treating depression and bipolar disorder naturally

[MyRedPanda]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to start by saying that I feel so much better when I am eating a raw diet, but like everyone else am not perfect and sometimes when stressful life events transpire I fall off the wagon, so to speak. I have bipolar disorder and pretty bad depression, and have been dealing with this for a large portion of my life, and have always been on one type of medication or the other for as long as I can remember. I want to try the natural route, with diet, exercise, St. John's Wort, 5HTP, etc. I am just so sick of feeling like this all the time. I want to hear from others who have gone off their meds if natural remedies work as well, if at all. Is there anything specific in your diet that you tried to avoid or that you ate more of that made you feel better mentally or had a mood lifting effect?

Thanks

[MysticTree]

anti-depressants have never worked for me - at least they worked for a very short time then had to be upped and upped and upped. I quit taking them and certainly felt no worse on the whole. I self medicated with diet coke; in the region of 4-6 litres a day.

Since going raw I am much more level. the highs aren't so high and the lows not so low and each day that passes I feel that those extremes are getting less and less. It will be interesting to see what winter and those short days bring but I feel up to coping with it.

[maggiesdaddy]

Anti-depressants help me greatly ( I suffer from OCD, General Anxiety Disorder, and moderate depression.)... but I do hope to one day no longer need them. I completely understand not wanting to be on them. The side effects aren't fun. For ME (I stress that because I know it won't work for everybody) I find that taking extra vitamin B and B12 supplements helps me greatly. I would give it a try! (Oh and also drinking TONS of water helps me also).

[MyRedPanda]

Yeah, unfortunately the antidepressants make my bipolar worse, but mood stabilizers and atypical AS seem to be helping somewhat. But the side effects suck. I have been taking B12. When I was pregnant I didn't take anything, and I ate really healthy, but then my moods and anxiety and everything were all over the map. I have not really gotten a favorable response from the doc (go figure) regarding natural remedies, but I would like to try just three or four months, on nothing other than natural herbal supplements and 100% raw, to see how that makes me feel. Thanks for being understanding and sharing your experiences with me. I will let you know what comes of it. Currently I am being switched to a different medicine with a lower dose, and if this doesn't work, it will be au naturalle for me again. Even if id does work, lol, I will proly not be able to tolerate it for over a few months, which is what always happens

[Raw Angel Mom]

I have never realized that my condition was also physical until i did raw food. B12 (nano-bcomplexe) from dr. Cousens and D3 vitamin helped me when i would feel it this condition wanted to come back.

Without question, you need to address the emotional issue. It is connected to your physical and it manifests through your body. It may sound strange, but talk to this depression and ask what it want to tell you. You may realize emotional fear such not feeling worthy, feeling trap, feeling you cannot do your passion etc... whatever it cans be and work on that. The power of the mind has no limitation, truly you can allow all of your heart desire to come true, just allow and feel gratitude that is done. You are the key to unlock infinite possibility. Don't let your mind tell you or convince you that this is impossible, because nothing is.

These fear blocks that prohibit you to get pass the illusion needs to be address, once done, you will feel as a weight that lifted your body. If you discover that you aren't feeling worthy, then give love to yourself by affirming" I am worthy" 3x "I am love" 3x "I am safe" 3x "I am care for", I am abundant, i am healthy etc.... whatever your heart is guiding you. This will undo old program stored in you from the time you were born up to now. As a child we absorbed enormously from others' believe or projection, you need to clear that out.

Fruits can rejuvenate your nerve systems. EAT them and let go anyone fears about they have sugar. Your brain need the fruits. (cook food is a sugar, why not eating these lovely foods that keep you young).

[MyRedPanda]

Thanks Raw Angel Mom, that makes me feel so much better. In one regard, I do realize this is a physical condition. That is why I think I can treat it with yoga and diet. I know that sounds crazy, but the more I am reading about bipolar disorder the more I am seeing a connection between choline, lipid metabolism and brain chemistry. I think taking omega 3s and letchalin will help too. I really don't want to take prescription medication, I know that doctors think this is what you do, and I don't blame them - its what they learned in med school - but the side effect profile of meds SUCK and I hate taking them. What is the benefit of feeling better mentally if you feel worse physically? I am in control enough at all times to realize that the symptoms I experience are mental - its not like my illness actually effects my daily life, although I could let it if I wanted, I am able to recognize the symptoms and am strong enough to control acting irrationally, even though internally I may feel not great. I will try the positive affirmations, that sounds like a good idea.

[How?]

I have hayfever lately and was desperate for a cure and searched earthclinic.com for a solution. Apple cider vinegar seems to be recommended on there for an absolute multitude of ailments and yes, there it was recommended for hayfever.Anyway,I took some and lo and behold the hayfever disappeared.I have to say the creators of that website have created some seriously good karma for themselves.It has helped me many times and is an incredible resource.Anyway, after the hayfever went away I noticed a kind of unusual at peace in my thoughts and emotions so started doing some more reading and whilst I wouldn't consider myself depressed , I was having a low kind of emotional day.

It also clears my head and makes me able to think more clearly

"a tablespoon of vinegar in a half glass of warm water is good for calming my emotions. if i drink it when something has gotten on my nerves. It takes effect immediately. Try it"

I saved those two quotes from some reading I did on there today but there are a lot of peoples experiences half way down this page....
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/depression.html

It might be worth giving it a go.Everybody says buy the organic with the "mother"(cloudy head) on top of the bottle if you do give it a go and wash your teeth after taking it! Best of luck and hope you find your joy again.