Bipolar Disorder Resources

So you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
What now? What next?


Dealing with brain chemistry, and helping to stimulate serotonin can be dealt with in several ways in addition to taking traditional anti-depressant drugs. Alternative medicine guru Andrew Weil, M.D., author of bestsellers Spontaneous Healing : How to Discover and Embrace Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself, and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, Revised Edition: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power believes that the natural alternatives to boosting serotonin include aerobic exercise. Dr. Weil recommends at least 30 minutes of some vigorous aerobic activity at least five times a week. Dr. Weil also recommends the herbal treatment called St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). More information on Dr. Weil's natural recommendations for dealing with serotonin are featured at his website.

Hunger is intricately tied to your brain chemistry. According to Dr. Lou Aronne, author of the best-selling Weigh Less, Live Longer: “Getting Healthy” Plan for Permanent Weight Control, your hypothalamus senses you need energy, and issues the brain neurotransmitter neuropeptide Y (NPY) with the message “eat carbohydrates.” The surge of NPY is what you experience as “hunger,” Once the hypothalamus senses you've eaten enough carbohydrates, it releases serotonin to tell the body, “enough carbohydrates.” .

What thyroid patients need to know more about are three factors that are likely at work for many of us with a difficulty losing weight -- a changed metabolic “set point,” changes in brain chemistry due to illness and stress, and insulin resistance.

Why is this important information for bipolar patients?

Because lithium is anti-thyroid. If you have been prescribed lithium for your bipolar treatment you may suddenly find yourself feeling hungry all the time and gaining weight. And synthetic thyroid hormones come prepackaged with their own special set of side effects. It is important for you to understand your alternatives and options.

Remember you have been diagnosed with a treatable disease of the brain. Chances are you already had it for a long time before you were diagnosed. It is even possible that your bipolar symptoms were caused by an undiagnosed or undetected thyroid disorder! To date there is no known cure for bipolar disorder. It makes sense to know all your options, and be kind to your thyroid.