" I have never been normal . I didn't know what normal was for me " that is exactly how i have been communicating with myself while asking myself about my current condition . Buddy i can feel you .
Sir. You are saving my life and I would love to know you are okay. You are an incredibly smart determined and caring man. We need more people like you to save humanity. Seriously.....
I love hypomania for the most part, I wish I could be hypomanic constantly. I have had hypomanic episodes that last 3 or 4 weeks. But that feeling when you know it is over and all motivation and joy evaporates overnight and you are in for a period of just struggling to get through the day is horrible. The hypomanic times are when all my good memories are made, and the only time I truly feel alive and with a sense of purpose. I look forward to them, but artificially trying to create them has always led me to more mixed states that are ultimately not rewarding.
I'm a grad student in psychology with Bipolar 1 and I'm on lithium carbonate. This is all incredibly helpful, resourceful, informative and encouraging.
You're an absolute inspiration for people like me, I'm doing well now in my life, you were one of the contributing factors that has helped me not have to get back on meds (I still have brain damage from benzos and such), but also by lifting weights and such. I often think back to you when I give people advice, I hope you are doing well, Light In The Dark.
Have you looked into the Walsh Research Institute? They have done so many studies along these lines. Methylation sounds responsible for many conditions.
I appreciate the work Walsh has done and still does. He is one of the original pioneers of using supplements as natural self-help treatment for mental health conditions. The work of these pioneers saved my life by showing me that I could attempt to treat my own condition. Unfortunately however, I feel he is stuck in the past with the idea that if you just fix histamine/methylation issues you will correct a serious mental health condition; this simply isn’t the case, it isn’t sufficient. He also claimed to have treated over 30,000 and a a data set (statistics) on the results of the treatments with these patients. He makes statistical claims e.g. 85% (or some such) of schizophrenics have over-methylation and xx% of depressed patients have pyroluria and xx% have under-methylation etc. But no one has ever seen this data set to check the statistical claims, if the data and results from 30,000 patients exists please let us see it; share it. I’m certain the reason he doesn’t share it is because it doesn’t really exist as a proper set of results, and 30,000 cannot all be people he’s personally seen and treated as he claims. The percentages he quotes are also too perfect like 90% this and 70% that, the real world doesn’t produce such net numbers; that are also way high generalisations. I’m genuinely sorry to say this about someone else, especially one of the few people working on treating mental health condition with naturally occurring substances, but he make exaggerated claims doesn’t help our reputation. He needs to publish he’s data set or stop making statical claims. To end by saying something positive about him I’ll say he is the only person pioneering using natural substances to target the epigenetic proteins, if we could master that it would take treatment to a totally new level of control; we could contain the genes encoding for the problems. Bipolar disorder for example involves so much more than just methylation issues. Methylation issues may play an important role but there are many other factors involved.
, I was just thinking about the Williams Walsh and his research and I am glad you expressed your honest opinion about it. I can personally testify that some of the things in Walsh protocol are helpful ( I used it on the loved one I am trying to help) however I didn't see as great results as I was hoping. I just want to mention another pioneer in the medical field, pioneer in hormones replacement the late Dr John Lee. His work was focused on menopausal women and low Progesterone ( strangely by statistics about 37% of women going or in early menopause are beginning to experience mental health problems and often diagnosed with schizophrenia). So now straight to the point about Dr J. Lee's work and Bipolar., at least regarding females. I encounter numerous reviews about his Progesterone replacement from young women that are officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In those reviews they're saying that when they started using Natural Progesterone cream in conjuction with Methylfolate of 10 00 mcg or for those that cannot tolerate Methylfolate they used Hyrdroxyfolate for their low Progesterone/estrogen dominance issues within 2 to 3 months some of them up to 6 months to a year all of their Bipolar Disorder symptoms were gone or diminished. I would greatly appreciate your input on using Natural Progesterone Cream for females with Bipolar and your Bipolar recovery protocol. Thank you in advance! You are really God send to me! I decided a long ago I am going to keep trying to save my precious child or die trying. As I said in another comment under another video of yours she's never been diagnosed but I am almost 99.99 % sure by symptoms based on my medical knowledge ( nurse and hypnotherapist) that it's Bipolar. And the symptoms are so bad the last year and especially the last 2- 3 months that I am terrified that I am not too late finding a cure or appropriate treatment plan ( I also have to battle refusal to seek professional help). I pray God send you to me on time! Thank you in advance for taking the time to read it and respond to my question about the Progesterone cream in addition to your protocol!
Thank you thank thank you! I have a 23 year old son who was always awesome. When he turned 21 I realized he was acting different, talking to himself and saying things like f family. He was diagnosed bipolar /schizophrenia. I believe my son had a nervous breakdown because money that my mom left for him was taken by my brother and shortly after that he was acting differently. He has been through quite a bit because he refuses to take the medication prescribed because of the side affects. I will never give up on my son because he deserves all the support he can get. This can be very stressful but i have to be strong for my son. If there is anyone out there that need some support you have got a listening ear. We all need each other. Respect to all
I totally understand how challenging it is for a 20 something-year-old to take on board that they have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, I was in that situation myself, I remember it well. When he's ready to go into natural self-help therapies, diet supplements et cetera there's probably a lot that he can do that will go a long way to stabilising his brain and mental health, and without the side effects that are very offputting. I wish you every success with your healing journey.
Ahh dam it your email had gone into my spam folder, its good you sent this message so I searched for your email. Yes I’m still working. I’ll email you.
You are an angel on earth. The way you explain your experience and what you did gives real hope. I desperately have been searching for a supplement(s) to stop explosive anger and constant aggression and agitation.
Thank you I needed to hear this today. Not bipolar, but the bit about how depression drags you into that pit...I am glad you escaped it again. God, I hope I can stop it...it is going on 5 years.
Laurie B There’s a lot you can do to change the health of your brain and combat depression. I’ll be making more vids on inflammation/depression and neurotransmitters. Good luck with your healing.
Your video might be a glimpse at how I could help my 14 yo son who has been in a mixed or depressed or angry state since 3+ years. This poor child is unable to live his life. He tried everything. Antidepressant, mood stabilizer, stimulants, antipsychotics… in all combinations, all dosages, etc. Yet, he goes from bad to another sort of bad. It seems we cannot balance him because what he needs changes. I need to listen to this video several times.
Incredible video. You confirmed everything I was reading about BCAA ( amino acid) drink acutely reducing mania. I am now going to watch each and every video you have uploaded. I have know the exact supplements you are taking particularly for stopping mania and I am very interested in the neuroplasticity treatment. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experimental trials.
Much respect for this man. He's actually been through it and self treated and experimented with what works and what does not. Most others will just regurgitate what they've read and heard.
Yeah. He's helped me a lot. He hasn't been heard from for a while it seems, hopefully he is well. I'm a lot better because of him. No more scary pharma meds for me. Thankfully....
Thank you so much for this testimony. My son just turned 28. He is brilliant and beautiful but depression and other factors have prevented him from living his best life. I’ve learned so much from him trying to find natural remedies. I played your video and he didn’t criticize you like he does most. He thought you were sincere and I saw him look a few things up. We’ve ordered some 5 http and l tyrosine. Bought some lithium orodate.. I can’t wait for happiness from him about his future.He has been saying for years that his neurotransmitter are not working properly. I wish I knew some of this when he was in school
I'm going to be making several videos about neurotransmitters, it will mainly be about bipolar disorder particularly bipolar depression but you can use the same information to treat unipolar depression. It would be great if he could sort out his brain health and a younger age than I did :-) If your son has a particular question he can put it in the comments and I may be able to answer in a subsequent video.
I relate to you deeply in the way that you think about things. I am 20 years old, struggling with bipolar disorder. I reject traditional medication because of the permanent affects it can have on your body and brain. I want to fix the issue in a way that is good for me all around. I have never come across or thought about the idea of improving neuroplasticity, but I’m really interested in trying it. In another video you posted, you spoke about improving plasticity through meditation brain exercises. This makes me begin to wonder how much of a role that upbringing really has on bipolar disorder. Maybe certain responses we have adapted to having to certain things have damaged our brain.
Thanks for your video. It is interesting how you were able to control your moods so well and to avoid major problems. Yes, I think the high energy and decreased need for sleep are warning signs of mania. I just ride along with my mood swings. When I have high energy, I get a lot done. When I'm depressed, I cut back some what, but still do some things. Most of all I do not beat myself up over how I'm feeling.
That’s great to hear. To protect yourself from future relapses build up and maintain a super healthy microbiome with a great diet and retrain your stress (HPA and vagus nerve) responses.
I have basically been doing the exact same thing as you, for several years but without a lot of success. I’m bipolar 2 as well, and mixed states are hell, so I sympathize with you there. Something I learned actually from taking Zofran is I actually feel better when seritonin is inhibited, so for whatever reason, I’m very depressed, but I believe I have too much seritonin, or my response to seritonin is an anxious/depressed state. I only know a couple of things that inhibit seritonin (natural things) magnesium is one, but after a few days of inhibiting seritonin, anxiety is down but depression kind of resurfaces, and no motivation. Anyway, I really relate to so much of your story. Thank you for sharing your life experience. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one going through this and trying to approach it from a more holistic perspective (haven’t responded well to meds, many are not tolerable, as I’m sure you’ve likely learned along your journey). Anyway, thanks for sharing!!!
I took 5htp for years and I was stable. I noticed whenever I got off it my moods would be drastic. Constant highs and lows. Can’t believe this all came back to haunt me again. I was pretty stable when I got a job. Looking to try 5htp again.
I had to take tryptophan every second day for about 15 years to support healthy serotonin levels in my brain. When I focused my treatment on boosting, Neuroplasticity to stimulate the growth of new serotonin synapses, the results were great, my mood stabilised, and I no longer needed the support of tryptophan. You could add a little lithium rotate, saffron, maybe zembrin along with the five HTP to focus neurplastic growth in the serotonin systems of the brain, and a stack of additional supplements to boost BDNF/Neuroplasticity in general. Try this for 3 to 6 months with a high polyphenyl diet, physical exercise, and good sleep, and see where it takes you.
@@aniamfilipiak I’m great now! I’ve kept my bipolar completely under control for over a decade now, no mania no depression not even a single day. For the first few years I didn’t recognise myself, it was unbelievable, but eventually I got used to the new me.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments hi Peter, so happy to see you are still online responding to questions! I sent you an email under the name of Julian from Australia
Thank you for making these videos & sharing your story. I highly relate to how you described feeling. I really needed to find your videos, they’ve made me feel hopeful.
You are so welcome. I enjoy sharing the science but not talking about myself, it's kinda odd to me that people like this personal experience sharing stuff, but apparently you do so on make more! :-)
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments June 24th 2023? I'd love to learn more about it. Are there many peer reviews of getting BP under control with your treatment?
@@motishabbat5292Yes I still see clients. The book and course will not be finished until 2025. What is close to happening is my next video on what are the 15 causes of BD and what we need to do to treat it. I’ve spent the past 8 months reading over 120 scientific papers and books to make this video presentation. I’ve already started filming it so just a few weeks now. After that I’m starting a new website that will take comments to collect testimonials.
god dang im so glad you're here still brother, and at a really amazing cause at that. ive struggled myself with on and off major major depression for almost 10 years, and this time it got really bad, and im only 25 years old. after watching your video on lithium and other stacks to go with it, im going to give it a go and really try to be cautious because like you said, depression is mental anguish unlike most pains ive ever experienced.
There’s are many things you can do to treat depression, each one can alleviate it to a greater or lesser extent. Combine many techniques and eventually you can get well. Use meditation it can give a 10-30 % improvement, do cognitive to challenge the beliefs/feelings, do regression therapy to remodel negative/traumatic memories, get your diet right for some improvement and a bad diet can hold you back, reduce stress physiology, reduce inflammation and boost neuroplasticity with natural remedies and physical exercise. Some of these things will have only a little effect to no effect, some will have big effects, combine them, keep going until you are well. We now know a lot about the brain and depression, there’s a lot you can do.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Thanks for getting back to me man, today the depression got so bad I had to do something. So I went on my first 8 mile bike in almost exactly 2 years, and I feel pretty good about getting back on again considering i gained about 10-25 pounds since then. I'm going to minimize junk food, continue on the cycling 8 mile regimen almost daily until i gain my stamina. It has been something I have missed for a long time now. I also have some lithium orotate coming in so I'm going to try supplementing with that as well. Next step I guess, would be to introduce much more flavonoids into my diet. Your channel has been a lot of help man, and really inspiring, I can't give up, I'm at the point where I gotta get up and i'll do anything to maintain my sanity.
Yes, max out the flavonoids, reduce omega 6, add EPA, build up cardio to the point you can do shoot supper intense HIIT workouts, meditate. I’m starting meditation classes specifically for depression and anxiety, to receive details email me, petersmithuk@yahoo.com
Better Mental Health with Natural Remedies meditation doesn’t seem to work for me. It cannot get u out of an anxious suicidal mind. How do you challenge thoughts when u can’t stop the fear and anxious cycle? It’s impossible
Outlawz _ take super supplements Research chemicals and all pharmaceuticals Try everything and keep in finding solutions N best try to go to another country like Morocco It works well in the winter
I have recently gone off lithium citrate because I have serious musculoskeletal problems and lipedema, and gained 80 lbs. the first time I went on bipolar meds. Later, I went off them, exercised, ate well, and lost 85 lbs. but developed addiction and mood problems. In recovery, I went back on the meds, but I gained back 60 lbs and am again physically disabled. Pain, difficulty exercising, etc. are not good for anyone’s sleep, mood, or reasoning, and reality orientation. I started lithium orotate 5mg, I felt improved mood and thinking about half of the day, but backed off due to somnolence. Thank you for the help in seeking balance. I’m looking for dosing advice at this stage, less than a month in.
Thank you so much for all this information and for the hope it gives! I am looking for help for a very precious one for me. I would do anything to help my loved one to actually have opportunity to have a life. I do not know if she has bipolar since so far didn't agree to seek professional help but everything points out to that. And maybe in addition brain seizures, not sure about the last. Thank you again! ❤
Subscribed.. All I can say is wow. I went through the same experience, everything you said in this video A to Z, including try to self medicate to balance out my own neurotransmitters. And I still couldn't figure out the perfect solution. I either went hypo mania or too depressed to do anything. how can I learn more about your current remedy?
Hi, bipolar disorder and brain physiology are so unique to each person that the prescription I take would not be the same prescription you should take. What I do my practice is start by making an appraisal of a person’s condition and then match the remedies to the specific combination of symptoms a person has. What I do is show people how to self monitor what is happening with individual neurotransmitters in their brain, inflammatory levels, stress responses et cetera and then how to match specific treatments and specific remedies to what is happening with their neurotransmitters. With a little practice, you can work out when your dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate and GABA are going too high or too low by reading the signs and symptoms and then you can learn how to redress the balance by adjusting you the prescription of natural. It took me 25+ years to learn how to do this, but I hope to be able to teach someone to do the same for themselves in say 25 weeks. I love helping people with bipolar disorder and would be very happy to work with you. I was just about to start writing my book on bipolar disorder and making videos of the chapters as I went along, but then the coronavirus shutdown happened and its delayed the start. I'm still available for private consultations via videoconferencing, see my website for fees and details.
Ahr you made me blush, It is bipolar disorder that you are particularly interested in and going to be concentrating just on treating bipolar, I be restarting (after the lockdown) writing my forthcoming Book on Living Well with Bipolar Disorder. The plan is to serialise the chapters of the book into UA-cam videos as I progress. Hopefully this will start up within a couple of months.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments can you make a video about enhancing severe depression and lowering severe anxiety? ive been in a terrible mental state for years and now that ive come off benzos cold turkey mind you im even worse now which i didnt think was possable...your videos are beyond interesting
Sir can you elaborate the drugs , alternative therapies you used to treat your disease condition instead of taking convention treatment.detialed of all kind of food and exercises etc.
Fantastic video new to the channel thank you for sharing a very informative video keep it coming 😊I have good result with NAC to reduce glutamate, hope this helps.Good recommendation on lithium oratate will try this.
@patricianoll1229 That’s great but I don’t recommend relying on lithium orotate only. I currently filming a new video on the 15 causes of bipolar disorder.
Franz Wilhelm ‘the end of Alzheimer’s’ by Bredesen is good on neuroplasticity but the book ‘the Edge Effect’ my Braverman is good on understanding neurotransmitters
The supplement prescription needs to be different for different people. People with bipolar are on a spectrum from BD 1 through BD 2 to cyclothymia, there can be psychotic features, rapid cycling, mania dominance with or without depression, depression dominance and BD NOS (not other wise specified) There may be gut issues driving the inflammation, autoimmune issues, infections, for example, Lyme disease et al. And all these need to be addressed. So there is not a one size fits all protocol. I know that’s frustrating but it is what it is. At the moment the only way to get an individual program from me is to book a consultation. Hopefully in about a years time I may have a self-help video course, prepared for bipolar disorder.
When you have mixed states you have to just jump in and start treating something, and I believe it’s best to start with treating the manic side. Antidepressant treatments can trigger and worsen mania but anti-mania treatments don’t induce depression (or at least not significantly), also for many people the longer mania lasts the worse the ensuing depression; so tackle the mania first. There are several natural remedies to use including lithium orotate but the best treatment for mixed-states is dark therapy (several hours of amber coloured proper blue-blocking glasses folded by sleeping in 100% TOTAL darkness. I’ll be doing vids on this.
This video was me telling my story of mental illness, it wasn’t a discussion about supplements. Also it would literally be dangerous and irresponsible for me share my personal supplement stack. If someone with BD takes a combination of supplements that are too stimulating for them it could flip them up into mania, put them into hospital or worse. You may think I’m being alarmist but I’m not, this happened to two of patients last year; they took antidepressant supplements (SAMe, inositol, carnitine) I had recommended they should not take and they quickly went manic. Even for simple conditions a prescription should be individualised, and BD is famously complex. There isn’t a one size fits all, the stack I take would put some people in hospital. The BD prescriptions I write for my patients consists of 3 prescriptions, one for manic phases, one for depression phases and one for maintenance during euthymic phases. The 3 prescriptions have very different effects and my patients get an explanation on how and when to use each one. My next video is going to explain the biology of bipolar disorder and I will mention some universal mood stabilising treatment approaches. Next year I’ll have a course on managing BD available to buy with detailed instructions on how to personalise the treatment.
Lamictal is strong for depressive episode but it won't prevent mania. I don't believe in managing bipolar with remedies, well, I have tried it. Now I take lithiumcarbonate and it works fine.
Hi I really appreciate your help & hard work in making these informative videos for us. Can you provide us with the names of these natural remedies that have helped you?
The supplements one person needs are different to another person even with the same condition. For example we know inflammation is a driving force underlying all mental illnesses, but the CAUSE of the inflammation in one person can be totally different from another. There’s some generic supplements I use in my practice but for success you need to address individual differences in the underlying physiology; so I don’t share generic lists of supplements. Furthermore I need to asses the individual risk of mania and level of protection needed before taking any risks with antidepressant supplements. Also my treatments don’t just rely on supplements, I include other treatment techniques for added safety and benefits. Sorry but for now the only way to get a prescription from me is by having an appointment (via online video call). You can book an appointment online on my website.
I appreciate your reply. I completely understand. I'm trying to book an appointment but I cant seem to find the link to your website.@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments
I've been trying to understand the role of antidepressants with a mood stabilizer for those with BD. Wouldn't it make more sense to take a regulated dosage of 5htp or Ltrypthophan for depression than an ssri in BD?
For many of us a lack of hope, that anything will get better, by definition an inability to see a future is what depression is. Yes the imbalance magnifies but isolation and lack of purpose is the main driver, suicide ideation then enters the field of view.
The lack of hope and inability to see a future are manifestations of depression, they are the depression talking or distorting our perception of reality. Depression causes social isolation behaviour. Feelings, purpose, motivation, looking forward to and anticipation of pleasurable rewarding things happening and feelings of direction are created in parts of the brain run by dopamine. These depressed feelings and behaviours can be induced in people and animals (the behaviours in animals) just by damaging the dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems of the brain. I personally have had my perception of my world switched from total hopeless isolation and dejection one day to the total opposite when I switched from depression to mania, and then the next day back to despair when I had rapid cycling bipolar depressions. We can induce suicidal behaviours in animals by downregulating neuroplasticity and eliminate suicidal ideation be upregulating neuroplasticity in humans. Our brain constructs our consciences and alterations in the brain changes how we think, feel, see things and behave. What’s fascinating is psychology and social factors changes the inflammatory reactions of the immune system and this affects brain function. So psychological stress and distress is a risk factor for the changes in the brain that cause depression, but not every one that has psychological distress develops depression and we can induce depression without any psychological distress. I’ll be making a vid about this to explain these remarkable new understandings and what to do about it.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments yes I can see that we are really seeing the same derivative from different points of view. I think they are manifest for many together. For example, when I am working ( welder and builder) I tend to be on the manic side, that is high functioning. When I am in bad shape , without purpose, I get very depressed. I think at the core of it all, purpose and outlook are inter related , I can be depressed and still be functional if I have reason to be. When that reason is removed I literally fall into a hellish panorama permeating existence itself. I am sure it is different for each of us, regardless the suicide ideation is boundary when crossed is difficult to come back from.
I will be doing a video on how changes in neuroplasticity can rapidly change our whole outlook and sense of purpose and self-worth from optometrist to the worst pessimism and how this is connected to our immune defensive system and how psychological stress factors and trauma may be the most common BUT not the only thing that that causes the neuroplastic changes in brain structures and function that cause depression.
I dig the story about you getting pissed on your bike I can totally relate I'm bipolar too and I've had similar States, I have a question in those situations is it good to take like extra lithium ornate like maybe 30 mg I also take 5-HTP when I feel like that and cannabis.
My bipolar is stable using lithium, luvox, seroquel. The lithium stabilises me at a level of 0.5 which is on the low side but I'm stable on it so why take more? SSRI Luvox is 200mg, and the dreaded seroquel I take is 200mg at night which is purely to fall asleep. I just can't fall asleep with out it I've had sleeping troubles since being a young baby. Do you know away I can use supplements and fall asleep and get rid of the seroquel? which causes me bad weight gain.. I don't need anti psychotics as long as I'm on a mood stabiliser and sleeping well I do fine with out them.
I don't have Bipolar, though I haven't been diagnosed. I would say I am more in the depression and moderate borderline. Which supplements do you recommend? I do feel occasional rage. I am taking B-12, lithium orotate and magnesium, B complex. I guess I need to increase my serotonin if I've got rage?
I feel you. Thank you for asking and for being proactive. I’ve heard DBT can help, but I don’t know what nutrients may help borderline. I am confident that there are foods and supplements that do. I am excited to see what Dr. Smith recommends. For the spiritual side, Maybe finding healthy ways to express the anger? Like a boxing class or bioenergetics? Elliott Hulse comes to mind as being another helpful resource. I know someone who really liked gestalt therapy as well, said it saved her life. ❤ Nutritionally, I am excited to hear Dr. Smith’s opinion on this. I would only guess healthy fats? Also maybe traditional Chinese medicine could have things for supporting liver, as it is associated with storing anger. Maybe natural B vitamins to help the nervous system? Seed sounds, qi gong to help clear.
Amazing putting the puzzle pieces together on that! It’s exactly as I was suspecting but I’m not skilled enough to find a solution. Must be the same with Benzo Withdrawal since alcohol WD is related to the same GABA system, which affects SE, DE etc...
Yes, I believe with any chronic problem often the best or sometimes the only way to get well is personal experimentation. We can take the conventional diagnosis and medical science as a starting point and guide and also be prepared to experiment with new theories about the problem and also with alternative medicine techniques. Of cause, all experiments need to be safe to try, done at an appropriate time etc.etc. It's a funny thing to say but one of the good things about mental health problems is when you try something that new you can tell if it is affecting the condition pretty quickly; we can be our own therapists.
These tests DO NOT measure neurotransmitters, they measure the metabolites (breakdown products) of neurotransmitters. This doesn’t inform us about what’s happening in the synapses; not at all. What you see in the urine is a long way away from the the synapses. Urine is a filtrate of blood, blood is separated from the cerebral spinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain) by a tight membrane, (the blood brain barrier) neurotransmitter’s don’t cross the BBB, and even the cerebral spinal fluid doesn’t show neurotransmitter activity levels in the synapses. So even if you drew CSF by a lumbar puncture it wouldn’t inform you, what’s next, sampling your brain tissue tissue? Even a brain biopsy wouldn’t tell you how your neurotransmitters are functioning in your synapses. Furthermore mental health disorders involve the second messenger system inside the neurones, not just the first messengers (the neurotransmitters), G proteins congregating on lipid rafts, the number of synapses (not just the amount of neurotransmitters within the synapse), neuroplasticity, inflammation, cytokines, inflammation, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the HPA dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction. Focusing on neurotransmitters is so it’s out of date. In the 1990s it’s all we had to work with but scientific understanding has moved on. Please don’t anyone be fooled into thinking neurotransmitter tests are helpful to help you recover from a mental health problem.
Hi Peter,@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments thanks for explanation and all the information which you are sharing. So am I understand correctly that there are no tests which could tell exactly what is deficient for me? or if yes from where to start? as I was trying to follow that route, and bought a lot of remedies according to your suggestions which I found in videos and on the website, but I just can't feel any big difference, still have all my hypomanic episodes might be a little bit more controlled (I'm taking 20mg lithium in hypomania) and in a moment I'm thinking that I'm finally recovered and found my remedy combination but probably not because depressive episodes are even more intense it seems, suicidal thoughts and stuff and nothing helped me I'm kind of desperate I didn't try inositol as you said to be careful with that. I have rapid cycling so I'm cycle 2 times per month. and started with Lithium orotate like 2 month ago. And I wrote email for you btw, but no answer, I wanted to book a consultation from you but just not sure is it possible or not. thanks in advance.
I can relate 100% Since 3 years I learned i have bipolar type II depression I had few hours of consultation with yourself in 2015 about insomnia But later learned that it is bipolar Depression I take modafinil 100mg to 200mg on bad days Well butrin 150mg XL Only used last winter for 3 months Since i have SAD as well I use T3 high doses Works well for depression I use all the natural supplements and recently started research chemicals like 9MEBC AND BROMANTANE I also started all racetam family since few days I found Rohdiola and modafinil for long term No side effects and straight effects Well butrin is full of side effects I use 50 more supplements And stacks On off But this winter i m planning to increase blue light Take DYNAMIN AND THEACRINE everyday Aniracetam and rohdiola highest doses Will definitely consult you in the next few weeks
Have you heard of William Walsh “Nutrient Power”? My genetics are MTHFR c677t homozygous & tests say I’m increased risk bipolar gene. My question is “Is bipolar real”? I see Doctor like Dr Peter Brian and Robert Whittaker saying that it is not yet these other nutrient doctors say that it is because certain genetics cannot process the nutrients and the body has issues with detoxification of certain neurotransmitters. I am three years out Denzel and I still feel like I am bipolar depression is to last this long I am Treatment resistant to the medications. I am thinking about contacting the Mensa Institute for nutrient psychiatry what are your thoughts on all this? Is it real or no? I do not want to keep wasting my life feeling like my body wants to kill me every day. The depression is too much.
Yes I have read Nutrient Power, Walshs’ work is important in that he’s developing techniques based around treatment’s correcting metabolic issues; unfortunately however he really doesn’t understand bipolar. Bipolar is a uniquely complex disorder because it has 2 different sides, and this requires complex prescriptions, and changing the prescriptions according to the phase of the condition. In my practice I write 3 prescriptions, one for maintenance/prevention, one for depression phases and one for manic phases. You change the prescription to match the phase. Walsh treatments just have a single focus, it’s not effective for bipolar. Is bipolar a real physical condition, made up disorder by big pharma or a psychological adaptation to stress/trauma? This ‘debate’ offends me, it’s gaslighting to frame bipolar as not physical. Nobody would say Parkinson’s disease is not a physical neurological disorder, to do so would be to be a gaslighting asshole. Bipolar is a complex neurological condition, over 15 specific changes have been identified in the bipolar brain, potentially 64 genes may be involved, the evidence for bipolar being both biological and genetic is proven beyond reasonable doubt. There’s a lot more to bipolar than just neurotransmitter imbalances, I’m working on a new video explaining the 15 causes of bipolar disorder consistently found in the scientific literature. I cannot understand why people/the internet still say the cause of bipolar are not understood. We DO know the causes of bipolar disorder; we may not have laboratory tests to diagnose it, or great treatments yet, but we know a lot about it. You’ll probably find my next video helpful.
Dear Peter, thank you for your videos! We have the same condition, rapid cycling BD type 2. I have ordered my Lithium orotate after watching your story. Years ago, I have had to remove Li-Carbonate from my therapy because of its toxic influence on my kidneys and my ovearall body health. Please continue to make new videos. I can share with your viewers that are coping with soul illnesses and maybe are religious - prayers, good deeds and visits to holly places also are very helpful in addition to remedies and supplements. I will try to support your work with modest donation soon. Also, I have an idea to offer you to do some volunteer work for you. God bless you, Peter!
Thank you and good luck with your healing journey. My next video is in the process of being made, some ways to go, probably 6 weeks. It’s going to discuss the biology of bipolar and natural self help treatments.
Dear Peter, you've used the right word: HEALING. But, treatment and management of BD are necessary until healing is done. Talking with a few of my previous psychiatrists, who had several decades of experience, I learned that there are very small number of cases of so called spontanius healing from BD. On the other hand, me personally met one BD patient, aged 75, who was in severe depression at that time, but his remission of BD symptoms lasted more than 50 years without any drugs. Everyone has his/her own journey and I like your journey and ways you have choosen. I have one question about supplementation with vitamin D3. My doctor, who is specialist for endocrinology, said that D3 doesn't have upper limit, so I cannot overdose it. But, on yt, I have watched Dr Thomas E. Levy, who said that vitamin D3 should be closely monitored and that there is a danger when blood test are high. Can you brief comment on this?
@@vonabimank The science showing BD is genetic is no longer in contention, it’s beyond any doubt that to have bipolar depression you have to have the gees for it. If you observed 1000 people exposed to terrible stress/trauma or sleep deprivation only a very few would develop BD behaviour and symptoms, quite a few would develop depression and some schizophrenia or psychosis. The rest of the people without the genetics to develop one of these conditions would not; you have to have the genetic predisposition to develop one of these conditions. Let me put it another way, you cannot produce a manic/depressive state if you don’t have a bipolar brain. Epigenetic manipulation may become a strategy to ‘contain’ the bipolar genes but we don’t understand how to do the yet. We now know there are 64 genes involved in bipolar disorder so it’s supper complicated. We are nowhere near gene editing treatments that could correct these genes so at thes point in time our only option is to treat and manage the manifestations the bipolar genes produce, such as neurotransmitter imbalances, neuro-inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, second messenger imbalances, HPA stress hormone dysfunction et.al. I’ll explain a lot more about this stuff in my next video (out in about 6 weeks) on BD biology or what causes bipolar disorder. For the latest on D3: There definitely is an upper safety limit but it is now believed to be higher then previously thought and very high. So supplementing is safer then previously believed. This is good because the testing techniques have also shown to be unreliable. See the videos on D3 levels by Dr Gregor and Dr Rhonda Patrick.
Thankyou so much. How do I learn what remedies do what and what they are? I'm so inspired by your story 50yrs old and diagnosed bipolar 1 two years ago🙃😄
Have you ever considered the concept that the mental imbalance issues that come with bipolar and other mental health issues may all start with one common factor, that being an imbalanced thought process? I'd suggest this could be the key factor in changing brain chemistry, rather than the other way around?
It's a two-way process, like everything in life. When in a depression, psychosis or me tal breakdown of any kind, changing your thought patterns can be almost impossible and (natural) serotonin and dopamine supplements can give the boost you need to start the rebalancing, healing processes again. I must say, nothing is as effective as meditation to clear out the mind and to allow neuro-plasticity to occur / establish again as it did in your childhood. For me, it has been a quadrinal attack and all four elements were required to rebalance: neuro-chemical support, meditation, connecting activities with people and nature and a restructuring of the mind (thoughts). For me, that last one happened through yogic techniques, Jungian alchemy and Dzogchen meditation, leading to completely new perspectives, radical peace and liberation. It can be said that mental illness is potentially a forced process of psycho-spiritual transformation. Using the personal inner break-down as an opportunity to find dramatic new potential within and potentially even full awakening to your Self. And that road very often leads through very painful trauma clearing and the darkest of days.
Bro thank you so much, this is exactly the info I've been looking for. Been trying to accomplish the same thing through herbs which has helped at times but not enough. I'm taking 5mg of lithium orotate with 1g of inositol in the morning and 5mg lithium orotate with 600mg magnesium in the evening. Already getting noticable relief. Now I need to get my dopamine and serotonin on point
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments awesome looking forward to it :) I was looking to obtain some NAC to get my dopamine levels up alongside the jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai that I'm doing, which is helping. Looks like pulled NAC off of all the shelves in USA no longer legal to sell. I wonder if there's anything comparable to go along with this stack
I’ve been totally stable since 10+ years now since adopting the new strategy of focusing on controlling neuro inflammation and neuroplasticity. I’ll be writing chapters on these in my forthcoming book Living Well with Bipolar and Depression.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I use tryptophan in the exact same way and tyrosine. I've started using ttfd and had some issues with very aggressive behavior at high doses.
I appreciate the work Walsh has done and still does. He is one of the original pioneers of using supplements as natural self-help for mental health conditions. The work of these pioneers saved my life by showing me that I could attempt to treat my own condition. He has little to say about bipolar disorder, his information pertains more to depression and schizophrenia. Unfortunately however, I feel he is stuck in the past with the idea that if you just fix histamine/methylation issues you will correct a serious mental health condition; this simply isn’t the case, it isn’t sufficient. He also claimed to have treated over 30,000 and a a data set (statistics) on the results of the treatments with these patients. He makes statistical claims e.g. 85% (or some such) of schizophrenics have over-methylation and xx% of depressed patients have pyroluria and xx% have under-methylation etc. But no one has ever seen this data set to check the statistical claims, if the data and results from 30,000 patients exists please let us see it; share it. I’m certain the reason he doesn’t share it is because it doesn’t really exist as a proper set of results, and 30,000 cannot all be people he’s personally seen and treated as he claims. The percentages he quotes are also too perfect like 90% this and 70% that, the real world doesn’t produce such net numbers; that are also way high generalisations. I’m genuinely sorry to say this about someone else, especially one of the few people working on treating mental health condition with naturally occurring substances, but he make exaggerated claims doesn’t help our reputation. He needs to publish he’s data set or stop making statical claims. To end by saying something positive about him I’ll say he is the only person pioneering using natural substances to target the epigenetic proteins, if we could master that it would take treatment to a totally new level of control; we could contain the genes encoding for the problems.
My favourite brand is Advanced Research available on the US Amazon, then Lindens from the UK also available in the US but at a higher price; I use both of these brands myself.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Ok good to know. I'll finish the Piping Rock brand I bought then try out the ones you listed. Question about magnesium separate. I noticed it's in the Piping Rock L orotate. Is this bad?
i would like to ask if someone could testify about the mechanism behind cbd,lately i have success with that,i feel les anxious and my racing thought pattern almost vanished, the sad thing is my motivation and euphoric feelings are non existent like before.I guess that i have to do with gaba.
Hi Peter. I emailed you a couple of times over the last few months about making an appointment. I'm wondering whether you are still offering services? Please let me know. Thanks.
Oh, that is such a horrible feeling, I suffered from a version of paranoia, not control, but along those lines from my teens into my early 50s. Eventually I worked out how to dampen down the circuits in my brain causing this very uncomfortable feeling and switched it off. What did it for me was targeting my NMDA receptors and elevated glutamate activity in my brain. Within a year or so I’ll have more online resources available to go into the details of how to explain the natural therapy and self-help techniques are used on myself, and in my practice, at the moment, however, I’m still only offering one to one consultations to develop individual prescriptions. If you’re interested in having a consultation, you can book an appointment through my website.
The supplements one person needs are different to another person even with the same condition. For example we know inflammation is a driving force underlying all mental illnesses, but the CAUSE of the inflammation in one person can be totally different from another. There’s some generic supplements I use in my practice but for success you need to address individual differences in the underlying physiology; so I don’t share generic lists of supplements. Furthermore I need to asses the individual risk of mania and level of protection needed before taking any risks with antidepressant supplements. Also my treatments don’t just rely on supplements, I include other treatment techniques for added safety and benefits. Sorry but for now the only way to get a prescription from me is by having an appointment (via online video call). You can book an appointment online on my website.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Thank you sir, I was hoping to ask you one more question. With your bipolar protocol I understand that I should be very wary of taking dopamine increasing supplements if any, but would a serotonin increasing supplement help the lithium? If I were to take say 5-HTP or L-tryptophan daily as well?
You are right we need to carefully control dopaminergic remedies, it’s not that we cannot use them but that we need to get the dose right and counterbalance them with remedies that prevent mania. Serotinergic remedies can combine well with lithium if you are wanting to repair your serotonin systems. Lithium enhances neuro plasticity and neuro plasticity also responds to activity so if we make the serotonin systems more active at the same time as taking lithium the combined effect is stronger.
I have to pick my jaw off the floor because we're the same person. My supplement experimentation is extreme. I'd love to know what you take for neuroplasticity.
Curious if when using nootropics, that what we eat likely contains the very same substances (coffee, eggs, legumes...) Wouldn’t that affect the remedy?
Hello my last psychatrist told me to try gaba -aminobututric acid to help withdrawals from Benzo after trying on and off couple times I knew it was changing my mood for the worse. I am certain this last time I took it from one 1000 mg dose it through me into a deep two day depression and could not leave apartment or couch. Did you ever experience this with gaba supplement?
Yes I do not recommend you take GABA supplements, I wrote a web page on it; www.balancingbrainchemistry.co.uk/peter-smith/167/Why-You-Shouldn%27t-Take-GABA-Supplements.html
There’s no obvious known mechanism for this but if that’s what happened that’s what it did. I would focus on healing your blood brain barrier and boosting neuroplasticity to repair your brain.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I am gonna be working on my leaky BBB glad I found this videos. I am not sure if Britain users the dsm but I hope one day they get rid of the dsm all mental health is in the same spectrum and stigmatised labels only make things worse. Western medicine will change I hope in our lifetime.
It was so good when I finally got rid of mr anger. First step was to boost my neuroplasticity with a focus on strengthening serotonin systems in my brain, serotonin systems moderate our anger they give us empathy, compassion, tolerance; see how compassionate and loving people become on MDMA or ecstasy. Then at the same time I did loving kindness meditation intensively to give the brain structures involved in compassion a workout and grow more synaptic connections in the these structures, (self-directed neuroplasticity). During these meditations I included people and issues that triggered anger from my past until I ‘dissolved’ the feelings of anger for that person/situation. Don’t get me wrong I’ve not reached Buddha level yet but I’m better than I was.
i have a question.... i read on your site that when your neurons, synapses and receptors are exhausted and in a bad condition... they can collapse and stop working when you take something that stimulates them. you said even when you stimulate them with natural remedies they can collapse. and this is what gives paradoxical effects to certain things. does this happen with precursors? for example if your serotonin receptors were exhausted, would 5htp cause them to collapse and give you a paradoxical affect? or if your dopamine receptors were exhausted, would l tyrosine cause them to collapse and then you get a paradoxical affect? or is it just with agonists, like certain herbs? which bind to the receptors whether your brain chooses to release a neurotransmitter or not.
Yes I have often seen precursors causing paradoxical opposite effects when used too early without first reducing inflammation and improving the health of the neurones.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments i don't understand how this can work. as precursors are just amino acids from food. and when converted to neurotransmitters their release is fully controlled by the brain. so technically, shouldn't you get a paradoxical reaction to a very high protein meal? i understand how these paradoxical reactions can happen with herbs or agonists... as these bind to receptors independent of the brains wishes. but surely the brain knows its own limits and wouldn't release tonnes of neurotransmitters if it knew the receptors couldn't handle it? otherwise wouldn't you be getting paradoxical affects from a big meal of turkey/chicken
JC The effects of taking an individual amino acid on it’s own is different to consuming a complete protein containing all the aminos; individual isolated amino acids do not exist in nature. I’m not going to fully explain the synthesis of protein molecules from the amino acid pool but briefly when you take an individual amino acid you elevate the concentration of the individual amino acid artificially above it’s normal level in the amino acid pool, it’s not the sam as eating a protein meal. The elevated, excess or surplus individual amino acid is not used up for general protein synthesis because of the the other aminos are not available in sufficient the surplus amino results in increased production of other metabolites it is turned into including neurotransmitters. Its complicated you need to study biochemistry, you cannot just apply simple logic to complex biological systems, you have to study the actual way biological systems work; this is a common misunderstanding. Clarifying this point doesn’t significantly change anything, in the real world in clinical practice I’ve seen aminos cause paradoxical effects and there are no circumstances when you want to not improve the health of inflamed and depleted neurones.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments so does increased production of a neurotransmitter always lead to an increased release? the more you make, the more the brain releases? even if more activity in this neurotransmitter system would throw balance off
J C I don’t understand your question/point. Production, release, reabsorption,degradation are all controlled by their own control systems. When you say the more you make the more the brain... study where neurotransmitters are made, stored, how released and reabsorbed. I think if you want to understand this stuff you need to read some books on neurophysiology.
In my treatments for bipolar I regularly combine lithium orotate with remedies that increase and decrease dopamine and up regulate serotonin; a so called combination treatment strategy. But getting the balance right is crucial to avoid the dopamine triggering mania. Good luck with your healing journey
Very interesting. I have a question. What does our environment and interaction with the world affect bipolar, did you do exercise or diet, also stress management and spiritual, breathing, meditation, did you do any of this other things? Because I have study a lot of people with diabetes and some have manage to be insulin free by managing all this things with out medication. Because I’m the diabetic world the interaction with the world affect the glucose so I would imagine all this neurotransmitter would also
There’s more to living well with bipolar disorder then just supplements, I must emphasise that again: there’s MORE to treating bipolar then just supplements. We can target the manifestations of bipolar with how we sleep, our diet (diet can also be undermining and worsen bipolar), meditation brain training exercises to recalibrate overactive circuits in the bipolar brain and more. Even the supplements need to be tailored to the type of bipolar an individual has. Furthermore people can have additional health issues like poor gut health, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high BMI et.al. and these need to be treated because they negatively impact brain health, cause inflammation and ware and tear on the brain and inflammation can activate the bipolar genes. So you need to work with much more than just supplements. Hopefully by the start of 2024 I’ll have video courses available for purchase for all the above, but in the mean time if you wanted me to develop an individual program of supplements and explain how to do the other things I’m available for 1-2-1 consultations online. You can make an appointment from my website: www.BalancingBrainChemistry.co.uk
I've never come across a more relatable individual in my life. I'm thankful for you coming on here and talking about your story.
Thanks for the positive encouragement
i dont know you but i wanna say May God removes all of worries from your life
Thanks
" I have never been normal . I didn't know what normal was for me " that is exactly how i have been communicating with myself while asking myself about my current condition . Buddy i can feel you .
Wow! This man is so articulate in describing how bipolar disorder feels like
Can you please give a list of supplements to take to boost neuroplasticity?
What an absolute amazing touching story of pure determination and drive.
Thanks, mate :-)
hes a man of focus, commitment and sheer fucking will
Sir. You are saving my life and I would love to know you are okay. You are an incredibly smart determined and caring man. We need more people like you to save humanity. Seriously.....
I love hypomania for the most part, I wish I could be hypomanic constantly. I have had hypomanic episodes that last 3 or 4 weeks. But that feeling when you know it is over and all motivation and joy evaporates overnight and you are in for a period of just struggling to get through the day is horrible. The hypomanic times are when all my good memories are made, and the only time I truly feel alive and with a sense of purpose. I look forward to them, but artificially trying to create them has always led me to more mixed states that are ultimately not rewarding.
I used to think I was just a procrastinator, waiting for the rush of energy.
❤❤❤
I'm a grad student in psychology with Bipolar 1 and I'm on lithium carbonate. This is all incredibly helpful, resourceful, informative and encouraging.
What an incredible human being. Love and respect this guy.
You're an absolute inspiration for people like me, I'm doing well now in my life, you were one of the contributing factors that has helped me not have to get back on meds (I still have brain damage from benzos and such), but also by lifting weights and such. I often think back to you when I give people advice, I hope you are doing well, Light In The Dark.
why because of lifting weights ?
Have you looked into the Walsh Research Institute? They have done so many studies along these lines. Methylation sounds responsible for many conditions.
I appreciate the work Walsh has done and still does. He is one of the original pioneers of using supplements as natural self-help treatment for mental health conditions. The work of these pioneers saved my life by showing me that I could attempt to treat my own condition.
Unfortunately however, I feel he is stuck in the past with the idea that if you just fix histamine/methylation issues you will correct a serious mental health condition; this simply isn’t the case, it isn’t sufficient.
He also claimed to have treated over 30,000 and a a data set (statistics) on the results of the treatments with these patients. He makes statistical claims e.g. 85% (or some such) of schizophrenics have over-methylation and xx% of depressed patients have pyroluria and xx% have under-methylation etc.
But no one has ever seen this data set to check the statistical claims, if the data and results from 30,000 patients exists please let us see it; share it. I’m certain the reason he doesn’t share it is because it doesn’t really exist as a proper set of results, and 30,000 cannot all be people he’s personally seen and treated as he claims.
The percentages he quotes are also too perfect like 90% this and 70% that, the real world doesn’t produce such net numbers; that are also way high generalisations. I’m genuinely sorry to say this about someone else, especially one of the few people working on treating mental health condition with naturally occurring substances, but he make exaggerated claims doesn’t help our reputation. He needs to publish he’s data set or stop making statical claims.
To end by saying something positive about him I’ll say he is the only person pioneering using natural substances to target the epigenetic proteins, if we could master that it would take treatment to a totally new level of control; we could contain the genes encoding for the problems.
Bipolar disorder for example involves so much more than just methylation issues. Methylation issues may play an important role but there are many other factors involved.
, I was just thinking about the Williams Walsh and his research and I am glad you expressed your honest opinion about it. I can personally testify that some of the things in Walsh protocol are helpful ( I used it on the loved one I am trying to help) however I didn't see as great results as I was hoping. I just want to mention another pioneer in the medical field, pioneer in hormones replacement the late Dr John Lee. His work was focused on menopausal women and low Progesterone ( strangely by statistics about 37% of women going or in early menopause are beginning to experience mental health problems and often diagnosed with schizophrenia). So now straight to the point about Dr J. Lee's work and Bipolar., at least regarding females. I encounter numerous reviews about his Progesterone replacement from young women that are officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In those reviews they're saying that when they started using Natural Progesterone cream in conjuction with Methylfolate of 10 00 mcg or for those that cannot tolerate Methylfolate they used Hyrdroxyfolate for their low Progesterone/estrogen dominance issues within 2 to 3 months some of them up to 6 months to a year all of their Bipolar Disorder symptoms were gone or diminished. I would greatly appreciate your input on using Natural Progesterone Cream for females with Bipolar and your Bipolar recovery protocol. Thank you in advance! You are really God send to me! I decided a long ago I am going to keep trying to save my precious child or die trying. As I said in another comment under another video of yours she's never been diagnosed but I am almost 99.99 % sure by symptoms based on my medical knowledge ( nurse and hypnotherapist) that it's Bipolar. And the symptoms are so bad the last year and especially the last 2- 3 months that I am terrified that I am not too late finding a cure or appropriate treatment plan ( I also have to battle refusal to seek professional help). I pray God send you to me on time! Thank you in advance for taking the time to read it and respond to my question about the Progesterone cream in addition to your protocol!
Thank you thank thank you! I have a 23 year old son who was always awesome. When he turned 21 I realized he was acting different, talking to himself and saying things like f family. He was diagnosed bipolar /schizophrenia. I believe my son had a nervous breakdown because money that my mom left for him was taken by my brother and shortly after that he was acting differently. He has been through quite a bit because he refuses to take the medication prescribed because of the side affects. I will never give up on my son because he deserves all the support he can get. This can be very stressful but i have to be strong for my son. If there is anyone out there that need some support you have got a listening ear. We all need each other. Respect to all
I totally understand how challenging it is for a 20 something-year-old to take on board that they have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, I was in that situation myself, I remember it well.
When he's ready to go into natural self-help therapies, diet supplements et cetera there's probably a lot that he can do that will go a long way to stabilising his brain and mental health, and without the side effects that are very offputting.
I wish you every success with your healing journey.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments are you still taking clients? I reached out a couple weeks ago but haven’t heard anything back yet 🙏🏾
Ahh dam it your email had gone into my spam folder, its good you sent this message so I searched for your email.
Yes I’m still working.
I’ll email you.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments wow thank you so much. I’m so excited to hear from you. 🙏🏾
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I’m not sure if my reply went to spam about Friday but I replied and am open ❤️
You are an angel on earth. The way you explain your experience and what you did gives real hope. I desperately have been searching for a supplement(s) to stop explosive anger and constant aggression and agitation.
I've been looking for this info for a long time! Your story is so personally relatable.
Thank you I needed to hear this today. Not bipolar, but the bit about how depression drags you into that pit...I am glad you escaped it again. God, I hope I can stop it...it is going on 5 years.
Laurie B There’s a lot you can do to change the health of your brain and combat depression.
I’ll be making more vids on inflammation/depression and neurotransmitters.
Good luck with your healing.
Where is your website? Desperately wanting to get your protocol please!!!@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments
Thank you for all the work you do. I’m rapid cycling now and the more I learn the more confidence and hope I have that I can enjoy my life
Your video might be a glimpse at how I could help my 14 yo son who has been in a mixed or depressed or angry state since 3+ years. This poor child is unable to live his life. He tried everything. Antidepressant, mood stabilizer, stimulants, antipsychotics… in all combinations, all dosages, etc. Yet, he goes from bad to another sort of bad. It seems we cannot balance him because what he needs changes. I need to listen to this video several times.
Incredible video. You confirmed everything I was reading about BCAA ( amino acid) drink acutely reducing mania. I am now going to watch each and every video you have uploaded. I have know the exact supplements you are taking particularly for stopping mania and I am very interested in the neuroplasticity treatment. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experimental trials.
Much respect for this man. He's actually been through it and self treated and experimented with what works and what does not. Most others will just regurgitate what they've read and heard.
A true hero
Yeah. He's helped me a lot. He hasn't been heard from for a while it seems, hopefully he is well. I'm a lot better because of him. No more scary pharma meds for me. Thankfully....
@@brettski6211 I hope he still around, I’d like to get in touch with him
@@brettski6211do you get in touch with him?? You book consultation with him? How was it?
Thank you so much for this testimony. My son just turned 28. He is brilliant and beautiful but depression and other factors have prevented him from living his best life. I’ve learned so much from him trying to find natural remedies. I played your video and he didn’t criticize you like he does most. He thought you were sincere and I saw him look a few things up. We’ve ordered some 5 http and l tyrosine. Bought some lithium orodate.. I can’t wait for happiness from him about his future.He has been saying for years that his neurotransmitter are not working properly. I wish I knew some of this when he was in school
I'm going to be making several videos about neurotransmitters, it will mainly be about bipolar disorder particularly bipolar depression but you can use the same information to treat unipolar depression. It would be great if he could sort out his brain health and a younger age than I did :-)
If your son has a particular question he can put it in the comments and I may be able to answer in a subsequent video.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I hope you are alright.
Vegeta I’m very well thank you
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments great. Lithium works wonders. Thanks for the tip.
"On the 1 hand think about killing myself, on the other hand, look for solutions" wow did I feel that...
❤
I love you all! Everyone stay strong! Thank you again for all that you had to go through. ❤
Thanks
I relate to you deeply in the way that you think about things. I am 20 years old, struggling with bipolar disorder. I reject traditional medication because of the permanent affects it can have on your body and brain. I want to fix the issue in a way that is good for me all around. I have never come across or thought about the idea of improving neuroplasticity, but I’m really interested in trying it.
In another video you posted, you spoke about improving plasticity through meditation brain exercises. This makes me begin to wonder how much of a role that upbringing really has on bipolar disorder. Maybe certain responses we have adapted to having to certain things have damaged our brain.
In a mixed state a lot of the time, this is SO HELPFUL!!! Thank you so much for the info.
Thanks for your video. It is interesting how you were able to control your moods so well and to avoid major problems. Yes, I think the high energy and decreased need for sleep are warning signs of mania. I just ride along with my mood swings. When I have high energy, I get a lot done. When I'm depressed, I cut back some what, but still do some things. Most of all I do not beat myself up over how I'm feeling.
Glad you like the video, thanks for sharing.
I found this video last week. I read the Braverman book. The depression has lifted and I’m much more positive. Sincere Thank-You!
That’s great to hear.
To protect yourself from future relapses build up and maintain a super healthy microbiome with a great diet and retrain your stress (HPA and vagus nerve) responses.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments do you mean stimulating the vagus nerve? Like with a tens unit?
whats the book?
I have basically been doing the exact same thing as you, for several years but without a lot of success. I’m bipolar 2 as well, and mixed states are hell, so I sympathize with you there. Something I learned actually from taking Zofran is I actually feel better when seritonin is inhibited, so for whatever reason, I’m very depressed, but I believe I have too much seritonin, or my response to seritonin is an anxious/depressed state. I only know a couple of things that inhibit seritonin (natural things) magnesium is one, but after a few days of inhibiting seritonin, anxiety is down but depression kind of resurfaces, and no motivation. Anyway, I really relate to so much of your story. Thank you for sharing your life experience. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one going through this and trying to approach it from a more holistic perspective (haven’t responded well to meds, many are not tolerable, as I’m sure you’ve likely learned along your journey).
Anyway, thanks for sharing!!!
Hi Elle, did you find any natural remedies to treat mixed states???
I took 5htp for years and I was stable. I noticed whenever I got off it my moods would be drastic. Constant highs and lows. Can’t believe this all came back to haunt me again. I was pretty stable when I got a job. Looking to try 5htp again.
I had to take tryptophan every second day for about 15 years to support healthy serotonin levels in my brain.
When I focused my treatment on boosting, Neuroplasticity to stimulate the growth of new serotonin synapses, the results were great, my mood stabilised, and I no longer needed the support of tryptophan.
You could add a little lithium rotate, saffron, maybe zembrin along with the five HTP to focus neurplastic growth in the serotonin systems of the brain, and a stack of additional supplements to boost BDNF/Neuroplasticity in general.
Try this for 3 to 6 months with a high polyphenyl diet, physical exercise, and good sleep, and see where it takes you.
Thank you so much for sharing! I will try these. Hope you’re better now. 🙏 ❤
@@aniamfilipiak I’m great now!
I’ve kept my bipolar completely under control for over a decade now, no mania no depression not even a single day.
For the first few years I didn’t recognise myself, it was unbelievable, but eventually I got used to the new me.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments hi Peter, so happy to see you are still online responding to questions! I sent you an email under the name of Julian from Australia
I respect all the work you put in to find help for yourself.
Glad you liked it.
Thank you for making these videos & sharing your story. I highly relate to how you described feeling. I really needed to find your videos, they’ve made me feel hopeful.
You are so welcome.
I enjoy sharing the science but not talking about myself, it's kinda odd to me that people like this personal experience sharing stuff, but apparently you do so on make more! :-)
Seems like you've done a ton of research and experiments on your own brain to get to this point. Kudos.
Yeah, a ton. www.balancingbrainchemistry.co.uk/peter-smith/1/Brain-Chemistry-Home.html
This is gold if he found proper treatment for bipolar disorder!
I’m writing up my treatment methods into a book and online course.
If all goes well it’ll be available mid 24
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments June 24th 2023? I'd love to learn more about it. Are there many peer reviews of getting BP under control with your treatment?
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments hello Peter, is the online course now ready??? Do you still take clients?
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatmentsany update on the course
@@motishabbat5292Yes I still see clients.
The book and course will not be finished until 2025.
What is close to happening is my next video on what are the 15 causes of BD and what we need to do to treat it.
I’ve spent the past 8 months reading over 120 scientific papers and books to make this video presentation.
I’ve already started filming it so just a few weeks now.
After that I’m starting a new website that will take comments to collect testimonials.
god dang im so glad you're here still brother, and at a really amazing cause at that. ive struggled myself with on and off major major depression for almost 10 years, and this time it got really bad, and im only 25 years old. after watching your video on lithium and other stacks to go with it, im going to give it a go and really try to be cautious because like you said, depression is mental anguish unlike most pains ive ever experienced.
There’s are many things you can do to treat depression, each one can alleviate it to a greater or lesser extent. Combine many techniques and eventually you can get well.
Use meditation it can give a 10-30 % improvement, do cognitive to challenge the beliefs/feelings, do regression therapy to remodel negative/traumatic memories, get your diet right for some improvement and a bad diet can hold you back, reduce stress physiology, reduce inflammation and boost neuroplasticity with natural remedies and physical exercise.
Some of these things will have only a little effect to no effect, some will have big effects, combine them, keep going until you are well. We now know a lot about the brain and depression, there’s a lot you can do.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Thanks for getting back to me man, today the depression got so bad I had to do something. So I went on my first 8 mile bike in almost exactly 2 years, and I feel pretty good about getting back on again considering i gained about 10-25 pounds since then. I'm going to minimize junk food, continue on the cycling 8 mile regimen almost daily until i gain my stamina. It has been something I have missed for a long time now. I also have some lithium orotate coming in so I'm going to try supplementing with that as well. Next step I guess, would be to introduce much more flavonoids into my diet. Your channel has been a lot of help man, and really inspiring, I can't give up, I'm at the point where I gotta get up and i'll do anything to maintain my sanity.
Yes, max out the flavonoids, reduce omega 6, add EPA, build up cardio to the point you can do shoot supper intense HIIT workouts, meditate. I’m starting meditation classes specifically for depression and anxiety, to receive details email me, petersmithuk@yahoo.com
Better Mental Health with Natural Remedies meditation doesn’t seem to work for me. It cannot get u out of an anxious suicidal mind. How do you challenge thoughts when u can’t stop the fear and anxious cycle? It’s impossible
Outlawz _ take super supplements
Research chemicals and all pharmaceuticals
Try everything and keep in finding solutions
N best try to go to another country like Morocco
It works well in the winter
I have recently gone off lithium citrate because I have serious musculoskeletal problems and lipedema, and gained 80 lbs. the first time I went on bipolar meds. Later, I went off them, exercised, ate well, and lost 85 lbs. but developed addiction and mood problems. In recovery, I went back on the meds, but I gained back 60 lbs and am again physically disabled. Pain, difficulty exercising, etc. are not good for anyone’s sleep, mood, or reasoning, and reality orientation. I started lithium orotate 5mg, I felt improved mood and thinking about half of the day, but backed off due to somnolence. Thank you for the help in seeking balance. I’m looking for dosing advice at this stage, less than a month in.
The deep low self esteem is debilitating
you're a joy to watch this. thank you
I am so glad I have come across your channel at this point in my life. Thanks 👍
💜💜despite your age,we need another update video! Just on your routine,how you've been and what you've been up to
Coming soon!
Thank you so much for all this information and for the hope it gives! I am looking for help for a very precious one for me. I would do anything to help my loved one to actually have opportunity to have a life. I do not know if she has bipolar since so far didn't agree to seek professional help but everything points out to that. And maybe in addition brain seizures, not sure about the last. Thank you again! ❤
I relate so much to your stories! I am immensely grateful for your videos! I can’t thank you enough.
You are so welcome
Good luck with your healing journey
Thanks for making the video. I appreciate your transparency
You’re welcome
Subscribed.. All I can say is wow. I went through the same experience, everything you said in this video A to Z, including try to self medicate to balance out my own neurotransmitters. And I still couldn't figure out the perfect solution. I either went hypo mania or too depressed to do anything. how can I learn more about your current remedy?
Hi, bipolar disorder and brain physiology are so unique to each person that the prescription I take would not be the same prescription you should take.
What I do my practice is start by making an appraisal of a person’s condition and then match the remedies to the specific combination of symptoms a person has. What I do is show people how to self monitor what is happening with individual neurotransmitters in their brain, inflammatory levels, stress responses et cetera and then how to match specific treatments and specific remedies to what is happening with their neurotransmitters.
With a little practice, you can work out when your dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate and GABA are going too high or too low by reading the signs and symptoms and then you can learn how to redress the balance by adjusting you the prescription of natural.
It took me 25+ years to learn how to do this, but I hope to be able to teach someone to do the same for themselves in say 25 weeks.
I love helping people with bipolar disorder and would be very happy to work with you.
I was just about to start writing my book on bipolar disorder and making videos of the chapters as I went along, but then the coronavirus shutdown happened and its delayed the start. I'm still available for private consultations via videoconferencing, see my website for fees and details.
What is your website?
You are a genius
Ahr you made me blush,
It is bipolar disorder that you are particularly interested in and going to be concentrating just on treating bipolar, I be restarting (after the lockdown) writing my forthcoming Book on Living Well with Bipolar Disorder. The plan is to serialise the chapters of the book into UA-cam videos as I progress. Hopefully this will start up within a couple of months.
Excellent! Nootropics are an exciting healing source. They work! The description of your journey is a wonderful contribution.
Thanks :-) I will be building up a big library of vids over time. Let me know if there is a particular subject you would like a video on.
Better Mental Health with Natural Remedies dealing with complex ptsd- how to lower cortisol.
@@glynispalazuelos7216 Ill have a cortisol lowering vid very soon.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments can you make a video about enhancing severe depression and lowering severe anxiety? ive been in a terrible mental state for years and now that ive come off benzos cold turkey mind you im even worse now which i didnt think was possable...your videos are beyond interesting
Sir can you elaborate the drugs , alternative therapies you used to treat your disease condition instead of taking convention treatment.detialed of all kind of food and exercises etc.
I’m just now listening to this do you recommend any books and what you used for your reference materials to learn?
This is a brilliant video...what happened to him....no activity in a year?
Fantastic video new to the channel thank you for sharing a very informative video keep it coming 😊I have good result with NAC to reduce glutamate, hope this helps.Good recommendation on lithium oratate will try this.
Glad it was helpful!
I just start again the oratate and work good for me
@patricianoll1229 That’s great but I don’t recommend relying on lithium orotate only.
I currently filming a new video on the 15 causes of bipolar disorder.
@@valr6334 Another useful glutamate reducer is zinc.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m filming my next video on bipolar disorder right now.
I hear myself in this story!
Glad you could relate.
Love your channell! very helpfull and interesting. You mentioned a book by doc Braveman. Can you give us the title again?
Franz Wilhelm The book is The End of Alzheimer’s by Bredesen
Franz Wilhelm ‘the end of Alzheimer’s’ by Bredesen is good on neuroplasticity but the book ‘the Edge Effect’ my Braverman is good on understanding neurotransmitters
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Thank you!
Can’t wait for your new posts🙏❤️
A needed channel
Thank you
Very very interesting,and be blessed,but can please to answer wich is the list with supliments use?
Thank you very much with all my heart.
The supplement prescription needs to be different for different people. People with bipolar are on a spectrum from BD 1 through BD 2 to cyclothymia, there can be psychotic features, rapid cycling, mania dominance with or without depression, depression dominance and BD NOS (not other wise specified)
There may be gut issues driving the inflammation, autoimmune issues, infections, for example, Lyme disease et al. And all these need to be addressed.
So there is not a one size fits all protocol. I know that’s frustrating but it is what it is.
At the moment the only way to get an individual program from me is to book a consultation. Hopefully in about a years time I may have a self-help video course, prepared for bipolar disorder.
MIXED STATES ARE THE WORSE ! WHAT A GREAT SHARE ! THANKYOU ...
When you have mixed states you have to just jump in and start treating something, and I believe it’s best to start with treating the manic side.
Antidepressant treatments can trigger and worsen mania but anti-mania treatments don’t induce depression (or at least not significantly), also for many people the longer mania lasts the worse the ensuing depression; so tackle the mania first.
There are several natural remedies to use including lithium orotate but the best treatment for mixed-states is dark therapy (several hours of amber coloured proper blue-blocking glasses folded by sleeping in 100% TOTAL darkness.
I’ll be doing vids on this.
Did you find a solution for mixed states?
Thanku for sharing, very inspiring ,gives me hope 🤗
You are so welcome
Thank you so much for all you shared here.
Thank you for sharing this. Much Love. xx
I watched this whole thing, and never got any stack recommendations
This video was me telling my story of mental illness, it wasn’t a discussion about supplements. Also it would literally be dangerous and irresponsible for me share my personal supplement stack.
If someone with BD takes a combination of supplements that are too stimulating for them it could flip them up into mania, put them into hospital or worse. You may think I’m being alarmist but I’m not, this happened to two of patients last year; they took antidepressant supplements (SAMe, inositol, carnitine) I had recommended they should not take and they quickly went manic.
Even for simple conditions a prescription should be individualised, and BD is famously complex. There isn’t a one size fits all, the stack I take would put some people in hospital.
The BD prescriptions I write for my patients consists of 3 prescriptions, one for manic phases, one for depression phases and one for maintenance during euthymic phases. The 3 prescriptions have very different effects and my patients get an explanation on how and when to use each one.
My next video is going to explain the biology of bipolar disorder and I will mention some universal mood stabilising treatment approaches. Next year I’ll have a course on managing BD available to buy with detailed instructions on how to personalise the treatment.
Thank you so much for this. 52 yr old newly diagnosed bipolar 2. Im looking for reasons not to take Lamictal.
Lamictal is strong for depressive episode but it won't prevent mania. I don't believe in managing bipolar with remedies, well, I have tried it. Now I take lithiumcarbonate and it works fine.
Hi I really appreciate your help & hard work in making these informative videos for us.
Can you provide us with the names of these natural remedies that have helped you?
The supplements one person needs are different to another person even with the same condition.
For example we know inflammation is a driving force underlying all mental illnesses, but the CAUSE of the inflammation in one person can be totally different from another.
There’s some generic supplements I use in my practice but for success you need to address individual differences in the underlying physiology; so I don’t share generic lists of supplements.
Furthermore I need to asses the individual risk of mania and level of protection needed before taking any risks with antidepressant supplements.
Also my treatments don’t just rely on supplements, I include other treatment techniques for added safety and benefits.
Sorry but for now the only way to get a prescription from me is by having an appointment (via online video call).
You can book an appointment online on my website.
I appreciate your reply. I completely understand. I'm trying to book an appointment but I cant seem to find the link to your website.@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments
I've been trying to understand the role of antidepressants with a mood stabilizer for those with BD. Wouldn't it make more sense to take a regulated dosage of 5htp or Ltrypthophan for depression than an ssri in BD?
You’re an inspiration
For many of us a lack of hope, that anything will get better, by definition an inability to see a future is what depression is. Yes the imbalance magnifies but isolation and lack of purpose is the main driver, suicide ideation then enters the field of view.
The lack of hope and inability to see a future are manifestations of depression, they are the depression talking or distorting our perception of reality. Depression causes social isolation behaviour. Feelings, purpose, motivation, looking forward to and anticipation of pleasurable rewarding things happening and feelings of direction are created in parts of the brain run by dopamine.
These depressed feelings and behaviours can be induced in people and animals (the behaviours in animals) just by damaging the dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems of the brain.
I personally have had my perception of my world switched from total hopeless isolation and dejection one day to the total opposite when I switched from depression to mania, and then the next day back to despair when I had rapid cycling bipolar depressions.
We can induce suicidal behaviours in animals by downregulating neuroplasticity and eliminate suicidal ideation be upregulating neuroplasticity in humans.
Our brain constructs our consciences and alterations in the brain changes how we think, feel, see things and behave. What’s fascinating is psychology and social factors changes the inflammatory reactions of the immune system and this affects brain function. So psychological stress and distress is a risk factor for the changes in the brain that cause depression, but not every one that has psychological distress develops depression and we can induce depression without any psychological distress.
I’ll be making a vid about this to explain these remarkable new understandings and what to do about it.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments yes I can see that we are really seeing the same derivative from different points of view. I think they are manifest for many together. For example, when I am working ( welder and builder) I tend to be on the manic side, that is high functioning. When I am in bad shape , without purpose, I get very depressed. I think at the core of it all, purpose and outlook are inter related , I can be depressed and still be functional if I have reason to be. When that reason is removed I literally fall into a hellish panorama permeating existence itself. I am sure it is different for each of us, regardless the suicide ideation is boundary when crossed is difficult to come back from.
I will be doing a video on how changes in neuroplasticity can rapidly change our whole outlook and sense of purpose and self-worth from optometrist to the worst pessimism and how this is connected to our immune defensive system and how psychological stress factors and trauma may be the most common BUT not the only thing that that causes the neuroplastic changes in brain structures and function that cause depression.
I dig the story about you getting pissed on your bike I can totally relate I'm bipolar too and I've had similar States, I have a question in those situations is it good to take like extra lithium ornate like maybe 30 mg I also take 5-HTP when I feel like that and cannabis.
My bipolar is stable using lithium, luvox, seroquel. The lithium stabilises me at a level of 0.5 which is on the low side but I'm stable on it so why take more? SSRI Luvox is 200mg, and the dreaded seroquel I take is 200mg at night which is purely to fall asleep. I just can't fall asleep with out it I've had sleeping troubles since being a young baby.
Do you know away I can use supplements and fall asleep and get rid of the seroquel? which causes me bad weight gain.. I don't need anti psychotics as long as I'm on a mood stabiliser and sleeping well I do fine with out them.
I don't have Bipolar, though I haven't been diagnosed. I would say I am more in the depression and moderate borderline. Which supplements do you recommend? I do feel occasional rage. I am taking B-12, lithium orotate and magnesium, B complex. I guess I need to increase my serotonin if I've got rage?
I feel you. Thank you for asking and for being proactive. I’ve heard DBT can help, but I don’t know what nutrients may help borderline. I am confident that there are foods and supplements that do. I am excited to see what Dr. Smith recommends. For the spiritual side, Maybe finding healthy ways to express the anger? Like a boxing class or bioenergetics? Elliott Hulse comes to mind as being another helpful resource. I know someone who really liked gestalt therapy as well, said it saved her life. ❤
Nutritionally, I am excited to hear Dr. Smith’s opinion on this. I would only guess healthy fats? Also maybe traditional Chinese medicine could have things for supporting liver, as it is associated with storing anger. Maybe natural B vitamins to help the nervous system? Seed sounds, qi gong to help clear.
whats the list of supplements that you use and how can i help treat my daughter? She's 17
Amazing putting the puzzle pieces together on that! It’s exactly as I was suspecting but I’m not skilled enough to find a solution.
Must be the same with Benzo Withdrawal since alcohol WD is related to the same GABA system, which affects SE, DE etc...
Yes, I believe with any chronic problem often the best or sometimes the only way to get well is personal experimentation. We can take the conventional diagnosis and medical science as a starting point and guide and also be prepared to experiment with new theories about the problem and also with alternative medicine techniques. Of cause, all experiments need to be safe to try, done at an appropriate time etc.etc.
It's a funny thing to say but one of the good things about mental health problems is when you try something that new you can tell if it is affecting the condition pretty quickly; we can be our own therapists.
There is OATS urine test that can check.quantities of neurotransmitters and detailed hormone levels. In USA there are ways of testing amino acids too
These tests DO NOT measure neurotransmitters, they measure the metabolites (breakdown products) of neurotransmitters. This doesn’t inform us about what’s happening in the synapses; not at all.
What you see in the urine is a long way away from the the synapses. Urine is a filtrate of blood, blood is separated from the cerebral spinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain) by a tight membrane, (the blood brain barrier) neurotransmitter’s don’t cross the BBB, and even the cerebral spinal fluid doesn’t show neurotransmitter activity levels in the synapses. So even if you drew CSF by a lumbar puncture it wouldn’t inform you, what’s next, sampling your brain tissue tissue? Even a brain biopsy wouldn’t tell you how your neurotransmitters are functioning in your synapses.
Furthermore mental health disorders involve the second messenger system inside the neurones, not just the first messengers (the neurotransmitters), G proteins congregating on lipid rafts, the number of synapses (not just the amount of neurotransmitters within the synapse), neuroplasticity, inflammation, cytokines, inflammation, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the HPA dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction.
Focusing on neurotransmitters is so it’s out of date. In the 1990s it’s all we had to work with but scientific understanding has moved on.
Please don’t anyone be fooled into thinking neurotransmitter tests are helpful to help you recover from a mental health problem.
Hi Peter,@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments
thanks for explanation and all the information which you are sharing. So am I understand correctly that there are no tests which could tell exactly what is deficient for me? or if yes from where to start? as I was trying to follow that route, and bought a lot of remedies according to your suggestions which I found in videos and on the website, but I just can't feel any big difference, still have all my hypomanic episodes might be a little bit more controlled (I'm taking 20mg lithium in hypomania) and in a moment I'm thinking that I'm finally recovered and found my remedy combination but probably not because depressive episodes are even more intense it seems, suicidal thoughts and stuff and nothing helped me I'm kind of desperate I didn't try inositol as you said to be careful with that. I have rapid cycling so I'm cycle 2 times per month. and started with Lithium orotate like 2 month ago.
And I wrote email for you btw, but no answer, I wanted to book a consultation from you but just not sure is it possible or not.
thanks in advance.
I can relate 100%
Since 3 years I learned i have bipolar type II depression
I had few hours of consultation with yourself in 2015 about insomnia
But later learned that it is bipolar Depression
I take modafinil 100mg to 200mg on bad days
Well butrin 150mg XL
Only used last winter for 3 months
Since i have SAD as well
I use T3 high doses
Works well for depression
I use all the natural supplements and recently started research chemicals like 9MEBC AND BROMANTANE
I also started all racetam family since few days
I found Rohdiola and modafinil for long term
No side effects and straight effects
Well butrin is full of side effects
I use 50 more supplements
And stacks
On off
But this winter i m planning to increase blue light
Take DYNAMIN AND THEACRINE everyday
Aniracetam and rohdiola highest doses
Will definitely consult you in the next few weeks
Did Wellbutrin help you?
Have you heard of William Walsh “Nutrient Power”? My genetics are MTHFR c677t homozygous & tests say I’m increased risk bipolar gene. My question is “Is bipolar real”? I see Doctor like Dr Peter Brian and Robert Whittaker saying that it is not yet these other nutrient doctors say that it is because certain genetics cannot process the nutrients and the body has issues with detoxification of certain neurotransmitters. I am three years out Denzel and I still feel like I am bipolar depression is to last this long I am Treatment resistant to the medications. I am thinking about contacting the Mensa Institute for nutrient psychiatry what are your thoughts on all this? Is it real or no? I do not want to keep wasting my life feeling like my body wants to kill me every day. The depression is too much.
Yes I have read Nutrient Power, Walshs’ work is important in that he’s developing techniques based around treatment’s correcting metabolic issues; unfortunately however he really doesn’t understand bipolar.
Bipolar is a uniquely complex disorder because it has 2 different sides, and this requires complex prescriptions, and changing the prescriptions according to the phase of the condition.
In my practice I write 3 prescriptions, one for maintenance/prevention, one for depression phases and one for manic phases. You change the prescription to match the phase. Walsh treatments just have a single focus, it’s not effective for bipolar.
Is bipolar a real physical condition, made up disorder by big pharma or a psychological adaptation to stress/trauma?
This ‘debate’ offends me, it’s gaslighting to frame bipolar as not physical.
Nobody would say Parkinson’s disease is not a physical neurological disorder, to do so would be to be a gaslighting asshole.
Bipolar is a complex neurological condition, over 15 specific changes have been identified in the bipolar brain, potentially 64 genes may be involved, the evidence for bipolar being both biological and genetic is proven beyond reasonable doubt.
There’s a lot more to bipolar than just neurotransmitter imbalances, I’m working on a new video explaining the 15 causes of bipolar disorder consistently found in the scientific literature. I cannot understand why people/the internet still say the cause of bipolar are not understood. We DO know the causes of bipolar disorder; we may not have laboratory tests to diagnose it, or great treatments yet, but we know a lot about it.
You’ll probably find my next video helpful.
What's the story? This youtube channel, his facebook page, and his website all end 2 years ago. What happened to Peter Smith UK?
What were your remedies?
Dear Peter, thank you for your videos! We have the same condition, rapid cycling BD type 2. I have ordered my Lithium orotate after watching your story. Years ago, I have had to remove Li-Carbonate from my therapy because of its toxic influence on my kidneys and my ovearall body health. Please continue to make new videos. I can share with your viewers that are coping with soul illnesses and maybe are religious - prayers, good deeds and visits to holly places also are very helpful in addition to remedies and supplements. I will try to support your work with modest donation soon. Also, I have an idea to offer you to do some volunteer work for you. God bless you, Peter!
Thank you and good luck with your healing journey.
My next video is in the process of being made, some ways to go, probably 6 weeks.
It’s going to discuss the biology of bipolar and natural self help treatments.
Dear Peter, you've used the right word: HEALING. But, treatment and management of BD are necessary until healing is done. Talking with a few of my previous psychiatrists, who had several decades of experience, I learned that there are very small number of cases of so called spontanius healing from BD. On the other hand, me personally met one BD patient, aged 75, who was in severe depression at that time, but his remission of BD symptoms lasted more than 50 years without any drugs. Everyone has his/her own journey and I like your journey and ways you have choosen.
I have one question about supplementation with vitamin D3. My doctor, who is specialist for endocrinology, said that D3 doesn't have upper limit, so I cannot overdose it. But, on yt, I have watched Dr Thomas E. Levy, who said that vitamin D3 should be closely monitored and that there is a danger when blood test are high. Can you brief comment on this?
@@vonabimank The science showing BD is genetic is no longer in contention, it’s beyond any doubt that to have bipolar depression you have to have the gees for it. If you observed 1000 people exposed to terrible stress/trauma or sleep deprivation only a very few would develop BD behaviour and symptoms, quite a few would develop depression and some schizophrenia or psychosis. The rest of the people without the genetics to develop one of these conditions would not; you have to have the genetic predisposition to develop one of these conditions.
Let me put it another way, you cannot produce a manic/depressive state if you don’t have a bipolar brain.
Epigenetic manipulation may become a strategy to ‘contain’ the bipolar genes but we don’t understand how to do the yet.
We now know there are 64 genes involved in bipolar disorder so it’s supper complicated. We are nowhere near gene editing treatments that could correct these genes so at thes point in time our only option is to treat and manage the manifestations the bipolar genes produce, such as neurotransmitter imbalances, neuro-inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, second messenger imbalances, HPA stress hormone dysfunction et.al.
I’ll explain a lot more about this stuff in my next video (out in about 6 weeks) on BD biology or what causes bipolar disorder.
For the latest on D3:
There definitely is an upper safety limit but it is now believed to be higher then previously thought and very high. So supplementing is safer then previously believed. This is good because the testing techniques have also shown to be unreliable.
See the videos on D3 levels by Dr Gregor and Dr Rhonda Patrick.
Thankyou so much. How do I learn what remedies do what and what they are? I'm so inspired by your story
50yrs old and diagnosed bipolar 1 two years ago🙃😄
Have you ever considered the concept that the mental imbalance issues that come with bipolar and other mental health issues may all start with one common factor, that being an imbalanced thought process? I'd suggest this could be the key factor in changing brain chemistry, rather than the other way around?
It's a two-way process, like everything in life. When in a depression, psychosis or me tal breakdown of any kind, changing your thought patterns can be almost impossible and (natural) serotonin and dopamine supplements can give the boost you need to start the rebalancing, healing processes again. I must say, nothing is as effective as meditation to clear out the mind and to allow neuro-plasticity to occur / establish again as it did in your childhood. For me, it has been a quadrinal attack and all four elements were required to rebalance: neuro-chemical support, meditation, connecting activities with people and nature and a restructuring of the mind (thoughts). For me, that last one happened through yogic techniques, Jungian alchemy and Dzogchen meditation, leading to completely new perspectives, radical peace and liberation. It can be said that mental illness is potentially a forced process of psycho-spiritual transformation. Using the personal inner break-down as an opportunity to find dramatic new potential within and potentially even full awakening to your Self. And that road very often leads through very painful trauma clearing and the darkest of days.
Bro thank you so much, this is exactly the info I've been looking for. Been trying to accomplish the same thing through herbs which has helped at times but not enough. I'm taking 5mg of lithium orotate with 1g of inositol in the morning and 5mg lithium orotate with 600mg magnesium in the evening. Already getting noticable relief. Now I need to get my dopamine and serotonin on point
Glad it was helpful, I'm gonna focus on writing and videos exclusively on bipolar disorder through 2022
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments awesome looking forward to it :) I was looking to obtain some NAC to get my dopamine levels up alongside the jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai that I'm doing, which is helping. Looks like pulled NAC off of all the shelves in USA no longer legal to sell. I wonder if there's anything comparable to go along with this stack
@@endlesspower23 Unfortunately there’s nothing remotely equivalent to NAC. Try buying it from outside the US, maybe the UK eBay.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments thanks!!! Just ordered some :)
How do you feel about DLPA ( dl-phenylalanine) along with L-tryptophan in the evening?
This sounds very similar to the roller coaster I'm currently on
I’ve been totally stable since 10+ years now since adopting the new strategy of focusing on controlling neuro inflammation and neuroplasticity.
I’ll be writing chapters on these in my forthcoming book Living Well with Bipolar and Depression.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments can you tell me the stack you use so I can look into each one to see if I could possibly help me?
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I use tryptophan in the exact same way and tyrosine. I've started using ttfd and had some issues with very aggressive behavior at high doses.
Peter- What are your thoughts of the 30 years of Dr. William Walsh’s “ Nutrient Power” and it’s tremendous success with all types of disorders .
I appreciate the work Walsh has done and still does. He is one of the original pioneers of using supplements as natural self-help for mental health conditions. The work of these pioneers saved my life by showing me that I could attempt to treat my own condition.
He has little to say about bipolar disorder, his information pertains more to depression and schizophrenia.
Unfortunately however, I feel he is stuck in the past with the idea that if you just fix histamine/methylation issues you will correct a serious mental health condition; this simply isn’t the case, it isn’t sufficient.
He also claimed to have treated over 30,000 and a a data set (statistics) on the results of the treatments with these patients. He makes statistical claims e.g. 85% (or some such) of schizophrenics have over-methylation and xx% of depressed patients have pyroluria and xx% have under-methylation etc.
But no one has ever seen this data set to check the statistical claims, if the data and results from 30,000 patients exists please let us see it; share it. I’m certain the reason he doesn’t share it is because it doesn’t really exist as a proper set of results, and 30,000 cannot all be people he’s personally seen and treated as he claims.
The percentages he quotes are also too perfect like 90% this and 70% that, the real world doesn’t produce such net numbers; that are also way high generalisations. I’m genuinely sorry to say this about someone else, especially one of the few people working on treating mental health condition with naturally occurring substances, but he make exaggerated claims doesn’t help our reputation. He needs to publish he’s data set or stop making statical claims.
To end by saying something positive about him I’ll say he is the only person pioneering using natural substances to target the epigenetic proteins, if we could master that it would take treatment to a totally new level of control; we could contain the genes encoding for the problems.
thank you!!
Good evening:
Which brand of elemental lithium (orotate) 5mg would you recommend? There are so many to choose from!
You have so much info on this.
❤
My favourite brand is Advanced Research available on the US Amazon, then Lindens from the UK also available in the US but at a higher price; I use both of these brands myself.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments
Ok good to know. I'll finish the Piping Rock brand I bought then try out the ones you listed.
Question about magnesium separate. I noticed it's in the Piping Rock L orotate. Is this bad?
i would like to ask if someone could testify about the mechanism behind cbd,lately i have success with that,i feel les anxious and my racing thought pattern almost vanished, the sad thing is my motivation and euphoric feelings are non existent like before.I guess that i have to do with gaba.
How to increase dopamine receptors? Your answer would be very helpful for me.
NAC
Uridine
Sulbutiamine
Check out a website called nootropicexperts.com dude has alot of info on there
Also you need to increase BDNF that will help neurons grow faster and form more connections
@@Malitubee how can increase BDNF? Any supplement?
@@maheshtanay Dark chocolate, 70% or higher. Fasting raises BDNF. Prolonged fast is the best.
Hi Peter. I emailed you a couple of times over the last few months about making an appointment. I'm wondering whether you are still offering services? Please let me know. Thanks.
Yes absolutely,still seeing patients.
I looked for your email, I may have found it, was the title “complex lithium and SSRI withdrawal “ ?
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Hi Peter, yes it was, thanks so much. If you'd be willing to speak to me about my situation please let me know.
I feel all the time scary, i think someone else is controlling my brain
Oh, that is such a horrible feeling, I suffered from a version of paranoia, not control, but along those lines from my teens into my early 50s.
Eventually I worked out how to dampen down the circuits in my brain causing this very uncomfortable feeling and switched it off. What did it for me was targeting my NMDA receptors and elevated glutamate activity in my brain.
Within a year or so I’ll have more online resources available to go into the details of how to explain the natural therapy and self-help techniques are used on myself, and in my practice, at the moment, however, I’m still only offering one to one consultations to develop individual prescriptions. If you’re interested in having a consultation, you can book an appointment through my website.
Sir,
will in depression serotonin supplements will work if problem lies in the receptor of synapses ?
What are these remedies,or tablets though,we can try it or have others try it despite it being different for everything
The supplements one person needs are different to another person even with the same condition.
For example we know inflammation is a driving force underlying all mental illnesses, but the CAUSE of the inflammation in one person can be totally different from another.
There’s some generic supplements I use in my practice but for success you need to address individual differences in the underlying physiology; so I don’t share generic lists of supplements.
Furthermore I need to asses the individual risk of mania and level of protection needed before taking any risks with antidepressant supplements.
Also my treatments don’t just rely on supplements, I include other treatment techniques for added safety and benefits.
Sorry but for now the only way to get a prescription from me is by having an appointment (via online video call).
You can book an appointment online on my website.
diet is important. most serotonin is in gut
Hello Dr, I am curious as to what your thoughts are on Boron and l-theanine for lowering glutamate along with your zinc and glycine recommendations?
I’ve not tried boron for this purpose, but I often use theanine.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments Thank you sir, I was hoping to ask you one more question. With your bipolar protocol I understand that I should be very wary of taking dopamine increasing supplements if any, but would a serotonin increasing supplement help the lithium? If I were to take say 5-HTP or L-tryptophan daily as well?
You are right we need to carefully control dopaminergic remedies, it’s not that we cannot use them but that we need to get the dose right and counterbalance them with remedies that prevent mania.
Serotinergic remedies can combine well with lithium if you are wanting to repair your serotonin systems. Lithium enhances neuro plasticity and neuro plasticity also responds to activity so if we make the serotonin systems more active at the same time as taking lithium the combined effect is stronger.
How do I transition from lithium carbonate to lithium orotate?
I have to pick my jaw off the floor because we're the same person. My supplement experimentation is extreme. I'd love to know what you take for neuroplasticity.
I’ll be writing that up in my upcoming book: Living Well with Bipolar Disorder.
I’ll make a new video for each chapter as I write them.
Curious if when using nootropics, that what we eat likely contains the very same substances (coffee, eggs, legumes...)
Wouldn’t that affect the remedy?
Yes want we eat can be a help or a hindrance; your diet has to be on point and reinforce the remedies actions, or at least not get in the way...
Hello my last psychatrist told me to try gaba -aminobututric acid to help withdrawals from Benzo after trying on and off couple times I knew it was changing my mood for the worse. I am certain this last time I took it from one 1000 mg dose it through me into a deep two day depression and could not leave apartment or couch. Did you ever experience this with gaba supplement?
Yes I do not recommend you take GABA supplements, I wrote a web page on it;
www.balancingbrainchemistry.co.uk/peter-smith/167/Why-You-Shouldn%27t-Take-GABA-Supplements.html
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments but is it possible that the gaba can make you depressed?
There’s no obvious known mechanism for this but if that’s what happened that’s what it did.
I would focus on healing your blood brain barrier and boosting neuroplasticity to repair your brain.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments thank you
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments I am gonna be working on my leaky BBB glad I found this videos. I am not sure if Britain users the dsm but I hope one day they get rid of the dsm all mental health is in the same spectrum and stigmatised labels only make things worse. Western medicine will change I hope in our lifetime.
HEY FOLK FEST buddy from Pennsylvania!
I have rage too! I get angry at the least thing! It’s very damaging for me!
It was so good when I finally got rid of mr anger.
First step was to boost my neuroplasticity with a focus on strengthening serotonin systems in my brain, serotonin systems moderate our anger they give us empathy, compassion, tolerance; see how compassionate and loving people become on MDMA or ecstasy.
Then at the same time I did loving kindness meditation intensively to give the brain structures involved in compassion a workout and grow more synaptic connections in the these structures, (self-directed neuroplasticity).
During these meditations I included people and issues that triggered anger from my past until I ‘dissolved’ the feelings of anger for that person/situation. Don’t get me wrong I’ve not reached Buddha level yet but I’m better than I was.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments thanks, I have to try with meditation! I like listening to guided meditations will see if that helps as well.
@@SaraFJones take Lions Mane and do meditation
Important video
Thank you.
Sometime later this year I’m gonna get back into making more.
thank you. god bless you
i have a question.... i read on your site that when your neurons, synapses and receptors are exhausted and in a bad condition... they can collapse and stop working when you take something that stimulates them. you said even when you stimulate them with natural remedies they can collapse. and this is what gives paradoxical effects to certain things.
does this happen with precursors? for example if your serotonin receptors were exhausted, would 5htp cause them to collapse and give you a paradoxical affect?
or if your dopamine receptors were exhausted, would l tyrosine cause them to collapse and then you get a paradoxical affect?
or is it just with agonists, like certain herbs? which bind to the receptors whether your brain chooses to release a neurotransmitter or not.
Yes I have often seen precursors causing paradoxical opposite effects when used too early without first reducing inflammation and improving the health of the neurones.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments i don't understand how this can work. as precursors are just amino acids from food. and when converted to neurotransmitters their release is fully controlled by the brain.
so technically, shouldn't you get a paradoxical reaction to a very high protein meal?
i understand how these paradoxical reactions can happen with herbs or agonists... as these bind to receptors independent of the brains wishes.
but surely the brain knows its own limits and wouldn't release tonnes of neurotransmitters if it knew the receptors couldn't handle it?
otherwise wouldn't you be getting paradoxical affects from a big meal of turkey/chicken
JC The effects of taking an individual amino acid on it’s own is different to consuming a complete protein containing all the aminos; individual isolated amino acids do not exist in nature. I’m not going to fully explain the synthesis of protein molecules from the amino acid pool but briefly when you take an individual amino acid you elevate the concentration of the individual amino acid artificially above it’s normal level in the amino acid pool, it’s not the sam as eating a protein meal. The elevated, excess or surplus individual amino acid is not used up for general protein synthesis because of the the other aminos are not available in sufficient the surplus amino results in increased production of other metabolites it is turned into including neurotransmitters.
Its complicated you need to study biochemistry, you cannot just apply simple logic to complex biological systems, you have to study the actual way biological systems work; this is a common misunderstanding.
Clarifying this point doesn’t significantly change anything, in the real world in clinical practice I’ve seen aminos cause paradoxical effects and there are no circumstances when you want to not improve the health of inflamed and depleted neurones.
@@NaturalMentalHealthTreatments so does increased production of a neurotransmitter always lead to an increased release?
the more you make, the more the brain releases? even if more activity in this neurotransmitter system would throw balance off
J C I don’t understand your question/point.
Production, release, reabsorption,degradation are all controlled by their own control systems.
When you say the more you make the more the brain... study where neurotransmitters are made, stored, how released and reabsorbed.
I think if you want to understand this stuff you need to read some books on neurophysiology.
What are your thoughts on 5http l-dopa and lithuim orotate for bipolar or more specifically motivation energy and irritability
In my treatments for bipolar I regularly combine lithium orotate with remedies that increase and decrease dopamine and up regulate serotonin; a so called combination treatment strategy.
But getting the balance right is crucial to avoid the dopamine triggering mania.
Good luck with your healing journey
Very interesting. I have a question. What does our environment and interaction with the world affect bipolar, did you do exercise or diet, also stress management and spiritual, breathing, meditation, did you do any of this other things? Because I have study a lot of people with diabetes and some have manage to be insulin free by managing all this things with out medication. Because I’m the diabetic world the interaction with the world affect the glucose so I would imagine all this neurotransmitter would also
How do I cure bipolar disorder and depression with lithium orotate how the initial dose starts, then what other supplement helps with the healing?
There’s more to living well with bipolar disorder then just supplements, I must emphasise that again: there’s MORE to treating bipolar then just supplements.
We can target the manifestations of bipolar with how we sleep, our diet (diet can also be undermining and worsen bipolar), meditation brain training exercises to recalibrate overactive circuits in the bipolar brain and more.
Even the supplements need to be tailored to the type of bipolar an individual has.
Furthermore people can have additional health issues like poor gut health, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high BMI et.al. and these need to be treated because they negatively impact brain health, cause inflammation and ware and tear on the brain and inflammation can activate the bipolar genes.
So you need to work with much more than just supplements.
Hopefully by the start of 2024 I’ll have video courses available for purchase for all the above, but in the mean time if you wanted me to develop an individual program of supplements and explain how to do the other things I’m available for 1-2-1 consultations online.
You can make an appointment from my website: www.BalancingBrainChemistry.co.uk