my gf and i both take medications for bi-polar and/or anxiety and i have never been the biggest fan of medication ( i have several reasons ) so i am beggining to ween myself off of mine, while she still has real bad depression and anxiety, but I know the stuff she's on is doing more bad than good. Question is, are there holistic ways to go about relieving this horrible disabilty? p.s. her mom was a psych nurse for 15 years.
126325
Please get a copy of the book by Dr. Sherry Rogers, M.D. called: "Depression Cured At Last".  She will teach you about the true causes of depression/bipolar/mood disorders and how to correctly treat the causes.  I highly recommend this book for people who are intelligent enough and motivated enough to recognize that drugs are not the answer. (Note: drugs can actually make these conditions worse, which is why the anti-depression drugs like Paxil and Zoloft now have 'black box warnings' about risks of suicide as a SIDE-EFFECT of the medication.)\n\nThe book is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.\n\nBest wishes and good luck!
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Princess - when you post these kinds of questions, unfortunately you will get inane and irrelevant answers from religious fanatics who do not believe human problems have organic origins.  I am just surprised that this time it was a Muslim instead of someone in one of the many "Christian" sects that also denigrate psychology and psychiatry.  Oh, well, religious fanatics are essentially the same, no matter which "holy book" they read.\n\nNow to the meat of your query.\n\nYou got many sound replies above.  Anti-depressants have variable results according to the individual.  They also have variable results according to the dosage - for example, a big dose of Zoloft can produce different consequences than a lesser dose.\n\nI am surprised that you apparently have not been under a regimen of monitoring by the doctor(s) who diagnosed you.  It is typical when a patient begins this treatment to be checked frequently to monitor the effectiveness of the medications, and if they do not work right, to be changed.\n\nAs a side statement, be aware that you can't really drink if you have depression, and especially when on medications.  Alcohol IS a depressant.\n\nAlso, anyone diagnosed with acute depression (as I presume is what they said of you) should be placed under the direct care of a psychiatrist.  Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are trained in these matters and the use of medications as an element of treatment.  They do not always require a patient to undergo intensive analysis and theray.  Today's psychiatrists are inheritors of Freud's work, but they are much, much different from the old-fashioned concept of egg-head analysts.  \n\nAny mental health problem produces behavioral consequences, however,  And these can persist beyond the effect of chemical sources of the problem.  Depression is not entirely a chemistry problem, usually, and to think that medications alone will resolve depression is to miss an opportunity to go after the things that cause or contribute to the problem.\n\nWe are ALL mixed-up folk.  There's nothing whatsoever wrong with getting un-mixed-up if we get the chance.  Go back to your doctor, milady, and get a referral to a psychiatrist you can trust and work with, and keep your appointments.  By the way, my experience suggests that a psychiatrist who embraces "gestalt therapy" methods is the most effective.
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Honey, deal with the pain. See a psychologist. If an MD gave this to you, throw it away. They are not trained to diagnose and assist in mental issues, psychologists and psychiatrists are. \n\nLook up a psychologist in the phone book. Make sure they are board certified when you call them up. Set up an appointment and start therapy. Don't throw out the drugs until you talk to them since that CAN have a devistating effect neurologically, particularly if you are under 18 (in that case you shouldn't be on depression drugs anyway). THEN if a psychiatrist or psychologist determines you need drugs, follow their orders. Drugs are necessary sometimes...but only if given and monitered by professionals who are specifically geared toward mental health.\n\nYou can do this for yourself as well. Get out and do some yoga. Believe it or not, yoga is a therapy all in itself. I used to be depressed until I started yoga. Anyone can do it, just make sure you have a certified yoga instructor (aka don't just pick up a book and do it, go to a yoga studio). Also, take Alive Multivitamins...they really help me all around. \n\nI am sorry for your loss. Hopefully things will start getting better for you. *hug*
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Talking out my overwhelming life with a councelor helped the best.\nDepends on the type of depresion, but finding a different life pattern helped me. Recognizing what causes the depression and anxiety helped. \n If drugs aren't helping, seek advice from the doctor to see if counceling will help sort out the overwhelming situations that person is facing.\n Knowing why you feel what you feel and overcoming "it" is such a relief to feel better and to have a sound mind again. Being depressed and thinking you are going to go crazy does not mean you ARE crazy.  It can however make you sick physically, so be careful.  Depression stems from all kinds of reasons, findsearch for the reason, but do not give up on yourself. Best question I heard while going through counceling " How do you eat an elephant?" Answer "one plate at a time." The big things get less scary when you take it one thing at a time.\nDrugs may be neccessary to help with some of the symptoms, (ie. couldn't sleep, stomach pains, rapid heart palpitations, and fearful anxiety attacks)  but drugs weren't the cure for me.  Good Luck.
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A lot of people are ignorant to the realities of these types of illnesses. Some people are willing to be educated, some think they already know it all despite the fact that they actually know nothing about the issue. I've been living with bipolar (and other problems) for my entire life. Some people are supportive, some are infuriatingly misinformed. The fact is, bipolar disorder is a very real illness with significant symptoms that effects many aspects of a person's life. It is not an excuse for bad behavior, but it is an explanation. It can be very isolating and feel very lonely, but you are not alone.\n\nYou might want to look into online support groups. I happen to be the co-moderator of one on yahoogroups.com.  If you go there and do a search for bipolar support, you will find a lot of listings. I have found the support online to far exceed anything I've found offline. It really helps to reach out and connect with other people who really 'get it'. \n\nBipolar can not be cured (at least, not at this time), it is not going to go away. It requires understanding and the continued management of symptoms. Whatever you do, do not buy into what your friends are saying and the attitude they have about this.
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crystal-hun i believe u need to c your doc asap these meds r serious and they know how to dispense them just b upfront with him and tell him all u feel dont hide nuttin from him dont think theres to many folks that are not on any antidepressant's drugs in this day and age...good luck happy holidays
223261
Bi Polar disorder is characterised by 'mood swings'. In my case I did not sleep well for about a year then I stopped sleeping completely for about 8 days and I began to lose 'insight' - I began exercising in the middle of the night, had loads of energy. Didn't eat much either and started getting some strong 'notions' that people around me couldn't relate to. I talked a lot more than usual and it was hard to follow me, so I am told. This was my 'manic' phase. It was pretty scary. I then became severely depressed. It took me along time to find 'normal' moods again. It takes patience and a good deal of getting to know yourself better. (foods and drink that help/hinder - )\nI struggled with anxiety for years before this occurred. I have been on both Lithium and depakote. Am on (epilim) which is very similar to depakote now (it is easier on my stomach than Dep- but not licensed for BiPolar like Depakote- They are both Valproic acid essentially). It is hard to say how efective it is. You will put on a little weight but it can really help if you are prone to getting 'manic'.\nGood luck. If you want to chat further feel free to contact me and I would be happy to share any relevant experiences with you.
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Is it possible that you are bi-polar?\n\nI was on and off antidepressants many time over the years.  They never really seemed to work for me, though eventually my depressions lifted.  \n\nDuring my most recent (and most severe) depression, after two years of trying various antidepressants I went into a phase where my mind started working faster and faster.  I eventually realized what was going on and told my doctor that I suspected That I might be manic-depressive and that we were treating the wrong illness.
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Doctors do not always know best. Educate yourself and do not hesitate to be a partner with your doctor in your treatment. If you are uncomfortable with a proposed treatment, let the him/her know. Any questions or concerns that you have should be addressed and taken seriously.\n\nAbilify is an anti-psychotic that has some antidepressant effects as well. "Anti-psychotic" sounds a lot worse than it is...they can help stabilize moods, slow down racing thoughts, help with sleep, etc.\n\nI'm bipolar and was on Abilify for a short time. It wasn't for me...it made me unbearably restless. But I have a friend that does exceptionally well on it.
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Being a retired mental health practitioner with 20+ years experience, I can tell you from all that psychiatric and counseling care I provided that one who is diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder SHOULD NOT be "getting hammered", if by that you mean drunk from alcohol or other drugs, whether they are on medication or not.  Alcohol and other "street drugs" offer no long term remedy from a long term illness.  Contrarily, they offer only severe cyclic affective disorders which only exacerbates the problem.  I have had clients who came to our clinic who have used alcohol to "self-medicate" their bi-polar disorder, but finally turned to a regimented care since they could not control their alcoholic intake and the destruction caused by self-medicating with alcohol and other illegal drugs really made a mess of things.  I hope I have made this clear for you without being too wordy.  God Bless you.
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When I came off my medication for anxiety, I started taking St John's Wort and felt fantastic. It gave me loads of energy and kept me 'happy'. I have recommended it to loads of people, it works for some and not for others. Definitely don't stop taking your other medication until you have checked with your GP though, alot of drugs you need to be weaned off or you may get unpleasant side effects.
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that's quite a potent mix....\n\nid read up on them and other possibilities then go to the MD with your ideas.\n\ncheck with nami and NIH websites for info and support and advice. sometimes in support groups they discuss pros cons and latest and greatest or oldest and baddest..\n\nthere are newer things avail with less side effects depending so do your research\n and find out why your getting those and also why both.\n\nNAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness-The Nation's Voice on ...\nThe mission of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is "to eradicate mental illness and improve the quality of life of those affected by these ...\nwww.nami.org/ - 45k\n\nNational Institutes of Health (NIH)\nOfficial website of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is one of the world's foremost medical research centers. An agency of the US Department of ...\nwww.nih.gov/ - 25k
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I was on the same thing for a little while. It is an anti-psychotic drug, but that doesn't mean your prescriber thinks you're psychotic, both anti-depressants and anti-psychotics are used for numerous conditions not just depression or psychosis.\nI stopped taking it because it didn't do a thing, not that I noticed anyway.\nForget any stigma you may think is attached to certain drugs of diagnosis, focus on being well and getting better and improving these things, what may have caused you to be unwell shouldn't be all you focus on, if you do that it can take over your life altogether, believe me I really do know about that, it's what happened to me.\nYou could also get a second opinion, and probably should, it's amazing how doctors diagnosis can vary so much from each other, I think it's worth seeing  another doctor even if only so YOU can look at your situation from a different angle.\nHope this helps a bit and good luck
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Hi\n\nPlease keep these people at a distance. Call your local mental health clinic and hook up with a therapist as soon as possible. People with Bipolar tend to isolate and become emotionally vulnerable. If you are not on meds may I suggest that you discuss this option with your counselor as well? I also have Bipolar and know others who have it. You cannot save the world and you need to find a new set of people who will be supportive of you - support group maybe?
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Wow, you are the first person expressing what I have been feeling all of my life.  I have been diagnosed as being bi-polar.  I too am very creative musically.  The only thing that really helps me is medication and by smoking pot.  Unfortunately if I dont do these things, life is just blah for me.  Seek professional help and seek a good couselor.  All of the above has worked for me.
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St. John's wort worked for my wife, didn't work for me, but it's a place to start.\n\nI was almost certainly clinically depressed for a while in college and toughed it out instead of getting help, which I've decided was a mistake.  I had a relapse a few years ago and got counseling, but I resisted anti-depressants for over a year.  It was totally irrational, and I regret stalling.  Judging by how I reacted to going on and off the meds, it was obvious I had a chemical imbalance, and being ashamed of them or resistant to them was as foolish as a diabetic refusing insulin.  I did not become dependent and I tapered off after a couple of years.\n\nIf you're opposed because of potential side effects, keep in mind that the arsenal of anti-depressants has increased in recent years, so it's more likely than ever that you can find something without serious side effects.\n\nAlso keep in mind that depression that doesn't go away in a reasonable time is terrible for other aspects of your health, so toughing it out with exercise and comedies can jeopardize other systems in your body.
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As a schizophrenic I can only nod my head as I read your post and that of the others. There is a forum you might find very helpful...\n\nTo answer your question...yes. Right now. During an incident of violence. I am learning to deal with it, yes. Miles to go before i sleep. On some days the best I can do is simply zone and zone and zone...waking up briefly to places I know I am supposed to be...taking care of buisness with only a vague sense of being present. Trying to awaken from sleep sometimes is a horror show. It is at those times I can feel how little connected I am to me...and sometimes i cannot get through the grey suffocating cotton to get from sleep to awareness and I get trapped there and all I can do is struggle in terror and panic and then finally awaken to this dull grey world.\nBut every day is not like that...and every day does not suck. Medication slays me...Ihave schizophrenia and bi-polar mixed into one disease...believe me I have tried medication From Halidol and Cogentin to Risperidal and Zyprexa. I am medication free as of the last five years. I don;t take vitamins anymore. I take Chlorella and Spirulina...in capsule form (never tablets) and any kind of sea weed and/ or chlorophyl saturated capsules .\nI drink lots of water...I don't watch the news. I don't read newspapers. No caffeine, sugar, processed foods(sausages, cheese, candies) no soft drinks(the carbon dioxide wreaks havoc with your ability to digest foods.) and I drink everything at room temperature...nothing too hot or too cold. System goes into shock as soon as those extremes are introduced into it.\nThese things help me deal and as time goes on I feel badly less and less and the frequency with which I feel disconnected and out of my body whilst stuck in my body, lessen.\n\nThe therapy I use that has saved my life is Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. Originally created just for borderline personality disorder. It was later found to help people across all lines of disorders and Axis 1's. Rather than explain I will send you links.\n\nThe Chlorella and Spirulina are for energy during the day, and help me sleep at night. The DBT therapy is for my sanity...keeps me from going mad...and helps me begin the process of reintegration so I can meet myself one day and get to know me.\n\nFirst link is to the Depersonalization / Derealization Community Forums. Peace and blessings.