Trying to Find a Way to Stabilize Bipolar Without Medication

Well, I have to have my latuda. I can't hold down a job without it

I was on lamotrigine until I chose to stopped with my Dr's (psychiatrist, therapist & social worker) approval it help stabilize me

I take Vraylar and it has made wonders in my life. I will never take anything else.

I take lamotrigine(lamictal) I also have started to experiment with topical use of essential oils. It takes some trial and error, but I've found that speecific combinations work best at different times to help make it managable.

I experienced my worst manic episodes on SSRIs. Abilify, made me a shell of a human with very long depression episodes. I’m on seroquel now and it’s the best thing i’ve tried so far. I still have hypomanic episodes but they are much more dull and short lived now (as long as i don’t drink alcohol)

TMS is the other one I was referring to that my stepmother just did yes! It is not the same as ECT she has done both when she stopped responding to her medication. Again she is NOT bipolar but majorly depressed.

Yes but TMS is not the same as ECT

At the moment I’m on Latuda and Lithium which works ok. I’ve had ECT recommended for me once, I didn’t end up going through with it though, but I guess the doctor at that psych ward thought I was having trouble finding a medication. Which was true but there was still a lot left to try for me since this was only a year after my diagnosis or so. But judging by your story you’ve probably tried a lot more than I have. Just a warning though I knew someone who did go ahead and get ECT and it can cause memory problems. It was only small things for her but that could be annoying at times.

The only thing that has worked on me has been TMS treatments. I’ve done like four series of them since they came to USA. I was actually in scientific magazines and the ft Worth star telegram. They are worth looking into.

Also, not sure how long you’ve been with the same doctor or if you’ve already tried this but second or third opinions (get a fresh mind to look at you.) perhaps you were misdiagnosed all those years ago or there is just something your doctor is overlooking.

My stepmother is not diagnosed bipolar as I am but is severely depressed and has undergone ECT treatments when she stopped responding to medication. This was years ago. She started responding to meds again and recently just stopped again so she started doing some sort of muscle therapy I’m sorry I don’t know the exact terms or science but I know that there are other options out there, ask your doctors and do some research because there have got to be other ways to help you. Good luck!

EVERYONES 😥 🤗 ✋ ❤️ Chemistry 🧪 IS DIFFERENT FROM WHICH WILL WORK AS I TAKE CYMBALTA 60 MGS 2x PER DAY WHICH KEEPS ME UNDER A SOME WHAT CONTROL, BUT; EVEN I HAVE MY HARD MANIC DAYS. IT DOES MAKE ME THINK 🤔 IVE BEEN MISS DIAGNOSED!!!? BECAUSE MY MENTAL ILLNESS STARTED ABOUT THE AGE OF 8-9 YEARS OLD AND MY SYMPTOMS CLICKED WITH WHAT I READ ABOUT ADHD ON A MEDICAL CLIP!!!! BUT WERE I LIVE GOOD 👍 😞 DR 👩‍⚕️’s ARE VERY HARD TO FIND AND THEY COME AND GO CONSTANTLY!!!! ITS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY Exhausting!!! But; NEVER 👎 GIVE UP.

Antidepressants didn’t help that much for me either. But I found that invega helped me for a while, and now Caplyta. I still struggle with mania and depression, but I feel like if I wasn’t on any medication, I’d be even worse. So to manage it, I keep up with my therapy, i do mindfulness, keep a symptom tracker, so I recognize my highs and lows. Keep motivating myself for self care and a healthy style of thinking during the highs and lows.

i have too much of a hormone imbalance to be prescribed lithium ://

I’m assuming you’ve tried lithium? That’s the only thing that has worked in blocking my manic episodes thus far.