Any natural ways to work through severe mental illness?

I have been diagnosed with severe bi-polarity/Seasonal Affective Disorder and I am on 4 different medications to "help".

It has gotten to the point where I am taking medicine to put me to sleep and medicine to wake me back up.

I take 2 anti-depressants, a tranquilizer for mood stabilization and a pill to give me energy.

I feel so fake and loopy most of the time.

Like the only reason I am functioning is because of my medicine and not because I want to.

Any natural remedies would be much apreaciated.

-Anatomy

 

i've read that mental illness can be attributed to lack of vitamin b in the diet. apparently in the past there have been pandemics of mental illness breaking out due to lack of vitamin b in the diet. maybe consider eating more green leafed vegetables and think about some vitamin b tablets-don't overdose on them or you'll make yourself ill-take the recommended dose per day. it may seem whacky that what you eat may be affecting you but go and look out on the internet for research . have a look at some of my recent posts.

 

buy some 5-HTP vitamins. They will boost your seratonin levels and not make you feel so fake. But take the before bed because they usually put me to sleep! But when I wake up I'm in a great mood!
Also, you may find this site beneficial: http://www.nativeremedies.com

 

you can always find what your looking fo ron the internet...just look for some herbal antideppresants...

 

ever tried a rainbow gathering.. the whole idea of a gathering is to heal ourselves. the sooner you get out of that cycle your in the better. why worry when you can pray?

 

There definatly are natural ways to help that, but I'd suggest finding an actual doctor specializing in them.

 

take the meds ure prescribed too, write poetry/songs/diary, and draw/paint. it may not completely go away, but it's better than offing ureself or someone else.

 

I think you should take the meds. . . and work closely with your doctor to get off of any or change them. Bipolar is not easy to treat. . . if they have found something to control your symptoms, you are very lucky. Pharmaceuticals are MUCH more reliable and consistent than herbs. For SADD (seasonal affective depressive disorder) they make special lights you can use in the winter that are very effective in warding off these symptoms. SADD should not be affecting you this time of year.

 

My husband has the same diagnosis and prescription type. He likes coffee and pot a lot better than those drugs, but I think what he needs is therapy, a bigger dose of the Lord, regular doses of rainbow gatherings, and a better diet. I think working with your doctor is a decent idea, but realize your doctor believes in the meds even though I'm sure he/she has never taken them. But your doctor must know you can't be on these drugs forever, so definitely ask about what the plan is for getting off them. If you do enough research on the diagnosis you can be as smart as your doctor about it. Good luck and let your light shine,

 

Why not? Would you suggest a diabetic patient look for ways to get off of his or her medication?

 

wandering spirit - I have never tried one, nor do I know what it is. I am open to new ideas.. let me know? Thanks!

Syntax - I go to an excellent shrink who works with my every need. Thanks!

PhotoGra1 - I'm not feeling any symptoms from SADD just merely mentioning that that is a part of my diagnosis. I know I still have to take the meds I just wondered if there were other, more natural ways of feeling better. Thanks!

BobbinBecca - Thank you so much for being so positive with me! I would love to not have to take the meds for the rest of my life, but I know that I have to. I Too much caffeine or marijuana can set off my moods actually. I have to be very careful. I used to go to therapy but then I learned that I am my own therapist and that strangley enough talking to myself or talking myself out of a feeling works pretty darn well. Thank you for your ideas!



Much <3 to all those who offered advice!

 

Well, that's a question for another thread, IMO, because every condition is unique to the person. I know many diabetics of Type I and II and they all treat themselves (some w/ doctors' partnership) very very differently. I am not expert in diabetes and do not offer advice to them much. And come on, the diabetes drugs don't affect your SELF just the body that houses it. Not attacking you but just saying "totally different!!"

I am baffled that you would think the mental condition the original poster described would be permanent. One of the aggravating factors of such a condition is the depressive effects of such an outlook. As my husband just found out from Social Security, they do not consider the condition to be permanently debilitating, and though he finds a way for that to depress him and aggravate the condition that causes him to be unable to function normally, I try to show the positive side of the situation. If the gov't says it's not debilitating, try to see the positive in that.

As to being on the meds she describes for life. Yuck. Try to have some compassion and hope. Have you ever been on the meds she describes? They are the essence of artificial life. they put you to sleep, wake you up, make you high, and have side effects galore. My husband has been on those she lists and others that are similar. They all are artificial existence but with different side effects. He has had fissures, ulcers, paranoia, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, aggressiveness, low libido, and more from the 10 years on and off doctor's push these type of drugs on him. Off the drugs he is bipolar and depressed, in pain much of the time. Marijuana is a mild comfort, with low side effects, not much help in his functionality but, you know, at least he's able to read and pray with the kids at night. Weed the garden.

They say make marijuana illegal yet they push speed and tranquilizers. Different topic, I know, and the marijuana isn't all that great either but I have a total passion against folks' going along with drug pushers in white coats. I would like you to think about why she and my husband shouldn't be on drugs thier whole life. Shouldn't they have a chance at their own life, not bolstered by false reality? I can't change my husband's condition on my own, and the doctor's sure as hell can't either. What he needs is something inside himself. The drugs hide you from your own power to heal. the doctor's are too lazy, in most cases, to help you find it. Those you love can only show you the door (hee hee Matrix reference). Anyway, they need support not doomsaying! And that's what being on these drugs your whole life is like, doom.

Last point, because yeah I know I can go on: most doctors really do think you shouldn't be on these drugs your whole life. In replacement of love and natural healing the drugs are supposed to show you the door, teach your body how it feels to be "normal" so that you have the will to normalize on your own. Gradually, you are supposed to get off them and have the support of the doctor while you do. Few doctors do this, though. Most prescribe and hide, diagnose and rediagnose, prescribe and represcribe. I used represcribe in a Scrabble game once, turned scribe into represcribe and hit the trip. Many points. In life hitting the represcribe is losing, losing the months or years you were on the "wrong" drug and now, well, let's try this one.

 

I have worked in pharmaceuticals for 10 years, and am working on a doctor of pharmacy degree. I have never seen ONE study that suggests that bipolar disorder doesn't REQUIRE medication, forever. The diabetes reference is very relevant. Someone with diabetes usually either doesn't produce enough insulin, or cannot use the insulin they produce effieciently. Diabetes from obesity can often be cured by loosing weight, but an individual that either doesn't produce or use insulin efficiently will need to be on medication forever. The same is true for bipolar disorder. There is no reason to think that the neurotransmitters that are not in sync will ever "re-sync" themselves. A true bipolar patient NEEDS lifelong treatment.

It is very unfortunate that your husband has had all of these negative experiences with medication. Unfortunately, psychiatry is still not a perfect science, and involves a lot of trial and error. I encourage your husband to find a good psychiatrist, and be very open and honest with him or her. No matter how many meds he has tried, I promise you that there are many more options.

 

Guys..I wanted advice...not a petty fight.

Take it somewhere else because it is not helping me or anyone else.

 

Manic Depression is treated with medication due impart by the fact that those whom suffer, experience episodes of mania (which may or may not pose a threat to themselves or others). A mild case of Bi Polar Disorder would not need to result in medication. As a former Psychology student, I will let you in on the fact that most psychiatric medication is not needed. Antidepressants are often used to treat patients in the same way a mother gives their whiney child candy. Most psychiatric patients are given, "mood stabilizers". These types of medicines are merely a temporary fix to solve underlying issues.... in fact, they are no more than legal drugs. Over half of the treatment for Bi polar disorder should come from psychotherapy,(Cognitive behavioral therapy in particularly) not medication anyhow.


Nearly all medication in this world comes with possible side effects listed on the label. These side effects often cause more harm to the system then the help they claim. The fact is that our bodies were not meant for medication. The human body can heal itself in the most amazing ways, leaving many doctors and scientists at a loss for words.

Many people with bipolar disorder often have abnormal thyroid gland function. Hormones play a significant role in illness, one the Psychiatric field does not take into consideration.


As far as the comment stating that Pharmaceuticals are more reliable, I this particularly amusing considering the fact that if you read the news, or watch television, you will notice that many medications are pulled off of shelves after they result in dangerous medical effects, or worse, fatalities. Humans have been using natural medicine for centuries, from Biblical times, to Native Americans. This practice is still in play in many Eastern cultures. From both the view point of one who has studied the psychology field and a woman who’s family is in involved in medicine, I find the comment positively fallacious.

If you truly desire natural medication, (which is the last resort I would use ~ I prefer faith, which may seem, "illogical", to, "logical" folks) I suggest that you find both a Herbalist and a M.D. who specializes in Holistic medicine.


As far as your inquiry on diabetes, diet plays a VERY significant role. This is another area where doctor’s recommendations often fail (I.E. the ever popular low cholesterol, low fat diet fad, where there is no long term evidence that this will lower cholesterol, plus the scientific research done that shows the body needs fat in order to maintain it’s proper functions). There is a diet on the market, based on eating healthy whole grains, and the idea of food combining, which started in France during the 1800s (and France comes in at number two as the country with the lowest heart complications). Many diabetics, and those who suffer from Insulin Resistance (the overproduction of insulin), such as myself, have benefitted from. I suggest you do a search on Somersizing for further information in regards to this.

As far as mental illness goes, or the psychiatric evaluation of, "a chemical imbalance", this has many contributing factors. Poor diet, lack of sleep, too much sleep, lack of exercise, too much exercise, etc. However, because the psychology field is mostly comprised of theories, and trial and error, medication is one tool they will always try to use, when they cannot find any other solution.

 

Who is fighting? This is just discussion. . . on a discussion forum. . .

 

Do you have a source for this? I, too, have studied psychology. I agree that psychotherapy is a very important tool. I have never seen any study, though, that dismissed psychiatry, or had any professor do so.

Yes. . . medications can cause side effects. This is no secret. Medications have a favorable benefit to risk ratio, meaning the benefits outweigh the risks.

Psychiatrists very often prescribe thyroid supplements, or medications to reduce thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone is a very common cause of anxiety. The doctors that I work with are very aware of that, and do test their patients

The news or television is not a good place to get your drug information. Most of the "many medications" that have been pulled off the market are excellent ones. . . but were being prescribed incorrectly. In 10 years in pharmacy, I am only aware of maybe half a dozen pharmaceutical products pulled off the market. There have been over 100 new drugs released. Humans, since biblical times, have NEVER enjoyed a longer life span or quality of life than we do now.

I never inquired about diabetes. I am VERY familiar with it! I agree that diet is VERY important. For someone with insulin resistance, though, diet will never change that. . . only medication can make your body use the insulin more efficiently. If you don't start using the insulin that you are overproducing, your pancreas will likely sustain damage, and you will have to go on insulin injections. I suggest you consult a good endocrinologist.

 

Editing this because I replied to something, but I think the order of the posts is swirled around in this thread, so I'm confused now about what I wanted to say...

 

I was dimissing the assumption that medication is needed to treat all psychological disorders.

Again, with a family heavily involved with the medical field, not to mention a sister who is studying pharmacy, I have seen not only seen several drugs pulled off of the market for dangers they caused, but have also taken many of these medications myself in the past, (among these are Phen-Phen, and Rezulin).

The diabetic statement was for the original poster who inquired about it. I, myself, have insulin resistance, as i stated. Diet and weight loss has dramactically improved my overall health to the point where my doctor has stated that Glucophage may no longer be needed for the disease, contrary to your statement. Also, the diet I recommended was under the guidance of Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, endocrinologist and author of, "The Schwarebein Principle" (who specializes in diabetes).


There are many statements from people who have followed this type of eating lifestyle, stating that, under the close watch of their doctors, they have been able to either dramatically reduce the amount of insulin the must take, or discontinue use all together.

 

Fine.

I just wanted advice not back and forth I know more than you do bullshit.

But please..go ahead.

Everyone is so obsessed with themselves here that an advice thread turns into a fucking who knows more contest.