Kristina Cook shares how lifelong anxiety and postpartum depression, combined with her daughter Genevieve's escalating, unpredictable mood instability, rage, suicidality, and mania, pushed their family into crisis despite years of therapy, medications, and an 11-year-old's 16-week hospital in-treatment stay with a discharge plan involving notifying police. After an RFK Jr. press conference led her to Casey and Calley Means' message in Good Energy, Kristina removed ultra-processed foods and refined ingredients and saw rapid improvements in sleep, pain, and her daughter's behavior. Later, after hearing Dr. Chris Palmer describe ketogenic therapy for severe mental illness, Kristina and her daughter transitioned to keto, endured a brief detox period, and then experienced dramatic mental clarity; Genevieve reached remission and came off medication, and Kristina also saw major weight and anxiety relief. Kristina now studies nutrition, works with the Metabolic Collective, and advocates for accessible metabolic therapies for families.

• Good Energy (book by Casey Means & Callie Means)
• metaboliccollective.org
• Metabolic Mind — https://www.metabolicmind.org/
• Kristina on X (Twitter): @KristinaCook https://x.com/KristinaCo9561
• The Better Humans Project — Kristina's Instagram and Facebook pages https://www.instagram.com/thebetterhumansproject?igsh=MTM4YTkyZ3duejdjbw==

In this powerful episode of 'Navigating Mental Illness: Parent Stories,' hosts Bill Nowicki and Laura Nowicki welcome Kim, a resilient mother who shares her emotional and challenging journey navigating her daughter's bipolar disorder. Kim recounts her struggles from initial denial to becoming a fierce advocate for her daughter's health, detailing episodes of crisis, multiple hospitalizations, and exploring alternative treatments. As she discusses setting firm boundaries and the importance of self-care, listeners will gain invaluable insights into the complexities of mental health within a family dynamic. Join us for an inspiring conversation about love, resilience, and the ongoing fight for mental wellness.

00:00 AI Edits from NMIPS Kim

01:41 Kim's Background and Career

02:17 Family and Personal Life

04:07 Challenges with Mental Health

05:34 Kim's daughter's Struggles and Episodes

07:50 Seeking Help and Rehabilitation

15:02 Recent Developments and Reflections

22:02 A Mother's Unwavering Love

22:30 The Struggles of Long-Distance Support

23:53 Setting Boundaries for Healing

28:15 The Importance of Self-Care

38:04 Finding New Beginnings

42:14 Reflections and Future Plans

In this episode of Navigating Mental Illness: Parents Stories, the hosts interview Sarah Boes, who shares her compelling journey from rural Kentucky to becoming a nurse practitioner and a mother. Sarah details her daughter's diagnosis with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, and discusses the emotional highs and lows from selling her business to managing her daughter's multiple surgeries.

She opens up about her personal mental health challenges, ultimately leading to her diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sarah stresses the importance of being a strong advocate for one's child and highlights the crucial role of collaboration with medical teams. Additionally, she talks about her advocacy work for congenital heart disease, aiming to improve future care and outcomes for affected children. The episode offers invaluable insights into coping with uncertainty, managing mental health, and the resilience needed in the face of life's unpredictable challenges.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:27 Meet Sarah Boes: A Journey from Kentucky to Nursing

04:08 Navigating Pregnancy and Unexpected Diagnoses

06:07 Understanding Tetralogy of Fallot and Early Surgeries

08:25 Mental Health Challenges and OCD Diagnosis

15:19 Coping Mechanisms and Family Dynamics

22:18 Advocacy and Future Goals

33:12 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections