Bipolar Disorder and Chemical Imbalance Fix - Is it Possible?

By Catherine Sinclair

What is Chemical Imbalance? Why does it happen? What can you do about it? These are the three most important questions concerning chemical imbalance theories held by many in the bipolar community and the medical profession today. Researchers have spent decades trying to get to the bottom of what causes common disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder etc. No one seems to know the exact causes of bipolar disorder. But many believe it be some form of chemical imbalance. Certain chemicals in the brain, lead to symptoms of physical and mental distress and disturbances. While the exact link between chemical imbalance and mental health disorders, have not been found, clinical studies and medical observations have been able to define a number of chemical deficiencies that occur in individuals who report experiencing symptoms related to ADD, ADHD, SAD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
What is Chemical Imbalance of the Brain?
Common chemical imbalances related to mental or emotional health disorders such as stated above include:

• Reduced availability of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, GABA and Acetylcholine
• Increased levels of neurochemicals such as Homocysteine which is very toxic
• Lower levels of serum Magnesium, Zinc or Potassium
• Deficient levels of essential vitamins like B6, B9, B12 and Vitamin-C
• Under supply of key co-factors like amino acids that are used to help transport neurotransmitter percursors into the blood-brain barrier
• Increased cortisol stress hormone levels.

Why Does Chemical Imbalance Happen?Virtually no one has the answer to why brain chemical imbalance happens. But we do know it occurs. Ask any medical professional the reasons and causes for bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders and their most likely answer would be "A chemical imbalance." It is because of this belief, of chemical imbalance, most medical professionals' first impulse is to prescribe an SSRI, MAOI or similar pharmaceutical "chemical balancer" to treat the condition. In today's world, pharmaceutical drugs play a key role in attempting to balance these brain chemicals. Most pharmaceuticals used only mask the underlying problem.
So unfortunately, in the majority of cases, the most important question has not been addressed.
What's Causing the Chemical Imbalance?
Why not look to nature for some answers to the cause of chemical imbalance to see if there is a solution there?
Nutrition:
We notice in nature that everything that grows feeds on some sort of nutrition to enhance its growth. Let's take a look at our nutrition today. Everyone one who reads about nutrition understands our food supply today simply does not provide the essential minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients they once did. How do we know? Well, let's look at the food we purchase in the local Super Mart.
I did a bit of an experiment with a bag of their vine ripen tomatoes. June 18, 2008 I dipped these tomatoes in different types of bottled, tap, and distilled waters to see what effect the water would have on the tomatoes. To my surprise 80 days later all the tomatoes (including the one "control" tomato I did NOT dip in any type of water) are still exactly the same as when I bought them from the Super Mart.
Now compare that with the tomatoes I picked from my own garden. My own garden tomatoes, if not used quickly, rotted within a week. That's because the tomatoes had live enzymes in them that supply our vitamins, trace minerals and such. The store bought tomato enzymes were killed, hence preserving the tomato, but causing it to be virtually deficient in nutrition. So it is easy to understand why the general population is lacking vital minerals, vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrient etc. Why? Because they are being wiped out in the processing plant before they hit the grocery market shelves.
Exercise:
Lack of exercise causes an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to depression. Also lack of exercise causes lack of oxygen and blood circulation which also contributes to chemical toxins and imbalances in the brain.
Water:
Today many people drink bottled water. Often times that bottled water is processed by reverse osmosis. Most people today do not realize this water is more detrimental to health than beneficial because its ph value measures 5.0. A ph value of 5.0 is very acidic causing the body's ph value to reduce considerable each time one drinks a bottle of the water. A lower ph value means trouble for your body because an acidic environment is the exact environment viruses and bad bacteria love. These unwanted viruses and bacteria result in physical and mental health diseases which cause further chemical imbalance of the brain.
Sunshine:
Lack of sunshine causes tremendous amounts of changes in the brain. For one it reduces your serotonin levels. Depletion of serotonin is considered the main neurotransmitter of depression.
Temperance:
In today's world, especially in the USA, we lack temperance. We eat too much or too little, sleep too much or too little, work and play too much or too, exercise too little or too much. We seem to lack balance. And balance is the key to a balanced life in mind, body and spirit.
Air:
Much of our air is polluted today especially in the larger cities. In seeking relief we use central air conditioning which results in positive ions being blown into our houses. If you think the air you breath has little to do with your physical or mental health, ask those whose children are suffering childhood allergies, cancers, mental health disorders and other diseases which were unheard of just a century ago.
Ever try breathing carbon monoxide? It can kill you. So with our air today as polluted as it is (and especially with central air conditioning infiltrating the very air we breath with positive ions) I believe causes many chemical changes in our bodies, minds and spirits. To maintain optimal health or bodies need to breath negative ions without residual ozone.
Sleep:
How did you sleep last night? Not everyone needs 8 hours of sound sleep but everyone needs sound undisturbed sleep! Lack of sleep causes chemical imbalances in the brain. Scientists have found people who suffer from sleep disorders produce low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine and acetylcholine.
Trust in a Higher Power:
Many do not believe in a God as the creator of the earth. Unfortunately for them. There are lots of scientific studies which advocate prayer allieveates depression. I will only quote one reference here. An article in the December 1998 issue of McCall's Magazine, notes a study done at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virgina in Richmond, studied 1,902 twins. They found that those who were committed to their spiritual lives tended to have less severe depression and lower risk of addiction to cigarettes or alcohol. The healthful lifestyles of the spiritually rich and faithful clearly contribute to their well being. It is also noted those who do not believe in a higher power suffer more frequently from depression and other mental and physical health disorders.
What Can We Do About It?

Eat more nutritious foods. Try to buy your foods directly from a farmer or at a farmers market. It would be best to purchase organic foods or try to raise some yourself. In doing so you get the extra sunshine that contributes, fresh air and magnetic energy from the earth, which helps you achieve your wellness and balance.

Get appropriate amounts of exercise. Even as little as a 7 minute walk away from the house and back again has great results in warding off depression. Exercise works against depression (caused by chemical imbalance) in a number of ways.1. By reducing the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to depression.
2. Restores One's sound sleep - raising energy levels by releasing endorphines, which are associated with good mood AND raises serotonin levels.

Drink water that is properly balanced at 7.0 ph value. This way when drinking 8-10 glasses a day of this refreshing live water (purified and infiltrated with magnetic and infrared energy) you maintain a balanced ph. Naturopathics insist that if one maintains a proper ph balance they can not harbor any disease at the same time.

Get sufficient sunshine. Appropriate amounts of unfiltered sunshine wake up your hypothalamus giving you a wonderful sense of well being. The hypothalamus' main function is maintaining the body's status quo. Factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance are held to a precise value or regulation by the hypothalamus. If your hypothalmus is not turned on by sunlight you experience low energy and feelings of sadness which consume your thoughts causing you to drag yourself from one small task to another with Herculean effort, accomplishing little. But unfiltered sunlight turns on your hypothalamus increasing production of serotonin levels.

Maintain temperance. Even the Bible tells us too much honey turns bitter in the tummy. So temperance is the key in a balanced life.

Breathe pure live air that's filled with an active electromagnetic field. Go camping in the mountains or find a air purifying system that offers not only pure filter air but one that puts back into the air that same electromagnetic field and infra red energy that produces negative ions, all of which are present in pure clean forest air. This live air invigorates your whole body and keeps your chemicals in balance.

Get your needed ZZZ's. Learn the natural ways to sleep well at night. Get a sleep mask, that will block out light pollution. Ear plugs that block out unwanted city noises. Maybe softly tune in a wilderness cd. Get a comfortable quality pillow, your dream pillow. Sleep on a quality mattress that is known to give you the best night's sleep you have ever known AND wake up fresh and ready to start a new day without aches and pains. What a wonderful feeling that is. A good night's sleep has the opposite effect of a poor night's sleep. It produces balanced levels of the much needed neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine.

Begin trusting in God. Prayer goes along way in making us feel connected and balanced. Experiments by water scientists show us the amazing restructure of the water molecules when blessed verses being cursed. With our bodies being comprised of 60-70% water how much then would prayer and blessings affect us in positive connective ways with the Creator of the Universe? Think about that awhile and get your chemical imbalance in balance to day.

Catherine Sinclair, PhD. is a licensed pastoral counselor and certified wellness consultant, specializing in the naturopathic approach of overcoming bipolar disorder symptoms and chemical imbalances in the brain. More detailed information can be found on [http://www.no-more-bipolar-disorder.com]

Why Addiction Relapse Is So Powerful

By Ben Brafman

Addiction relapse is the body's response to the cessation of addictive behavior. During relapse, the mind and body effectively unify in the pursuit of homeostatic regulation, or feelings of "normalcy." This unification culminates in a strong compulsion that can force treatment clients to pursue their addiction. The regulatory mechanisms at work are among the strongest that the brain can muster, so it is no surprise that it requires strong dedication and skill to avoid addiction relapse.
A woman in recovery must first understand the entirety of the relapse process in order to overcome it. The biological, social and emotional difficulties associated with relapse are multifaceted and reasonably complex, but with a little guidance every women can work through recovery and achieve success.
Understanding and Decreasing the Risk of Addiction Relapse
What is a Relapse?
Addiction relapse is often qualified by the actual reproduction of addictive behaviors following a period of cessation. Although this standard is correct, it fails to account for the entirety of the relapse process, which begins with cravings and ends with an addictive act.
Many women in recovery will often blame a lack of willpower for their relapses and cravings. Few understand that cravings signal an addiction that has not abated and still requires addressing. Willpower is a finite resource when denying addictive impulses. Cravings will eventually overcome an individual unless she is able to identify and actively work against those cravings and avoid addiction relapse. In order to begin the craving extinction process, the biological mechanisms at work during addiction must first be overcome.
The Biology of Addiction and Relapse
Addiction is a strong and powerful disease. Although addiction often has a genetic component, even genetically predisposed individuals can avoid falling prey to addiction through strong prevention efforts. Similarly, a person that lacks any genetic influence towards a particular addiction can still become addicted through repeated exposure.
Addiction relapse occurs when the removal of an addictive substance or behavior is accompanied by a lack of biological realignment. The brain will never cease in its pursuit of an addiction unless neurotransmitter production is brought back in line with healthy, homeostatically-regulated functioning.
Decreasing the Chances of Addiction Relapse
The brain's production and regulation of signals must be balanced before addictive cravings can cease. This can be done with cognitive behavioral therapy, one on one counseling and group therapy. In some cases medication can temporarily help ease the cravings, especially during the period of withdrawal. To decrease the chances of an addiction relapse, a woman must recognize that recovery is the most important aspect in her life and dedicate herself to constantly improving her relapse prevention skills.

Major Depressive Disorder and Suicide

By Joshua M Felts

It's a normal part of the human condition to be depressed from time to time. We all have those days where we feel melancholy and don't want to get out of bed. However, for some of us, like me, we suffer from major depressive disorder. Personally, it's been something I've been dealing with for the latter part of my adult life. I, like millions of other Americans, get therapy, take medications, and try to prevent becoming incapacitated by it. As an individual, with unique experiences, I'm not going to paint people suffering with my diagnosis with a broad brush. We're all different, feel differently, and cope differently.
However, if you're a clinician, like I am, we need to understand it. It isn't a disease to mess with, and it can, like cancer, prove deadly. I can't and won't speak for others suffering from major depressive disorder, but I can tell you a little bit about my personal story and how it almost ended my life. I have, many times, felt suicidal. If I had stayed in law enforcement, a profession where I would have had a loaded firearm strapped to my waist daily, I probably wouldn't be here today. I've contemplated suicide. I've thought about jumping off bridges, parking garages, and stepping into traffic. Hell, you name it, I've probably thought about it. When working with patients with diagnoses of major depressive disorder, or bi-polar disorder, it's important to watch out for your patients.
When you're with them, watch their mood. Do they seem depressed? Do they lack appetite? Do they want to stay in bed? Do they feel hopeless? Do they talk about death? Did they start giving their personal belongings away? Did they suddenly get happy?
Many clinicians don't understand mental illness. It's complex, something we can't pin-point like a broken bone or heart disease. Still, just because we can't see it on an x-ray doesn't mean it isn't there. We're responsible for our patients: physically, mentally, and spiritually. If we overlook our patient's mental illness, we're not doing our jobs effectively. Largely, suicide can be avoided. I avoided it, as my family and friends were there for me when I needed them. My healthcare team was there for me when I needed them. I owe my life to my healthcare team, my friends, and my family. If they weren't here for me, I wouldn't be here, it's that simple.
If you're a medical-surgical nurse, don't just write your patient off as crazy, please remember your professional role, and try to empathize with them. Remember, there is a physiological explanation for this illness. Sure, they may be needy, but they're needy because they're trying to tell you something: they have an unmet need.

If you like my article, please feel free to stop by my blog at http://www.joshuafeltsrn.com.

Coping With Depression - Kick Start Your Life Again

By Karen A Crossett

Depression with all its consequences is on the increase.
Coping with depression is more than dealing with feeling low or blue, it's a major disease and it's sapping the life out of those suffering from it.
More and more people are experiencing that heavy dark cloud engulfing them in a reality of hopelessness and helplessness.
Glib remarks like "pull yourself together" "look at all you have" "Try and get on with it" or "kick start your life again" just don't cut it with the depressed person. If it was that easy they would do it. And the fact they can't follow your advice can make them feel even worse.
What would it be like, if you suddenly became lethargic and your life lost all interest for you? You preferred to stay in bed all day, because you were afraid to get up. What would it be like if life was a struggle, and there was no comfort or joy anywhere?
Many individuals are dragging themselves through their lives, coping with depression and every task experienced as a momentous burden.
And yet is it possible to stop coping with depression and really take action to kick start your life again.
Try these methods and see for yourself.
Ask yourself the question, "Am I better coping with depression or am I better kick starting my life again?"
The answer seems obvious, stop coping with depression, but it entails a commitment, a belief, that you can do it.
Can you do it? Do you want to do it?
If you do then-
Acknowledging you are depressed is important.
Many individuals believe that there is a stigma to depression, a thought that people will see them as weak or failing in some way. But depression is experienced by 1 in 4 of our population. Millions of pounds are being spent on anti-depressant drugs each year. It is a fact that life can get too much for anyone. Taking responsibility for your mental health is a big plus. Remember - stop neglecting yourself - mind matters.
STOP what you are doing and take time out.
If you continue to do the same thing over and over again you will get the same result! Take time to relax, let go, unwind and allow yourself to heal. If you take time off work, enjoy it. Don't feel guilty about what is not being done, or thinking you are letting people down, this is you taking action to kick start your life again. Think of this as a period of transformation. Your body is telling you that you have to make changes in your life, and you are up for the challenge.
Get Support:
This might be in the form of medication, counselling, a support group or a close caring friend. Find the support that you are comfortable with. Trust is a big issue here, as you want to have the freedom to talk to someone who understands and can help you through this depression.
Implement what you learn:
Taking massive action brings massive changes - taking small steps leads to big changes. It is all about making those small, simple changes and reaping the benefits. You can think of it as the 20-80 rule. Twenty percent change, eighty percent benefit.
Self-care:
Your body needs nourishment and energy. So give yourself the best chance by eating good healthy food, including Omega 3s. and drinking fresh clean water. Build up a routine. Sleep deeply and before you get up out of bed, visualize what you are going to do that day. Include exercise in to the routine. Try and find an activity that you would enjoy, if you can't at this stage, just open the front door and walk into nature, connect with the outside world, look and listen and breath. You are alive. Life is waiting for you.
Self Management:
Learn the golden triangle. What we think, generates an emotion, and the emotion motivates a physical response. Keep a mood diary and identify emotional triggers, implement the golden triangle. Events in our lives do not cause our deep emotional disturbances, it is our thoughts, beliefs, attitude to the event that is important. Whatever has happened in your life, a change in your thought pattern, can release old hurts, wounds, grief, shame. No one gets through life without challenges. Those challenges can help us grow into a strong, compassionate, conscious individual.
Kick start your life and stop coping with depression.l.

Karen has developed smart thinking - successful outcomes. Explore the power of thought to enrich your life with confidence, happiness and success.
If you would like to explore with me, check out karencrossett.com

Mental Health

 

Mental health is a crucial dimension of overall health and an essential resource for living. It influences how we feel, perceive, think, communicate and understand. Without good mental health, people can be unable to fulfil their full potential or play a active part in everyday life. Mental health issues can address many areas, from enhancing our emotional well-being, treating and preventing severe mental illness to the prevention of suicide.
Provincial and territorial governments have primary jurisdiction for the planning and delivery of mental health services in Canada. The federal government, primarily through Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, collaborates with the provinces and territories in a variety of ways to develop responsive, coordinated and efficient mental health service systems.
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada support mental health research, develop programs and policies designed to promote and support the needs of people with mental health problems and disorders.

What Information is Available?

In this section, you will find information about the promotion of mental health, evaluation of mental health programs and services in Canada and the mental health issues, problems and disorders encountered by Canadians.
The Public Health Agency of Canada's Mental Health Web site provides a range of online materials related to:

• Mental Health Promotion
• Mental Health Problems and Disorders
• Mental Health Service Systems

Related Resources

• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Mental Health - Coping With Stress - It's Your Health
• Responding to Stressful Events - Coping with the Stress of Terrorism and Armed Conflict (2002)
• Depression in Pregnancy
• Mental and Behavioural Health Issues
• Mental Health - Anxiety Disorders - It's Your Health
• Mental Health - Depression - It's Your Health
• Mental Health - Mental Illness - It's Your Health
• Suicide Prevention - It's Your Health
• Mental Health Promotion
• Prime Minister launches national Mental Health Commission
• Suicide Prevention in First Nations

Current Thinking Regarding Bipolar Disorder Treatment

 

  By Chris Borg

 

If you are someone who is suffering from bipolar disorder, then you probably already know how important it is that you obtain regular bipolar disorder treatment in order to keep the condition under control. There are many people who suffer from this affliction and the truth is that some of these individuals have no one to talk to when they feel really sad.
One of the treatment requirements is to get professional help as soon as possible. Just talking a health care practitioner will start the healing process. In between office visits, you should always have a good friend or someone you can talk to. Someone who can listen to you, understand you and offer you guidance. A parent can often fill this role, especially if they have also been touched by bipolar disorder.
Some of the time, the bipolar disorder will appear as a result of a very great fear. People tend to harbor deep feelings about worldly events, so if something is troubling you, it is possible that you begin to fear all things related to this event which in turn manifests itself as depression. The opposite is also true in that you may go on a heightened binge such as excessive buying or other irrational activity in order to escape from an inevitable event.
Bipolar disorder has been shown to be transmitted genetically. So if your parent had it, there is a good chance that you will develop it in your lifetime. This is probably due to the fact that the root cause of this affliction seems to be due to neurotransmitter imbalance. As this is part of everyone's makeup, it points to the genetic link just mentioned.
There are multiple factors that will make your condition better. Getting involved in some good social activity, or more than one activity will help immensely. Just having people to talk to, will keep your mind occupied and away from thoughts that might hurt you. Talk with your parents and other relatives as often as possible. The social side of life is a very important bipolar disorder treatment for those suffering with this disorder.
Find a good doctor to work with. They might offer a prescription to help the mood swings, once the diagnosis has been set. The medications will stabilize the three most common neurotransmitters that have been implicated with bipolar disorder. They are dopamine, seratonin and nor-epinephrine. In time, your bipolar disorder treatment will allow you to regain a normal life. The key to the whole regimen is acknowledging the disorder and getting help. Do it today for a better tomorrow!

Chris is a practicing pharmacist who writes on health care topics. You can see Chris's latest website on Manic Depressive Free and learn all about the symptoms, treatment and related information such as Manic Depressive Treatment and much more.

Discover 6 Amazing Ways to Recognize Depression

 

By Dr Jitesh Arora

 

Depression is a mental illness that is spoken about in hushed tones all over the world. This is hardly the right approach towards diagnosing and treating the illness. If you are worried that you yourself or someone you love is depressed, learning about ways to recognize depression is a very good idea. This article will help you discover 6 amazing ways to recognize depression.
1. Sudden change in weight
A lot of depressed people have reportedly lost interest in eating and food, making them susceptible to weight loss all of a sudden. Though a sudden loss of weight may be a way to diagnose depression, a sudden gain too may point in the same direction. When a person is depressed, she may use food to fill an emotional void, making her gain a lot of weight in a short span of time.
2. Do Not Ignore Physical Manifestations of Depression
Though not a lot of people are aware of this, but the truth is that depression has physical manifestations. Depressed people are prone to complain a lot about aches, pains and body troubles. This happens because a depressed mental state may result in eating disorders and avoidance of physical activity, which again may lead to a weak immune system and a resulting array of physical ailments.
3. Irritability and Anger
If someone you know is displaying a short fuse time and again, it may be more than just about having a bad day. He may be suffering from depression. Irritability and anger are symptoms of a depressive nature. Depression leads to frustration which may be expressed as irritability. Little things can act as triggers to the anger that has the power to ruin anyone's day.
4. Loss of libido
A lack of interest in anything to do with sex is another way to recognize depression. Of course, loss of libido may be attributed to a variety of factors, but depression may also be the reason. For someone in a loving relationship to withdraw from sexual contact completely may be a symptom of an illness of the mind.
5. Problems with Maintaining a Professional Attitude at the Workplace
A person who is suffering from depression may find it difficult to motivate himself to go to work every day. He may have trouble getting out of bed in the mornings and as a result is late to work almost every day. This is a symptom worth drawing a conclusion from.
6. Trouble Concentrating
Persons who are depressed may have trouble concentrating on the smallest of tasks. A mother may stop midway while packing her son's lunch for school or a salesperson may find it difficult to concentrate on arranging a bookshelf at a bookstore.
However, the most important thing to remember about depression is that it is treatable. so if you are facing some of the signs and symptoms mentioned above then it is a smart idea to seek help.

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