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BlackRoseNew Contributor
Hello.
I am new to this forum.
Was wandering if anyone could reccomend any natural or organic therepies to help with
BiPolar Disorder. I feel prescribed medications are no longer suitable for my lifestyle.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thanks
In response to: Organic and Natural therepies
NikNikSenior Contributor
Hey @BlackRose
Welcome to the forums! I haven't seen you around before - so I think this is your first post.
We absolutely respect everyone's right to choice of treatment. I just wanted to flag though, any changes to medication (going off them, changes in dosage or taking additional over the counter natural supplements etc) regardless of how small, can have significant impact - it may cause different side affects or changes to your mental health. However, it may have a real positive affect.
Regardless, it's really important to make any additions or changes to medication in consultation with a health care professional.
While you are waiting for people to respond, here to a discussion about vitamin supplements that took place in another part of the forum.
Welcome again!
NikNik
In response to: Re: Organic and Natural therepies
JubileeJohnsonSenior Contributor
Hello Black Rose.
I have a Bi-polar Affective disorder (1) too.
I like that you "feel," that prescription meds don't suit your lifestyle.
I can't help with alternative therapies.
I can talk about lifestyles though, which, because of my musical interests is the old cliche of S, D, & R n'R.
To live a better life I had to change. I still live that life, and it's actually much more fun all round.
Of course the drugs are prescription.
Please don't dismiss that possibility for you.
Black Rose hmm. That's a name that kind of suggests an 'alternative' lifestyle.
I'd love to know what it is (if that isn't off-topic NikNik?).
I am new to this forum.
Was wandering if anyone could reccomend any natural or organic therepies to help with
BiPolar Disorder. I feel prescribed medications are no longer suitable for my lifestyle.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thanks
In response to: Organic and Natural therepies
Alessandra1992Senior Contributor
In response to: Organic and Natural therepies
kristinSenior Contributor
Hi Black Rose,
Welcome to the forum!
It's a very good question.
I would say firstly that NikNik is right - caution needs to be applied when adjusting/coming off meds just as starting a new one. I have had really hideous side-effects getting off some meds.
Secondly I would affirm that in my experience it is possible to manage bipolar (type 1) without meds.
Generally I have not have positive results on meds, I seem to react badly to most chemicals that try to tinker with my system (be they hormonal or intended to be helpful to my MH). The best that I can hope for with them is that they do nothing. So my psychiatrist and I have a standing agreement that we do not even discuss meds unless I am unrelentingly suicida1 (which used to happen to me periodically).
What works for me (and may or may not for you) in no particular order:
I hope some of this might be of help. It's been a long process over many years finding this "recipe", and I add to it as I learn more about myself. I encourage you to find your own, whether meds are a part or not. I found having diagnoses of firstly complex PTSD and then bipolar type 1 were helpful to me (I've had about 6 diagnoses over my 35 years of obvious mental illness); because they enabled me to better understand myself, my history and my needs. What gets me into the most trouble is when I stop listening carefully to those things.
I wish you wellness
.
Kind regards,
Kristin
In response to: Organic and Natural therepies
BlackRoseNew Contributor
In response to: Re: Organic and Natural therepies
NikNikSenior Contributor
Hey @BlackRose
Sorry to hear your Dr asked you to find someone else for treatment.10 years! That's a long time! I imagine you had built trust and rapport with them.
I hope you do continue to see someone. There are Drs who support holistic approaches to health (mental and physical), so working with someone who will support your organic/natual approach may benefit you. They may have some additional suggestions.
NikNik
In response to: Re: Organic and Natural therepies
chemonroSenior Contributor
The simplest most practical thing you can do to improve your mental health is walking. Especially for depression. And you don't need a prescription!
In response to: Re: Organic and Natural therepies
NikNikSenior Contributor
On that point @chemonro there's a community challenge on exercise & motivation.
You can find it here
It would be fantastic if you all had a look and contributed your thoughts 🙂
In response to: Re: Organic and Natural therepies
kristinSenior Contributor
Dear Black Rose,
I'm not surprised you were shocked. I'm completely apalled that any doctor would ask you to go elsewhere after such a reasonable request! I think you can be really proud of your response in seeing it as a sign that it is time to move on to somewhere/one who is much more open to holistic and alternative approaches.
The mind and the body are indivisible parts of the whole person, they interact intimately and what affects one affects the other.
The big step here, seems to me, is that you now see you do have a choice, which is wonderful. It is your mental health (not the dr's) after all. So good for you! Take care and be well.
Kind regards,
Kristin
PS I'm not sure I understand about the BR references, but I think you have strength which may have been hitherto unguessed at. 🙂
In response to: Organic and Natural therepies
morningstarSenior Contributor
hey blackrose, what do you mean exactly by 'no longer suitable for my lifestyle'?
from what I've read, stuff like fishoil, etc might be helpful for some people with mild symptoms but theres no real evidence any of it works, and can interact badly with other meds too. Lifestyle changes like relaxation, exercise can help a bit too. Hope you find a better GP, there are good ones about. Maybe the prscription can be changed?
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SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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