treatments Archives - Page 2 of 11 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

The Problem with Mental Health Apps in 2022

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 8, 2022

There are major problems with mental health apps. I hate to be a Negative Nancy about it, but there are. According to a webcast, I watched recently called BlogHer, there are more than 10,000 mental health apps in the app store right now. This must be a good thing, right? Well, I would argue that quality is much more important than quantity in the mental health space. We are talking about your health here. It would be nice to put that in the hands of people who know what they’re doing. But I would argue that 10,000 mental health apps certainly can’t claim that.

New, Unique Sleep Medication — Dayvigo, Lemborexant

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 11, 2021

A new and unique sleep medication is typically welcomed by the mentally ill population because those with mental illness (particularly mood disorders) tend to also have sleep problems like insomnia. However, a sleep medication that works in a unique way hasn’t been introduced in years: util lemborexant (Dayvigo), that is. Lemborexant is an insomnia medication that works on orexin receptors, which in and of themselves are actually a new-ish discovery. Read on for how lemborexant could be useful and why you might even consider switching.

You Can’t Change Your Thoughts or Feelings (No Matter How Much CBT You Do)

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 5, 2021

You can’t change how you think and you can’t change what you feel. These are truisms. I know that some people (such as some who believe strongly in cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) might tell you different, but honestly, these people are wrong. These people are misunderstanding the situation. After dealing with bipolar disorder — a disordered and out-of-control brain — for more than two decades, I can attest to having tried very hard to change how I feel and think. However, the impossibility of this has become imminently clear to me.

Exercise and Bipolar — Evidence and My Experience

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 2, 2019

Many suggest that exercise can help with bipolar disorder. For those of us with severe bipolar disorder, this is a bit frustrating. After all, if you can’t get out of bed, taking a brisk jog is right out of the question. And I’m a stellar example of someone who has always hated exercise — before bipolar and now with bipolar disorder. I’m also someone who has tried to exercise over and over again with great failure as a result. So today I want to talk about the evidence of exercise in bipolar disorder and my past year-and-a-half attempt to exercise.

Bipolar, Depression and Diet — The Evidence

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 23, 2019

Can your diet actually impact your depression or bipolar disorder? This is the question. While people claim that certain diets do help with mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder, the evidence just hasn’t been there. About the only thing the research can say is that eating an unhealthy, processed diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies and this can make mental illness outcomes worse. That’s it. And that makes perfect sense. But can your diet actually improve your bipolar disorder, depression or other mental health issue? Here’s what we know today.

Treatment of Bipolar in Children: Lithium – Good or Bad Idea?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jul 9, 2018

Childhood bipolar disorder is a scary proposition and that’s what makes the treatment of bipolar disorder in children so critical. I recently came across a Psychiatric Times article by Chris Aiken, MD that talks about treating children with bipolar disorder with lithium and I wanted to outlay the research findings Dr. Aiken talks about as well as my own thoughts.

Can You Be Fat and Happy on Bipolar Medication?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jan 9, 2018

For many of us, we are expected to be fat and happy on bipolar medication. This is because many...

Turmeric – Possible New, Inexpensive, Depression and Anxiety Treatment

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Mar 19, 2017

Turmeric (curcumin) may be a new, inexpensive depression and anxiety treatment. It’s early days on this one, but it’s worth noting because it is so available and inexpensive. Here is where the research is on turmeric as a treatment for depression and anxiety.

Antipsychotics Should Be Used for Non-Psychotic Depression Treatment

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Feb 6, 2017

While some disagree, it’s important that people understand that antipsychotics need to be used for non-psychotic depression treatment, when appropriate.

At any one time, 14 million people suffer from depression but only 60-70% of these people respond to antidepressant treatment. Of those who do not respond, 10-30% exhibit treatment-resistant symptoms including “difficulties in social and occupational function, decline of physical health, suicidal thoughts, and increased health care utilization.” Treating these people presents a huge issue for healthcare practitioners and one of the options they consider is the use of a medication class known as antipsychotics.

Recently, a group called the Therapeutics Initiative wrote a letter entitled Antipsychotics should not be used for non-psychotic depression. Their conclusions are as the title suggests: this body found little evidence to support the use of antipsychotics in the treatment of non-psychotic major depressive disorder.

And while I respect the work of this body and while they have considered some evidence (in the case of quetiapine [Seroquel], an antipsychotic), there is more to consider on the issue.