want to know what the non-medicated are doing

[SoosieQ]

Hey there,
I am new to this site and have been traveling about it quite a bit.
I have done a lot of research and know that my addiction issues are serious in themselves, but are really just a mask for underlying mental/ bio-chemical imbalances.

Do any of you have knowledge/ advice for those of us who have tried (and failed) and are suspicious of Western meds? How can we alter our brain chemistry without becoming lab rats for the pharmaceutical industry?

I'd love to share info with you.
Thanks!

[adore79]

Hi, nice to see you again soozieQ. Im happy to see you continuing to search for answers.

I forget, what are you addicted to? It might help people to know this when they respond to your post.

Personally, im a big believer in western meds, but I have also gotten help by learning breathing exercises that are supposed to change brain chemistry. Also, I take vitamins and try to get exercise/sleep/eat healthy. Good luck!

I have found that therapy has helped a lot, although i dont go anymore because i felt that i learned as much as i could.

[SoosieQ]

Hey felly79~
I have been on this website a lot in the last few days! Thanks for putting up with me.
Right now I am battling alcohol, tho' I've done my share of other drugs and I managed to get addicted to Percocet for awhile. Thankfully, I am done with the detox on the drugs. I have recently come off of Klonopin and Lamictal.

I did try other drugs (Prozac, Zolaft, Wellbutrin and the like) before the docs figured out (and I was well researched enough to understand) that I was most likely bi-polar 2 (meaning that my depressions are heavy but my manias are not quite as extreme).

So, I keep posting in the hopes that someone out there will share my interests in biochemistry/ nutrition/ environmental toxins, etc. I think that a lot of us suffer from depression and anxiety before we ever hit a bottle or a pill container.

Thx again!!!

[JoeSoSo]

Eat oily fish for a month every day I have read they a great for your brain.

[least]

Aren't Omega 3 fatty acids, like found in flax oil, supposed to be really good for the brain?

[historyteach]

Yes, omega 3 is good for the brain.
But, they won't help bipolar spectrum disorder.

There's a link up in the stickies from the NY Times about bipolar disorder. There's also good information here: www.psycheducucation.org And there's a few threads here on the forum dealing with bipolar issues. I urge you to check these resources out.

But, beyond medication and counseling to learn to live with bipolar disorder, there are behaviors that can help you manage the symptoms too. Some have been mentioned already. Healthy eating and exercize regularly. Keeping a regular schedule. Sleeping 7-8 hours a night. Practicing relaxation techniques when necessary. Enhancing your spiritual practices. Improving your self esteem. Maintaining a healthy balance between work and home.

I wish you luck and hope to get to know you better.

Shalom!

[hippyhippy]

Hi,
here is a link. Look out for someone who calls themselves jurplesman. Mostly in the psychology section I think. He/she believes that depression is mostly caused by a nutritional disorder.
Hippy

[hippyhippy]

oops, here is the link
Psychology & Self Help Forum - Uncommon Knowledge

[SoosieQ]

Thx hippy hippy,
This looks like a good site. My enzyme therapist makes the bold claim that all mental illness is actually nutritional deficiency. I wouldn't quite go that far, but wouldn't it be nice?

[SoosieQ]

historyteach~

Thanks for the leads. Unfortunately, this website "can't be found" according to my Safari search :www.psycheducucation.org.
I appreciate the support.

[historyteach]

Hmmm....don't know what's going on, but, when I type it in, with the www dot psycheducation dot org Bipolar II, Mood Swings without Mania; Brain Tours; Stress and Depression; Hormones and Mood; and more... , it comes up.
Try that. It's a really great site.

Hippy, thanks for your site. I'll check it out too.

Interesting about your enzyme person, though, I think it's an overstatement too!
Shalom!

[SoosieQ]

historyteach~
thanks for the lead. don't know if you'll be back here, since we seem to have lost the thread, but wanted you to know that I found it.
best to you

[historyteach]

Oh, I'm around all the time, SoosieQ.

And I found some interesting information on the nutritional dificiency theory.
Now, I wouldn't go as far as your enzime therapst goes, but, I do think there's something to the theory that much of what is thought to be mental illness is actually a metabolic disorder. And I've asked my regular doc for the 4 hour functional/reactive hypoglycemia test. Ironically, his PA is not familiar with this test, and asked me for information about it and now is looking it up herself before she will order it for me! So, that's pretty telling, isn't it?

Anyway, I hope to see you around.

Shalom!

[JohnPainter]

Soosie,

Woah! You can't imagine how dangerous it is to try to medicate yourself without professional help. We're talking life and death here, and I wonder where you got the idea that it's your job to medicate your problem. If you are looking for medical advice on this forum, you are setting yourself up for disaster. your medical questions can really only be answered by a medical professional who you see personally. now, if you want to know how I got sober and stayed sober, I can tell you that I did not need any medication to do so. I went to talk therapy with a professional counselor, and also to AA. I still go to AA, three years later, because I made friends there and I like helping others. That's also why I came to this website. there is so much conflicting information about recovery from alcohol and drugs, and many who are sick and really need help. consider AA. consider therapy. consider taking your medical questions to someone who is actually qualified to answer them. if not, you may just be looking for a way to justify your addiction.

[historyteach]

Actually, John,
Her question was about NOT using medication...especially Western meds.

And we do not give medical advice on SR; on this forum, or any other. We are not doctors, nor do we pretend to be them. Our advice, when asked, is to consult your own doctor.

We do, however, share our ESH, just as you do. Thank you for sharing!

Shalom!

[SoosieQ]

Hello John~
history teach is right---I am not looking for medical advice. If you have read any other of my threads/ posts, you will see that I am pretty well informed and have tried plenty of Western meds, therapy and AA. I am not looking to "medicate myself": my issue with meds is that they are covering up the issue rather than treating the root cause. Hence, our discussion on nutrition.

I really appreciate your concern and insight. I tried AA, but no one is talking about nutrition, bio-chemistry, depression etc. I am glad that it works for you and many others. I am glad that it exists. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. I am looking for a long term solution, not a crutch.

[nandm]

John, I am a member of AA and it has been a solution to my alcoholism. But AA is not nor does it claim to be a cure all. The Big Book even states to seek outside help when needed. The writers even include a passage that states that AA has no monopoly it is just their experience, strength, and hope. AA did help me for my situational depression due to my drinking but it is not a cure all for mental health issues. Just as members of AA do, each of us here in the mental health forum share our experience, strength, and hope. None of us give medical advice nor would we want that responsibility. Even a doctor would not give medical advice to someone they have never met over the internet, that would be insanity as well as most likely harmful.

I have been enjoying reading the ESH shared here regarding nutrition. I am always interested in learning about other options for treating mental health issues. IMHO there are many factors involved in mental health with nutrition being one of them. Thank you to those who have participated in this thread.

[SoosieQ]

My biggest problem with relapsing is my depression (technically considered bipolar2). I don't have situational depression; I was diagnosed w/ depression as a child and started self-medicating in my late teens).

I am very fascinated with holistic solutions to this issue because I believe it is important to heal the whole self. I know that I am hypoglycemic (done the tests, etc.), and I recently took a survey on hypothyroidism that shocked me to pieces. I could be their poster child!!!

[historyteach]

Soosie,
You might be interested in this...
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/artic...al_growth.html
and
http://www.healthrecovery.com/HRC_2006/Depression_06/D_Feeding_Famished_Brain.htm

I'm glad you brought this up. I've become quite interrested in all this!

Shalom!

[SoosieQ]

re: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/artic...al_growth.html
Thanks again historyteach. Good to have a researcher in our forums. This is also a great website and it is SO important to learn about these issues. Even after 2 years of sobriety I was testing as "sugar intolerant" (hypoglycemic) and hypothyroid. I know that the mental problems started long before the drinking. I was raised on a fast food diet and used to hide chocolate chip cookies long before I started using (and hiding) alcohol.

[SoosieQ]

PS-just a word of caution on the health recovery program: they have some very important information to relate, but the program requires uploading a lot of amino acids. There is some research that suggests that this can be dangerous (individual aminos as supplements). I did this program when I first got sober and I have tons of respect for Joan Larson (founder of this protocol). Please be sure to cross reference this info before trying it!

[historyteach]

I'm sorry; I don't understand what you mean about cross referencing the info on the amino acids? With what?

And your link isn't working, unfortunately.

Shalom!

[SoosieQ]

Sorry to be unclear. I am on a mac and it doesn't recognize the quote/ emoticon features in my reply. I pasted the website info from your post (health recovery). What I meant to say is that this program of recovery requires that you take a lot of amino acids to recover proper brain chemistry. I am suggesting that you research on the web about amino acids before trying this program. You can check out some alternative theories. My enzyme therapist has an article on her website. (PM SoosieQ for the website) Not saying that she is right either, just food for thought.

[msiam207]

Originally Posted by SoosieQ

How can we alter our brain chemistry without becoming lab rats for the pharmaceutical industry?

Experience can can effect brain chemistry, and even change brain anatomy. Meditation is great, as are entheogens. People have reported success with both, but the ladder is controversial.

Those are my recommendations.

[historyteach]

Hi, msiam!
Welcome!

I am aware of some studies concerning meditation, and even prayer effecting brain patterns.
But, what are entheogens?

Shalom!