Meditate on This: Natural Therapies for Bipolar Treatment Regimens

Although bipolar disorder often requires prescription medication and long-term monitoring by a health professional, research shows it is a condition that can benefit from many natural and alternative therapies.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by intermittent episodes of mania and depression. These episodes are more than just violent mood swings – they can completely alter the personality of the affected individual and result in atypical behavior or extreme shifts in habits and activities. Most people who receive proper treatment for their bipolar condition participate in psychotherapy or social counseling and must maintain their treatment regimen even when their symptoms are in remission.

But what if a bit of “Om” could help keep bipolar episodes at bay?

Meditation and Bipolar Disorder

Multiple studies examining the impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in bipolar individuals demonstrated a positive impact of this therapy on anxiety and residual depression levels in people with this condition.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines also cites meditation as a helpful treatment for stress and insomnia, both of which commonly afflict bipolar individuals.

Some experts recommend meditation after a bipolar episode of mania to re-center and calm oneself down.

Food and Bipolar Disorder

I would like to disavow a theme with my posts, but if there is one, it is this: food matters. Nutrition and bipolar disorder can interact for better or worse. Most individuals on MAOIs will need to avoid some cheeses, meats, and wines, but typically have free reign in terms of other dietary choices.

Just like anyone else, bipolar individuals should avoid sugary foods and "empty" calories - foods that provide little nutritional value in proportion to the harmful ingredients they contain. Diets high in sugar, fat, and simple carbohydrates can actually deplete energy and play a role in mood swings.

A variety of foods have stress-relieving effects that can help mitigate many symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Key picks for reducing anxiety, depression, insomnia, and irritability include spinach, eggs, turkey, bananas, salmon, walnuts, dark chocolate, whole grains, and citrus – so get creative!

Options for Bipolar Treatments

If you or a loved one suffer from bipolar, explore all of the options for complementary care. Family therapy, exercise, meditation, and food can be easy additions to a treatment regimen that could make a monumental difference in quality of life, fringe symptoms, and interpersonal relationships.

Complementary therapies may not ever replace pharmaceutical or traditional psychotherapy for bipolar individuals, but the mounting research in support of its crucial role in producing high quality of life and well-managed remission in bipolar individuals is nothing to dismiss.

Meditate in Cleveland

Keep your mind and options open for meditation!  Try the Insight Meditation group for retreats and personal meditation information, or the Cleveland ZaZen Group for a more spiritual experience.