Strong Evidence Base

1. Mindfulness Meditation - FREE

2. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - $6,000 to $12,000 w/o insurance

Might (NOT) Help: Weaker Evidence

1. Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) - $200 to $4000

  • Unfortunately, I cannot ethically recommend specific ESD providers due to so many (both non-profits and for profits) charging excessively high hourly fees to victims and survivors.
  • By 2027, I will be pilot-testing a low-cost, scalable solution for the entire U.S., and maybe the rest of the world. However, I will also be researching potential negative spillover effects since this has not been researched before. If there are negative spillover effects, I will look for cost-effective ways to mitigate them (e.g. screen out bad actors, etc.) Several ESD practitioners will likely oppose my research efforts because it cuts into their profits. I will likely lose my ESD instructor certification when I announce my study (I am currently training to become an ESD instructor).
  • Research: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/1848/

(WORK IN PROGRESS. WILL UPDATE THIS BY NEXT WEEK.)

  • Aolley@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    5 hours ago

    Please look up the multitude of NIHS and other studies showing the benefits of getting the right nutrients, notable vitamin d3, b vitamins or a b complex, fish oil or similar EPA and DHA oils. Plus the less tested but promising lions mane and other mushroom extract, lots of things of magic ones, and things that have BDNF or simulate it

    • EnthusiasticNature94@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPMEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago

      Already ahead of you! My to-do list has weaker research on SAM-e + vitamin A, orange essential oils, etc.

      Thank you so much for commenting this. I’m excited to see this community grow and thrive.

      • Aolley@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        4 hours ago

        Hiaguya here is some more directed info

        he evidence overwhelmingly says the same things will help someone with bi-polar disorders. I’m sorry that there is so much here, but if you plan to read it like a book one chapter or page at a time and not try to blast through the whole thing it might be easier.

        not getting enough vitamin d3 which is different than vitamin D and is not normally tested for by hospitals. Unless you are taking these supplements then it’s almost certain that you are deficient, and the effects of that are that you get sick more often, stay sick longer, don’t feel as happy, and that your brain neurons cannot adequately ‘heal’ after trauma. This ‘sunlight vitamin’ has a host of effects on your mood, brain, and immune system. take 5000iu (125mg) of D3 each day, and you should too.

        Here is some research to highlight some of these aspects that seem applicable here. These are things you can begin doing right now that will only make things better in the future. You may notice the helpful effects in only a few days. They have no real downsides and only positive effects when done correctly.

        Vitamin D3 https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/4/883 “This seems particularly crucial while considering the relatively high and often neglected prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the general population and in specific groups, such as patients suffering from the most common type of MDs, which are major depression (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BDs).”- “In our opinion, the present findings strengthen previous research highlighting decreased vitamin D levels in bipolar patients and support the role of this pleiotropic hormone in BD”

        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11202759/ “Mental disorders are conditions that affect a person’s cognition, mood, and behaviour, such as …, anxiety, bipolar disorder” - “Research suggests that certain vitamins, including vitamin D, may influence the incidence and severity of these disorders;” - “results: The findings strongly indicate that vitamin D supplementation may benefit a range of mental health and neurological disorders. The magnitude of the beneficial impact varied by specific disorder, but the overall pattern strongly supports the therapeutic potential of vitamin D on these disorders”

        These two are on the benefits of this in kids and youths, as most other ones are for adults, but the results are the same, you need to take d3 supplements https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4491165/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7999324/ this one is a large random sample of people and shows improvements with the fish/algae oils and d3 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5899680/

        this is not a study but it can’t hurt to read Here’s an anecdote that I found online. https://www.depression-understood.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21803

        You can get a liquid dropper and put it in a drink, easy peasy. No downside, only positive effects.

        testing the brain for infections is not something most doctors will do unless you really make them. this is about how some (many) bipolar disorder can be caused or made worse by infections within the brain, this is something almost no doctor will test for without being prompted to do so, but involved a metagenetic analysis taken from a spinal tap and does not sound fun The takeaway: it’s imperative to test for these pathogens in any psychiatric disorder especially schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. https://collmed.org/from-bipolar-to-schizophrenia-parasites-and-psychiatric-disorder/ in the past doctores didn’t think the blood-brain barier could allow this but lots of new research says that when you get viral infactions or sick it can lower the effectiveness of the BBB and aloow infections which can then be harbored in the brain and have long term and huge effects. You have to go well out of your way to get a doctor to test you for this, but if it is the cause you can then get treatment and begin the healing process. Note that that healing process also heavily involved taking D3, B complex, and the DHA/ EPA oils.

        TMS I’ve had some TMS work done on me, for experiments and not treatment, but it is a way to activate parts of your brain with a magnet, so you can jump start neuron pathways and this can lead to you establishing and strengthening those pathways which can literally change your mind, your outlook, and as a result your life. You sit somewhere for 30 minutes once every week or few days for a few months and then it’s like you’re much better. Keep in mind though that. you need those supplements too, everyone does. https://www.greenbrooktms.com/oregon-centers/portland "TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific parts of the brain. Although it’s typically used to treat depression, research suggests it may be an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, too.’ https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/tms-for-bipolar

        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790310/ “Many patients with bipolar disorder (BD) fail to experience benefit following traditional pharmacotherapy” - “Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a promising approach for treating patients with BD who have failed to respond to pharmacological or psychosocial treatment.”

        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007750/ “data on the safety and efficacy of TMS in bipolar disorder are preliminary but intriguing.”

        This article is from 11 years ago and we’ve learned a lot since then. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4102108/

        a vitamin B complex, just all the b vitamins b vitamins are water soluble, you just pee out what you don’t use. I eat the costco kirkland brand b complex once a day but you can also take an extra 1 in the afternoon for a pick me up. Don’t eat more than 10 of these a day, but that should be easy. they give you energy (they are what’s in 5 hour energy), they help your mood, immune system, and most of all they have neuroprotective effects and can help healing of damaged brains. Due to the diet most people in the US eat, most people are not getting enough of these vitamins and that’s an easy fix

        “the study of neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and mitochondrial function has contributed the understanding of bipolar disorder’s pathophysiology. Agents targeting these pathways could be a potential therapeutic strategy.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6007750/

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27655070/ “Vitamin B deficiency could influence memory function, cognitive impairment and dementia. In particular, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B9 and B12 are essential for neuronal function and deficiencies have been linked to depression”

        https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33848753/ “Background: B vitamins have vital roles in the development, maintenance, and functioning of the brain, while severe deficiencies have been linked to increased psychological disorders”

        • “Conclusions: This study suggests that a higher intake of dietary B vitamins, especially biotin, was associated with a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.”

        https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221013287 “Folate supplements especially levomefolic acid (L-5-methylfolate) demonstrated improvement in clinical outcomes in certain mental health conditions, such as … and bipolar affective disorder.”

        https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-16073-9_6 “A substantial proportion of the global population does not meet the recommended daily intake of nutrients. Chronic diseases can arise from even marginal deficiencies.” - “Inefficient methylation can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia which causes systemic and vascular inflammation contributing to the pathogenesis of many other diseases. Here we present the effects of folic acid and vitamin B12 on the immune system for health and disease.”

        https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032719322347 " folate has been increasingly studied for treating for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder," - “Adjunctive folate appeared to be effective and safe for MDD and bipolar manic episode”

        If you begin to feel more anxious (life caffeine induced anxiety) with the added energy then you might look into taking individual b vitamins https://neurolaunch.com/can-vitamin-b-complex-cause-anxiety/ “The importance of B vitamins for mental health cannot be overstated. They are involved in the synthesis and regulation of stress hormones, the maintenance of myelin sheaths that protect nerve fibers, and the production of energy needed for optimal brain function.”

        Another anecdotal experience of taking B + Mg https://old.reddit.com/r/bipolar/comments/pwu46p/taking_magnesium_and_b_vitamins_have_calmed_me/

        Heres a shit online article trying to sell you things but it does mention some other things to at least look into https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/guide-supplements#15

        • Aolley@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          fish oil / algea oil but really it’s the EPA / DHA oils

          https://psychcentral.com/bipolar/can-fish-oil-help-your-brain-and-bipolar-disorder “The mood shifts of bipolar disorder aren’t your fault or something you can “try harder” to change. There are genetic, biological, and environmental factors that impact the way your brain regulates mood…Including omega-3 supplements as part of your treatment might also help”

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4999787/ “The main evidence for the effectiveness of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been obtained in mood disorders, in particular in the treatment of depressive symptoms in unipolar and bipolar depression.”

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9398217/ “Human studies suggest low n-3 red blood cell PUFA concentrations and correlations with clinical severity in studies of plasma concentrations in symptomatic bipolar disorder. Results of published n-3 PUFA dietary supplementation trials for bipolar disorder indicate efficacy in treatment for mania or depression in 5 of 5 open-label trials,”

          These are the easiest things you can do right now to improve your outlook going forward, if you want to then talk to your doctor about this before starting then please do, better yet print off this sheet and take it to the doctor and get their opinion on it.

          If you are willing to try some more things that might (and very likely will) help facilitate the ability of your brain to heal then I have a few more ideas. To preface that though, we have to understand that for many decades scientists and doctors did not think brain cells were capable of growth or regeneration at all. More and more research is showing that not only can brains heal but we can do things to make them heal faster. Research is also a painful thing, as the way getting funding for and completing studies and getting published on that research operates today means that many things that are effective but are not profitable to sell are not going to be studied. We can’t Prove everything, but proof is often the last step after a long list of evidence, and evidence can come in many forms including anecdotes. So it is still helpful to look at what has promising results and works for people, even if that item has not been formally studied yet.

          Most ‘drugs’ we have today are just isolated from plants, fungi or animals that have been synthesised in the lab. Asprin for instance is a tree bark isolate. These compounds, often called secondary metabolites, are what most modern pharmaceuticals are based on. In many cases when you take a natural thing like some plants of fungi you are getting ‘medicine’ it’s just in a mixed form with other natural compounds. For the asprin they used to chew that tree bark for the same effect until the compound was isolated and recreated in a lab. the moral of this story if that you can have many benefits from herbs or fungi or other things that are not profitable enough to to formal studies on or to sell synthetic versions of and we shouldn’t dismiss things because they don’t come from a pharmacy.

          That said, some of these compounds can interfere with some pharmaceuticals, so you should consult with your doctors regarding potential interactions with established medication before taking these

          https://www.cheriesh.com/product-page/mushroom-blend I buy this from grocery outlet and take a bit most days with some protein powder in a shake, it’s quick and easy and I credit this as one of the things that allowed my brain to finially begin to heal. You’ll find very little research into these at the above level, because it’s not profitable.

          For the things in this: chaga https://neurolaunch.com/chaga-mushroom-benefits-for-brain/ “From ancient folk remedies to modern neuroscience, the humble Chaga mushroom is gaining attention as a natural brain booster, promising to enhance cognitive function and protect against age-related decline.”

          reshi https://neurolaunch.com/the-potential-benefits-of-reishi-mushroom-for-bipolar-disorder/ "For individuals with bipolar disorder, these potential benefits could translate to:

          1. Stabilization of mood swings
          2. Reduction in the severity of depressive episodes
          3. Improved overall cognitive function and mental clarity
          4. Enhanced sleep patterns, which are often disrupted in bipolar disorder"

          lions mane

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10675414/

          "A trend towards reduced subjective stress was observed following 28-day supplementation "

          https://statcarewalkin.com/info/lions-mane-and-bipolar.html

          "Here are some ways Lion’s Mane may support individuals with bipolar disorder:

          Mood Stabilization : Lion's Mane may help regulate mood swings and promote emotional balance, which are key challenges for individuals with bipolar disorder.

Cognitive Function : Some studies suggest that Lion's Mane may enhance cognitive function, including memory and concentration, which can be affected by bipolar disorder.

Neuroprotection : The neuroprotective properties of Lion's Mane may help protect against brain cell damage and support overall brain health."

          an anecdote https://old.reddit.com/r/BipolarReddit/comments/wlugsg/has_anyone_tried_the_lions_mane/

          cordecepts https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9011256/

          maitake https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11068609/ “By synthesising current research findings, this review emphasises the substantial role of maitake mushrooms in supporting human health and underscores their potential incorporation into the medicinal industry.”

          There is a plethora of evidence for psychedelic things like magic mushrooms to help with brain disorders but if you’re not starting form a good place then I wouldn’t recommend doing that right away, certainly not without taking the d3, b vitamins, and fish oil for at least 2-4 weeks, and more to the point these drugs can allow you to face, unlock, deal with, and get past mental trauma and past event that are blocked off in your brain because they are too damaging for normal interaction. If this is the case then psychedelic assisted therapy can do wonders! to work through and begin to manage and then get past this, so you can have a life back again. Eating an 8th of mushrooms has been alikened to a thousand hours of therapy. But it’s still a better idea to do this at a lower dose and with a guide like a trained psychiatrist to start. MDMA can help you open up emotionally in ways that are literally not possible without the assistance. I’m afraid I’m not well versed in these matters but if this sounds interesting to you then this is a promising avenue for exploration. T he book reality switch technologies by andrew gillmore can explain in an easy way how these compounds work with your brain, their mechanism of actions. From there you can see that it allows new pathways that are made or established during a trip to become as strong as already existing pathways. This means you can have months of mental growth happen in a weekend, and then if you keep using or reinforcing those new pathways you can have them established, and quite literally re-wire your brain in a weekend.

          syrian rue seeds There are the compounds harmine and harmaline that can help some of things, thing can for sure interfere with some medicine and you must discuss this with a doctor before taking any https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3609365/ "Scientific studies conducted and verified many of the traditional uses including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic and anti-cancer effects. "

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7239822/ “Some evidence indicates that social stress, changes in growth factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), and neuroinflammation are involved in the development and progression of the disease. The monoamine oxidase A inhibitor drug harmine was suggested to have both antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties and may, therefore, be a potential candidate for treatment of depression.”

          DHF and lastly in things to eat is this naturally occurring compound in some foods that is isolated and concentrated for a more effective dose. I have experienced a large mental benefit from taking this, and I highly recommend it if the doctor says it is okay

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9881092/ “7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a kind of natural flavonoid with the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier. 7,8-DHF effectively mimics the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)” {BDNF is what causes your brain to grow and heal, taking this supplement can allow your brain to physically heal when it otherwise is not}

          https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34525922/ “his review focuses on the recent experimental studies on depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and learning and memory functions”

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9723075/ "Low-dose 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Administration After Status Epilepticus Prevents Epilepsy "

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6198170/ " Collectively, it is likely that SFN would be potential therapeutic compound for neurodevelopmental disorders."

          https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11655488/ “BD is becoming increasingly understood as a condition of aberrant neuroplasticity. Multiple factors, such as OS, imbalance of neurotransmitters, and genetics, are associated with the pathophysiology of BD.”

          https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10030326 “which have previously been shown to be required for emotional learning, were activated by systemic 7,8-DHF”

          meditation