| Bipolar disorder is considered as a major disorder that | | | | and Your Diet |
| can greatly affect an individual and his family. The | | | | Your diet will impact treatment of your bipolar |
| standard diagnosis is a person who extreme elations | | | | disorder, and this means checking your meal menus |
| that alternates with deep depression, though the | | | | everyday. Holistic physicians use b-complex, |
| degree to which the elation and depression extend | | | | magnesium, and thiamin for episodes of depression. |
| varies from patient to patient. | | | | Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #4 - Pastoral |
| Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression. | | | | Counseling |
| Generally, it is characterized by depressive episodes, | | | | If you're suffering from bipolar disorder, talk to |
| accompanied by a manic episode in a reasonably | | | | someone. Your pastor, priest, or rabbi may be easier |
| short time frame, with this series of mood swings | | | | to talk to, and less intimidating, than your therapist. |
| repeating in a regular, somewhat predictable fashion. | | | | The religious community may be of great help during |
| Bipolar disorder affects feelings, thoughts, behavior, | | | | these times. In fact, the theraputic and psychiatric |
| and perceptions. Experts say that it is brought about | | | | community is recognizes the role of spirituality and |
| by the chemical and electrical elements found in the | | | | prayers in treating mental illness. In can even be |
| brain, where there are periodic imbalances in creation | | | | included in psychotherapies and medication. |
| of seratonin - sometimes the brain produces too | | | | Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #5 - Art |
| much, and depression occurs, and sometimes the | | | | Therapies |
| brain produces too little, and mania occurs. There | | | | If you're always staying at home, explore expressive |
| appears to be a heritability component - families | | | | therapies. Through the arts, you can express your |
| having a history of bipolar disorder or other mental | | | | feelings and do so without inhibitions. You can enroll in |
| illnesses are more prone to having the disorder. | | | | a drawing class, sculpting, painting, and many others. |
| There are certain medications prescribed for bipolar | | | | Find an appropriate therapist in your area who |
| patients. If you suspect you need help of this nature, | | | | specializes in art therapies or expressive therapies. |
| get a prescription from a clinical psychologist after a | | | | If you want movement, enroll in a dance therapy. Let |
| sound diagnosis. For alternative treatments for bipolar | | | | your feet fly and your spirit soar while incorporating |
| disorder read further. | | | | your physical, cognitive, and emotional facets to the |
| Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #1 - Omega 3 | | | | dance. |
| Some studies show that the omega 3 proteins found | | | | Soothing music can make a person relax. Your body |
| in fish oils and in certain fish are excellent for bipolar | | | | chemicals can be stimulated to improve blood |
| patients, as well as those having mental illnesses. In a | | | | pressure and flow, breathing, pulse rate, and changes |
| significant placebo-controlled study of 30 bipolar | | | | in posture. |
| patients for four months, comparing omega 3's | | | | Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #6 - |
| efficacy versus olive oil or placebo for the treatment | | | | Traditional Medicine |
| of bipolar disorder, omega 3 performed better and | | | | Traditional medicines or the culturally based ones like |
| resulted to longer remissions based on the four | | | | shiatsu, reiki, acupuncture, yoga, Ayurveda, talking |
| scales of symptom-severity. Further studies are still | | | | circles, and sweat lodge can also work. All these |
| underway, and researchers are hoping that they can | | | | healing arts are based on balancing the states of the |
| come up with new classes of psychotropic | | | | physical, spiritual, and emotional for the wellness of an |
| compounds that can be used as mood stabilizers. | | | | individual. If the forces in your body are imbalanced, |
| Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #2 - Herbal | | | | you will likely get an illness. |
| Many people resolve to the use of herbal | | | | If all these things are combined: omega 3, herbal, |
| supplements instead of taking prescribed drug | | | | right diet, pastoral counseling, art therapies, and |
| medications; not all herbs are good for the treatment | | | | traditional healing arts, perhaps the forces of the |
| of bipolar disorder. In fact, there are certain herbs | | | | body can be balanced and a bipolar patient can be |
| that can worsen the condition of a bipolar patient. | | | | treated effectively. But remember to consult your |
| Some herbal supplements actually have a harmful | | | | doctor for any problems that you may encounter, |
| reaction when used together with certain drugs. | | | | and don't just stop your prescribed medication; and |
| Consult your doctor first before taking any herbal | | | | talk to your doctor about other alternative |
| medication in conjunction with other drugs. | | | | medication. |
| Bipolar Disorder Alternative Treatment #3 - Nutrition | | | | |