Dr. Chris Palmer

Some forms of depression, anxiety, and severe mental illness may be linked to how cells produce energy, not just to brain chemistry. A psychiatrist with personal recovery experience argues the metabolic angle is missing from standard care. The framing is debated and works alongside, not instead of, conventional treatment.

Mental illness may in many cases reflect impaired brain energy metabolism rather than just chemical imbalance. A ketogenic diet provides ketones as an alternative brain fuel and may reduce inflammation, supporting cellular repair in some adults with severe symptoms. Sleep, exercise, and food quality may matter more for long-term recovery than any single drug, though standard psychiatric medication remains essential for most people while testing this approach.

ADHD symptoms may reflect impaired brain energy in specific regions rather than a fixed chemical imbalance. Stimulant medication can lift the energy temporarily, while lifestyle inputs like sleep, food, and exercise may shift the underlying metabolism more durably. Reframing ADHD around metabolic health may reduce stigma while keeping standard treatment for most adults on the table.