Are You a Hungry Bipolar Bear?

Anger and Agitation Can Be Signs Of Bipolar Disorder

We all know that lethargy, daunting feelings of defeat, thoughts of suicide, and a keen unwillingness to go on with life can all take you – a perfectly good person – and leave you feeling empty, a fragile shell of who you once were or hope to be.

We call this manic depression or bipolar disorder – and it can be much more than just anxiety and sadness.

Intense anger is also a nasty by-product of this debilitating disease.

Depression can “drop the gates” and allow you to get irritated more easily and downright mad when things don’t go your way. Some examples of depression and induced anger can be:

• When daily tasks prove harder than you thought…or when items you use every day don’t work the way they should.
• Something as simple as refitting the canister in your vacuum cleaner after emptying it – if it doesn’t snap right into place as it should, you may grimace, grit your teeth, and shout obscenities in your head or even aloud (Yes, this one is from personal experience!).
• A link to an internet page might not load as fast as it should, your email might not refresh and you miss an important message, a seemingly harmless storm could cause a power surge that leaves you without electricity and any of these could set you off.
• And how about a relationship issue? A friend, loved one, or colleague might say or do something that under normal circumstances wouldn’t be worth a scowl but when you’re depressed, it commands as much negative attention as you can muster. You harp on the action or words until you go nuts with anger.

Sound familiar?

Explosive behavior in folks with bipolar disorder is very common, especially in children, tweens and teens.

What Causes the Fury-Fueled Conniptions?

The root cause of depression-induced hissy fits differs from person to person.  A few common causes are:

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  Lack of sleep.
  Depression can and does affect your sleep patterns. You may find it difficult to saw the wood no matter how tired you might be. Lying awake with too much on your mind and an internal dialogue that won’t quit can ruin your slumber. Sleep deprivation is responsible for all sorts of maladies in all of us and anger is a big one.
• No more pleasure in things.
  If you can’t seem to take pleasure in the things you should or did in the past, you may find your level of tolerance for others and certain situations hits the ground with an annoying thud. Because your mind is tricking you into thinking your life isn’t worth the birth certificate it’s printed on, it’s perfectly logical to understand why you can’t enjoy the things that make for a healthy, rich living experience.
• Inability to focus on work, family or friends.
  They say you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. It can be very frustrating to lose your desire to do a good job at work, take a picnic with friends and family, or even sit down to watch a good movie. It’s especially irritating when you were able to do these things before you became depressed.

If any of this rings a bell for you, or if you know someone who shows the signs, stick around. You’re going to discover how to beat it without using dangerous pills to alter your natural chemistry.

Authors Note: I too have suffered through depression. I had a nervous breakdown when I was 27 years old and was diagnosed with clinical bipolar disorder. I saw a couple different psychiatrists and took nearly every medication made for depression, anxiety, and the heebie-jeebies from being in crowds (for the technically astute – agoraphobia). Bottom line – the drugs did nothing but mask the illness. They only provided a smoke screen, which eventually faded. After suffering an intense brain cramp from missing a couple days while on vacation (I forgot my meds), I decided to get off the stuff. It took quite a while before I felt normal again which led me to the sound conclusion that those pills were evil! So, I began looking for a healthier way to take control and conquer my depression.

Let me show you how I did it.

When It All Seems Hopeless, Go Back To The Basics

If you’re looking for a natural alternative to Big Pharma drugs that only suppress your condition, then you’re in the right place.

You don’t need Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft or any other pill to cure bipolar disorder.

The truth is simple: it can be done with the proper diet. Today, we eat too many processed foods. We take in too much caffeine, too much sugar and “enriched” flour. All of this can be linked to imbalances in your system and when your system is out of whack, it doesn’t serve your best interests.

Because being depressed can ruin your life.

So, here are some foods you should add to your diet when feelings of hopelessness govern your daily life.

• Carbohydrates are necessary for the body.
  They’re a healthy energy source, but watch out! Unhealthy carbs produce too much sugar and the result is mood swings. Bleached flour products are major bad carbs. Get the healthy carb kind from apples, peaches, oranges, brussels sprouts and beans. Furthermore, eat only 100% whole wheat breads that contain no enriched flour.
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  Wholly mackerel – omega-3s strike again!
  Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to effectively balance folks with bipolar disorder. Herring, mackerel and, of course, wild salmon are excellent sources. Don’t forget about tuna and trout, too. Symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency include: mood swings, fatigue, depression, and poor memory. Case closed.
• No more processed foods.
  We at Home Cures That Work are always squawking about the evils of processed foods. Here we go again…processed foods are chemically altered from their natural state and contain preservatives and additives that serve to exacerbate the manic condition we’re trying to defeat. Stay away from them and you’ll notice a very positive change in a short time.
• Bingo! Get your B-12!
  A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can bum you out and has been linked to symptoms of bipolar disorder, so make sure you get your recommended daily allowance. Foods like shellfish, beef, lamb, liver, cheese, and eggs are highest in vitamin B-12 content.
• Now C here…
  Definitely add vitamin supplements like folic acid, choline and old reliable vitamin C to turn that frown upside down.  For anxiety, be sure to add magnesium, selenium, and B complex to your daily vitamin intake.

Following these steps can provide your brain with the much-needed nutrients for proper functioning. Your brain sends negative messages for a reason – it’s trying to tell you to feed it! Give it the good food and nutrition it needs and it will thank you for it.

Dinner for Depression

Food can be a very comforting way to treat bipolar disorder. Sometimes we associate a good meal with happy times – parties, friends, family and celebration. So, it’s more than just sustenance. Good food releases endorphins that make you feel warm and fuzzy instead of hot and surly. Here are a couple recipes for you to try that will take that edge right off your mind and have you feeling good again in no time.

Tyler Florence’s Mushroom Risotto

Ingredients

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  8 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 onion, diced, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, minced, divided
• 1 pound fresh portobello and crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon truffle oil
• 1-ounce dried porcini mushrooms, wiped of grit
• 2 cups Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
• Fresh Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions:

Heat the chicken broth in a medium saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic, cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms, herbs and butter. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned, season with salt and pepper. Drizzle in truffle oil then add the dried porcini mushrooms, which were reconstituted in1 cup of warm chicken broth. Season again with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Sauté 1 minute then remove from heat and set aside.

Coat a saucepan with remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Sauté the remaining 1/2 onion and garlic clove. Add the rice and stir quickly until it is well-coated and opaque, about 1 minute. This step cooks the starchy coating and prevents the grains from sticking. Stir in wine and cook until it is nearly all evaporated.

Now, with a ladle, add 1 cup of the warm broth and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed the liquid. Add the remaining broth, 1 cup at a time. Continue to cook and stir, allowing the rice to absorb each addition of broth before adding more. The risotto should be slightly firm and creamy, not mushy. Transfer the mushrooms to the rice mixture. Stir in Parmesan cheese; cook briefly until melted. Top with a drizzle of truffle oil and chopped parsley before serving.

Don’t dig mushrooms…get it – dig mushrooms?!? You can throw in some crab, shrimp, lamb, or thinly sliced sirloin for a delicious alternative that’s sure to calm even the most restless bipolar bear.

What A Crock…

Chef Jeff’s Talk-Back Chili

A friend of mine who experienced a bit of gas so aptly named this…after sampling my chili! Eat it alone or make sure everyone has some to enjoy a reenactment of the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles!

What you’ll need:

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  A crock pot
• 16 ounce can of garbanzo beans
• 16 ounce can of black beans
• 16 ounce can of pinto beans
• 16 ounce can of kidney beans
• (2) 16 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
• Chili powder and cumin – about an ounce of each
• Salt – a couple turns of a grinder
• Pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 3 pounds ground beef or turkey, cooked and drained
• Scallions
• Cheddar cheese
• Sour cream

Directions:

Now here’s the hard part…open cans (don’t drain anything), dump all ingredients into a crock pot, stir, cover and cook on low for 8 hours! Serve with a little shredded cheddar on top, scallions and sour cream.

Broccoli Grape Salad (This one was just too weird to pass up!)

Ingredients

• 2 heads broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
• 1 lb. bacon, cooked & crumbled
• 1 bunch red grapes
• 1 pkg. sliced almonds

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise (can use light)
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Combine the broccoli, bacon, grapes and almonds in a large bowl. Combine dressing ingredients. Shake or stir until smooth. Pour dressing onto salad. Toss. May use more or less dressing depending on amount of salad and taste. Refrigerate. Toss again before serving.

Authors Note: You know what? Those ingredients are just crazy enough to work! I tried it, though the taste was different, but very interesting. I don’t want to say that I danced in Macy’s window after a bite, but it did make me feel good and rightly so because it’s got bacon! I highly recommend this recipe to you. I was afraid I wouldn’t like it but being a food fanatic, but I give everything a try at least once. This stuff greatly improved my mood. Why? I don’t know. Much like grandma’s chicken soup – it just works!

Say It Loud – I’m Fine and I’m Proud!

“I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And doggone it, people like me…”

That was the daily affirmation of Stuart Smalley, a character created by funnyman Al Franken on Saturday Night Live.

We all laughed at Stu’s funny voice and cutesy little chant, but what about its validity?

Turns out, our own voices are very powerful tools for overcoming many of life’s challenges. Simply saying something out loud can actually give it reality…a life of its own, so to say.

Try doing this several times a day or whenever you feel the mania approaching.

Look around and say, “I’m really happy to be where I am in life. There are struggles, but I know that I’m good enough and smart enough to overtake them. My future is bright and is up to me to command.” You can also make up your own affirmation.

(Now, be careful not to do this on a subway…in a mall…or walking down a busy street because you will be labeled. Again, this comes from personal experience!)

You can also think these words as much as you like all day long! Hearing yourself speak them is much more powerful, but sometimes it’s the thought that counts, too.

Then, put on a smile. Clinical studies have proven that smiling provides instant relief from feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger and loss of control or focus. It calms you and allows you to reassert yourself as a confident, strong human being that can and will get the job done – no matter what that job is. It can also diffuse a touchy situation in an argument, if properly executed.

Don’t Worry – Be Happy

The bottom line here is that you don’t have to live with bipolar disorder – or any disorder for that matter. There’s always a healthy, nutritious diet for that. Staying healthy will keep you happy, functional and fun to be around.

On a personal note…as I said I suffered through depression for years. And when a doctor looks at you and says you have bipolar disorder, it can be a shocker. It explains a lot, but also leaves much to the imagination. You wonder if the ups and downs take a toll on you physically, as well as mentally. You look online and anywhere else you can to try and discover how to be happy.

But, it’s more than that.

Having bipolar disorder doesn’t mean you can just wake up and decide you’re okay. It takes some work. I mean, this doesn’t happen overnight, so why would the cure come so easily?

Food is a great way to beat the madness of mania attacks, anxiety and listlessness associated with this strange but true disease. I found that beef and omega-3 fatty acids really did the trick for me.

A big bowl of my Talk-Back Chili can set the world straight! Plus, a regular diet containing fresh salmon, herring and trout works wonders, too. Eating fish can prove to be a long-term solution, as the omega-3 fatty acids work to improve brain health. That definitely made a difference for me. I still visit with a counselor from time to time because getting all those feelings out in the open with a professional really puts things in perspective.

See, all that mish-mash floats around in your head and festers. You need to release it for it to lose its power over you.

It’s hard. Life is full of difficulties and sometimes it seems like we’ll never win. But, keep in mind you are not alone. Everybody has their own issues and challenges – even the guy driving the new Mercedes to his country club is not immune. Look at the people who seem to have it all…some end up in trouble, others are the constant brunt of the media’s jokes, and still others end up dead.

Not one miracle will cure you…and it certainly won’t happen in a day. The combination of self pep talks, proper nutrition and a good talk with a professional or at least a trusted friend can work wonders to heal you and patch up the friendship between you and your brain.

So eat well, my friends. Stay rested, positively charged, and make sure you smile as much as you can every day. These practices will fix your brain in no time and send your bipolar Bear into indefinite hibernation.

 

The content of this blog is from my personal experience. I am hoping that those dealing with bipolar disorder or other mental illness will find comfort, friendship, awareness, entertainment, and maybe even a few good answers. Most importantly, I hope those of you out there struggling will realize you are not alone. So, someone please help. Leave a comment to make someone smile, say there is hope and just make another feel better.

 

Jeff Saunders is a writer and food fanatic who’s been cooking since he could identify a spatula as more than a blunt instrument of destruction. He majored in English Literature at Florida Atlantic University, and has been in marketing and advertising for 6 years. He continues to write ad copy for various clients in the U.S. and Canada but is currently working on his novel tentatively titled: The Following Pages Left Blank Intentionally. He feels that it would mean more to the reader if they wrote it themselves. Jeff’s currently nuzzled in a suburb of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with his family…and in laws.