I have had bipolar disorder since I was six years old I am now sixty. My illness manifests as severe depression and manic depression,an urgent desire to kill myself while running around like a madman. They say bipolar depression is different from major depressive disorder but they give me the same antidepressants, so who cares.

I have been hospitalized three times. I've spent six months in long-term treatment. I have had 19 sessions of ECT (shock therapy) TMS. Just about every antidepressant and antipsychotic in the tool kit, I'm on mood stabilizers and I have had two weeks of Ketimine treatment. More psychotherapy than I had money to pay for and I've gotten sicker and sicker. I am now totally and completely disabled. They say I am treatment resistant.

Just about a month ago I picked up a book “Brain Energy” by a psychiatrist named Palmer. He is Harvard-trained and head of psychiatry at Mclaine Hospital, arguably the best in the world. I feel the best I have in my life! I am no longer suicidal and I was about to pull the trigger before I read, this book.

What have I changed?

I exercise vigorously two hours a day weight lifting and cycling. My chosen exercise is just what I like, I don't think it matters what one does. It's the vigorously that counts

I've, stopped two of meds Lorazepam and Seroqual, with my doctor's support. I slightly increased Latuda though I don't think that was actually necessary it helped me discontinue the ones I did and will help me with the remaining 12 I have to go, yeah 12. Some of them are for side effects from the others.

I have stopped eating refined sugar of any kind even the added sugars in everyday food. I further cut my carbohydrates to about 50, grams a day and eat equal amounts, fats and protein, kind of a modified Keto.

I recently had my doctor test my testosterone levels as, I found through research that the symptoms of low testosterone are the same, as, the unrelenting depression I was in. Sure enough all my levels are either low or critically low. I dug a little deeper and found that all of the psych meds save one, Wellbutrin, impede the production of testosterone!

I have lost everything to mental illness, my family, my wealth, my reputation and for two and a half years my freedom! This does not have to happen to your son! I'm and now sixty and am rebuilding a life ravaged by mental illness.

I can not tell you what to do, for me the first step was to realize that for the most part doctors are just as confused as we are. I started asking Google my questions. I read every legitimate paper, article and report I could find. I read Brain Energy. That lead me to start exercising which intern lead to my dietary changes. I no longer accept what the doctors tell me, I do my own research. I have spent hundreds of thousand looking for help and I’ve lost millions being sick. And I never questioned my care, that’s my fault!

Every step I took I felt better. I know have a life and hope, in thirty days. I still have a long way to go but now I can think clearly and make better decision. I am the director of my care, I no longer abdicate my life to anyone.

Imagine if everything I have been through is due to a hormone imbalance that no one bothered to check for even though the information has been available for decades.

I also found a provider who agreed that less is more and has helped me reduce my medication and supports continuing the process. Where did I find her, a community mental health center? Basically free because I am disabled. They also work on a sliding scale. I find people working in community mental health aren’t there for the money they care, though everyone is different.

Make a plan and go after with everything you have. You can change the course of your sons life. Never give up.

Message me anytime, I have a lot of bad Karma to make up for.

Thank you for reaching out!

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