Are there any treatments for bipolar disorder other than medication?
Monday, August 9th, 2010 at
8:41 am
A few months ago I was diagnosed with having bipolar disorder. However, for various reasons, I’m unable to take any medication or visit a psychiatrist, or anything of the sort.
I’m noticing my mood swings are beginning to become more and more severe, and I know I’m putting myself in danger again. Is there anything I can do to help keep my mood stable and reduce dark thoughts?
I feel like I’m fighting a battle unarmed, and I need some reinforcements.
I’m deathly afraid of psychiatric hospitals. I had a bad experience there last year.
Tagged with: Bipolar • Disorder • Medication • Than • there • Treatments
Filed under: Bipolar Treatments
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Some people have found that Omega-3 helps them stayed balanced. St. John’s Wort can help alleviate depression. Melatonin helps you sleep.
All of those as herbal supplements you can buy at a health food store.
Also, stay away from drugs and alcohol. Meditate. Take to people you trust.
But most importantly, if you feel like you can’t cope, go to the hospital. It’s better to be there than dead.
If you absolutely can’t see a psychiatrist, try the omega-3s, which have been successful for some. I would avoid the St John’s Wort as it has been known to make some manic (just like any other unopposed antidepressant). Other self-care includes meditation, exercise, yoga, healthy eating, abstinence from all drugs and alcohol, avoiding caffeine.
Personally, I went through 7 psychiatrists and over 20 meds before I found the right ones (I have bipolar, type I)–but it was worth the search.
Good luck, and take care of yourself.
I’m not sure why you can’t (or won’t) take medications. There are so many good ones out there that if one doesn’t work, there are others you can try. If money is the problem, you can contact Nami (nami.org) and be referred to a low to no-cost clinic for treatment. If you’re part of a religious group (such as scientology) where psychiatry is frowned upon, you can still get treatment – just do it covertly. I know that my psychiatrist has treated scientologist patients for OCD.
One non-medical way to help ease some of bipolar’s symptoms is to keep a routine schedule and make sure you are getting enough sleep. Too little sleep tends to cause us to go manic. Avoid caffeine as well, it can also trigger mania — although I’ll be honest that I’m a total coffee junkie much to my doctor’s chagrin.
Please be careful, bipolar is a very serious medical disorder and can wreak havoc on your life – and the lives of those closest to you. When manic I have picked huge fights with my closest friends, spent exorbitant amounts of money on useless things (I started a fosill collection!) to the point I couldn’t pay bills and rent and was evicted! And the flip side – the depression can be so intense we often attempt to take our lives.
I hope that this helps and you are welcome to contact me via email (in my profile) if you have particular questions not answered here.
if it is money or insurance problems look up your local mental health association in your phone book or the National association of the mentally ill these two organizations can refer you to very low payment or free doctors and therapist, and ways of getting medications..