Fight depression a full time job.

Some thing I have realised during this is that fighting off the worst of depression is a full time job.

I have to fight to keep my paleo diet going with everything in my brain craving everything bad. Sugar, Gluten, Potatoes!!

Also making sure I exercise is getting harder and harder. As ALL I want is to hibernate.

So why am I telling you this, well, I don't want anyone to feel lone.

I'm not prefect or anything there are dishes in the sink and clothes needing washing. I'm not on top of it all.

This blog when I first started was to first be honest.

So this is me doing just that. DEPRESSION SUX! I HATE IT!

Don't think that's it for the information.... certainly not.

I have been trying to get my brain in gear to understand a few new research papers but its not playing nice.

The nut shell is that our body clock is light reactive. We have a sensor in our eye that helps regulate the body by the amount of light we get.

The cool thing is a guy had this bipolar brought under control with long hours of pure dark 6 am till 8am pure dark! It's called DARK THERAPY.

And His rapid cycle bipolar 1 levelled out! no drugs! NO DRUGS!!

for those interested http://www.chronobiology.ch/publications/1999_03.pdf

I hope to post more about this as I find and understand it.

Well I'm off to bed.

Remember there is always hope!!

Just a day in the life

Hi everyone,

Today isn't an information packed post for two reasons. 

1. I feel so tired.

2. I have so much to do!

I hate days like this. I just want to sleep, I feel like I have just woken up or haven't slept but I have been awake and doing things for hours. For me, this is how depression episodes start.

I have felt this building for the last few days and I have tried to hold it off with food exercise meditation but alas here I am.

My Orthomolecular therapy starts next week which is great. 

Yet, for now, I have to deal with this. So It's a case for most important gets the energy.

 So I'm going to plod along, go for a walk,do the shopping, get bed stuff ready for my kids and be ready to go out tonight with my friends while I ignore the go to sleep lullaby my brain is playing. Then ignore it again tomorrow while I look after my lil ones all day, then walk with my walking partner and ignore it some more.

I just repeat stick to the routine stick to the routine till it passes.

Just another Day in the life of type 2 bipolar.

See you all tomorrow.

http://rlv.zcache.com/winning_isnt_everything_quote_depression_flyer-p244933593251577463b2pv5_400.jpg

Bipolar and the Heart

Hi everyone,
So I'm back with some more information,

Recently, I have been finding more and more statements relating Bipolar and Cardiovascular disease.( also called heart disease.)

In studies that specifically assess cardiovascular mortality, bipolar disorder has been associated with a near doubling of risk when compared to general population estimates. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190964/)

(http://www.bipolartoday.com/wp-content/uploads/3d-image-of-heart-254x300.jpg)

With my father recently having a mild heart attack and also being bipolar these findings shocked me. If doctors know we have a higher risk why haven't I been told? Am I at risk? Should I get my heart checked?

Well, For a start I wasn't told because the research seems to be inconclusive as to why.

Is it due to diet? Is it due to a higher likely hood of engaging in bad behaviours such as smoking, drugs, alcohol? or its it something else?

The fact is they don't know.

Don't panic. You can do something out it. 

1. Give up or reduce the bad stuff. say good bye to tobacco, alcohol and caffeine as these all put stress on the cardio vascular system. (I don't smoke or drink but caffeine is my weakness...so Its got to go.)

2. 30mins of exercise .... get out and get the blood pumping. It will help strength and tone the heart!

3. Eat smart. Healthy eating even when manic or depressed can be very hard but by limiting the bad foods in the house, you are less likely to pig out when in those moods. Also train your thinking don't say I can't have that tell ourself I can have that but I don't want it. I have found this simple trick has helped me alot! (tip from the documentary hungry for change.)

4.  Get to a healthy weight for you. healthy eating and exercise will help maintain or get you to your goal weight. see your doctor to work out the right weight for your body :)

5. Have a regular check up. That's right Go ask your Doctor to check the ticker. (Something I will be booking asap.)
(adapted from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041/NSECTIONGROUP=2)


Prevention is better then cure.  

So what do you need to change? Answer in the comment section :)

Eat healthy be active and get a check up :)

Don't forget to follow me or comment on this topic or any other you are interested in.

#bipolar #heart #manicdepressive #mentalhealth

food for mood

So To continue from my last post.

Natural mood stabilising seems to be working better then the drugs so off to Google I went again as soon as I noticed the black wave starting to roll my way(aka depression.)

So we All know you are what you eat but did you know how much what you eat can change your mood?

I found a great post on Foods for depression on www.cbc.ca on mood foods.

FEELING DEPRESSED?

Eat more:  Happy mood-boosting foods!

1.    Bluegreen Algae  (E3 Live) 

E3Live is a fresh water algae that is one of that highest natural sources of phenylethylamine. Phenylethylamine is as a natural mood elevator and anti-depressant.  It's the same compound found in chocolate that perks-up our 'feel good' chemical.s However, bluegreen algae has about 50X more PEA than chocolate! It's also commonly known as the 'love molecule' as it stimulates mood, feelings of overall well-being, and has been described to simulate the same euphoric feeling and feel-good chemical that the body naturally produces during those beginning stages of 'falling in love'. A shot of this is like being bit by the 'happy love bug'.  In addition, this also helps to improve attention, concentration, memory, and he stabilization of mood swings.  Bluegreen Algae is also an excellent source of EPA and DHA (omega 3 Derivatives) that act as an anti-depressant

2.  Cold water fish(wild Salmon) and/or fish oil 

Cold water oily fish are an excellent source of EPA and DHA.  EPA and DHA are omega 3 derivatives that are found naturally in oily fish.  Research proves that fish oils that have a higher ratio of EPA:DHA is significant in effectively treating and reversing the effects of depression.  

3.  Saffron 

Research shows that saffron works just as effectively as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression - without the side effects! Crocin and safranal the two chemical compounds found in saffron that is reported to relieve depression by raising serotonin and other mood enhancing chemicals in the brain.

(http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/2010/03/emotional-eating---whats-your-mood-food.html)

Another great source of info is Mark's daily apple.

with great tips like ...

4. Avoid the stimulant cycle.

Caffeine, sugar, alcohol. Caffeine, sugar, alcohol. Many of us get trapped in the stimulant cycle. These substances temporarily give you a lift, but actually deplete and blunt valuable hormones in the long run. If you like caffeine, try to limit your java intake to one or two cups a day at the most. The same for alcohol. I recommend avoiding sugar completely.

3. Sleep right.

When we’re feeling down, it’s tempting to sleep, sleep and sleep some more. But quality sleep is far more important than quantity. Force yourself to get up early, but allow for a rejuvenating nap midday if you need it (just don’t exceed one hour). The same goes for stressed-out workaholics getting by on 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night. Find a way to get an extra hour (hey, that sounds like another Tuesday 10 to me!)

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/serotonin-boosters/#ixzz29TqvkL7C

And of course I can't leave out exercise!

10 minutes of walking ups the endorphins(feel good hormone) in the brain as well as all these benefits!!

http://visual.ly/anatomy-walking

For more information on bipolar and my search for a way to life with it please follow me.

If you have questions or want me to look into a topic please comment below.

All information on this site is personal please talk to a doctor or health provider about your situation and please NEVER stop taking your meds with out talking to a professional.

The blue rose
#bipolar #paleo #food #exercise

paleo ortho-molecular treatment

ok the title of the post is weird I know.

But its simple really I'm trying to give my body what it needs to right its self.

For me that's in part the paleo lifestyle. no gluten so no wheat, bread ect.... no milk this one for me is harder ....no legumes the easiest by far and no sugars or processed foods....what you can eat is things like lean meats veggies fish fruit nuts good oils like coconut olive and avocado.

I could do a whole post on paleo...

What I really want to talk about is this thing I stumbled on to called orthomolecular medicine. the basic idea is to treat a chemical imbalance in the brain with what the brain has to work with naturally so instead of anti psychotic synthetic drugs they use things like omega 3 fatty acids b3 also called niacin, vitamin c and so on.

I have watch documentaries like feed your head which includes appearances by Dr Hoffer, Margot Kidder(a bipolar patient without an episode for 11 years!!) and also masks of madness.

What I found almost floored me.

My medication isn't working and I was looking to heal not be sick and surviving but I wanted to HEAL.
Two doctors Called Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer had been healing people with their idea of letting the body heal itself by giving the body what it was lacking. Restoring balance.

Why was i never told this was an option? Was it cause there is no money to be made giving me this treatment? Or is it cause most think vitamins and minerals our body needs are dangerous i dont know.

If you find this page and have questions please ask in the comments and Ill answer as best i can.

I start this treatment soon and Ill post how it effects me side effects and any other information I can.

let me know your thoughts below.

the blue rose.

#bipolar #orthomolecular #food #hope #mentalillness #schizophrenia #paleo

Im alive!!!

Hi I know I know Iknow where di I go?

Moving house BAD BAD BAD BAD black waves and no way to get a medical review for 6 months!!! darn you bipolar type 2 rapid!!!!

So I have been looking off the beaten track for some hope....

here is what i found the Paleo diet this has helped alot!! no gluten, no dairy (still working on..) no potatos and no legume  eat lean meats eat veggies esp green ones eat some fruit n nuts and exercise(run walk cycle ect...)

the next thing is trying to get my sleep pattern under control (with two small kids) this si hard believe me,....

the next thing we are trying is something called Orthomolecular medicine.

Its an alternative medicine idea that the body needs more essential vitamins and minerals to heal so things like leaky gut(aka the gut lining is thinned and not got enough good bacteria to function so is letting things into the blood that shouldnt be there making you sick.) and even they claim bipolar can be healed.

I think anything to help is worth a shot. so Im going to try it. Ill let you know how this all works out for me.

I got to go make dinner now
so ttfn.

angels and demons

I just finished watching a program called enough rope with Andrew Denton where he tries to understand mental illness.

A few things catch my attention. One is that young carers have a lot more resources open to them if they can get to them. That is the drama I guess how many people out there don't know or haven't been exposed to the avenues to get the support and help?

 I know from my experience and those in my family that getting help is not an easily walked path. Both my parents have a mental condition and getting them help is stressful painful and down right scary.

My mum seems to be having a bad turn and I don;t know how to help her.

Even in my own life with a mental illness some times I don't know who to where to turn. You aren't given much information especially in the public system that is over stretched. I have heard of people with bipolar being given counselling and coping structures, what these are I don't know they were never offered to me.

But the good thing is I'm looking for them now that I know they are out there somewhere.

My ups and downs are maddening. Plans and promises I don't or can't keep due to this roller-coaster are something I want to end.

This blog is about struggle and a come back fight. About the struggle I face I might not write daily as I want to but I will write and I wont glam it up, personally I don't see the point.

So I'll let you know how I go finding support and more information of coping.

Thank you for following the mental illness fight.