Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming! All those things sound really positive. I love being in a library or coffee shop. It really makes me feel alive, energized, while also comforted. Local transit can be great too. You can enjoy the scenery and people-watch. Enjoy every moment and believe in a brighter future <3

great going!!

I'm sure it will help but the answer to bipolar depression is simply meds. Nothing else will do it.

Those sound like great ideas. I enjoy spending time at the library and in coffee shops too. Unfortunately, a healthy lifestyle alone rarely eliminates bipolar depression, although it certainly helps. Wishing you lots of luck on your journey to finding what's right for you!

I noticed in your profile that your an older guy, is there any Cardiac reason your Therapist is suggesting you not use Anti-depressant meds? Curiously what does your Psychiatrist, who actually does the prescribing of medications have to say about it?

It's good to be active, it's great to volunteer, but you can't manage BiPolar Depression with 'action', it takes medication and Therapy. Also a Therapist is not the "dr." who should be guiding you about that, its why we have Pdocs.

Have a good time being out and about, it's generally better than sitting at home doing nothing.

Take care.

Good luck. I know when depression hits me I can barely get out of bed. Kudos to you on trying

I am sorry if I gave the impression I don't take appropriate medications. I have an excellent relationship with my psych doc and take my meds as prescribed by him and he keeps track and adjusts accordingly. Meds are very important in the treatment of bipolar as well as talk therapy to maintain a quality life that is worth living.

A friend of mine introduced me to some medicinal herbs. I take rhodiola extract twice daily. It's supposed to naturally fight depression. Look up Seamus around here for more info, hes very helpful And I'm definitely not telling you to take it without making sure your dr approves. It can worsen anxiety and mood balance sometimes.

I'll say it again. Please be careful taking suppliments or herbal remedies.

Following massive lobbying the US does not regulate these "treatments" and they are generally not checked.

When they are checked they are often found not even to contain what was supposed to be the active ingredient - but do contain a bunch of other things that they shouldn't.

I wish people would apply the same level of scepticism they apply to big Pharma to the multi-billion pound supplimentals and herbal treatments. In fact they be much more sceptical as basically there is no oversight of the claims made, the manufacturing and sale of these products, which are generally sourced from China and India and then repackaged locally..

I agree, fish. Totally not a reliable way to treat bipolar or any mood disorder. And herbal doesnt mean safe. Ive just been reaching for anything that might help recently. Perhaps it was out of bounds for me to suggest it for someone else.

The other thing that some people don't understand is that herbs and other holistic mixes can affect the way your actual medications work. There are herbs that if used full strength can counteract or put your actual prescribed medications out of whack.

I have a pretty significant herb garden that I grow most of for medicinal purposes, for topicals, creams, and teas for bronchitis and such. But you have to know what your doing or they can affect the BiPolar meds.

Since you have a Pdoc, anything you take, whether it be OTC, or herbal should be ran past your Pdoc first.