Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 9/29/2010

Question
I am twenty four years old and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was fourteen after a pediatrician prescribed me a high dose of prozac and I attempted suicide. I attempted it again when I was seventeen and both times were a reaction to a combination of antidepressants and frustration over not getting my way in something. Over the years I have taken several medications to treat my BD with mixed and generally poor results. Lithium made me have no feelings at all so I continually stopped taking it. None of my doctors would listen when I told them it made me emotionless. I eventually stopped seeking treatment until recently. Throughout my teenage years I was promiscuous at times, used drugs almost constantly, cocaine in particular, I stole thousands of dollars from my parents through manipulation. I got whatever I wanted from whoever I wanted, it was like I could simply draw people into some sort of trance that would allow me to rob them. I am proud when I can manipulate someone regardless of the consequences to them. There is too much to put here in my history so I will list the things that worry me. My emotions like compassion, love, empathy, regret, etc are there but as far as I can tell they come from a need to be adored rather than from my nature. I have and can steal with no remorse. I am not violent, I have never been in a physical fight, nor do I have any desire to act violently. I want to steal, I want to lie, I am proud of my ability to manipulate others and I wonder if some higher power gave me bipolar I just so I would have emotions. I think of myself as super human much of the time. I am under treatment at this time by both a psychiatrist and a therapist and I am taking Lamictal and have just started trying out antipsychotic meds but they are inducing mania and mixed cycling. I fall out of love with those around me when I don't feel worshipped, I have even seen this tendency in myself directed toward my son, but I fight it and work very hard to keep him happy. I have no doubt that I genuinely and truely love him and I am a good mother but I am afraid I will lose it and become a bad mother. I love him too much to let that happen. I sometimes laugh at things that aren't funny, like stories about deaths that are odd in some way and morbid jokes. I am also facinated by serial killers in a clinical sort of way. I am studying psychology and hope to treat serial killers some day but I am concerned about myself and confused and tired of wondering if I am some sort of monster in disguise even from myself. Sorry about the disorganization, I am manic and it is making it difficult to keep my thoughts in order. One note, I have been questioning this for a while it is not just a reaction to recent mania. Please help me figure all of this out if you can. Thank you for you time, I really appreciate it.

Answer
HI Bonnie,

Bipolar disorder is not easy to treat, but as  a Nutritional Psychotherapist I believe hat whatever treatment you are receiving should be combined with nutritional therapy. It is question of familiarising yourself thoroughly with the nutritional aspects of mood disorders and then seeking the help of nutritional doctors.

Please read:

Nutritional Aspects of Schizophrenia at:
http://curezone.com/upload/Newsletter/Hypoglycemic_He/HYPONL2001_06.pdf
and go to page 7 of Newsletter.
much of this applies equally to Bipolar Disorder

Alternative Treatments for Bipolar Disorder at:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#B
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder with lecithin at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/anxiety_SNS.html#Treatment

The first step in any kind of treatment is going on a hypoglycemic diet. See our web site below.

You great desire to be adored, comes from a low self-esteem, which inevitably will affect your personality. When you are receiving nutritional treatment it is important to do a course in self-help psychotherapy, which in fact starts off from a consideration of one's self-image. Please study:
Summary of Self-help Pyschotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html#PSYCHOTHE...

in its entirety from beginning to end. It includes a program showing you how to overcome a negative self-image, and assertiveness training program, communication course and values clarification course. Most people can learn these skills by reading these articles over and over again. This program is also available in my book "Getting off the Hook", starting at page 36,  which is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Use our "Search our Web Site" for more information on topics entered in the search engine.

_______________________________________________
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