Hello, Tlh713, I must tell you that I love your expression "reach through the laptop and give you all a hug". That's exactly what the forum members would like to do in their work here. I hope you
are encouraged by their efforts.
It's the chemical imbalance that is troublesome for you right now, Tlh.
Once you get that corrected, there are a few other suggestions that were given to me by my psychiatrist that might be helpful for you:
1. Don't drink alcohol; it makes the illness worse.
2. Don't eat or drink anything that has caffeine in it; it makes the
illness worse.
3. Take your meds (which you need to get back on, perhaps even in
different dosage amounts or in new prescript
ions for another med).
4. Get your rest; that's primary in bipolar illness.
I read an article yesterday about
depression, and the writer was
expressing her views on the diet in depression (much of which I have espoused in my own bouts with depression because I know they help). You may wish to cut back on fatty acids in the diet: that means the fried foods, butter, and all products related to milk and cheese. Eat more lean meat, more green vegetables, lots of salads and drink 8-10 8oz. glasses of water each day. Please avoid all artificial sweeteners since they are highly acidic in digestion. (Only Stevia has been shown not to be harmful to date.) Avoid sugars; they are digested as acidic as well and will cause highs and lows and cravings for more. (They have no nutritional value.)
Doctors know now that bipolar illness is caused by an inflammation of the brain and that aspirin, of all things, will reduce the inflammation.
They still don't know what causes the inflammation, but I think that will come in time. In the meantime, try to put yourself on a diet that
is more alkaline than acidic. Hints on which foods are acidic in digestion and which are alkaline are available by going online to
Foods high in acid or Foods high in thiols. Some websites will give you
both types of foods. Please adjust your diet to accommodate more of the alkaline foods. For a really calming drink, try lemonade with a touch of sugar--no artificial sweeteners, please. It's a nice way to start a day rather than with coffee since the caffeine will cause a let down in feeling tone a few hours after ingestion. Coffee is, besides, not recommended in the diet of bipolar patients; it's a real no-no for me.
Psychiatrists are recognizing that foods play a crucial role in maintaining the serotonin in the body. (That's a chemical that leaves a
good, calming feeling tone.) 85 % of all serotonin receptor sites are in the digestive system. The remaining portion are in the brain.
I hope this helps. However, I'm not a doctor and you need to confirm
anything you do with your physician.
It's Genetic
Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 1/26/2011 9:18:08 AM (GMT-7)