Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 11/20/2007

Question
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder this September after throwing a violent manic fit.  I currently take 1500 mg of Depakote, 40 mg of Paxil, 50 mg of Vistaril (for panic attacks and to counteract side effects from my other meds) and 50 mg of Trazadone (I have terrible sleeping problems, just like my mother).  I think something is off, because when my meds were upped, I began to experience more manic episodes than before.  It seems like a LOT of medicine for a person who weighs under 110.  I see grown men twice my size on half the amount of meds!

Anyway, my husband is sick and tired of my "nonsense" (to put his words lightly), and he has been threatening to leave me if I don't get over myself, quit pretending I have problems, act nice and join him in denying my BD diagnosis.  He doesn't belive I have a problem - other than being a spoiled brat and an attention whore.  He tries to convince me to quit taking my meds, but I stand strong - I WILL NOT quit my meds.  (My uncle doesn't always take his, so I know better!)  

I'm young, I'm volatile.  Right now it's really hard to maintain self control, much less achieve it in the first place.  Add a recent diagnosis and you get some complications. I still don't feel in control most days.

How can I get my husband to attend support groups for married couples and couples counseling?  He's told me he isn't willing to do so.  How can I help him understand my situation more?  Everything I've tried has failed.  Also, do you have any advice that I can use to stabilize my moods even more?

Thank you so much.  I've tried other methods to no avail. =)

Answer
Dear Samatha,

This is a horrible situation to be in. Your husband has no understanding of mental illness. I suggest you talk to your doctor and get him to have a talk to your husband. Without your husband's support it is going to be very hard on you. On the other hand if he does leave you, you know he does not love you, and he is really not worthwhile to have around you.

I also suggest that you join a support group for Bipolar people. Perhaps you can find one in your neighbourhood. Please discuss this with your doctor or therapist.

As a nutritional psychologist I am interested in the nutritional aspect of mental illness.
Please read:

Nutritional Aspects of Schizophrenia at:
http://curezone.com/upload/Newsletter/Hypoglycemic_He/HYPONL2001_06.pdf
and go to page 7 of Newsletter.

Some of it applies also to Bipolar Disorders.

Please search our web site for lecithin and how it is used in Bipolar Disorder to reverse a manic phase. It should not be used in the depressive stage.

Bipolar people respond very well to the hypoglycemic diet.

Ask your doctor to be referred to a Nutritional Doctor or a Clinical Nutritionist.

Also read:

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder at:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#B

where you can find many articles on treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search