Bipolar disorder is a condition associated with extremes; patients suffering from bipolar disorder swing from high moods to low ones at intervals. This condition is often combined with depression, and truly effective treatment requires the assistance of a medical professional. There are some natural remedies you can try at home, however, to relieve your bipolar depression symptoms.
A Word of Caution
Natural remedies can be very beneficial, particularly as a supplement to proven medical treatment. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, however, and should not be treated without the direct supervision of a medical professional. Your doctor will probably prescribe a combination of medication and therapy for your bipolar disorder, and you should follow this treatment path. Then, you may also benefit from the addition of natural remedies on top of your traditional treatment. However, you should always discuss any natural remedy with your physician before you begin to use it to treat your bipolar disorder.
Vitamins and Supplements
According to "Prevention" magazine's web site, people with depression may have lower levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in their blood than other people have. People with bipolar disorder may benefit from taking omega-3 supplements in addition to their regular medications. These fatty acids are also good for heart health, so taking them cannot really hurt, even if they do not improve bipolar symptoms.
According to Dr. Gary Sachs at abc.com, taking folate supplements may also be beneficial for bipolar patients.
Other supplements that may be beneficial for bipolar include L-tryptophan, folic acid, and vitamin B12. These substances produce serotonin in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter that can reduce depression symptoms. Deficiencies in these substances have been linked to depression, so adding them as supplements to your diet might improve depressive tendencies.
Lifestyle Changes
One thing you can do to change your symptoms is to improve the quality of your life. Exercise and regular social interaction can improve your overall mental health and provide you with needed physical health improvements as well.
In addition, you should learn to recognize the warning signs of your condition; certain events or emotions may trigger a manic or depressive episode, and if you can recognize the signs you can manage the episode more effectively. Call your doctor and let him know that an episode is approaching, and take steps to manage that episode with him.
You should also avoid drugs and alcohol, as these may intensify your manic or depressive feelings. They can also interfere with any prescription medication you may be taking.
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