Re: NLP and Bi-polar Disorder
- Subject: Re: NLP and Bi-polar Disorder
- From: slands@mail.aic.net.au (John & Kristy Byrne)
- Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 07:21:27 +1000
>Does anyone have any experience of Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) or
>any good references for treatment?
>
>A family member has just been diagnosed after an acute manic
>episode.Looking back she can also identify episodes of prolonged
>depression.
>
>She is hostile to psychiatry and drugs and very reluctant to take the
>prescribed lithium- she's chemically hypersensitive and has been on organic
>foods/ homeopathic medicines for many years.
>
>I can see that much of her behaviour is a strategy to deal with a neurotic
>inconsistent and over-controlling mother and a family situation of great
>tension- (step-father dying of cancer).In the past it has also had lots of
>secondary gain (better mad than bad) so is likely to be repeated. However
>what I'm not sure of is whether the lithium is as essential to achieve
>biochemical balance as the medical literature suggests.
>
>Would appreciate any ideas.
You will find that the problem is "systemic" in nature and that some
distancing from the family is one possibility. You might also try some work
in changing her responses to her family's cues. This is harder, because the
family will fight to keep things the same.
As for lithium being necessary for recovery, well, was a lack of lithium
responsible for the problem. I don't think so. Erickson didn't like to work
with patients who were on medication because it contaminated the hypnotic
states he used. Ever talked to someone on psychoactive drugs?
Kindest Regards,
John B.