Natural Alternatives To Lamictal

Lamictal, or lamotrigine, is an anti-seizure medication. It can be used to treat seizure disorders, for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder and to treat mood lability, anger and self injurious behavior associated with personality disorders. If used to treat seizures, it can't be replaced by natural methods, and if it needs to be stopped, it must be replaced by the treating physician with another anti-epileptic drug. Bipolar disorder may also require ongoing treatment with medications, but when it comes to less severe mood disorders, or personality disorders, alternatives to medication are available

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for personality disorders. Psychodynamic psychotherapy has proven effective in helping people making long term changes in their lives, as shown by an article published in "American Psychologist" in 2010. Psychodynamics psychotherapy is a long-term process that consists of regular meetings, usually twice a week, in which the patient explores with the therapist both their past and their inner life, all in order to cope better with the present. The important thing is to form a safe trusting relationship with the therapist, within which healing can occur.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Another form of therapy that is considered effective for Borderline Personality Disorder is Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, or DBT. This type of therapy includes techniques from Zen, such as mindfulness, along with cognitive techniques such as paying attention to destructive thought patterns. Mindfulness techniques, whether used as part of DBT or on their own, can help the patient face life with more equanimity and reduce the desire to engage in self-destructive behaviors.

Exercise

Exercise can help reduce stress, decrease anger and help the patient feel better about himself. An effective exercise regimen should follow the recommendations of the AHA, as quoted by the American College of Sports Medicine, which include doing aerobic activity 30 minutes a day, five times a week. Adding strength training, as well as more intensive and varied forms of exercise, can help the patient move his attention away from his internal life. "Stress" energy can be transformed to some extent into healthy vigor.