Today’s guest is Dr. Christopher M. Palmer. Dr. Palmer is a Harvard psychiatrist and researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental health. He is the director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For more than two decades, he has held leadership roles in psychiatric education at Harvard, McLean Hospital, and nationally. He spent more than fifteen years conducting neuroscience research in the areas of substance use and sleep disorders. Most recently, he has developed the first comprehensive theory of what causes mental illness, integrating biological, psychological, and social research into one unifying theory—the brain energy theory of mental illness. Today on the podcast we discuss Dr. Palmer’s revolutionary new approach to understanding and treating mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and more.

What to Listen For:

00:00 Intro
01:50 Difference between a mental state and a mental disorder
06:27 Dealing with mild depression or burnout
09:19 What causes mental illness?
12:41 The relationship between metabolism and mental health
18:04 Treating mild anxiety or depression
21:57 Is there a correlation between obesity and mental health?
24:27 Why do certain people gain weight and others don’t?
27:49 Optimizing serotonin and dopamine
32:15 Is the ketogenic diet a “fad diet”?
34:53 Following a ketogenic diet while also paying attention to overall health
37:40 How metabolic health impacts your nervous system
43:14 Simple steps you can take to improve your mental health
49:08 How do we solve the mental health epidemic?

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⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠

Please be advised; the topics related to mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov

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