tl;dr; Lithium calmed my moods but made me tired and sad. But then I used St. John's Wort and 5-htp and I'm happier than ever.
I'm not a fan of drugs. Lithium was prescribed to me. And it worked wonders. It normalized my behavior, I wasn't as aggressive; sexually, emotionally, nor mentally. Lithium killed my sex drive. I went from a guy in heat, to rarely desiring sex. I realized after a few months that I was very emotional with everyone that I was around. That I was polarizing everyone. I either loved or hated something. But because of Lithium I was more calm and collective to both people I loved and hated. My mental thoughts on myself, with my low self-esteem, started to be more gentle with my introspective view.
Overtime, I realized Lithium was only combating the HIGH's (manic) of the imbalance, not the low's (depression). Also, it's my guess it was screwing with my thyroid or doing something to lower all of my energy. I started to sleep in excess. It was like someone put the breaks on my mind and slowed me down in every way.
With the realization of sedation from Lithium, I personally decided to wean myself off Lithium (DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY, your brain will have a tough time to recover, if it does). And I decided to go the other route and cure the low's of bipolar.
I've tried 5-htp before and it did nothing for me but then I dug deeper and decided to ask 'why does it do nothing for me'. I came to the conclusion that maybe I have plenty of Serotonin in my blood. And it's probably the receptors aren't working (I've tried an SSRI [like Bupropion] before and it worked but made me tired as a side effect). So, I did a little research and found many European countries use St. John's Wort for depression and that it's similar to an MAOI or SSRI (I can't remember...but it helps the Uptake process).
I can honestly say, that I'm living a happier life due to this change. I'm not as tired. I'm much more positive. I smile more. I think more positive thoughts. My libido is normal for my age (not out of control...like it was with no drugs or supplements). I'm now working on other issues in my life and building a better life for myself.
Notes: Before: I was taking 900mg of Lithium a day (everyone is different but I have a pretty strong case of Bi-Polar) Now: I take 200mg of Time-Release 5-htp. & 1,200mg of St. John's Wort (750mg in the morning, 450 later in the day) Side Effects: Sunlight burned: In picking a brand for St. John's Wort, GNC's brand made me feel like my skin was burning when I was in sunlight. Like I seriously turned into a vampire. It was painful when I rode my bike, without my shirt. So, I switched brands and minimal sensitivity to sunlight. Diarrhea: Also, with St. John's Wort. I didn't slowly increase my dosage, which caused diarrhea for the first few weeks. Don't mix: I tried to mixed Lithium with St. John's Wort. The combinations gave me migraines almost instantly. Later it destabilized my entire life, like the migraine was so bad that I had to quit the combination or 'enjoy' a paralyzing migraine the rest of my life.
Re: lifestyle changes. Early on becoming aware of triggers helped me. Later in life I decided not to put up with or "go through" depressive episodes of more than 1 week without seeking help or making a life change. This decision has changed my life for the better. Seek help from different sources and find what helps you. Don't keep going back to the same people/treatments/coping mechanisms that don't work or worsen/create new problems. Try something new.
Re: Mindfulness Meditation — I should add that I believe my bipolar illness (genes aside) is based in focusing on my thoughts as an escape, which was learnt during a difficult childhood. So mindfulness meditation is particularly effective in breaking my learnt habits.
Re: Mindfulness Meditation — This is a real gem. I have found through meditation that I find my own thoughts exciting (producing adrenaline etc...) which then leads to the viscous circle of mania. This meditation teaches you to let go of your thoughts and you do naturally settle to peace. I have enjoyed real moments of calm-joy doing this. Lots of work and practice are required, so don't expect results for at least a few months of solid practice e.g. 20 minutes a day. Get some training is best.
Re: Kava-Kava — Taken daily: this acts as a general buffer to anxiety, which stops me developing mania or stress-based depression. NB: kava-kava contains 6 active ingredients, so the effect vary enormously by the strain of plant - there are many varieties. Some strains actually act as a stimulant, so it is important to choose a strain that has high levels of the relaxing chemicals. If the person selling the kava-kava can't tell you which varieties are best, don't buy from them. Never take 'Tuedai' varieties - these are almost like amphetamine and will make you manic for 24h...
Re: Pregabalin — This is taken on a 'as-needed' basis to control a manic episode - it take the anxiety out of the mania, so I can then get the mania under control with short periods of meditation.
Re: Citalopram — NB!!: I use Citalopram drops which allow me to vary the dosage. Too much anti-depressants will push me straight into mania, so I use with caution.
Re: Lamictal — Eh it's just OK
Re: Depressed symptoms — I'm usually 'Up", but lately I've had a number of career-related snags that have really tugged at my sense of security. I also have 3 kids under the age of 4, so life at home isn't exactly orderly or calm. I've been feeling down the last few weeks, mainly tired and discouraged, although I'm able to snap out of it for part of the day when I'm waiting tables.
I don't know. I wouldn't say that I'm depressed, but certainly experiencing moments where all I want to do is take a nap or switch my mind off.
Re: Vitamin C — C helps me to sleep when I can't sleep, and helps me to stay awake when it's time to be awake. 1 tsp (about 5 grams) ascorbic acid crystals in 32 oz (abt 1 liter) water, 3 times daily (total of about 15 grams per day) is about what I can tolerate personally. (No side effects for me at this dose; if I were to take more, I could get diarrhea.) Cathcart believes this has an antiviral effect, and Paul W. Ewald has made a case in /Plague Time/ that some mood disorders are caused by viruses.
Re: Rhodiola — Two employees of an herbalist's shop said they were stabilizing their moods with this adaptogenic herb, rhodiola. I tried it as a tea in the morning and experienced only a stimulating effect. I got more level moods from lithium orotate 120mg 3x/day.
Re: Lithium orotate — This over-the-counter lithium compound stabilizes my mood yet does not cause me to urinate as much as did lithium carbonate I was prescribed. I take 3 of the 120mg capsules each day.
tl;dr; Lithium calmed my moods but made me tired and sad. But then I used St. John's Wort and 5-htp and I'm happier than ever.
I'm not a fan of drugs. Lithium was prescribed to me. And it worked wonders. It normalized my behavior, I wasn't as aggressive; sexually, emotionally, nor mentally. Lithium killed my sex drive. I went from a guy in heat, to rarely desiring sex. I realized after a few months that I was very emotional with everyone that I was around. That I was polarizing everyone. I either loved or hated something. But because of Lithium I was more calm and collective to both people I loved and hated. My mental thoughts on myself, with my low self-esteem, started to be more gentle with my introspective view.
Overtime, I realized Lithium was only combating the HIGH's (manic) of the imbalance, not the low's (depression). Also, it's my guess it was screwing with my thyroid or doing something to lower all of my energy. I started to sleep in excess. It was like someone put the breaks on my mind and slowed me down in every way.
With the realization of sedation from Lithium, I personally decided to wean myself off Lithium (DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY, your brain will have a tough time to recover, if it does). And I decided to go the other route and cure the low's of bipolar.
I've tried 5-htp before and it did nothing for me but then I dug deeper and decided to ask 'why does it do nothing for me'. I came to the conclusion that maybe I have plenty of Serotonin in my blood. And it's probably the receptors aren't working (I've tried an SSRI [like Bupropion] before and it worked but made me tired as a side effect). So, I did a little research and found many European countries use St. John's Wort for depression and that it's similar to an MAOI or SSRI (I can't remember...but it helps the Uptake process).
I can honestly say, that I'm living a happier life due to this change. I'm not as tired. I'm much more positive. I smile more. I think more positive thoughts. My libido is normal for my age (not out of control...like it was with no drugs or supplements). I'm now working on other issues in my life and building a better life for myself.
Notes:
Before: I was taking 900mg of Lithium a day (everyone is different but I have a pretty strong case of Bi-Polar)
Now: I take 200mg of Time-Release 5-htp. & 1,200mg of St. John's Wort (750mg in the morning, 450 later in the day)
Side Effects: Sunlight burned: In picking a brand for St. John's Wort, GNC's brand made me feel like my skin was burning when I was in sunlight. Like I seriously turned into a vampire. It was painful when I rode my bike, without my shirt. So, I switched brands and minimal sensitivity to sunlight.
Diarrhea: Also, with St. John's Wort. I didn't slowly increase my dosage, which caused diarrhea for the first few weeks.
Don't mix: I tried to mixed Lithium with St. John's Wort. The combinations gave me migraines almost instantly. Later it destabilized my entire life, like the migraine was so bad that I had to quit the combination or 'enjoy' a paralyzing migraine the rest of my life.
Re: lifestyle changes. Early on becoming aware of triggers helped me. Later in life I decided not to put up with or "go through" depressive episodes of more than 1 week without seeking help or making a life change. This decision has changed my life for the better. Seek help from different sources and find what helps you. Don't keep going back to the same people/treatments/coping mechanisms that don't work or worsen/create new problems. Try something new.
Re: Mindfulness Meditation — I should add that I believe my bipolar illness (genes aside) is based in focusing on my thoughts as an escape, which was learnt during a difficult childhood. So mindfulness meditation is particularly effective in breaking my learnt habits.
Re: Mindfulness Meditation — This is a real gem. I have found through meditation that I find my own thoughts exciting (producing adrenaline etc...) which then leads to the viscous circle of mania. This meditation teaches you to let go of your thoughts and you do naturally settle to peace. I have enjoyed real moments of calm-joy doing this. Lots of work and practice are required, so don't expect results for at least a few months of solid practice e.g. 20 minutes a day. Get some training is best.
Re: Kava-Kava — Taken daily: this acts as a general buffer to anxiety, which stops me developing mania or stress-based depression. NB: kava-kava contains 6 active ingredients, so the effect vary enormously by the strain of plant - there are many varieties. Some strains actually act as a stimulant, so it is important to choose a strain that has high levels of the relaxing chemicals. If the person selling the kava-kava can't tell you which varieties are best, don't buy from them. Never take 'Tuedai' varieties - these are almost like amphetamine and will make you manic for 24h...
Re: Pregabalin — This is taken on a 'as-needed' basis to control a manic episode - it take the anxiety out of the mania, so I can then get the mania under control with short periods of meditation.
Re: Citalopram — NB!!: I use Citalopram drops which allow me to vary the dosage. Too much anti-depressants will push me straight into mania, so I use with caution.
Re: Lamictal — Eh it's just OK
Re: Depressed symptoms — I'm usually 'Up", but lately I've had a number of career-related snags that have really tugged at my sense of security. I also have 3 kids under the age of 4, so life at home isn't exactly orderly or calm. I've been feeling down the last few weeks, mainly tired and discouraged, although I'm able to snap out of it for part of the day when I'm waiting tables.
I don't know. I wouldn't say that I'm depressed, but certainly experiencing moments where all I want to do is take a nap or switch my mind off.
Re: Vitamin C — C helps me to sleep when I can't sleep, and helps me to stay awake when it's time to be awake. 1 tsp (about 5 grams) ascorbic acid crystals in 32 oz (abt 1 liter) water, 3 times daily (total of about 15 grams per day) is about what I can tolerate personally. (No side effects for me at this dose; if I were to take more, I could get diarrhea.) Cathcart believes this has an antiviral effect, and Paul W. Ewald has made a case in /Plague Time/ that some mood disorders are caused by viruses.
Re: Rhodiola — Two employees of an herbalist's shop said they were stabilizing their moods with this adaptogenic herb, rhodiola. I tried it as a tea in the morning and experienced only a stimulating effect. I got more level moods from lithium orotate 120mg 3x/day.
Re: Lithium orotate — This over-the-counter lithium compound stabilizes my mood yet does not cause me to urinate as much as did lithium carbonate I was prescribed. I take 3 of the 120mg capsules each day.