Help I found out I was bipolar when I was 9 years old.

[mommiesadie2]

what can I do to treat it without the meds. that make me worse or make me a zombie. Most meds don't work anyway. Plus I don't fully understand what bipolar is. Every time I ask the doctors just say it's a mood disorder or behavioral disorder.But I have not seen a doctor in 8 years or been on meds. in 5 years & I'm better than when I was taking what they wanted me to. I am a mother of 5 with a grandson,2 are step kids the one with a child is a step. I do get frustrated, mood problems, mad easy, but I go some place alone or do something to stop my mine for a few so I don't get to a point I can't control myself. I have been told since my father died in 1999 I hear voices in my head mostly music that I have schizophrenia but my brother is & we are not alike. He can't be alone, thinks people are out to kill him, & Say's voices tell him to kill everyone. That's not me. I just hear music when everything is quiet or voices that I can't make out when everything is very peaceful. So what can I do & what do I have?The bipolar part I can understand from a mood thing but that's all I got. please help?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Two things you can employ are (a) diaphragmatic breathing (often referred to as deep breathing), which involves slowly breathing deeply into the lower part of your lungs so that the diaphragm (the muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity) expands, and (b) mediation/guided imagery (see themeditationpodcast.com).

[mommiesadie2]

I do so much better off the meds than on them. I have started yoga & it is doing even more help than anything. I have notest that my moods have mellowed & I can focus more. Is there any good breathing tips. I do not want to go back to meds because my family & me are so much happier with me off. I can be part of my kids life not just in a corner not moving or speaking. I play with them, & go out now.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are both illnesses that are biological in nature and they require medication as part of the treatment plan. Neither bipolar disorder nor schizophrenia can improve without medication. The fact that you did not have a good experience with medicationis not reason to abandon it. Please re-evaluate your thinking and arrange mental health assistance. Otherwise you risk further deterioration.