Recovery Issues in Bipolar Disorder - Suggestions for Maintaining Mood Stability

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Dr. Severus: Here are some suggestions for maintaining mood stability:

• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Maintain a stable sleep pattern.
• Don't use any alcohol, try to avoid caffeine.
• Some people also report that white sugar makes them feel worse.
• Start some kind of relaxation technique (Diaphragmatic breathing for example seems to be helpful for some).
• Try to reduce stress at work and during your leisure time!

David: Those are excellent recommendations, Dr. Severus. I'm also getting some audience requests re: the correct daily dosage dosage level for omega-3? Could you give that to us, please?

Dr. Severus: Sure. Start with approximately 3 grams of EPA per day, or 1-2 tablespoons of lignan-rich flaxseed oil.

David: And is there a maximum limit on that?

Dr. Severus: We don't know yet, but I would not recommend more than 4.5-6 grams of EPA or 3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil, and always closely monitor your symptoms. We have seen a few hypomanias on flaxseed oil and EPA/DHA, however, on high doses.

missdjv: My mother has been very unstable for months, so we had to move her to my home. Will this Neurotin work quickly, or should she be hospitalized while adjusting to this medication? I really want to do what is best for her.

Dr. Severus: You should talk to her psychiatrist regarding hospitalization. It really depends on her condition. In general, if there is a significant risk of suicide or homicide, you should definitely consider hospitalization.

truckdog: How can you help your loved one gain" insight" that they have Bipolar?

Dr. Severus: Good question! The best thing might be to tell him or her, is to read some books on this condition. Or to attend a meeting of a self-help group and to talk to other people with this illness.

terri/co: Does omega-3 fatty acids in combination with other medications tend to moderate side effects such as weight gain?

Dr. Severus: We don't know yet. In our study we have not seen any significant weight gain. There are some studies in obese non-psychiatric patients which point to the fact that omega-3 have beneficial effects on the blood lipid profile in that population. However, you should also get some advice from a nutritionist.

David: I know it's getting late. Thank you, Dr. Severus, for being our guest tonight and for sharing this information with us. And to those in the audience, thank you for coming and participating. I hope you found it helpful. We have a very large and active bipolar community here at HealthyPlace.com. Also, if you found our site beneficial, I hope you'll pass our URL around to your friends, mail list buddies, and others http://www.healthyplace.com.

Thank you, again, Dr. Severus for joining us this evening.

Dr. Severus: Thank you for the invitation. And to the audience, one last piece of advice: Never ever give up!

David: Good advice. Good night everyone.

Disclaimer: That we are not recommending or endorsing any of the suggestions of our guest. In fact, we strongly encourage you to talk over any therapies, remedies or suggestions with your doctor BEFORE you implement them or make any changes in your treatment.

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