(Preread: What is EMPowerplus by Truehope?)
I’m not doing well. I haven’t been doing well for a long time. It’s quite simple really, every day I fight the bipolar and at the moment, the bipolar is winning.
And when this happens I know what I have to do. I know I have to find an effective treatment. In my 15 years of being treated for bipolar disorder, I can tell you what pulls me out of a depression: medication. Nothing else ever has. Ever. I’ve done everything (believe me) and nothing works except finding the right bipolar medication. I know people don’t want to believe this, but it’s true.
But unfortunately for me, we’re out of bipolar meds. My doctor is out of ideas. I have no good ideas either. If I wanted a drug, my doctor would give it to me, but there’s simply nothing to want because there’s nothing with any evidence behind it that I haven’t tried. And there’s no combination (or combination of combinations) that I haven’t been on. Really.
And the other night I was in my apartment, suicidal as you please, and I desperately decided to try this EMPowerplus stuff. Because, according to some anecdotal evidence and case studies, it appears to have worked for a few people.
Why Take EMPowerplus by Truehope for Bipolar?
So why am I taking EMPowerplus by Truehope? Not because I believe it will work but simply because I have to try something. This life, as it stands today, is unacceptable and if I change nothing then nothing will ever change. It’s just plain, old, simple logic: I’m trying it because trying something is better than trying nothing at all.
Do You Support Others Trying EMPowerplus by Truehope?
It’s very important that you understand that I’m not recommending this “treatment” in any way. For all I know, this is a dangerous formula that could hurt you. I can’t say that it is and I can’t say that it isn’t (Even the Truehope people warn of “dangerous drug interactions,” although I consider that claim dubious, more on that later). So don’t even think about doing it because, “if Natasha tried it, then it must be okay.” Believe me, if I was counselling you right now, I would tell you to try evidence-based practices. What you do is always up to you but I’ll always take (and always recommend) treatments with the best evidence, and this ain’t one of them.
A Bad Experience with EMPowerplus by Truehope
And just in case you think I’m being too dire, consider this letter that was sent to Dr. Jim Phelps (unsolicited):
i am a former i guess you would say empower plus guinea pig. i turned to it when i was told i was treatment resistant to meds, which i was clearly: they only worsened my symptoms. After researching true hope and many testimonials about people who had recovered i decided it was my last chance. Slowly they weaned me off what meds i was still on and put me on their program. Each time i called and told them i was still clearly rapid cycling and getting worse they blamed it on something else: it was the seroquel withdrawal, i wasn’t absorbing it, i needed to add insositol, choline, take lithium orotate, so months went by and money down the toilet, my symptoms worsened i became more suicidal. But since meds clearly hadn’t worked i stuck with them for over a year at two hundred dollars a month. Every time i called to see if i could talk to someone that knew what was going on, i was told it wasn’t possible. When i demanded they let me talk to one of the doctors or people in charge they said they had waiting lists and i didn’t qualify, so basically i was getting advice from a call centre of people who were taking the product apparently with good results but were not in a position to help others. When i was honest about my situation on the message boards they took my account away and said i might scare potential customers.
So eventually i went off true hope [which] caused me to have no hope, and so i wasted a year on a product that gave hope but had no backing.
i am sure you have heard many stories like mine i don’t know if you are still fighting them but thanks for trying.
sick people will do anything when desperate and there will always be people to take your money , but clearly what they are doing is inhumane . . .
And that is exactly what I fear will happen to people who try EMPowerplus, only unlike the person who wrote the letter, I fear that some people won’t live to tell the tale.
So I’m taking it out of desperation, but not because I have any thought of it being a miracle, but just because it’s another treatment to cross off my very long list of attempts. At least I can say I tried.
* Note: someone asked me if anyone is paying me for this. No one is. I’m paying for the supplements personally.
I have used True Hope with success, although I only have needed 4 capsules a day to manage my condition of mostly Clinical Deppression, and Anxiety. (I also take fish oils, Adaptenogeic herbs for energy, and extra b vits each day religiously). I had this condition since I was a teen. Meds worked but only for a time. True hope truly worked amazingly for me. I had a head injury recently though, and some of the symptoms mimic mental illness, really tough to start to feel better for once in my life and have a new set back. People please be well. What ever you choose that you believe in and that works for your body-it is best that you are well, and have loving supportive people around you who also can bring you hope.
Hi,
I am so sorry you are having such a hard time finding a medication that will work for you. Although I am not bipolar, my father was, but I am ADHD and have suffered from depression and anxiety. The fear of my drugs no longer working was what drove me to look up alternatives and I’ll say this, I don’t know what I would have done if I had not found EMPower Plus through my psychiatrist. The transition was not easy and it took a long time and without the advice, consultation and experience of my doctor, it would not have happened.
If you were trying to take EMPower without the help of a doctor nor using the consulting services of Truehope, I am not surprised that you did not have a good result. I felt hopeless and since the transition of weaning off my drugs and onto these supplements and many others in addition took almost 6 monthsI am not surprise (but so sorry ) that you did not see any good effects during the short time you tried them. Yes I agree, going off drugs can be a scary thing and should not be done lightly or without professional supervision and support. Like I said, I am not bipolar, but have still had a very difficult time with my own mental healthy issues. But EMPower along with other supplements for mood stabilization have really turned my life around and with no other side effects. I have been on these for 7 years.
I wish you all the luck in the world in finding out what will hopefully work for your long term
Also, you called EMPowerplus “non evidence based”. The Cochrane library doesn’t agree with you.
Do you have a link to the relevant article, please? I have searched ‘EMPowerplus’ on their website but can’t find anything.
The Cochrane Library shows two controlled trials… one for pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders and the other in adults with ADHD treated with a vitamin-mineral supplement.
Lets look into how that went: In the pediatric category
SUBJECTS:
Ten (10) children, age 6-12 with BPSD, were enrolled in 6.5 months. Seven (7) participants completed the full trial. Three (3) dropped out due to palatability and/or adherence issues.
CONCLUSIONS:
Future randomized, placebo-controlled trials of EMP+ are warranted and feasible. (Apparently no future trials were done from what I can see)
In the adults with ADHD category “We conducted analyses of data from a randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) of 80 adults (≥16years) with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), whereby participants were treated acutely (8weeks) with micronutrients or placebo followed by an open-label (OL) phase of 8weeks whereby all participants received micronutrients. ” and also, “We conducted analyses of data from a randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) of 80 adults (≥16years) with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), whereby participants were treated acutely (8weeks) with micronutrients or placebo followed by an open-label (OL) phase of 8weeks whereby all participants received micronutrients. ” Apparently, only 64/80 of the participants adhered to the trials.
CONCLUSIONS:
Further research looking at nutrients more broadly is required to confirm these initial observations about ferritin, vitamin D and copper; however, the results suggest that serum nutrient levels have limited value for identifying who will respond to treatment.
—————————————————————
So from what I am reading, they did a few studies on 10 children (3 of whom dropped out) and on 80 adults for 8 weeks. It was concluded that the product has limited value. They did not do subsequent trials but started promoting it for Bi-polar and whatever other conditions they market it for despite not having done clinical trials on bi-polar patients of all ages; rather, on 7 children with bi-polar spectrum disorders (smh at whomever let their child take random pharmaceuticals) and 80 adults who had ADHD.
I don’t know the company or the product but they make some pretty broad claims, IMO, that have not been backed up by any scientific studies outside of their own. Don’t get me wrong, I am not attacking companies who make products with micro-nutrients or amino acids in them and saying they are all quacks. I personally take an amino acid called Sarcosine and I would recommend it as a mood enhancer etc… I don’t think there were any trials, I don’t know, but if you have a product that does what it claims to do then you don’t need to worry about random clinical trials because it works and nobody is complaining.
The problem is that even Health Canada is warning against this product, EMPower, and articles have been published about the harm it can cause and warning consumers against taking medical advice from their non-registered “Doctors”.
In short, you really should do more research before trying to defend a company with limited proof. And the Cochrane Library, if it has any value or worth in any health related matter (I have never heard of them so I don’t know), has two articles that don’t give credence to your claims.
http://www.truehope.com/research any research on Empowerplus would be here.
So what you’re saying is that I can set up a website and create a research page and fill it with “research” that is not published anywhere other then my site and that goes against health regulations (keep in mind that Health Canada has warned people against this company) and that would be okay? Yeah… no thanks. I have no issue researching on the companies website but they are biased so I like to do research elsewhere too. I stand by my entire statement above and the companies website isn’t going to change that.
The links on the page point to medical journals…
And the conclusion for the one I chose to click says: “The data are limited by the open label nature of the study, the lack of a control group, and the inherent self-selection bias. ” Sure it is followed by some positive comments but the first comment says it all. I need not read more. For legal purposes, the link I clicked was http://www.truehope.com/research/study/11
First, you are BEAUTIFUL! How are you doing on the EmpowerPlus? Please stick with it for 90 days at the least… there are many other things that could need to be adjusted. If you have taken any psych meds you need to get your tummy healthy so that it can absorb the nutrients. I would love to visit with you … you are welcome to contact me. Also, remember, you didn’t get sick overnight and you won’t get well overnight…. it is a work in progress, there will be ups and downs. Commit to see it thru… You can do this, you aren’t alone! Stay beautiful and strong!
Shoot me a message… I have hope for you!
what are you selling Tammy…? Empower plus and this….. Just amazing…. Another pyramid schemer?
http://tammyt.myqxlife.com/
oops.
Michael,
You are misinformed. I am not selling anything… I saw this beautiful girls story and it resonates with mine and many others. I have finally found relief and I LOVE people… My question to her is if she is getting good results … Nothing I said was directed towards you or anyone else. I don’t have anything to sell, I give my heart freely to those in need of support. We are here to help each other not to make this journey any harder.
I was once involved in a pyramid scheme, I worked for corporate america. I was a nurse in a hospital that worked me nights, days, weekends and holidays while the big wigs at the top had salaries and a nice 9-5 with weekend and holidays off… I was the slave to a time clock while the guys at the top of the pyramid racked in the bucks… I chose to be my own boss and I decide how much time and when I will work… I chose freedom!
While I appreciate your negativity because it allows me to rise above it, my concern was for a beautiful young lady who is struggling. I am here to discuss what has worked for me, offer a shoulder as I TOTALLY get what she is experiencing. If you are here to ridicule you picked the wrong person… I’m a lover not a fighter!
http://tammyt.myqxlife.com/ top right hand corner… Tammy Thompson…. View profile.. Oh my its you….
Products
Our innovative, science- backed products use micronutrient technology to Purify, Optimize and Protect both your mind and body.
Opportunity
Earn income six ways with the most fair, flexible and financially rewarding compensation plan in the industry.
LOL… YOU are So smart!
So because SO many people have noticed the difference in me in the past 18 months I choose to share what has changed my life and that offends you?
I’m not selling anything! I have given more Q96 away than I have ever sold… because IT WORKS!…. when I registered to communicate on here with ONE person and ONE person only it asked for a website…
Thank you for checking it out tho… I do appreciate it! From your comments I’d say that this product could greatly benefit you as well… It promotes Calm, Clarity and Coping… LOL
Thanks for the giggles Michael… Blessings
Hello Tammy, I am interested to hear exactly what has worked for you! Please share. juliajube@hotmail.com
What about thyroid medication? Even if you are not Hypothyroid, sometimes a small dose of thyroid med helps. And the Ketamine injection for rapid remission of depression symptoms seems promising, or ECT? I’ve read lots of your posts, can’t remember if you’ve tried ECT.
I really hope you are one of the people who is able to say this helps. There is a clinic in Chicago that does intense inpatient intervention with altering your entire sleep/wake cycle, and they seem to have decent results for depression. I contacted them to see if they would accept Canadian patients, they haven’t emailed me yet.
Maybe worth a try?
I know I am in the minority but here goes. I was on depression and bp medication for close to 30 years. I have been on empower plus for almost two years. It works. I am no longer on any medication whatsoever.
I think the real issue is transitioning from meds. That is extremely difficult to do depending on what you are on. That is the reason they are checking on you so much at the beginning – they know this and it isn’t easy.
Is my life perfect now? No, but my moods are fully stabilized – that’s enough for me.
RIGHT ON! This product has literally saved my life!
I hope this isn’t too invasive, but reading your post made me wonder are you anemic? or do you have any stomach or GI Track issues?
Incidentally stress induces excess adrenaline and cortisol response, which is part of the norepinephrine and epinephrine chain of neurotransmission. The end of that chain is dopamine which rewards you from overcoming stress, but in the process also induces mania. Remembering that is important post-mortem tool to employ.
I have found natural herbs and micronutrients control my bipolar very well. It took a decade of self-discovery figuring out what works why.
Long story short, natural treatments don’t burn out neurotransmitter (NT) receptors. That is why most meds don’t work after a period of time. There are half a dozen classes of serotonin, for example. Switching meds essentially burns out your various classes of NT receptors. Over time, all meds lose effect.
My basic framework currently is to keep a balanced and full NT “ink cartridge” levels akin to ink jet printers. Lose one color and the printer is unable to render a full fidelity colorful picture.
St John’s Wort at low doses is a good start. At high doses, it can induce mania. At the right dose it is a reuptake inhibitor for serotonin, dopamine, to adenosine. More importantly, it also helps spare NT burnout and can actually engender neurogenesis of new receptors.
Taurine is also a great GABA modulator which is effective at ameliorating manic episodes and keeping them at bay. Tablet forms afford a sustained release effect that is quite long-lasting, for example.
Saffron is a subtle but effective repute inhibitor for serotonin. And to complete the circuit effectively, I also take serotonin precursors like tryptophan and coenzyme B6.
Rapid cycling is a consequence of excess norepinephrine which in turn is a precursor to dopamine. That is what makes one feel so good as part of parcel of the mania.
The key for mitigating rapid cycles is to up one’s serotonin rebalancing the ratio of serotonin to dopamine. Serotonin modulates and restrains dopamine, at the right levels.
Another thing to consider is fish oil. The little known fact, which is what killed me for the longest time, is to moderate the intake of EPA, copper, and vanadium.
Long story short, EPA is a component of fish oil that is a great anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory but when taken in excess spurs mania. I would obtain algae based omega-3s high in DHA instead. Copper and vanadium are common micronutrients in multivitamins. Anything of 1mg of copper will induce mania predictably for me, for ex. Any trace amounts of vanadium will do the same over time. Minimize these bits and see what happens.
Lastly, take a quality multivitamin like Megafood’s One Daily and intake a good dose of magnesium. Magesium threonate increases neurogenesis. I usually take 400mg of magnesium daily even in oxide form with food works just fine; no need to buy $$$ forms you see adverted everywhere. Plus 150mg of threonate. You should also consider taking coenzymated B-vitamins that engender a healthy NT lifecycle.
A side effect of keeping one’s serotonin “cartridge” topped off is you also eat less. It modulates appetite quite well. Another thing to keep in mind is to cut down on white/blue light especially via your computer screen. There’s a free app at justgetflux.com that strips out blue light leaving one with orange candlelight. Otherwise, blue light will prevent serotonin from converting into melatonin which is how one gets drowsy and sleeps, and will induce manic behavior boosting dopamine/norepinephrine levels.
I hope you do better. It took me a span of a decade to figure and trial this out, and essentially stricken this bipolar imbalance out of my life. There is hope. As a former rapid cycler, I can attest to how frustrating it is not know whether something is working; the euphoria clouds so much of your perception and senses.
P.S. I would take a low dose of St John’s Wort every other day to see its effects on your mania. Usual dose is 300mg that I take every other day. You may want to start at 50mg every other day to see how it goes. That, the threonate, and Omega-3 DHA (algae like 1gram a day of Neuromin) will help recover your NT receptors so crucial for our sense of well-being. The trick is to take the right amount so your reuptake inhibition of dopamine doesn’t induce mania.
Ps your bravery/guts/planning approach is an inspirational one.
I’m cyclothymic/ bp2 & take heart from that.
Hi Natasha,
Could be wrong, but would one of jim Phelps pieces of advice be to go back to something that worked before without an ad? Beyond that, why not try whatever although r/c versions may be harder to treat per we?
Hi Natasha, If I could ask you a personal question, w/o your going into personal detail, -may I ask (before you were diagnosed & feeling really ill) if you’ve ever had such a traumatic experience that you might blame it on the onset of this illness?
I ask b/c so many bipolar people I’ve talked to and known, have experienced extreme trauma(s) in the course of their lives that they were unable to cope with. It makes me wonder, if we are people who are unable to ‘let go’ of the pain?
A yes or no would even help. Thanks Natasha. I wish you a Merry Christmas or happy holiday/New year and health, always health! xxoo
Hi Stevie,
I definitely don’t think an event brought the onset of symptoms, in my case, although prolonged exposure to a (perhaps unhealthy and even traumatic) stressful life (when I was younger) I’m sure, didn’t help.
What you have to understand is that experiencing a trauma increases your risk of developing a mental illness if you genetically predisposed to it. So the reason you see so many people with a trauma in their background is because the trauma was a contributing factor, but not the _cause_ per se, of the illness.
People typically have many contributing factors and, yes, a trauma can be one. (For example, science has now shown that a traumatic birth can be a contributing factor to developing a mental illness.)
– Natasha Tracy
Hi Natasha,
I’m so sorry to hear about how difficult a time you’re going through right now. I follow you on facebook and read some of your articles from time to time (I have Bipolar II and have been in treatment for it for many years) but I don’t recall reading anything you’ve written about your experience in therapy… do you have a therapist (Psy.D.) as well or just a psychiatrist (when you mention your doctor I assume you mean your psychiatrist)?
Hi Rebecca,
I don’t currently have a therapist although have had many and have had more years of therapy than I wish to recall. Don’t get me wrong, I recommend it for people but it’s lost its usefulness for me, by a long shot.
– Natasha Tracy
I find that really interesting… my psychiatrist always says that therapy is every bit as important as taking medication, and just as much a part of the treatment and management of bipolar, so it’s just interesting to me that you don’t feel that way. Obviously everybody is different but I know for me having two people as part of my arsenal, and even just having therapy as part of a routine, a way to check in, etc, is so imperative especially when I’m having episodes (my meds do me a world of good by I still cycle sometimes.) You know yourself best of course, it just surprises me that you feel like therapy isn’t a necessary portion of the treatment and management of bipolar.
I really hope you find the new treatment works for you!!!
Much love,
Rebecca
It doesn’t work for me, either. Talking stuff out doesn’t help how I am feeling when there is no psychological basis for my mood, and as for the cognitive therapy ‘tool kit’, that’s fine as long as you remember what are the tools and remember also to use them! Cognitive therapy might be more useful if I had an open ended deal with a therapist, but that’s not financially viable!
Oh Natasha, this is terrible. I just want to mention a couple of things. There is an amino acid in meat that is a contributor to depression in the same way that Omega 3 oils contribute to well being……. I just found that out myself so I am going to reduce my meat consumption to see if there is an improvement. Also, lithium orotate – has anyone had any experience with this? Maybe it is part of the TrueHope supplements?
Margaret…. Lithium Oratate is not in this magical elixir.
Hello. I just wanted to comment because i feel that desparation too. Also, i was catching up on your blog and came upon another post where you referenced this one. You are an inspiration ro me for sooo many reasons. You opening up about this makes me feel more hopeful , not less. Bipolar is never ending battle. You saying that youre not doing well, out of almost every otion, but STILL trying at all costs. Inspires me even more deeply. Best reminder for actual survival of my illness, never give up. I needed this reminder. For me, my symptoms are worsening, doing more things like self harm then ever. Suicidal thoughts rampet. 11 yrs of this, i know i need a med change. but got scared, my therapist didnt even suggest it. I havent been with her long. But i know myself way more then she, or anyone! Luckily my pysciatrist believes that and works with me, listens to what i think about meds. So yes, i needed to hear about the fight and courage you have.Thank you for your honesty as always!
I know chronic depression is excruciating and sucks. I sympathize with your pain, but I hope you continue to find ways to hang on. Even though it doesn’t always seem like psychology and psychiatry are making progress, information from new research is coming in very rapidly and advances in information technology in the area of “big data” hold great promise for teasing new and useful knowledge and understanding out of our ocean of facts.
If you can hang in there, chances are high that there will be breakthroughs that will be effective at relieving your pain and restoring to you the capacity for enjoyment of life.
I can’t make it not hurt, but I can join the whole throng of us keeping our fingers crossed that better treatments will come soon. For neurotypical people, hope is a feeling. For folks like us, hope is a choice. Some days it’s the hardest choice to make, but I wish you the best success at continuing to choose to try.
When all else fails, stubbornness is the ultimate survival virtue. Stay strong.
Great comments Julie,
I love your notion that hope is a choice. I agree. In fact, I think I’ll steal your phrase (sorry, I’m an artist, we do things like that).
And don’t worry, I’m a seriously stubborn person. Maybe why I’m still alive :)
– Natasha Tracy
Hi Natasha. I’m so sorry to hear that the medications that formerly worked for you do not help you any longer. I have type 2. I was on P****, with other stuff, for years and it helped me—until it quit working for me and they had to try me on Z**** with other stuff. This was about a year or two ago.
Medications becoming ineffective scares me, so I read up and talked to my doc about what the field is learning about cases like these.
One thing my doctor told me was that he had one patient who was on drug X and it worked until it didn’t, then he switched to drug Y, which worked until it didn’t, and then he switched BACK to drug X, which worked again for awhile. Apparently, that patient has been getting “reasonable”—as in, can live with it—results for years by switching back and forth between the two.
I heard a number of other anecdotes of people who had had a medication become ineffective, who switched and so forth, and were later able to go back to a previously effective medication and responded again, for awhile.
You are so well-informed that you have probably already tried this, but if you haven’t tried looping back to things that have worked for you before that you’ve been off for a long time now, you might try it “next.”
I’m terribly sorry this painful disorder is being so extra obnoxious to you, and I hope either what you’re trying now or looping back to an old drug or combination gives you some relief.
Please keep us updated. We are very interested in your results. Stay safe.
Dear Natasha,
I appreciate your post and the honesty of it. Unfortunately, I have to support your skepticism. I have, over the years, worked with 5 people who decided to try EmPowerPlus and of those 5 at least four of them had negative experiences. The main problem was the strong encouragement to get off medications that comes with the program. For most of the people I see, as bad as things might be with medications, without medications they usually (not always) become worse.
I was fascinated by the science behind EmPowerPlus. As the site says “17 (or is it 22?) journal articles support the use of EmPowerPlus”.. however those articles are almost entirely single case reports. These are the scientific equivalent of endorsements, they cannot honestly be said to “support” the efficacy of a treatment because almost every treatment that we know does NOT work has many single case reports suggesting that it does. Their role in science is to suggest possibilities that need to be studied with double blind placebo controlled studies.
As it happens, though, that isn’t the entirety of what you can find out about EmPowerPlus’s effectiveness if you do some research. For a number of years the US Government has supported a site called ClinicalTrials.gov which lists all research studies that have gotten started. And if you go to that site you discover that a large clinical trial using proper science was actually begun soon after the initial case series supporting the effectiveness of the treatment was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. However, for reasons not mentioned, that clinical trial was ended before the results were published.
You don’t have to be too much of a cynic to realize that a clinical trial supported by a drug company (or nutritional supplement company) that did not result in a publication has a fair chance of being what is called a “failed clinical trial” – meaning that the results did not support the effectiveness of the treatment.
Having said all of this, I do very much support you searching for more effective treatments and I think it is very important when feeling mired in depression to try things, to take charge of your destiny… my main objection to EmPowerPlus is that it encourages people to stop medications… and that can, as you correctly note, be fatal for some.
I wish you much luck with your new treatment plan. I know when I was taking vitamin therapy (Omega 3 and B Vitamins in particular) I felt a lot better. It got expensive, though I guess it was no more expensive than being on a whack of drugs. I’m currently on Abilify and ‘mostly’ stabilized for the past year. I’ve been on a whole bunch of drugs for depression and bipolar (most of which made it worse or had other unfortunate side effects) but I certainly haven’t tried them all as you have.
My biggest challenge right now is a support team. I’ve decided to seek professional help in my small community but the local Mental Health Nurse is someone whom I work with in a professional capacity so I am very nervous about confidentiality.
Thank you for continuing to share your journey with us. I find your blog very helpful and inspiring.
I do run a private blog about my own experiences, and I figure if I ever ‘come out’ I’ll make it public. But for right now Bipolar is more or less a secret outside of very close friends and family members.
Good luck Natasha and keep us posted on the progress.
Does depression or bipolar disorder have anything to do with emotion?
Hi Kelly,
I’m not quite sure how to answer your question. Depression and bipolar are both brain disorders that are considered “mood disorders.” IE, they primarily manifest mood symptoms. Moods are, in fact, emotions. For example, feeling very irritable may be a sign of mania and feeling very sad may be a sign of depression. However, there are many symptoms outside of emotion as well.
– Natasha Tracy
Do you feel emotion is the primary issue in regard to depression and bipolar? This is with all physiological issues aside.
I read all the comments that were posted today 12/11 & 12/10. I’m bipolar also, I know now how blessed I’m, as I function daily, work a job 5 days a week and I’m 71 years old. I take care of sick and elderly people in their homes. It’s a service they pay for which helps them to be able to stay in their homes and live on their own.
My BP is not near as bad as you’s have described you have. I’m not going to complain to myself anymore for the mess’s in my house I can’t get cleaned up and cleared out. I’m doing the very best I can. Especially in light of what all if you’s have endured. I thank God for what he has given me and takes care of me. Jesus is a AWSOME God. Confided in Him by praying and talking to him daily. He will guide and protect you. I’m also going to share your advice about going to a clinic in a University for BP treatment. God Bless all of you who are suffering with BP.
I don’t know if anyone else has tried Viibryd, but I have been on 20mg for almost a year and it has been an amazing help to me. I spent one year on disability for my depression – Lexapro stopped working for me after about 5 years so my psychiatrist put me on Viibryd. I have been working 30 hours/week since March, and the Viibryd gives me the support I need to get up everyday and tackle tasks at my job (I’m an accountant/bookkeeper). The recommended dosage for Viibryd is 40mg/day, but that was giving me some anxiety. My GP told me some of his patients only take the 20mg/day because 40 is too stimulating (a BP issue that I have). I’m wondering if anyone else has tried this med.
I have severe anxiety and depression and the doc gave it to me and I thought I would go nuts. My anxiety went through the 2nd roof. I also had strange brain feelins. I dont know what to call them. like a zap .
Hi Natasha,to say I’ve very often felt exactly like you is probably trite.
I will say,here there are mood disorder groups run by psychotherapists.
Here,in Canada our hospitilizations plan pays free.
I begin one entitled coping with powerful emotions.
It’s a once a week group,for 1 -1/2 h long.
Yes,I’m kinda scared as 20 people have signed up.
Plus there’s homework as well.
I’d been on a waiting list for this since October…
I suppose I’m fortunate,most of the time my meds work.
I do easily become triggered …one biggie is Christmas..
I feel your frustration & pain,as I was misdiagnosed since aged 20 & I’m 52!
Been 2 years of hard ass work..
Reminding myself one day at a time,putting the rages into positives like laundry cleaning walking.
Yes of course I still fight symptoms,but I see a change.
As do my workers who pushed me ( made me pissed off at first)
But now take it as a compliment,that they knew I could do more than I was saying….
Yes,went thru the med cocktail thing,it sucks.
I knew I found it when I was sleeping more often at reg hours.
Plus still nap everyday..
Your definitely correct.
This disease has to be tailored precisely to fit the individual.
Or it just will fail.
Think it’s important to understand the treatment failed to address the illness.
You,as Natasha have not.
I want to tell you how much your blog means to me.
I look forward to reading it,your so gifted,funny.
I feel like I know you,though of course only through cyberspace.
You’ve helped me release my creativity and encourage me to fight.
I don’t want anything bad to ever happen to you,either Natasha.
Your a beautiful lady,please don’t let this life threatening disease sink it’s claws into you & win!!!
I believe in you…
Your very smart..like I am..we find our way through the thorns into the rose garden.
There must be SOME ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS….
Stay well.
Sending love:-). And a smile….
Just had another idea. What about going to a university based alternative medicine clinic like MGH’s Benson-Henry Mind Body Institute. Or Dr. Andrew Weil’s Alternative clinic at Arizona University. Anything is better than putting yourself into the hands of possible shysters.
At least a university clinic run by gurus of the Alternative Medicine movement offers some measure of credibility.
Really worried about you. There are other alternatives. Instead of investing time and money in this dubious treatment, you could try seeing a new therapist. Go to a big university research center with a mood disorders clinic. Get some therapy there. Or get into on of their clinical trials. All better alternatives to a treatment like Truehope.
Wishing you well and hoping you will not lay yourself open to harm by trying Truehope. xo
Hi Jo,
I appreciate your suggestions but I’ve considered the options available and this is what I’ve chosen. I’m already seeing the head of a mood disorder clinic.
– Natasha Tracy
Heroin and the likes may do the trick for a while or maybe even indefinitely. It wont make you whole but may relieve the pain. Sadly that route even is closed to us even temporarily. We are scum drug addicts, what would you call someone pining for pure oxygen who had emphysema? Personally I must do what I must do. I carry two lethal doses of fast acting rat poison with me for when the police decide to do me a favor by “helping” me when I temporarily take this one and only route. The dopamine route. This is not a game. This is a fight to the death and the approved drugs aren’t doing it. I will die one way or another and I am guessing the police will get me before the disease. Or shall I say in the process of fighting the disease. This is not simple hedonism. It never has been. This is striving to feel human and to have a little joy where otherwise I just sleep 30 Hrs. straight this time of year and only up five.
I love how the medical community calls it a mood disorder clinic. Mood disorder. How about life saving clinic. We dont have mood disorders. we have a disease that is terminal. One of the best MOOD DISORDER clinics near me attached to an Ivy league University doesn’t even take insurance. They wont even tell me the costs over the phone. I have to have total evaluation first for 1700 dollars. Its all about the money . There are a few drugs made in Canada that show some decent results but the FDA wont let them in . Big Pharma loves making 300 million a year on our “mood disorders”. Lets keep that Canadian riff raff junk out. where is my bucket? I can puke.
I’m sorry you have to go through this.
Have you tried “Nutritional Balancing”?
http://www.arltma.com/Articles/index.htm
http://www.arltma.com/Articles/RatiosDoc.htm
http://curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=2071076#i
http://drlwilson.com/Articles/BIPOLAR.HTM
If you’ve hit a wall with your current treatment it might be worth looking into even if you just use it as a supplemental treatment to help stabilize.
While Empower Plus is a shotgun approach with vitamins, minerals and amino acids “Nutritional Balancing” is based on your own individual results from the test you take. It works by balancing your mineral ratio’s. Here’s an example of the test results you receive back
http://hairanalysisreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ARL-Joe-Sample.pdf
Good luck with everything!
Dear Natsha, I could have written your third paragraph, word for word- myself. I am miserably med resistant, and like you, I have tried every med or med combo, there is. The side effects alone could create a new disease by themselves. The bp drugs all have either made me very sick or I feel worse than the bipolar disease itself feels. I’m barely treading water. I live on Benzos many days.
My doctor is also out of ideas. I’ve told him many times if ‘crack’ or heroine were legal and not lethal–I’d be taking it. Maybe then, I’d be at least functional or relaxed. He has already given me any med I want to try. I’m sick of trying more brain experiments. I’m praying this is the answer for you It would give so many hope!
One more thing. Am i wrong? It seems like bipolar people respond to the extreme, -from past traumas, hurts childhood pain, other awful life situations etc, that they simply cannot let go of, thus feeding the illness more & more. You almost become addicted to the pain, the memories and it’s responses. I don’t know,
I only know, what I’ve lived. Good luck always. xoxox You deserve it, from helping so many others..
.
The latter part of your post is not unlike my situation, for which I was given Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. It seems to work for a while but then, the BP creeps back in and makes me forget what I’ve learnt in the CBT! It might be fine if the CBT was continuous, or at least, periodically re-visited; but I can’t afford such a luxury!
Our AMygdalas must be larger from all the past trauma we carry around. THis is so damn tiring. I feel for everyone here.
http://www.amazon.com/MegaFood-Womens-One-Daily-Tablets/dp/B00014HFV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386740585&sr=8-1&keywords=megafood
I empathise deeply with your situation, Natasha. I hope you will keep in mind that your own welfare is Job #1, even more important than this blog that I so enjoy reading. Do whatever you have to do. Your fans support you and are hoping you will prevail (even if it should happen via TrueHope!)
i second that paul.
dearest natasha,
sounds really frustrating and terribly upsetting! i really love reading your blogs and am troubled for you; it is such a helpless feeling to be here and not be able to care for the people we care about. i wish i could fix you like i wish i too could be fixed, but there ain’t no fixin’ this stuff. be as well as you can; my heart and thoughts are with you . .. if that is of any help.
hugz,
d
Just wanted to let you know I am really moved by your situation and really feel for you. Thanks for sharing your journey so honestly and I hope you find something that helps soon.
Good luck.