Bipolar Symptoms

Treatment for Bipolar

Bipolar is a disorder that can have a great affect on the individual and their life and family. one common definition of bipolar states that a person with bipolar disorder experiences states of extreme “up’s” followed by periods of deep depression. Previously bipolar was referred to as “Manic Depression”. A state of high, or mania, followed by the low, or depression.

Bipolar os far reaching as it affects not only the persons feelings but also their thoughts, behavior and perceptions.
Some experets believe bipolar is caused by a dysfunction of chemical and electrical elements in the brain, others believe it to have a genetical factor making those of a family history of bipolar or other mental illnesses more prone to bipolar.

There are many prescription medications given for bipolar. Not all are comfortable taking these drugs and are interested in pursuing alternative, or natural therapies instead of pharmaceuticals. (Changing anything in your prescribed regimen should be done with your clinician only)

Omega 3.
There are a number of researches showing that omega 3 found in fish oils and in certain fishes are excellent for bipolar patients and other mental illnesses. There was a significant research done in 30 bipolar patients for four months. It was a placebo-controlled and double-blind study. It aims to compare omega 3’s efficacy versus olive oil or placebo for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a neuropsychiatic illness with a high mortality and morbidity. In the preliminary study, it was proven that omega 3 performed better and resulted to longer remissions based on the four scales of symptom-severity. Further studies are still underway.

Herbs

Some resolve to the use of herbal supplements instead of taking prescription drugs. But not all herbs are good for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Herbs are powerful and just because they are natural does not mean they do not have negative effects. Some herbs can actually worsen the symptoms of bipolar, and some can worsen bipolar symptoms when taken in conjunction with a pharmaceutical. Consult your doctor first before taking any herbal medication in conjunction with other drugs.

Nutrition and Your Diet

What you eat has a great effect on your mental status. Cutting out items containing sugar, corn, wheat, carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners and caffeine just to mention a few, can go a long way in helping to stabilize your mood.

Pastoral Counseling

If you’re suffering from bipolar disorder, you can also seek help from your pastor, priest, or rabbi. The spiritual community may be of great help during these times. In fact, allopathic medicine is now recognizing the role of spirituality and prayers.

Art and Movement
Through the arts, you can express freely your feelings and do so without inhibitions. You can enroll in a drawing class, sculpting, painting, and many others. Many therapists combine art and therapy.

Moving the body produces the “feeling good hormones” such and endorphins. So enroll in a dance therapy. Let your feet tap away and your spirit soar while incorporating your physical, cognitive, and emotional facets to the dance.

Soothing music have an effect on the brain waves and can make a person relax. Enroll in sound or music therapy could be not only beneficial but fun as well. Your body chemicals can be stimulated to improve blood pressure and flow, breathing, pulse rate, and changes in posture.

Do make sure that any therapies you choose are OK’d by your therapist or doctor.

Unfortunately natural bipolar treatment has not been proven to be very effective. There have been a few studies here and there regarding natural supplements shown to improve bipolar symptoms, and of course there are alway natural science advocates that will propose proper diet and healthy nutrition plays a big role in symptoms and their manifestation.

However, while there is most definitely some basis in truth to a holistic approach for healing bipolar disorder, the long and short of it is, pharmacology is just about the only proven method to work for most of the cases currently undergoing treatment.

Bipolar disorder is a result of a chemical imbalance within your brain, and unfortunately, the most effective method to fix that currently is medication. Bipolar treatment typically consists of therapy, and medications such as anti psychotics and mood stabilizers.

Now that isn’t to say that drugs are always the best medicine for bipolar treatment, as in many cases the medications don’t work either. Many patients suffering from bipolar disorder find the best success at bipolar treatment when they combine a holistic approach with modern pharmacology.

Bipolar treatment can be very effective when combining the correct dose of medication, with things like meditation to help the suffer learn a bit of self discipline. Meditation can also help a bipolar patient learn to relax properly, which can help easy any anxiety their mania may be causing them.

Some bipolar sufferer’s find that moving meditation such as yoga, or tai chi is a wonderful release for them. It helps them to burn off some of they excess energy they may experience, as well learn to focus and center themselves.

Bipolar treatment will vary from patient to patient, as every person is unique. With a bit of experimenting and practice, I have no doubt effective bipolar treatment can be found, and you could be well on your way to a healthy, happy lifestyle.