Posted by Lao Tzu on September 26, 2008, at 10:34:30
I can't stress enough the importance of natural supplements for bipolar depression. They do help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, mood, etc. The first thing to consider is, are your symptoms so severe that you may need to first stabilize on some form of medication? In my case, many years back I didn't even realize that I was bipolar. I was diagnosed as having clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder. As the years progressed, I began experiencing a lot of social anxiety as well and feeling low energy a lot. Only three years ago, all of a sudden I started experiencing psychotic symptoms, i.e. paranoia, delusions, and hearing voices in my head. Only then was I diagnosed as bipolar/schizophrenic. So it took many years of inadequate treatment to finally manifest as bipolar/schizophrenic. The doctor says it is genetic and in many cases manifests itself in a person's 20s. In my case, I can date the inception of this illness to my college years, which was my early 20's. I didn't experience psychotic symptoms until I was 33 years old. So I don't think there's any way to predict what's going to happen until it does. I still believe that life experience plays a part in the prognosis of the illness, in that people with bipolar disorder NEED a very nurturing environment as they are growing up because they are often very creative, free-spirited and very sensitive people. They need constant love and encouragement, especially from family and friends. Some of us get this kind of treatment, some of us don't, and I think this definitely has an impact on the course of the illness. Anyway, here I am. I am an educated, intellectual, creative minded person, and I think that's what keeps me afloat. Yet, without the medication, I'd be in ruins. If doctors and therapists could only diagnosis us at a younger age, then we could have taken the correct steps to make the outcome more positive. But that's a perfect world, right?
Okay, well first, medication is important for the most severe symptoms, especially if you are manic, suicidal, psychotic, etc. I went through a period of adjusting to the medication and its side effects before I even considered nutritional supplements. Once I felt ready, I experimented with vitamins. Now, I've came up with some key nutrients that do help with bipolar.Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin C
Vitamin B6 (P5P form)
Vitamin B3 (sustained release Niacin)
Vitamin B12
Fish oil
Borage Oil for omega-6 fatty acids for some people
Vitamin E
Melatonin
Magnesium
Calcium
Zinc in some cases.The important point about these supplements is the correct dosage of EACH nutrient and how often you take them and what times of day you take them. It takes a while to find the right dosage of each that works for you, but who said a little work was bad for you? The B vitamins should be taken together, that is B12, B6 (P5P) and Niacin, and thiamine, probably first thing in the morning. Add to the B vitamins fish oil, borage oil, vitamin E, and vitamin C during the day. With Vitamin E and C, first try lower dosages, say 250-500mg of Vitamin C and 100-200IU of Vitamin E. I like 100IU dosages of Vitamin E. The usual 400IU capsules may be too much for daytime use. At bedtime, I load up on Niacin, P5P, vitamin E (200-300IU) and a small amount of melatonin (Cut a 3mg melatonin tablet into halves or quarters). It may important to get enough Niacin per day, 500mg at bedtime and 250-500mg during the day, for a total of about 1,000mg of Niacin in a 24-hr period. With vitamin B12, you have to find the right dosage that works for you. It might be 250mcg, 350mcg, 500mcg, 750mcg, or 1,000mcg or more.
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:854185
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20080612/msgs/854185.html