Hi,
How’s it going?
I have brought this topic up before but I want to bring it up again.
Why? Because there is so much nonsense on the internet that creates a huge problem with information and bipolar disorder.
So today I want to talk to you about something I call:
THE BIPOLAR RUMOR
The bipolar rumor is when one person hears about someone they know claiming to have heard about someone they know being cured of bipolar disorder (did you get that? I know, it sounds confusing).
Then they tell someone they know about someone they know who knows someone they know who was cured of bipolar disorder.
Then they tell someone who tells someone else who tells someone else…
Get the picture?
It reminds me of that commercial on TV awhile back for some shampoo that said , “And they’ll tell 2 people…and they’ll tell 2 people…and they’ll tell 2 people…” and on and on and on…
And all this telling people is all based upon a RUMOR to begin with!!!
In my courses, I talk about how there is no cure for bipolar disorder at this time, but that doesn’t stop some people from seeking out “alternative therapies.” I even expose some of these supposed “cures”:
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11
SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
It’s important to me for you to know that there really is NOT a cure for bipolar disorder at this time. That is a sad fact, but at least there is treatment for the disorder, and management of it.
But for people to claim some miraculous cure should be illegal!
In fact, it is unethical, if not illegal, when some company tries to sell you some product that claims to cure bipolar disorder.
You need to be careful of any product that claims to be a “natural cure” for bipolar disorder, because there isn’t one!
So you should KNOW that it is bogus! It will never be able to say that it is backed by the FDA (except as a FOOD product, not as a cure).
But this is SO dangerous! I know of one woman who believed in this BIPOLAR RUMOR.
She believed in it so much that she stopped taking her medication, believing that she was CURED of bipolar disorder.
8 months later, she took a gun and killed herself.
What was worse was that she not only claimed this “cure” for herself (before she died), but she told MANY other people about it.
They, too, went off THEIR medication! And they, too, went into bipolar episodes!
Luckily, they didn’t kill themselves, because they had good supporters, and they realized they really weren’t “cured,” but just think about what could have happened to them!
There really is NO CURE for bipolar disorder at this time.
And anyone who claims that there is, is NOT telling the truth – they are only spreading a RUMOR.
A potentially deadly RUMOR.
If you have found yourself in this situation, I BEG YOU NOT TO LISTEN TO THIS RUMOR!
Please, please, DO NOT GO OFF YOUR MEDICATION, no matter what you hear!
I know, some of these claims can sound really good.
In fact, I’ve read some of them myself on the Internet.
There’s one man who claims he was able to go off his medication 5 years ago and is still stable with his bipolar disorder today.
And he is claiming that he is CURED of the disorder!
Not only that, but he is claiming that you can be cured, too!
And this is VERY dangerous.
Well, think about that.
Even if it were true that he is stable today (after ONLY 5 years), what works for (only, and I stress ONLY) one person, does not mean it’s going to work for another person.
Secondly, he is trying to sell you something.
He is trying to make money off this RUMOR!
And that is so dangerous, because if YOU go off your medications, you can die!
So please don’t listen to this deadly BIPOLAR RUMOR, and stay on your medications!
Have you ever seen these ads for natural cures for bipolar disorder?
If you’ve ever been tempted to try them, DON’T!
And even if you are, ALWAYS check with your doctor FIRST!
NEVER go off your medication without checking with your doctor.
Post responses below
Not only is there no cure at present, but the condition does not “go away” at times – Sure after a period of depression or mania, with treatment and therapy one can feel, stable, even good, but the disease is STILL THERE and will come back unless treatment continues.
.
Sure it’s a hassle to continue taking those meds when you feel fine but unless you do, it WILL COME BACK and the effects of an episode, be it up or down, are far worse than any medicinal side-effects.
.
So for sake of your future and the well-being of those around you. Until a real, scientifically provable cure is found, stay on your meds!
Hi,
I couldn’t agree more about being extremely careful about the alternative treatments. Best avoided all together, or if you are going to try them regardless of warnings, you must work with your doctor.
I’m curious why a Google ad appears here titled “Cure Bipolar Naturally.” I clicked it and found that it’s selling everything–in ideology as well as in products, that we’re being warned against.
??
I once tried Black Cohosh (sic) because there were “rumors” that it would “cure” bipolar. As I was taking it, I noticed it said – 75% grain alcohol – so I was put in a more DANGEROUS situation than I was with my meds! It made me feel AWFUL, so I went back on my meds almost immediately.
No “sugar cure” will alleviate ALL symptoms of bipolar. I repeat what Dave said – “Don’t listen to rumors. Someone is just trying to SELL you something.”
I’m GLAD I listened to my BODY’S reaction to the cohosh, and read the label. Unfortunately, I was a victim of peer pressure – “Why don’t you go OFF your meds? You seem perfectly NORMAL.” Heed the warnings, and don’t be stupid.
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Hi Davie Babe….
You ok me little honey suckle….
Love Linda X
Dear Dave,
After all my daughter has been through, after the countless peices of worthless advice Rachel has been given at one time or another after her many unsuccessful attempts at self medication, Rachel has finally come to the conclusion ( as have I)that the only successful regime that works for her is the drug therapy, phsycotherapy and phsychiatrist she goes to every week. Rachel is stable and has been stable for nearly 5 months , she holds down a job she goes to the gym she is part of the community . And yet there was a time when both her and I despaired that a stable lifestyle could ever happen for her because nothing she was doing helped her BP until one day she was hospitalised and the dreadfully lonely road back to stability for Rachel began. this dedicated drug regime,psychotherapy andpyschiatrist along with exercise sleep etc is the only kind of treatment plan that has worked for Rachel- WE both agree there is NO cure for BP right now.
I hope those who are starting out on their own voyage of discovery( about BP) are not distracted by claims of miraculous cures- I can tell you as a supporter and a mum of an incrfedibly amazing courageous daughter that there is no cure for Bipolar- just a lot of hardwork and bleak sad times for the sufferer as they battle this terrible disease to win back their lives.
Thank you Dave for bringing this up
Regards
Shona
Dave, Unfortunately there are people who misuse the internet by trying to con a lot of money out of people in one way or another. These people who claim to cure bipolar or a variety of other illnesses, are among them. They charge a fortune for their “cures” and probably never had the illness they are claiming to cure, or even known anyone. They are pure con-merchants.
.
There are some natural remedies and therapies, which can effectively reduce stress, pain etc. and they can work very well in simple cases. Herbal remedies like St. John’s Wort and Ginseng can work very well on my type of temporary (menopausal or circumstanstial) depression. But they don’t work on my boyfriend’s bipolar depression. A little St.John’s Wort in addition to bipolar meds maybe helpful if discussed with the doctor first. Ginseng can be dangerous for bipolar, as it is an energy boost and can start an episode.
.
Anyone who does claim to have been miraculously cured of bipolar, most likely had drug induced bipolar symptoms and not the real disorder. My boyfriend and I know someone like that. He doesn’t try to sell cures or anything like that, but he goes around telling people that he “used to be bipolar and not anymore.” He also used to be addicted to Cocaine and a variety of other illegal drugs and is not anymore.
hello! we know how people work to get some monetary funds out of fraud but the best thing to do is just be caustious in everyhting with that no one could mislead us right?
There are support groups where the leader “teaches” that cure is possible. There is one outside of Philadelphia. It makes me want to gag. Treatable yes, in stability yes, cure – no. And it is the very reason so many people go off their meds and then go around telling everyone in an utterly dysfunctional manic mood “i’m cured”. And it is obvious to all of us but them. It is sad but true what people do to get members to a support group. I have learned a lot but the one thing that I learned early on was that there was no cure, unless the illness of bipolar itself is caused by a brain tumor that is removed or treated in some way, or a bacterial infection or viral infection that is treated and then it can be cured, or rather the mood swings go away and don’t usually come back in that case.
so sad. just because it hasn’t happened yet…don’t despair. supposedly there is no cure for cancer either, but it has happened. I for one don’t consider myself “cured” but my struggles were just as horrible on “meds” as off and added horrible side effects. I lead a “somewhat” normal life and use ALTERNATIVE methods to control my bipolar, from flower essences to yoga to hypnosis…No I may not be cured but I am able to live. and if the argument is that what works for one doesn’t work for another — the same can be said of meds. My last suicide attempt happened while ON effexor and seroquel…so don’t spread this equally disatrous rumors that drugs are the only answer…wake up people the drug company is making money of you as well…there is no magic pill either from the healthfood stoor or your psyciatrist. Stop planting doubt…and realize that the exact things said about alternatives could be said about pharmecueticals (sp?) either way we each have to find the combination that works for us…the hardest part for me is that as long as people run around bad mouth traditional medicine insurance won’t cover it…and the track record for me is BETTER…so maybe there isn’t a “CURE” but there are many different ways to treat it and live a life and some of that can be without giving drug companys their millions.