Have been suffering cyclical bouts of acute depression for the past year. Diagnos is Bipolar Disorder, as best I can discern from my doctor's muttered pronouncements.

Emotional: feelings of withwrawal, "separateness" from daily life. Irritability toward loved ones, then going back with tearful apologies. Want the loved one(s) nearby, but to leave me alone. Feelings of dread for the future: environnmental crises, finances, etc.

Physical: food aversion at times; have dropped to 138 lb, am back up to 142, normal weight about 155 lb. Hypersomnia,insomnia. Dead tone in voice. Have run the full gamut of Rx drugs, from alprazolam to Zyprexa. History of treatment: each different med "seems to work well at first", for approx. 30-60 days, then drug's effectiveness wanes.

Mental: Thoughts of imminent environnmental catastrophe(flooding of coastal areas from ice-melt, increase in skin melanoma from ozone holes, destruction of rain forests, dying of coral reefs, etc.) Hopelessness,futility.

Peculiar Symptoms: periods of "normalcy" when I'm functional, able to work, even smile and make jokes. During these times, can go without sleep for 48-72 hours, after which I crash for an entire day. Symptoms are CYCLICAL.

Treatment Notes: Hypericum in standardized form ineffective. Have tried Sulphur 30C(I am a definite Sulphur Type, believe me) in the hope that it might work constitutionally. Seems to work for a couple days, then effect fades.
Have not tried continual doses of Sulphur 30C, which is the only potency I have.

Questions: Should I try a regimen of the Sulphur 30C for several days? Should I try a single high-potency dose(knowing for certain that I am a Suplhur Personality)?

TIA,
Neuly56

Tia

are you able to see a homeopath in person?

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

(TIA means "Thanks In Advance")

JVolkman and Barb--

Thanks for the replies. The consensus between the two of you is that my condition is too serious for self-treatment.

I realize that in the realm of homeopathy, mental/emotional disease is considered the most serious.

Is your standard advice to seek a professional homeopath, rather than self-treatment, or does my case sound particularly severe?

neuly56

nuely56,
Seeing a competent homeopath in person is always preferable to self treatment... Denise

Ms. Shepard--

I'd have to disagree with your statement that professional treatment is "always preferable" to
self-treatment.

For example, I don't go to the doctor for cold/flu treatment, or for a bad case of indigestion. Such ailments are self-limiting and amenable to self-treatment, as are many others.

Suppose there is a medical emergency, and "professional treatment" is not available, or
timely?

Suppose that homeopaths are rare in the Southeast US,andone may have neither the funds nor the transportation to consult one?

Should one, in such a case, simply forget the whole thing, as self-treatment may do more harm than good?

Or should one attempt to take responsibility for one's own health, and make forays into alternative modalities-- especially if allopathic medicine has failed to help?

I'd love to consult a good homeopath, but, they ain't any hereabouts, so I'm in a bind.

neuly56

Dear Neuly56,

I have to agree with you that sometimes self-treatment is best, especially given my own personal experience with professional homeopathy. Based on the information you've given here, I would say that you're an excellent candidate for homeopathy and that your chances for healing are good if you can get the proper treatment, but that's a big "if". I work with people who've been diagnosed bi-polar and have gotten good results. I myself was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and chronic depression and have made tremendous progress using the remedies. One thing, however, is that I do not believe in "types" and this approach is probably not appropriate in your case since it's more complex, involving mental imbalance. I've found that these kinds of cases require a series of remedies for a complete cure, and while this is considered heretical among the modern "constitutionalists", this was how the forefathers of homeopathy practiced. Because case management is more involved than simply administering a "constitutional remedy", you may need the help of someone more experienced.

One thing that confuses me a little is the sudden onset of symptoms. Were you perfectly normal and healthy up until a year ago? Was there something that preceded the depression?

[ 25 March 2002, 23:18: Message edited by: Tomi Conner ]

I think everyone agrees that usually seeing a homeopath in person is preferably (if all things are equal - a big if)

If seeing a homeopath in person is not possible for you then you can try posting a full case here to see what transpires.

Or you can contact some of the homep[aths that do take cases over the net - Dr Leela, Tomi Conner - you would be in good hands with either of them.

barb

__________________
Man, do not pride yourself on your superiority to animals. For they are without sin and you in your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave traces of you foulness after you. Dostoyevsky

Hi Y'all--

("y'all" is Southernese for "You all")

First let me say how impressed I am at your courteous & considerate(and intelligent) replies.
Thank you. South Carolinians are great, loving
people, but we're not the brightest bulbs in the marquee, if you catch my drift. It's refreshing to correspond with people who know how to spell.

To JVolkman I say-- touche, mon ami. You are right: mine is a chronic, not an acute condition,
and Magic Bullet treatment ain't gonna make it.

To Ms. Conner-- it is my belief(and my psychiatric counselor's) that a very stressful incident late in 2000 catalyzed-- brought to the fore, you could say-- what may be a life-long depressive state; I was a moody child & I remain a moody adult. There have been periods of weight-loss and self-isolation throughout my life which I'd always eventually emerge from, writing it off as "another bad spell". But it's only since late 2000 that the "bad spells" have become debilitating. And I'd never had any suicidal ideation before then; as a Christian, the whole idea of suicide is anathema to me; it is NOT an option; it is the very worst thing I could do-- not so much to myself, though there is that, but
the pain and stigma that it would cause my family would be... incredibly bad karma(if a Christian may employ that term). You mentioned working with people like me, and your own experiences with Bipolar Disorder. Perhaps we could explore this further, if you're willing.(I do not expect free treatment.)

Thanks to all,
Neuly

Barb, thanks for the compliment

neuly, thanks for your interest but I'm only seeing people in my area now. Perhaps you can go to the practitioner that JVolkman recommended. She's nearby and probably isn't prohibitively expensive. Best of luck to you.

[ 27 March 2002, 18:37: Message edited by: Tomi Conner ]

Howdy JVolkman--

I think I get the picture. And it turns out that there are several practicing homeopaths in the NC/SC region(I live right on the NC/SC state line).

You mentioned that the initial consult is done face to face, that it may be "somewhat costly".
Do you know a ballpark figure for an initial homeopathic visit? $30? $150?

neuly