All of us experience our share of ups and downs each day, but if you are going through severe mood swings on a regular basis, you may be suffering from Bipolar Disorder. This condition could have to move from exuberant elation to despairing depression within a matter of minutes.
Bipolar Disorder is a lot more common than people believe and it requires proper medical attention. While it is a lifelong condition, you need to undergo timely treatment, to keep the symptoms in check. Traditional treatment for this problem includes:
- Medication: Your doctor will prescribe a combination of drugs like lithium, symbyax, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines
- Psychotherapy: Depending upon your symptoms, you may need to undergo cognitive behavior therapy, psycho-education, family therapy and group therapy
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Rapid pulses of a magnetic field are applied to your head, as they have an antidepressant effect.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy: If drugs and therapy don't reduce the episodes of severe depression, your doctor may suggest passing electrical currents through the brain, to change your brain-chemistry and improve your mood
- Hospitalization: In case of manic behavior, suicidal thoughts or detachment from reality, your doctor may ask you to undergo treatment at a medical facility.
Alternative cures can be quite helpful too but should only be used in addition to medical treatment. Moreover, there is no clinical evidence to prove whether complementary therapies are actually effective or not. Some of the options you can try out include:
- Acupuncture
- Yoga and mindfulness meditation
- Massage therapy
- Light and dark therapy
Certain herbs and supplements also have a positive impact on your overall well being and help curb the moodiness. Some of the commonly used options include:
- Fish oil
- Magnesium supplements
- S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) supplements
- Melatonin supplements
- Passion flower extract
- St. John's Wort
- Valerian
Some of these herbs may trigger off adverse side effects and therefore, do check with your doctor before using any of them.
Your lifestyle plays a very important role in the treatment and controlling of Bipolar disorder. Given below are a few lifestyle changes that you should incorporate as soon as possible:
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meat as they provide your body with the required nutrients. Stay away from alcohol, caffeine (chocolate, coffee & tea), processed food, condiments, fermented cheese, oil and spices.
- Get an adequate amount of sleep each day, in order to stabilize your mood and fight off irritability. In case you have trouble sleeping get some expert medical advice to overcome this problem.
- Make sure that you exercise for at least half an hour each day as physical activity releases the "feel-good" hormones, endorphins. Try walking, jogging, swimming, cycling or even working out at the gym.
- Quit unhealthy practices such as smoking and drinking. These habits have a negative effect on your mental health and can slow down your recovery process.
- Increase your interaction with family, friends and colleagues who make you feel good about yourself. Stay away from unhealthy relationships and people who have the tendency to get you depressed, angry or upset.
The lifestyle changes and alternative cures for Bipolar Disorder are quite safe if used in the right way. However, it is important to check with a doctor before trying any of them.
References:
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=alternative-medicine
- http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-living-managing
answered by G M