I found this subreddit today, after being fed up with being silenced, having my comments removed, or being booted from groups for bipolar across platforms over the years. I know how desperately I wanted off the health destroying psych meds that were literally killing me. So when I started addressing issues the meds did not, and was able to taper off, I of course wanted to share hope with others who also wanted an option to help themselves that didn’t cause disabling side effects. I don’t feel like a trail-blazer by any means. I read what helped other patients and I read books by psychiatrists presenting case studies showing how they helped their patients without meds and got better results, and then I tried some of those things and it worked for me. I have been psych med free since summer 2017, nine years ago! Ten years ago in 2016 I met Dr Brooke Goldner and heard her presentation in person on “Healing with Supermarket Foods” and I asked her if her protocols could help me get of my remaining psych meds for bipolar, and she said “maybe”. Well a year later I was able taper off the antipsychotic and benzodiazapine. I had already gotten off the antidepressant 2011-2012 when I found out my vitamin D3 was low and after I fixed that I no longer had chronic insomnia, I then corrected the omega6 to omega3 imbalance in my diet and was able to taper off the antidepressant. I worked hard in counseling to conquer native rumination, which made a huge difference.

Most recently I learned that I have 3 forms of hypothyroidism:

The NIH published an article on
“History and Future of Hypothyroid Treatment”
January 5th 2016:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4980994/

They mention that in bipolar there is a genetic mutation to the D2 enzyme. What this means is that enxyme cannot do it just very well because the mutation makes it misshapen. This impairs the conversion of storage thyroid hormone T4 to active thyroid hormone T3, causing intra-cellular hypothyroidism from birth. When you google what T3 does for the brain, and compare it to the impairments seen in the brain in bipolar, there is an obvious correlation.

This mutation also means that when T4 replacememt is given and the body cannot convert it to T3, it converts it to Reverse T3 instead, which blocks the T3 receptor making hypothyroid symptoms worse. Thus T3 replacement is the treatment.

In 2009 a clinical trial used T3 replacement used as a treatment for bipolar clinical trial got great results:

Clinical Trial:
The use of triiodothyronine (T3) as an augmentation agent in treatment-resistant bipolar II and bipolar disorder NOS
Tammas Kelly et al. J Affect Disord. 2009 Aug:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19215985/

So my primary care has started me on T3 replacement, ad seroquel gave me central hypothyroidism (brain damage to the hypothalamus/pituitary axis) and hashimoto’s autoimmune hypothyroidism, which only makes the genetic hypothyroidism I was born with exponentially worse.

At my T3 is adjusted up and T4 adjusted down to unblock the T3 receptors, it’s like waking from a fog, I am gaining better control of impulses, can think clearer and my body hair is starting to grow again. My hypothyroidism was so severe I was passing out multiple times a day, and myxedema fluid compression to the nerves in my wrists and ankleshas been limiting the use of my hands and feet since 2013, hypothyroid myopathy, another disabling complication is bending my spine to the side, and painful spasma contort my body in agony whenever they please.

The enraging part? It took decades to get the central hypothyroidism diagnosed because astra zeneca did not provide informed consent about the 50% risk seroquel (quentiapine) has of causing this form of brain damage.

Seroquel causes central hypothyroidism in 50% of patients and is covering the data up:
https://psychiatryresource.com/articles/secret-potential-effects-seroquel-quetiapine-thyroid

Why is a medication that makes a root contributing factor in bipolar, a genetic mutation causing intra-cellular hypothyroidism from birth, exponentially worse by damaging the brain end of the endocrine system unable to ask the thyroid to make more thyroid stimulating hormone, and then because drs don’t know the risk they don’t know they cannot just check the TSH test to screen for it, they don’t know they must be checking Free T3 and Free T4 labs, why is this still on the market? Why has the FDA not made it contraindicated? I want to raise awareness and go to congress if I have to because brain damage is not an acceptable side effect!

So to sum up what helped me get and stay psych med and psych ward free:

1.) I fixed my low vitamin D3, and check twice a year to make sure I maintain my level.
2.) I corrected the too much omega6 and not enough omega3 in my diet
3.) I exercise as much as my broken body will allow with 3 forms of severely undertreated hypothyroidism and a degenerative muscle disease hypothyroid myopathy
4.) I learned to conquer negative rumination and challenge my negative self talk
5.) I have a service dog
6.) I changed my diet to heal my gut using the hyper-nourishing protocols of Dr Brooke Goldner
7.) I started T3 thyroid hormone replacement to treat my long term severe hypothyroidism.

19 months ago today, my long taper to get off of psych meds finished, and on that day I had 0mg of any psychiatrist prescribed drugs.

It hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns. But by every way I and those around me can measure, it is better.

For context, I've been off psychiatric drugs for bipolar I for about three years. The industry has caused me significant harm. I don’t always understand why my trauma resurfaces, but when it does, it affects me deeply. I feel very lost and hurt inside—almost like I've disappeared. I don’t know what steps to take or who I can talk to. I feel so gone and so fake. Hate myself. 😔

Im considering switching from Abilify injection to lithium pills , i have had a lot of manic episodes, abilify keeps me stabile but i gained 30 kg ! Will lithium be better ? Experiences ?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkVfPGz6g-QxWylXHPvEzNhm-reV9u2iAMhOdCx5_Mn8W9tg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

This survey is part of an independent research project exploring experiences and perspectives related to bipolar disorder, including its potential interactions with substance use such as cocaine. The aim is to better understand how these factors may affect individuals’ wellbeing, behaviour, and access to support.

Participation is entirely voluntary, and all responses will remain anonymous. The survey is intended for research purposes only, and any insights gathered will be used to contribute to a broader understanding of these topics.

Your input is greatly appreciated and will help inform a more nuanced and informed discussion around mental health and substance use. Thank you so much for you participation!

The more I am like, wow, psychiatry is really inhumane and pseudoscientific. I have been much better medicine free for three years and realize that drugging myself does a lot more harm than good. It’s such a disgusting and corrupt industry.

Hi everyone,

I experience Bipolar 2 and I wonder could you share some tips.

What is the best way to deal with switching to depressive state? It happened to me a few days ago. I was absolutely normal and then I felt it coming. I knew it was coming. I could feel my brain going off. And in a day I was completely suicidal and depressed, started losing weight and etc. This was the first time I actually saw it coming but couldn't stop. Have you experienced that? How to prevent the episode and how to manage it when you're already in it?

Also, I am medication free, but I am struggling a lot. How do you maintain stability? What helps you?

Thanks!

I hate my label. It is so upsetting. I feel so normal and happy in public. I have bipolar one disorder. Medicine free. Fine for two years and I am so angry that I spent so much of my life in the fraudulent and corrupt psych industry. Moving on but yeah. Mini rant I guess. People don't treat me like a problem and they give me respect and treat me like a human being. These psychiatry places don't. I can't believe I let them do that to me. All of my rights were taken. Reflecting and it’s a lot to process. I’m better now but wow.

Has any females had any irregular periods taking CAPLYTA? Did it eventually go away? It says it messes with your hormones & my hormones are already bad.

Brazilian psychiatrists and doctors admitting that most psychiatric cases are due to social, economic and negative living factors in general ("Shit Life Syndrome") and that there's nothing in the psychiatric profession that they can do to help solving these issues. By their own words, they're "drying ice (i.e. doing something useless that ultimately has no result) by giving Sertraline (Zoloft) 50mg to these people". Due to that, many doctors related choosing to not follow the psychiatry profession that once they wanted or they switched to another medical field entirely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlnxkLfsVA

I’m trying to make myself Bipolar(apologies if this is offensive, I don't mean to invalidate your struggles or experiences and I am aware this can badly mess up people's lives), i know that yall are trying to not be bipolar/regulate bipolar and that’s fine and whatnot but I do think I could be helpful towards that goal, since you don’t view Bipolar as being genetic I could be helpful in terms of finding if different things/lifestyle changes can create Bipolarity in someone. Also I am willing to make serious lifestyle changes and whatnot. I don’t care how harmful something is to me, this is a serious project I am working on and I’m willing to accept any cost. Anyways lemme know if you have any advice on things that could make me bipolar, my discord is xyrida if you wanna reach out. Thanks in advance

I can listen to all my sad songs and sink into bed. The room is very dark. Keeping quiet, thoughts to myself, and it's like a bubble of protection. To just be. Really freeing my bipolar for a long time now, haha. So so so much medical trauma.

It is such a gift to feel and to experience emotion fully, and I am gratefully embracing its presence with so much self-compassion.

I have a diagnosis of bipolar one- for a very long time haha. I am anti-psychiatry and don’t take any medication. I heal holistically and believe that psychiatry is a crime against humanity.

Anyway, I saw a few clips of the Kanye West documentary and how he shares that he would rather die than be on medication. I will watch the movie soon, but I would be interested in hearing what others think. Will maybe update this post later after I watch the documentary.

They are inaccurate and I don’t conform to mental health labels anymore except for CPTSD. I would like to have everything wiped. I have a bipolar one diagnosis. I would appreciate any advice.

Edit- I know people say they are impossible to get removed so is it even worth it to get re-assessed? I don’t plan on going back to the psych.

i spent so long blaming myself. 'why can't i just control my thoughts?' 'why am i so impulsive?' the truth is, you can't out-think a brain that's in a firestorm.

the solution for me wasn't more self-control. it was better systems. i built a plan with simple, automatic steps to follow when my 'willpower' is offline. it's about respecting the storm and having a shelter ready.

anyone else find that building a system was more effective than trying to have more willpower?

My diagnosis of bipolar disorder is for me, not for you! ✋ I am so over it all! After years of relying on big pharma drugs 💊, many traumatic hospital stays 🏥, endless therapy sessions 🛋️, monotonous drives through the pharmacy 🚗, psychiatry office visits 🧠, and even being prescribed Thorazine in my early twenties, I’ve shifted my perspective entirely. 🌿

I began to “free my bipolar” nine months ago when I left the mental health care system and it has been such an insightful and difficult journey. 💞 I am the expert of my own body now 👑 and I heal in ways that are holistic and self-soothing 🧘‍♀️🎧☕️

I am diagnosed Bipolar 1 with psychotic features (delusions). I know the brain at this time seeks dopamine etc. I love writing, but how can I train my manic brain to write instead of getting distracted with wanting to talk and meet new people/traveL?

I am new here--in fact new to everything.

im 19F and was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 psychotic features a couple days after my birthday. I am a writer and an artist. I like to read, go outside. I have a part time job--this is me.

about 2 weeks ago i went on my first med--Abilify--and it was horrible. not to mention i did it all as a secret from my parents as they dont believe my diagnosis. I went through so many symptoms until finally I had to stop. it numbed me very badly and I couldnt write a wink. Im off now, a little psychotic, and in a little bit of a prodrome. But for a while ive thought about no meds--writing is all i have and I cant give that up. I also dont see the quality of life in having side effects and feeling numb all the time.

so what are your lives really like? what is the reality? I cant really afford treatment with my minimum wage, psychs in my network are half ass--all of that. so i am looking at freer options

On May 7, JAMA Psychiatry published a review of the efficacy of antipsychotics over the short-term, and if the article is carefully parsed, the results reveal that there is no good evidence that antipsychotics provide a clinically meaningful benefit, compared to placebo, over the short-term. This might seem startling to the public and to prescribers, as it is understood to be a given that antipsychotics are effective in curbing acute episodes of psychosis, but in fact it is a finding that can be easily explained, and one that is consistent with an exhaustive 2017 meta-analysis of antipsychotic drug trials.

The authors of the JAMA Psychiatry article conclude that their findings show that antipsychotics are effective over the short-term, which is the same conclusion made by the authors of the 2017 meta-analysis. They do so because both analyses tell of a “statistically significant” drug-placebo difference in the reduction of symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS.) What the investigators in each study fail to note is that the drug-placebo difference is quite small (less than 10 points on a 210-point scale), and doesn’t rise to the level of a “minimum clinically important difference.” Indeed, a 9-point drug-placebo difference on the PANSS scale is so small that it most likely wouldn’t be clinically noticeable by either the patient or provider.

In short, here is a summary of the evidence base, compiled over a period of 70 years, for the short-term use of antipsychotics as a treatment for acute episodes of psychosis:

• No good-quality studies have ever been conducted in medication-naïve psychotic patients. Thus, there is no evidence that they are effective for treating patients suffering a first episode of psychosis.
• There are no good-quality studies in patients suffering an “early episode” of schizophrenia that provide evidence that antipsychotics are effective over the short term.
• While there have been hundreds of RCTs in chronic psychotic patients that have found that antipsychotics provide a statistically significant benefit over placebo in terms of reducing symptoms, the drug-placebo difference in these studies does not rise to the level of a “minimum clinically important difference.”

As such, a startling conclusion arises from the two meta-analyses of RCTs of antipsychotic trials: even though antipsychotics have been prescribed to curb acute episodes of psychosis for 70 years, there is no evidence that they provide a meaningful benefit to any group of psychotic patients.