According to Dr. Mark Dombeck, two million Americans suffer from some form of bipolar disorder, a condition that typically develops around the age of 20. It is a recurrent, chronic condition that is generally treated with medication. However, for those who prefer natural treatment, options are available to help you manage your condition. It should be noted that these methods may not be effective for everyone and should be discussed with your doctor first.
Step 1
Educate yourself. Learning as much as you can about bipolar will help you identify the symptoms within yourself, thus making you better prepared to cope with them.
Step 2
Create a mood chart. Your emotions are perhaps the best indication of a pending episode. Experts suggest that each person suffering from bipolar suffers from specific triggers or warning signs. Creating a mood chart will help you recognize exactly what these triggers are while noticing any pattern they may have. Keep a daily log of your emotions, the amount of sleep you received the previous night, any changes in weather (this can trigger an episode), disputes you may have had with a friend, coworker or family member and financial stresses you may be under. If you experience an episode, record that as well. Review your chart regularly to correlate any changes in your mood with specific incidents; over time you will know what causes these changes.
Step 3
Reach out. Isolation leads to loneliness, which only makes bipolar disorder worse. To combat this and help in your self-treatment, reach out to friends and family members you can trust for support, especially when you feel as though an episode is on the horizon. Joining a bipolar support group may also help as it may be of even greater assistance to talk to others who share the same problems and feelings you do.
Step 4
Change your diet. To help improve your condition, replace high carbohydrate foods such as chocolate, processed foods and foods made with refined white flour with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Foods high in carbohydrates can cause crashes in your moods. Also increasing your daily intake of the fatty acid omega-3 may help reduce the number of mood swings you have. This is not only found in supplement form, but also in foods such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, flaxseed, soybeans and walnuts.
Step 5
Exercise daily. Regular exercise can help reduce the number of depressive episodes you experience by releasing your feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. Aim for 15 to 30 minutes a day of walking or another form of aerobic exercise you enjoy.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid consuming alcohol and illegal street drugs as these can only trigger episodes of mania and depression while upsetting your emotional balance. Speak with your doctor about any medications you are taking. Some antidepressants can cause manic episodes, as can certain over-the-counter medications such as cold medications and appetite suppressants.
- Due to the seriousness of bipolar disorder and the effects it can have on your life, you should not discontinue the use of medications unless under the care of your doctor. You should also resume medications if you or someone close to you realizes your symptoms are not improving or are becoming worse.
Things You'll Need
- Mood chart
- A Mood Apart: Depression, Mania and Other Manifestations of the Self
- Omega-3
