting itself more profoundly with age. Stay in close communication with your psychiatrist, MD, and therapist. If you do support groups attend them regularly if not join. Some times are mental illness will develop and increase in intensity over time. Seek Help And you could be better.|||I really don't see what the connection would be, but if you think it might be the case, I'd suggest you go in for a blood test. That will tell you if you have any nutritional deficiencies that may be causing problems.|||No I don't think there is a connection between veganism and mental illness. But you definitely need to talk to a professional about problems. Take care.|||There are no truths to your fears. You probably aren't getting the necessary nutrition that you should be. Go talk to a doctor.|||It's nothing to do with being vegan. Non-vegans can have diet related mental as well. You should try getting high doses of vitamin B Complex. When I was in the tropics I started having anxiety and depression and when I talked to my doctor he said I had a B deficiency. After about four days taking about 1000% b complex my mood improved greatly. The change was amazing. Make sure you get you Bs in a liquid form. Most pills go right through you. I knew a guy who worked for a port-a-potty and he said pills went right through people. You can get vegan B Complex no problem. You should be taking extra B anyway since you can't get sick from too much. Kava may help too. How is your potassium intake? If you are not eating dairy then OJ is a great source. http://www.oohoi.com/healthy_living/vita鈥?/a> Vitamin B deficiency can be masked by many things and too often people are not even aware that they are deficient. It may not even create serious health problems right away. Researchers have discovered that more often than not there are no detectable symptoms of a Vitamin B deficiency. Researchers have found that cognitive deficits caused by a Vitamin B deficiency are evident long before Vitamin B deficiency shows up in the blood. This is an indication that certain mental disorders may be caused by Vitamin B deficiency. With this in mind, it may be a better solution to treat mental health issues by replenishing stores of Vitamin B rather than through drugs or psychological therapy. Also read Eight Weeks to Optimal Health, by Andrew Weil, which has both Vegan and Non-Vegan nutrition information in it.|||You need to talk to a shrink. You sound to me like someone who is perpetually afraid of everything. That fear can be desensitized somewhat by counseling.