Holistic "feel better" tips?!

Holistic "feel better" tips?

I am on medications for my poor neurotic brain, but I'm curious if there are simple holistic approaches to dealing with my mental illness. I've been diagnosed as chronic depressor/bipolar. I'm not able to afford my medications right now and have still managed to maintain some semblance of sanity. However, is there a holistic/homeopathic tip that you might have for holding on any semblance of stability until the ol finances improve?

know how you feel, I was depressed for over a year and have been said to be bipolar, but am not on meds:

What helps me are these tips, from my own person experiance:

1. When you're down, don't pretend. Allow yourself to be sad for a little, its okay and its natural

2. Dont tell yourself that you should be someone you're not. You are who you are. You are unique, even if you dont see it right now. Dont try to change yourself, rather be very open to new ideas and circumstances so you can discover more things about yourself, what you're good at, etc. Stop doing things you dont like, it only takes away from the time that you could be discovering more about what you truly enjoy, finding yourself.

3. Find something to look forward to each day. Try hobbies, having a pet might be your highlight. If you've been depressed for a while, dont expect too much from yourself; you're healing and happiness wont happen right away, it happens slowly through the small things. Allow yourself to indulge a little. Bake a pie, develop a skill like photography, or jazz up a pair of old jeans with ribbon or cute little buttons you can buy at a craft store. Just set up some 'you' time where you are ficusing on something other than your sadness and insecurities. You will find that you'll be inspired, excited maybe, and anxious to try this and that.

4. Read a book and take a bath. These two worked wonders for me. My favorite book to read when I was sad was a Chickensoup for the soul book they have these books for mothers, teens, teens who have gone through hard times, christians, pet lovers, etc. It lifted me right up! About the bath: heat a tub up about 3/4, and as it is filling empty out some bubble bath. Set up a boombox, ipod, cd player, or radio to a channel you like. NO POP OR HIPHOP ALLOWED! this is relaxation not dancing time. Prepare a towel, pjs, and robe so you dont have to walk around the house cold and naked, you'll be able to slip in to cleanness and warmth. Just close your eyes and soak. You dont need any fancy spa stuff, if you dont have bubble bath, some shampoo works ok too.

5. I dont know what your religion is, but I am catholic, and when i go to church I feel welcome and wholesome. Honestly, I didnt feel happy right away, nor did God take away my problems. He did however, let me be myself when I least liked 'me', and he didnt judge or say do this! do that! He offered me, in church, kind of like a safe place where i didnt have expectations or rules. I could just be there. I could sing along if I felt like it, smile if i wanted to, but i didnt have to. I could be my grumpiest self and no one would kick me out. I would ussually walk out of Mass feeling positive and energized, but thats all due to your state of mind, i guess. But to be honest, church is a great place to go. You dont have to join a group or bible study unless you want to. Just be there, and be loved when you feel utterly unlovable, because he loves you, because he actually made you. He sees your life now, and what it will be like later. Only you can affect your future (positively or negatively), but he will support you and try to lead you the right way through people, if you make the first move towards him or not. Because he is with you even if you dont agnowledge it.