Treating bipolar in Nigeria
by concerned friend
(Nigeria)
I live in northern Nigeria, and I have a close friend who I suspect, from her behaviour and from the research I've done, is bipolar, probably bipolar 2, with hypomanic and depressive symptoms. She can be very excited about a project and start really useful exciting projects one day, and then shortly thereafter be very depressed, self-destructive (quitting jobs, destroying relationships, etc) , and even abusive. She acknowledges she has a problem and is open to seeking professional help, but we are not sure who to contact. I'm also afraid of her going somewhere and getting on the wrong medications which could make it worse. (Medication with little follow up is usual for many medical conditions in Nigeria.) From all the google research I've done, I can't find anyone in Nigeria who helps treat bipolar disorder. Do you know anyone in Nigeria who is experienced at treating bipolar disorder, or are there alternative therapies she could engage in to "self-treat" her bipolar symptoms?
Ben's Response
I list a large number of alternative self-help methods on my Bipolar Treatment page of my site. Following these guidelines is what I would recommend to someone who has no professional help available. Even with a doctor of therapist, I'd still recommend these other things (such as yoga, meditation, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-complex, etc).
Ensuring proper sleep is one of the most important things. If sleep is very poor or irregular it can have a huge impact on mood. Having complete darkness during the night can be helpful.
Low blood sugar is often a trigger for mood changes. Eliminating all sugar can be very helpful to some people.
I'd also recommend using EFT/Meridian Tapping as a self-help technique.
Best Wishes,
Ben