[nellbells]

Hello, My sister recently got the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She was extremely depressed for months and now she is very manic. I know very little about this illness. My question is can this cycle of depression/manic phases be regulated without medication? I am looking for any personal experiences of people who use meds and who don't use meds. I feel meds can be very helpful, but I also know that there is often more than one way to approach a situation. My sister is the type of person who prefers a holistic approach rather than a medical one. I was just wondering if a holitic approach is possible for this disorder.

[Amazonmom]

I know social rhythm therapy is used for bipolar. Daily life activities are done on a regular schedule. Sleep and wake times are always the same. Meals are eaten at the same times, etc. It seems to help a lot of people control their bipolar, and you can decide how many things you put on such a controlled schedule.

But I don't know if it can control bipolar to the point where a person doesn't need meds.

[spiritual_emergency]

Two threads I'm aware of where those issues were discussed are:

Will it be Forever? and Anyone a non-medicated bipolar sufferer?

The issue of medication is always going to be a complicated one. I would never be willing to say that everyone must take them but I'm also very much aware that many people identify them as helpful, even life-saving. Personally, I consider medication to be one tool of many but I do not know of anyone who is becoming well doing nothing but taking meds. Most people who are functioning well are using a combination of approaches that might include journalling, mood charting, psychotherapy, nutritional approaches, body therapy such as massage or reiki, spiritual practices, etc. The critical thing we must be able to see with any form of treatment is that it is either restoring or improving function.

Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing what form of treatment is going to be effective until we try it. Medication may be something that helps your sister but she would have to be open to trying some before she knows as much. If she is hesitant to do so I suggest that she and her caregivers commit to a trial period -- six weeks might be too short a period of time to determine if the medication will be helpful, three to six months might be a more reasonable period. Assuming nothing disastrous happens -- some people can have very marked reactions that quickly tell them that's not the med for them -- evaluate the medication trial at the end of that time period. Bear in mind there is often an assumption that people don't want to take meds but I know lots of people who identify medication as something so helpful to them, you couldn't possibly hope to talk them out of giving them up! People will make use of what they find helpful no matter what the therapy is.

During that same time frame, she and her support team could also explore alternate methods of treatment that might be effective as a supplement to or a replacement to medication. Initially however, particularly in a crisis situation, the focus may need to be on restoring function or bringing in stability.

Anyway, read through those discussions above and if possible, share them with your sister. If you can, help her create a treatment program that's going to work for her. Be sure to establish the need to see good function because this is the benchmark that all treatments must be measured against.

Best of luck to you and your sister.

~ Namaste

[Phoenix1985]

I just did a very quick internet search....
Hope these two links are helpful.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2088527_trea...naturally.html
http://www.encognitive.com/node/903

[perpetuallysad]

I think cognitive therapy is a great addition to meds, but I am not so confident that bipolar is something that can be "cured" with holistic approaches only. At least, I've never found any evidence of someone who does well with meds for any extended period of time. Though, I can understand not wanting to take meds. I go through periods where its all I can do to make myself continue my meds, sometimes I lose that battle and its hell getting back on the boat when I've jumped off. I don't feel perfect with meds, but I suffer a million times more when I get the idea that I can do fine without them.