What are some alternate treatments for Bipolar disorder?!
Question: Specifically what can I do (or take) without a prescribed medication?
Answers: Specifically what can I do (or take) without a prescribed medication?
I hate to say it, but bi-polar disorder can only, truly be controled with the right medication. I know how scary it feels to think that medication is the only way and that it will have to be your way of management if not forever, for many years. I have bi-polar disorder myself, and have been through medication nightmares. One crappy psych. had me on a cocktail of 7 different meds. at once! It's hard to find the right psych. that knows enough, cares enough, or has the qualifications to perscribe the right meds. That's why it takes some shopping around for your specialist that makes you feel at ease and heard as well as get you on the right meds. so that you don't feel crazy, numb to the world, violent, sleepy, or any of the other side effects that some meds. will have on a person.
Luckily, I found that perfect psych. and therapist for me and I have some great news. There is a relatively new med. out named Abilify. It has been my miracle worker as well as for several others that I know that are taking it now too. It's the one and only pill I need, once a day, and I'm in total control. You should definitely check it out or give it a try. Just tell your psych. that you've heard of it working for many others and you'd like to give it a chance-if you are comfortable with it.
Take it from me-I know where you stand on this. I've been there many, many times. I've even tried controlling the beast for a long time, but unfortunately-at no fault of ours-we need that help.
You're not alone in how you feel and the wishes you hold. I bet most, if not all people with bi-polar disorder have wished, tried, or still deny the issue of the nescessity to take meds. The point is, we do need it. Sorry to bust the hope :( But try the Abilify if you're willing to take another chance at finding the right answer vs. trying to control something uncontrollable. It will take about 2 weeks to start working but you will feel the difference in emotion control/mood swings/mania as soon as it has built up in your body.
I hope I was of some help. Best of luck to you :)
Unfortunately the only thing that really works to control bipolar disorder is medication. There are some techniques you can learn in therapy to help handle and control your mood swings, but that only helps so much. Bipolar disorder is a biological illness with psychological symptoms, so the treatment is medication that balances out the brain chemicals.
don't expect any help from where u would expect it.
see a normal doctor.
u could try cognative therapy - its away of retraining or learning new stratagies for dealing with situations in your life - ask your doctor to put u intouch with a therapist.
A taste: examine section 10! ~~~~ BIPOLAR DISORDER. See bipolar disorder, at ezy-build * (below) in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise. Bipolar disorder usually involves major moodswings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months. If you decide to use allopathic (modern Western) medicine, I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate (regular tests are necessary, for these), before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else may suit you better. Always check out anything first at http://www.drugs.com/, so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn't bipolar type 1, and didn't experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals, and mostly raw food diet, for several months. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ ). If not considerably improved, after several months, consult your primary mental health care provider. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states). Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at * http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris BIPOLAR DISORDER(A) BIPOLAR DISORDER: PAGE A. 541 17:29:31 - 27/12/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER(B) BIPOLAR DISORDER: ( ANECDOTAL ): PAGE B. 246 16:43:14 - 26/12/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER: C. BIPOLAR DISORDER: PAGE C. 194 01:34:10 - 03/10/2007
BIPOLAR CHATROOMS. BIPOLAR DISORDER: CHATROOMS: PAGE D. 156 01:40:49 - 20/11/2007
BIPOLAR: PAGE E. BIPOLAR DISORDER 1: COMBATING 92 01:42:14 - 20/11/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER. BIPOLAR DISORDER: NEW TREATMENTS: PAGE F 134 02:24:01 - 20/11/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER (G) BIPOLAR DISORDER: LITHIUM OROTATE. 79 17:35:51 - 27/12/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER. BIPOLAR DISORDER: TEENAGERS: PAGE H. 41 01:34:10 - 15/12/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER (I) BIPOLAR DISORDER MEDICATIONS. 59 17:37:44 - 27/12/2007
BIPOLAR: PAGE J. BIPOLAR DISORDER TREATMENT: SUPPLEMENTS. 37 17:41:39 - 27/12/2007
HERBS FOR BIPOLAR(K) TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH HERBS. 10 17:44:32 - 27/12/2007
VITAMINS FOR BIPOLAR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH VITAMINS. 28 00:33:29 - 27/12/2007
MINERALS FOR BIPOLAR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH MINERALS. 30 00:43:39 - 27/12/2007
BIPOLAR DISORDER(N) NEUROLOGICAL MEDICATIONS FOR BIPOLAR. 31