Alternative Bipolar Treatment
A Mindfulness Approach
Elements of an Alternative Bipolar Treatment:
An alternative bipolar treatment should include....
-
Psychotherapy
addressing how to deal with the stigma of a Bipolar diagnosis and teaching skills for managing and minimizing mood swings.
- Therapy work focused on deep and complete self-acceptance and compassion as well as self-discipline.
- Identification and/or creation of a circle of supportive friends, family, co-workers, and professionals.
- Family therapy can be extremely helpful.
- An emphasis on
mindfulness training
: working towards increasing self-awareness, mind-body awareness, and recognizing limitations.
- Use of a Mood Chart to record mood level and sleep each day. Download a free
Mood Chart
here.
- Learning to find balance in work and play, social time, and time alone without guilt.
- Learning to recognize the signs of an impending crisis, and emotional and environmental triggers.
- Cognitive Behavioral interventions (learning to recognize distorted thinking and it's relationship to emotional states.)
-
Mindfulness Meditation
instruction and practice.
- Emphasis on getting adequate and regular sleep each night.
- Learning to manage stress, and eating healthy and adequate food.
- Limiting consumption of sugar and caffeine, and abstinence from alcohol and recreational drugs.
- Eliminating preservatives, additives, artificial sweeteners (such as found in diet foods and soft drinks) - especially
aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal).
- High quality nutritional supplements
-- particularly, good sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. (Fish Oil is the most complete - containing both EPA and DHA, essential to optimum health, and brain functioning). {Natural antidepressants and stimulants may carry some risk of triggering mania, just like standard antidepressants can} - B-Complex vitamins.
- Work on creative pursuits and expression.
- Regular exercise including aerobic exercise 3x/week.
- Development and deepening of a spiritual path.
- Competent, thoughtful treatment by a Psychiatrist/Medical Doctor to manage psychiatric medications, or treatment by a licensed doctor of alternative medicine.
- One hour of direct, mid-day
sunlight
each day. (Some studies suggest that too much morning sun exposure can cause more rapid cycling, while mid-day sun has a positive effect on circadian rhythms).
- Minimizing or eliminating any light exposure during evening and night time hours. Learn more about
Dark Therapy
as an alternative bipolar treatment.
It is estimated that one of every 70 people has bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop them late in life. It is often not recognized as an illness, and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life. But like other chronic illnesses, symptoms can be minimized by getting competent treatment by a mental health professional, taking responsibility for your health and giving optimal support to the body, including proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, and by learning to live mindfully.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression, and each has distinct
signs and symptoms.
Bipolar Disorder is a chronic and potentially devastating illness. The intense mood states and deep depression of bipolar disorder are something that few people can relate to. This overwhelming emotional and psychic suffering often leads to relationship difficulties, loss of careers, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. The stigma, the intolerance and ignorance of others, and the shame that results, increases the suffering greatly. But Bipolar Disorder is not a death sentence, nor does it have anything to do with weakness or character defects. In fact, many people with Bipolar Disorder are naturally creative, innovative, and dynamic individuals. An alternative bipolar treatment addresses not only the management of the illness, but the emotional and spiritual needs of the individual.
To take an initial diagnostic screening for Bipolar Disorder, try this quick and easy questionnaire and share the results with your doctor or therapist:
Bipolar Test
Alternative Bipolar Treatment
Alternative bipolar treatment is a holistic approach, utilizing both traditional and alternative methods. Bipolar Disorder is very difficult to treat effectively. Although some people find medications to be extremely effective in helping them to maintain a stable mood, this is not the case for everyone. Even when treated with psychiatric medications, many suffering from bipolar disorder often have an up hill battle just to feel a sense of stability and normalcy. An alternative bipolar treatment should include any method that works, not excluding, nor limiting treatment to psychiatric medications.The dilemma that must be faced, is how to manage the illness with the least amount of disruption to the free flow of creative energy. Most mainstream treatments disregard this common concern. Alternative bipolar treatment regards the preservation of creativity and authenticity as important aspects of therapy. Many of the most dynamic and influential figures in our history were afflicted by Bipolar Disorder. The most common complaint for people taking medications such as Lithium, Valproic Acid, and other medications classified as "mood stabilizers," (many of these are actually anti-siezure medicines), is that they feel too slowed down, cloudy headed, or altered. I've heard many people say "it makes me feel like I'm not myself." Treating professionals often feel helpless and unable to address these concerns. Others rationalize it by viewing it simply as an addiction to the manic high, and a resistance to being brought "down." While this is often true, it doesn't account for those who take these medications, who don't have bipolar disorder (such as those with seizure disorder), who often have the same complaints. Another big problem with many of the mood stabilizers is that they cause wieght gain in a large percentage of people. This is perhaps the biggest concern and most common complaint that I hear. Two common medications, Olanzapine (Zyprexa), an anti-manic/anti-psychotic medication can cause a great deal of weight gain, and Valproic Acid (Depakote) also can cause a lot of weight gain for some people. Many other mood stabilizers have similar side effects. Those who are more fortunate may have no unpleasant side effects and are able to function normally on these medications. Others, while making every effort to take their medications as their doctor has ordered, experience periodic manic or depressive episodes anyway, although in most cases, the severity of mood swings is decreased.
Do I have to take medication for the rest of my life?
This is one of the most difficult things to accept for anyone who is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Some people strongly object to the idea of staying on medication -- especially when they are not experiencing any symptoms. Discontinuing medications, without a doctor's guidance, and without an effective alternative bipolar treatment, is the main reason most people have a recurrence of manic or depressive episodes at some point in the future. Statistically, each time an episode occurs, it will be a shorter time before the next episode occurs, and they often increase in severity and duration. This is particularly true for those who are not receiving adequate treatment (or no treatment at all). Despite the many complaints about medications, many studies have shown that they do prevent serious relapses in most cases, and certainly decrease mortality rates from suicide.While most people will require at least a maintenance dose of medication throughout their lives, some find that with alternative bipolar treatments they can eventually be medication free. This approach requires an impeccable commitment to living a healthy and balanced lifestyle, to have a good support system, and a safety plan including easy access to medical treatment if and when the need arises. Individual therapy and a Bipolar support group can be extremely helpful in maintaining stability, and daily practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation can be enormously beneficial.
For a first person account of someone living well and medication-free with Bipolar Disorder, using many of the holistic treatments that I advocate - check out my friend Jay Busemeyer's website:
HolisticStressRelief.com
Looking for a Psychotherapist in Santa Rosa, California?
Learn more about
Ben Schwarcz, MFT.
Santa Rosa Bipolar Support Group
Alternative Bipolar Treatment
A Mindfulness-Based Therapy Group
 
DISCLAIMER: This website may serve as a depression self-help tool, but the use of this information does not constitute a therapist/client relationship and should not serve as a means of self-diagnosis or a substitution for actual psychotherapy. The information on this site is for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression it is advised that you see your doctor or therapist for an evaluation. If you are having active thoughts of suicide please call either 1-800-SUICIDE, 911, or visit SuicideHotlines.com
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