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Mixing Meds

For those of you taking bipolar medications, it is very important you be aware of the potential interactions other medications, including over-the-counter medications, may have.

As you may know, my mother suffers from bipolar. Recently on talking with her I realized her speech was slurred. I also became aware she was having other side effects including dizziness, confusion and memory lapses.

As it turns out, she was taking some Benadryl to help combat itching she was experiencing, a possible side effect or allergic response to the Topamax recently prescribed her.

When possible, I do recommend a natural approach to healing. If you experience itching or other symptoms of an allergic reaction, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider or qualified natural healer.

I would not recommend taking over-the-counter medications or herbs in conjunction with any medications without first recognizing the possible interactions.

Fortunately, in this case I think my mother's side effects are the result of the benadryl, and not necessarily a toxic reaction to her medications.

If you do experience slurred speech, dizziness or other symptoms and are not taking over-the-counter medications or herb concomitantly with your bipolar RX, you may be experiencing a toxic reaction or build-up of drugs in your system.

Be sure you talk with your healthcare provider for advice and help. The sooner you seek help the better.

Posted by Anne on Saturday, November 04, 2006 at 13:06

Neurotransmitter Testing

Neurotransmitter testing is an invaluable tool that anyone can use to help detect the reasons for mood swings, depression, anxiety and irritability. Neurotransmitter testing is a tool many holistic doctors use to evaluate levels of vital neurotransmitters in the body. Examples include serotonin, cortisol, epinephrine and more.

Various causes including a poor diet, inadequate sleep, malabsorption, high stress and more can lead to neurotransmitter imbalances. The result? You experience fatigue, anxiety, depression or insomnia.

I recently had some neurotransmitter testing done following my pregnancies, since I felt a little bit less energetic and down than usual. As it turns out, I had lower than average levels of cortisol, epinephrine and serotonin. I am now taking several supplements to help reverse this and give me back my energy and good spirits.

I plan to retest in a few months to see if my neurotransmitter levels have balanced out again. Overall though, I have to admit my neurotransmitter levels were only SLIGHTLY off, which is why I feel so great most of the time even without daily RX.

The reason for this? Likely the regular checkups I have with my holistic healthcare team to make sure my body is functioning as well as it can. Given the enormous daily stress I am under (3 kids under 3, working, pursuing my MBA) I am glad my levels were only slightly abnormal.

In the upcoming weeks we are going to add a page to this site that includes more information about neurotransmitter testing, including a review of the testing process. I’ll scan my results for all you to see and provide information about ordering.

If you want more information NOW about neurotransmitter testing, email me.

Posted by Anne on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 20:44

What Withdrawal Is Like

So far my posts have focused on providing some alternative healing information for those suffering from bipolar. Others contain links to therapists and information about healing depression, anxiety and bipolar naturally.

This blog, this site, everything here and anything produced in the future… is for those who suffer in any way shape or form from a mental illness, whether from depression, mania, anxiety, panic or any other disorder. I’ve received many emails of support, but others from those who question my intent. For those of you who question, please read on. Have I suffered? You decide…

Natural healing is a great way to teach the body how to heal itself. Nevertheless, I am the first to admit it takes discipline, effort, commitment and at times, money. Many people are left without insurance. Still others who have insurance quickly realize it often doesn’t cover the cost of many alternative therapies that may drastically reduce the need for RX medication. It’s a frustrating process at best, especially when you already have a tendency to “save” the world (and that is meant for a laugh my good friends). So to all of you hanging in there and seeking a natural way, I lend you my support and my sympathy. It’s hard, but worth it. And sometimes it’s easier to fall back into old ways.

That’s my rant for the day. If I had my way, anyone and everyone who needed proper care would receive it.

On to serious affairs.

Today I’d like to talk about what withdrawal is like. Anyone who has been on any antimanic agent, SSRI, benzo or other drug will experience withdrawal that (in my opinion) is much worse than the disease it is trying to cure.

What is withdrawal like? WHAT is it like to be bipolar? What is it like????

I talk about it in Night and Day, touching on how truly devastating it can be, at least the part when you switch or modify your current therapy. I want to emphasize if you decide to reduce your prescription drug therapy after realizing the potential natural therapy holds for patients, please do so with caution. You should always seek the advice of a competent and educated healthcare practitioner. You’ll need lots of therapy, support and guidance. You’ll experience (initially) more ups and downs than ever before. But it can get much, much better.

Yes, there are natural treatments to help mitigate the withdrawal symptoms, but honestly, it is still hard… hard as heck.

What’s it like? It feels like you are dying. Plain and simple. Benzo withdrawal is the worst. I recently went through this again to see if it was all “in my head” or if the drugs really are as bad as they seem.

This is not an experiment you should try on your own EVER by the way. Thank God for supporting me. Natural therapy is much easier to deal with. That is my personal and honest opinion.

If you’ve read Night and Day, you know how devastating prescription drug therapy can be, and how supportive it may seem at others. For many, life is a roller coaster ride much of the time. It’s hard to differentiate between fact and fiction.

Maybe some of you know what I am talking about. If you decide to go all natural you’ll go through withdrawal. If you reduce your RX therapy with help from your physician, it’s likely you’ll still go through withdrawal, especially if you’ve taken benzos, sleeping agents or SSRI’s IMO.

Imagine your worst feelings of anxiety, your worst insecurities, and your worst panic attacks. They hit from nowhere. You may find yourself scratching your arms uncontrollably, your hair. Your body may twitch this way and that, as if suffering from Turret’s or some other bizarre syndrome. You think about the drug therapy constantly, knowing relief may be just a pill away. Weird thoughts may interrupt your ordinary day. You may shy away from the innocent, suspecting them of malevolent behavior, only to embrace them later.

Then, at a moment’s notice, perhaps you switch. On the other hand, perhaps it takes months, but eventually, you are up again.

You're manic, or at least feel that way again even if briefly, and consider some time to revel in all it is to be manic. Most manics consider their mania the best of the best. Many don’t want to get rid of it. I know I didn’t. And why should you? One minute you are flying high, and nothing on earth can stop you. You may laugh uncontrollably for no reason at all. Your child spills spaghetti on the floor, and instead of getting upset you laugh hysterically. Not to a point where it is funny, but to a point where you feel for a moment… out of control. But is that bad? Yes, in my opinion it is.

You feel more productive than ever. Everything is within your reach. It is a good buzz that seems never ending. You’re the king or queen of the world, or at least on top of it… until you crash.

And then what? Do you consider putting a gun to your head? Or do you do something so crazy when you are feeling high you don’t realize how damaging it might really be? It’s really scary.

Bipolar is in my personal opinion, one of the toughest diseases to conquer. Reducing your drug therapy is hard too. Helpful, but hard. So be prepared! Please surround yourself with friends and family, and seek out counseling if to help combat your highs and lows.

While it seems a pill may solve problems temporarily, I’ve found through personal experience and from talking with others that eventually, the temporary solution becomes more of a problem than a cure. Take again, the case of benzos. They work wonderfully for a while to quell all anxiety. But even researchers developed them for short-term use. So use them in the short term, but what happens when they stop working?

What are the underlying causes of the problem? What causes the uncontrollable ups and downs that sway you from one end of the earth to another, that make you look in the mirror and consider yourself the most beautiful object on earth one moment, and the most wicked and dismal another?

Withdrawal is hard. I can tell you however, that dealing with the ups and downs of natural therapy, including supplementation, diet, exercise, psychotherapy and perhaps minimal RX treatment when fitting, is much better than coping with RX failure when it occurs.

Withdrawal is tough. But well worth it. To stop the ups and downs for years at a time is a blessing, and a dream for many.

How can you do so? The first step is figuring out what hormones, neurotransmitters or other chemicals in your body may be out of balance. Then deciding if you want to do something natural about it. Because part of this is a decision.

In the upcoming weeks I hope to bring you more information on neurotransmitter testing, and how it can help your ups, downs and in betweens. I will also post more information about coping with withdrawal using natural remedies, and my own experiences with withdrawal from various substances including Xanax, Depakote, Lithium, Risperidal and more. So stay tuned, and hang in there. Share your stories. And blessings to you.

Posted by Anne on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 at 02:54 Comments (0)

Hypnotherapy and Depression, Anxiety and More

I recently engaged in some conversation with a well-known hypnotherapist providing patients holistic therapy in Beverly Hills. His name is Steve Jones. He has practiced hypnosis for over 17 years, and combines his work with many traditional approaches to psychotherapy.

Steve suggests there are many misconceptions about hypnosis. It is not for example, a Zen trance or metaphysical state. What hypnotists’ work on doing is getting their client’s into a light trance. Anything beyond that isn’t necessary.

Steve takes patients into a state where they can easily focus and not distracted by external stimuli. In this state, you are 200 times more likely to take suggestions offered to you. Many refer to this state as a zoned out or relaxed phase. Outside stimuli become less important. You

Over 17 years experience, practice in Beverly Hills, CA. What is hypnosis? There are many misconceptions, according to Steve. It is not a Zen trance or metaphysical state. What the hypnotist is looking for is to get the client into a light trance. Anything beyond that is not necessary.

Steve says it’s much like zoning out or tuning out when driving. Have you ever noticed how some people fall into a light trance while driving around in the car (hopefully in the passenger side). There are many scientific studies supporting the use of hypnosis to help correct physical and mental health problems. An example is a thyroidectomy performed in the 1950s. No anesthesia was used; instead the practitioner simply relaxed the patient into one of the deepest stages of hypnosis.

So how does hypnosis relate to bipolar, mania, anxiety, depression or even panic attacks? Trained therapists can use hypnosis to change people’s beliefs or negative thought processes about themselves. If you have low self-esteem or anxiety and panic attacks associated with social phobias, hypnosis may help. Through hypnotherapy you may also start recognizing new ways to view your life’s circumstance and help resolve chronic problems like depression or anxiety.

Cognitive behavioral therapy works in much the same way. Hypnosis is just a quicker alternative for people looking for immediate help from acute problems.

Steve has graciously offered to provide his 2 hour-long MP3 file free to our community members interested in learning more about hypnosis and how it can help them overcome phobias, anxiety and other disorders. To take advantage of his unique offer and programs, simply Click Here. Let me know what you think, I’ll include your feedback in our next newsletter!
Click Here For Hypnotherapy

Posted by Anne on Friday, July 28, 2006 at 23:23

Neurotransmitter Testing For Depression & Anxiety

One way to find out how well your body is coping with stress and daily living is through neurotransmitter testing. Neurotransmitter testing can help measure levels of key neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin. It can also measure levels of cortisol throughout the day. Why all the fuss?

When properly used, neurotransmitter testing can help your doctor recommend suitable dietary changes or supplements to help correct symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, depression and more. Often panic attacks, depression and anxiety result from chronic stress or excess demands on the body’s adrenal glands or related organs. This can disrupt or normal levels of neurotransmitters.

While not cheap, some insurance companies reimburse patients for neurotransmitter testing by insurance. Since I just had another baby, I figured it might be a good idea to try it out and see what happens. I’ll provide you with more details when I get the results. Testing is one of many ways you can work to help your body fight back against depression, anxiety, mania and other symptoms naturally.

The key is finding the causes of your symptoms, not simply masking them. When used with other therapies, even drug therapy sometimes if fitting, neurotransmitter testing can help you understand better why it is you feel the way you do.

I have some testimonials Dr. Galyardt recently provided of patients who were able to get off some prescription medications thanks to neurotransmitter testing. I’ll work on posting them soon. One of the things I encourage in Night and Day is you talk with your doctor about getting to the root cause of your problem. While a drug free approach may not be for everyone, consider what life might be like if you could reduce the medications you are using to treat your disease?

You body and your spirit may thank you!

Posted by Anne on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 17:35 Comments (0)

Withdrawal from Benzos

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed patients with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and related conditions. Unfortunately with time the body builds a tolerance to these drugs. Thus, after long term use, most patients have to increase their dosage to realize the same effects they did when starting treatment.

Unfortunately benzos also have many side effects, the more common of which include fatigue and dizziness. While benzos might be ok for short term use, the certainly are addictive and can lead to absolutely terrible withdrawal symptoms when reducing your dose or trying to stop taking them.

In fact, stopping abruptly may lead to seizures, worsening anxiety and related symptoms. In Night and Day I discuss tapering medications slowly if your goals include dealing with anxiety naturally.

There are many natural alternatives to benzos to help relieve anxiety. If you are having trouble sleeping for example, there are many homeopathic remedies that influence the body the same way Ambien or other sleeping aids might but without disrupting the bodies natural chemistry.

Some of these agents are also beneficial for normalizing GABA levels in the body and reducing anxiety. Many of these agents are listed in my guide Night and Day.

Today I bumped into a wonderful site that provides a lot of information about tapering from benzos naturally to help prevent some of the more severe side effects associated with withdrawal. You can visit it Here

Always remember to work with a qualified natural health practitioner and taper slowly to prevent life threatening reactions.

Remember, there are many natural agents that work similarly to benzos without the side effects. At the very least, you may find as I have that you can limit your intake of prescription medications to minimal levels by combining natural remedies for anxiety and related conditions.

Posted by Anne on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 02:34

Vitamin B6 Deficiencies and Mental Illness

Did you know may researchers and authors continue to support the idea that vitamin B6 and Zinc deficiencies may lead to increased depression? In fact many patients with depression are diagnosed with deficiencies of these vitamins. Finding higher than normal levels of chemicals in the urine called pyrroles, or so says Carl Pfeiffer, Ph.D., MD, can easily discover this. This condition, referred to as pyroluria is common in patients with many mental disorders, including schizophrenia.

That is one reason urinalysis testing that many natural and complementary practices offer may help patients suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. It can help identify deficiencies or excessive levels of certain chemicals that lead to depression, anxiety and related disorders.

In some cases, simple changes including adding more vitamin B6 and zinc to your diet may help significantly.

Many doctors have noted that vitamin B6 supplementation is also very helpful for other disorders including autism. The American Journal of Psychiatry has printed many articles linking vitamin B6 deficiencies to a host of illnesses in the last few decades.

These are but a few things we talk more about in Night and Day.

I hope very soon to have links on the site to relevant holistic care practices where caring MD's and other natural health doctors are working to help patients discover whether certain nutritional deficiencies, like the ones mentioned above, may be contributing to their symptoms.

There is hope. Good health is a combination of many things, including clean living, exercise, relaxation and for some, spiritual exploration.

Posted by Anne on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 02:05 Comments (13)

Natural Healing And Second Opinions

Natural healing is a process. Can you just stop taking all your medicine cold turkey, start popping some supplements, and hope for the best?

Of course not, that would be crazy. In fact, if you stop taking any medications you are on abruptly, you could suffer serious consequences, fatal consequences in some cases.

I did a crazy thing when I decided to stop taking medications. While initially my goals included tapering slowly, at one point I got fed up and stopped altogether. That night I thought I might die.

So I slowly started tapering again. Until I got to the point where I didn’t have to take medications again. Did you know that many alternative therapies could help you during the tapering process? There are many proven alternative healing therapies I talk about in Night & Day that can help your body cope with the anxiety, depression and other withdrawal symptoms that sometimes arise from tapering drug therapy.

Many of these same therapies can also help you cope with your illness if you prefer to use minimal medication, or no medication at all to treat your symptoms. Remember, most medication treats symptoms, not the actual causes of many illnesses. This is an important concept we’ll cover more another day.

Back to alternative medicine… Many holistic therapies can help your body adjust to taking certain medications so they have less devastating effects on your body, like your liver (which is largely responsible for detoxifying your body and processing many drugs used to treat depression and other disorders). Any substance you put in your body is going to have consequences, some good and some bad. You can take steps however, to minimize the bad and make sure anything you do take helps more than it hinders. This is true whether you take prescription drugs or natural medicines.

It is important you explore all your options and various holistic therapies when coping with any mental illness.

I recently read an article in a magazine suggesting 28% of breast cancer patients get different advice about treatment when they get a second opinion. I bet that percentage is way higher for patients with bipolar disorder or other related conditions. You may visit 12 different doctors and get 12 different diagnoses or treatment options.

What do you do? Educate yourself. Get as much information as you can about your condition, so you can help make informed decisions about your treatment. Only then can you rest assured you are doing what is best for you.

Posted by Anne on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 22:43 Comments (0)

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