Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 12/12/2010

Question
I am really worried about my Mental Health. All my life I have been differnent. One of my favourite phrases were that I wish I was dead. I told people I wish I had AIDS. This was when I was between 4 and 7 years old. I then started having whole weeks where I feel good but also my teacher would give me homework and I would refuse and go ballistic when he answers. When I was 4 I attacked my best friend with scissors because he had found a better picture of a motorcycle than me. When I was 10 I tried to commit suicide, and again when I was 12. My Parents dont know about the suicide attempts. I started to form the view that I am aggressive, part of my personality. I get an strong desire to do something and if I dont succeed I impulsively hit my leg. Sometimes I feel energetic, self-confident and attractive. Other times I feel like crying at the likelyhood I wont ever marry. Now that I am older these moods last longer. I feel like doing nothing accept lying on my bed, sulk and sleep. But one day I get up and just run around play football and arrange to meet my friends. I feel great and tend to say things I later regret. When happy my friends often complain that they dont make out what I said, but not always. I recently dislocated my friends arm when I was feeling good and he did not do as I told him. Now I cant think I did it. When I was younger I tried to get malaria so that I could die.
When I feel happy I am easily aroused and when sad the idea of being aroused revolts me. I think I should mention, when I feel sad I feel cold even when others are hot, and when I feel happy my face gets red and I feel very hot. All this I was sure is normal until I watched a movie called "Boy Interrupted". It is about a boy with Bipolar Disorder. He reminded me alot of myself and made me think, is the moods I experience normal, how I feel is it normal? Or do I suffer from a mental illness? I hope you can answer me. Thank You.

Answer
HI Christiaan,

I can not diagnose you over the internet. So I am not sure whether or not you are Bipolar. i suggest you discuss this with a doctor.

Whatever the diagnosis It is always wise to adopt the hypoglycemic diet, because it is well-known tat hypoglycemia is a common silent disease that can be a factor in many forms of mood disorders. I suggest you familiarise yourself with the connection between mood disorders and nutrition. I suggest you study:

Self-help Personal Growth Psychotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html

and ask for a referral to a Nutritional Doctor, a Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychotherapist if you want to.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman