[huesof20]

So I am newly diagnosed with bipolar 1, and I am just being started on abilify (right now just 2.5mgs per day- I had a crazy unpleasant reaction to 5 mgs. I'm 5'10" and weigh 110lbs, so there isn't much to me). Anyway, I'm wondering if anybody has tried supplementing medication and therapy with other alternative therapies, like acupuncture? Or anything else... if anybody knows something that works, I'd love to hear about it!

[Confusedinomicon]

Therapy and alternatives are always good!

A lot of people here have said looking into mindful meditation and yoga have helped a lot.

I'm not sure acupuncture will help unless you have some physical pain somewhere.

[roads]

My grandfather started me on yoga and meditation when I was two & I've kept it up. It's probably kept me alive and helped aid stability through misdiagnosis of clinical depression. Decades later they got it right--bipolar II. I've had arthritis in my neck, back, and hands since I was 20 and fingers were twisting, neck vertebrae so inflamed spinal cord squeezed. Acupuncture over 15 yrs has stopped that, no hand pain or misshapen fingers. Maintenance every 3 wks.
Recent neck damage during should PT has changed things, but hands remain totally pain free.
Welcome to PsychCentral. Good Bipolar Forum here--get to know folks & post a lot.
Roadie

[BlueInanna]

Acupuncture is helpful for many things, I say try it for sure. some of us have positive results from Bach Flower Essences, adjusting diet - the fresh lemon squeezed in ice water is becoming a favorite for me, and the Omega-3 oil, Vitamin D.

[tribalwolf]

There are other things that you can do other than taking medication to help with your BPD symptoms. For over 2 1/2 years I was able to maintain stability just using techniques that I had learned from DBT, such as mindfulness and meditation, also there is yoga and other meditative techniques that have help people with bipolar maintain stability.
These are great supplemental tools to use when working with a proper Pdoc.

The Wolf

[Mollie May]

I've done Thai scraping and cupping, but I'm not sure it helped w/ BP. My doc recently gave me some research to do on NAC, a supplement. I started a thread about it. Some promising studies. And my doc always recommends plenty of Fish Oil.

[Clinte89]

Fish oil is another one alot Of people here mention it and I swear by it. I startle it after not finding stability and it helped a little and a little is alot in the bp world

[bos314489]

I did acupuncture for about 6 weeks and took chinese herbs for anxiety/depression. It did help me but it didn't really last that long (feeling good). If I could afford to keep going twice a week I would. It is not covered by insurance but it is worth a try.

[Speed3]

High dose fish oil, NAC, Magnesium and B vitamins. I just started Reiki and art therapy. Exercise. Someone just told me about a supplement called Lithium Orotate, not to be confused with prescription lithium. I am still researching it.

[bos314489]

Originally Posted by Speed3

High dose fish oil, NAC, Magnesium and B vitamins. I just started Reiki and art therapy. Exercise. Someone just told me about a supplement called Lithium Orotate, not to be confused with prescription lithium. I am still researching it.

Do you feel Reiki helped you at all?

[Speed3]

Originally Posted by bos314489

Do you feel Reiki helped you at all?

Yes so far