During my search for natural ways to mitigate bipolar, I found a few things.
Amongst them was Rhodiola Rosea.
Having suffered a past with dependency, I tried not to lean on it – saving it for when I’m heading toward the low end of the spectrum. That said, it seems to work. It definitely puts a little pep in your step. That’s why I offer it as an alternative to those who can’t handle their caffeine (jittery joe or clean buzz matcha alike). This herb just gives me the little lift I need to make my way through the day after I’ve hit a bit of a mental wall. However, it comes with a caveat. Rhodiola, they claim, is probably a better bet for those who suffer mostly depressive episodes.
Like… yours truly.
(Not me, debating popping one now to finish all this work I have to do before bed…)
If you tend to lean manic, this might trigger that.
I can’t speak to that because (all evidence to the contrary), I tend to lean a bit more Eeyore and a little less Tigger. It sucks because, the way my polarity presents, the “depressed” end of the pole isn’t just sadness. It’s this very physical feeling – like a cat digging its claws into my soft flesh and slowly crawling up my spine until it reaches my shoulders. It’s this “leave me alone” irritability that makes me feel like I’m not safe in my own body. When I’m there, I don’t want to connect with friends or significant others. It also makes me not want to do my job. (I work in physical therapy where I have to touch people all day long.) And there’s no part of me that wants to touch a stranger to mobilize them. I didn’t even want to touch my boyfriend when it would happen.
I won’t say Rhodiola solved all that.
(Ah, another breakfast spent deciding between an apple, orange, or nootropics…)
But it did help lift me a bit out of that funk so I could make it through my workday.
I got the ones from a brand called Bronson – but it may very well be one of those things where “any brand’ll do”. (I’m open to your testimonials.) That said, this one seemed to work well at getting me back on track and past the triggering slump that always sends me down the bipolar-pole. However, consider that A.) that’s just my experience. B.) I timed my taking of it for when I was hitting that wall. C.) I had other variables in my life that may call into question the efficacy. D.) I still felt “disconnected”, just more energized and clear to work. And E.) It didn’t manage both ends of the poles or my general outlook – just lifted me enough to go on with my day. It wasn’t bad. It’s actually a nice second-wind-er if you’ve got a long day and tend to hit the bottom emotionally halfway through it like me. But it just wasn’t quite enough. I needed something more – to handle that mania as well. And I still wasn’t willing to go on pharmaceuticals. (Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with meds – but for the options I was offered, I wasn’t wiling to risk those side effects.) So, my quest continued for the perfect herbal. The review on Rhodiola is going to be short because I only took it for so long before my prayers were answered. The equivalent of a pharmaceutical in nautral, herbal form:
NAC. N-acetyl Cysteine.
Keep reading for what finally made me decide on a daily intervention for bipolar.