is there a cure for bipolar?

Question

if there is no cure, can it be controlled naturally?

Answer 1

There is no known cure for 'bipolar disorder,' or manic-depression as it is otherwise known. Lithium carbonate is the tried and true method of controlling the moods, dating back to the Greeks who prescribed baths in lithium-rich hot springs.

You can do more than just sit and wait for drugs to take hold. Take control of your life by actively working towards balance in all things. Sleep may be the most important thing. Medications or not, skipping on sleep can cause mania. Conversely, mania also causes insomnia, which means that it is a downhill spiral from there. Eat a regular, balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. When you start to get manic, exercise can help eliminate excess energy and help you to sleep better. On a depressive swing, exercise (especially more than 20 minutes of aerobic exercise) releases endorphins, also known as a runner’s high. This helps combat the sluggishness and thick feeling of depression, and often helps the rest as well.

In my life, I have found the most effective controlling factor besides regularly taking lithium is being aware of my own moods. This sounds easy to an outsider, but mania is notorious for sweeping us off our feet and telling us about it later. I suggest sitting down with the people you are close with and/or that know about this, and compile a list of behaviours that are different when you are manic or depressive.

Are you normally prone to spending lots of money? Do you usually speed? Maybe yes, maybe no. As for depression, how do you normally feel about yourself? What tendencies do you have?

For example, on either side of the spectrum I become obsessed with losing weight. On a manic episode, I become obsessed with perfection and try to make my body a shining example of the human species. When I am depressed, I begin to think that my healthy body is horrendously fat, ugly, and gross. That is just one example of many.

When you become more aware of your moods, you can do things to counteract them. When manias start, simple things such as breathing exercises and yoga can help calm one down. I love to go running for a few hours and then stretch slowly with relaxing, peaceful music until I fall asleep.

Drugs are almost guaranteed to be a part of your life as a manic depressive. I fought that for years, and I never gained anything from it. If you can accept that, you can learn to maintain your moods on lesser amounts of the drugs. I seriously recommend to stay on the drugs, even if it means switching from one to another until you find one that works. Bipolar is a very treatable disease. The biggest killer is not taking the drugs, which has an alarmingly high mortality rate.

As far as that goes, I read about a supplement, in Canada I believe, that a company in Canada tested/is testing. I forget what it was, but they said that it was all natural stuff that helped control the moods. I do mean to look into it.

Oh yes. Recommended reading. Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison has written a lot on it, being manic-depressive herself. Her autobiography, An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, is absolutely fabulous. Surviving Manic Depression is another, by E. Fuller Torrey and Michael B. Knable. Francis Mark Modimore’s Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families has a great deal of valuable information as well. I highly recommend reading all of these (and anything else you can get your hands on) if you or a loved one has manic depression.

Answer 2

Are you saying that you have been diagnosed with Bi Polar or just asking
There is no real cure but good medication to control it so the patient can lead a normal life.
Mood stabilization is required ( Lithium is still the standard) but many more easier to take meds are available.Not anti-depressants (except in the depressive phase).
There has been tremendous strides made in the treatment of Manic depression (Bi Polar disorder) but the key is to take the medication. Many do not because the miss the highs. However they pay a huge price when the depression sets in.
Yes there is good treatment available but it must be taken every day

Answer 3

There is a chapter on Bipolar in the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and a lot of other related material on mental health in general and on depression. It should more than adequately answer any questions you might have.

Answer 4

I take Lithium..which is a form of lithium salt. My psychiatrist also had me try Omega-3s, but they made me sick. I haven't found anything else holistically yet that works for me. Calms Forte is holistic and it helps with the manic attacks. I wouldn't go off my meds for anything, just because I remember what life was like before.

Answer 5

I take a medicine for bipolar and it sure helped me. Ask you dr and they can help you get on the right track.

Answer 6

There is no cure, but there are many medications that can help control your mood swings...
Don't know if there are any natural remedies...

Answer 7

No, you need meds for it to control it.

Answer 8

sex seems to work for me and its free!

Answer 9

Yep.....just ask Jesus and believe

Answer 10

well ask ur pharmicist