Mood swings and manic depression: Fish oil for bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is otherwise called as manic-depression, which is a mental condition characterized by extreme mood swings. High bipolar disorder leads to “mania”, while high stress levels lead to depression. When a person is affected by bipolar depression, he or she acts impulsively, indulges in idiotic or strange behavior, throws temper tantrums, becomes hyperactive and also, feels extremely lonely.
Adverse effects of bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder can be very stressful to any individual who undergoes it. It mars the power of decision-making, saps a person’s energy and enthusiasm levels, affects thinking and even the social behavior of the person. Bipolar disorder is a serious case of malfunctioning of the brain. A patient is certain to act strangely, and can have suicidal tendencies.
Manic depression is normally treated with anti-depressant drugs like valproate and lithium. These drugs help with the treatment of mood swings and prevent the development of bad AA (arachidonic acid) in the brain. Though these drugs treat the patients to a certain extent, they come with a heavy price tag. You have to put up with the side effects that result from these drugs. Also, these contain considerable amount of toxins that accumulate in the sufferer’s body and cause further problems. There is also no certainty that the disease will not return on your stopping the medications. In such a tough situation, all you can do is trust your doctor and carry on with the medications. But recent research reveals a different way out – scientists opine that fish oil can treat bipolar disorder without side effects.
Fish oil for bipolar disorder: Fish oil is always sighted as a great antidote for depression and bipolar disorder and there are reasons for it. First and foremost reason is, fish oil and its supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which relives stress and sudden mood swings. Several doctors believe that bipolar disorder is caused by the over activity of the neurons in the brain. Omega-3 acids present in fish oil slows down this high-neuron activity and treats bipolar disorder. Further, a depressed patient’s brain needs to be stimulated to make him or her more active. Omega-3 fatty acids nourish a person with oxygen and glucose. These enhance brain activities and improve blood circulation in the brain. Result: a relaxed lifestyle that is healthier and saner for the body.
Treatment and dosage: Bipolar disorder can be caused by genetic predisposition or extreme stress, life traumas or memory loss due to accidents. To treat bipolar, you need to adopt a tested and proven approach. Many doctors prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-seizure medications and sometimes even anti-psychotics. But the best way out is to take regular dose of fish oil or omega – 3 supplements. This will not just keep your body, but also your mind healthy.
Most of the studies recommend use of 300-3000 mg of essential fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) to treat bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. Since dosage may from vary person to person, it is better to consult your doctor before intake of fish oil supplements.
