Orthorexic Sequence" – My Personal Experience with OCD
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war4512
26 days ago
Over the past few weeks, I have made a very intriguing empirical observation. For the sake of this post, I’ve called this observation the “orthorexic sequence.”
A brief explanation:
When I struggle with gut issues (pain, bloating), there is an exponential intensification of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. One manifestation of this is orthorexia and an obsessive focus on my health, leading to meticulous dietary changes that alleviate pathological symptoms. This, in turn, results in a relaxation of dietary restrictions, which leads to a worsening of health. Admittedly, for a while, I did not adhere to fundamental dietary principles. I consumed too much fat, white flour, and meat, with too few fruits, etc. I’ve noticed that this creates a causal chain.
The role of serotonin transporters (their excessive signaling) and dopamine D2 receptors is well-documented. I’ve hypothesized that an essential pathogenic factor is improper nutrition. My diet was rich in tryptophan, PUFAs, oleic acid, and other elements that directly contributed to my health decline. OCD is associated with disrupted neural transmission in the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia—key components of the limbic system.
I don’t view this negatively because neurotransmitters are mechanical neurochemical signals. However, in this case, the hyperactivity of the aforementioned brain regions is tied to an excessive signaling of the need to fix the situation, which I believe stems from gut disorders. This is a pathological symptom if we consider excessive neurotransmission.
Should OCD be considered a self-destructive pathological condition or a signaling mechanism? It’s hard to say. Limbic system dysfunction undoubtedly plays a significant role, but is the aforementioned reaction not rational?
Naturally, when health is at risk, endocrine signals communicate aberrations to the brain. Per se, this is not self-destructive; on the contrary, it is a vital, selective mechanism indicating the need for changes. So where is the boundary? It’s hard to say; it depends on how negatively the individual experiences the associated symptoms.
I am unsure to what extent my reaction is a matter of OCD, but I strongly suspect that symptomatic improvement is linked to better dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission, which results from better nutrition and microbiological structure in the gut. However, when OCD symptoms subside, I tend to gravitate toward eating what I once deemed destructive.
This is why I’ve called it a sequence, due to the very pronounced deterministic chain of cause and effect. I will try to prevent this, given the logical consequences that lead to health deterioration, which I want to avoid.
The cause might be a deep dysbiosis in the large intestine or an overgrowth of microorganisms in the small intestine. The relationship between the microbiome and mental health is very well-documented in the literature.
One of the most significant dietary pathogenic factors might have been glycoproteins and microorganisms whose metabolic byproducts include endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides). A lack of fiber and fruits could also have been a contributing factor. Fiber significantly influences the production of butyrates, which regulate BBB integrity and central neurochemical regulation. SCFAs themselves are also crucial for intestinal permeability. A deficiency might exacerbate the release of endotoxins into the bloodstream.
For easier understanding, here is the sequence:
Gut disturbances → OCD → Obsessive focus on health (orthorexia) → Health improvement → Relaxation of dietary discipline → Gut disturbances.
This is a really insightful post! The "orthorexic sequence" you describe highlights the complex link between gut health and OCD symptoms. Your approach to understanding how nutrition and microbiota affect mental health is fascinating and could help others in similar situations. Thanks for sharing!
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