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Testimonials
A Multitude of Recoveries Through
Alternative Mental Health Treatments
Recovery from bipolar disorder
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I grew
up in a military family so it made sense to me that I should go into
the service as well at 18. Not
long after that I had a nervous breakdown.
I was diagnosed with manic depressive disorder (later bipolar
disorder) and, at one point, schizo-affective.
I woke
up at that young age medicated with Haldol.
I was told that I’d be on medication the rest of my life.
It was a huge blow. But
I vowed to the doctors that wouldn’t happen to me.
For the next 15 years, from 1986-2000 I was on all kinds of
medicine. At one
point I was on 9 meds simultaneously.
Despite
my condition, I was married and divorced.
The marriage failed, in part, due to the side effects of my
meds.
But in
2000, things changed. I
attended a retreat for a week or two at the Poland Spring Health
Institute, run by Seventh Day Adventists in Maine.
There I took walks, ate organic food, and had steam baths,
massages, and daily nutrition classes.
I
started eating properly and taking supplements.
I received advice from a local health food store on what might
help. I now eat organic
and 80% of my diet is raw food. I’m
at a healthy weight and my mind is clear.
My stress tolerance is still not as good as I’d like it to
be, but I am working on that.
I’ve
been drug free for 7 years and I’ve had no relapses.
My
therapist at the VA hospital has told me that never in her 35 years of
practice has she seen someone recover like this.
Coming
off of meds was a real roller coaster ride.
When you have been numb on drugs for years, it’s difficult to
experience the emotions and feelings that have been buried for so
long.
I
labeled my healthful philosophy NEW START:
Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sunshine
Trust
in the lord as my savior
Air
Rest
and sleep
Time
in the Word of God
Michael
Melice
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