wiredskipper45 said:I’m not sure if this thread already exists, but after swallowing everything under the sun in terms of pharmaceuticals over the last six years, I’ve been trying to pivot toward alternative methods. I'd love to hear what you guys have dealt with.
Personally, I tried some bioenergetic treatments—went to see someone like Oprah Winfrey, one of the big names in that field—but the whole thing was a bust because it only seemed to work if I showed up every single day, which absolutely wrecked my bank account. It might dull the symptoms, I guess, but when you're dealing with BPD, she isn't exactly going to rearrange the wiring in my brain. :/
So then I moved on to a guy practicing Ayurvedic medicine. He gave me some decent advice regarding diet and breathing exercises, and he handed me this herbal supplement they've used in India forever for anxiety—Brahmi, I think. I’ve been taking it for two months now. Apparently, it’s a slow burn and you need to be consistent for at least three months to see anything, but honestly? Nothing yet.
Right now, I'm also messing around with Shivayoga—meditative yoga. They say staring into a candle flame while meditating is supposed to be great too. I’m hoping I can stick with it; I really believe it could quiet the chaos in my head, but I also know it requires an insane amount of time, patience, and persistence... things I am currently running very low on. :/ I'm just exhausted from the constant searching and testing...
Any experiences?
Since I have some ties to some of these alternatives (mostly through therapeutic yoga and, by extension, Ayurveda), I might be able to offer a little perspective.
First off, it's better to view these as complementary rather than "alternative." If something works well enough to reduce your need for medical intervention, let your doctor handle the tapering.
Also, don't go looking for miracles. Most serious chronic conditions—physical or mental—don't just vanish overnight, nor do they have magic bullets. Just because someone finds a solution that feels like a miracle doesn't mean it will work for everyone facing the same issue. Instead of buying into every pitch and marketing hype (which everyone does, though the alternative industry has much less professional accountability), it’s best to just experiment and see what actually fits your life. Trial and error is often one of the most useful tools we have.
Regarding what you mentioned, I’ve had good experiences with Ayurveda, though finding a decent doctor, quality therapy, and reliable supplements isn't easy. In New York City, I’d honestly recommend seeking out an experienced specialist in a dedicated center rather than someone who’s just dabbling in it, IMO.
Instead of bioenergetics, I’d suggest looking into hypnosis. I might be wrong here, but I get the impression that a lot of bioenergetic work is closely tied to suggestion. In fact, it’s very similar to mesmerism, which eventually evolved into modern hypnosis once people realized it was about suggestion rather than actual "mystical forces." The fear surrounding it is largely unfounded, mostly fueled by media portrayals that make it seem more intense than it really is. In reality, it’s just a tool that manipulates natural daily mechanisms and states—much like any other psychotherapy—just by placing a heavier emphasis on certain aspects of the process. The idea that people are being unconsciously manipulated is mostly an urban myth; it's not quite like that.
The most important thing to remember is that there are trained psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who utilize these techniques. It isn't as "alternative" as it sounds; in fact, it's probably the closest thing to mainstream practice, using many of the same mechanisms—consciously or unconsciously—that alternative practitioners use, but without the manipulation or the mysticism.
Regarding yoga, meditation, or trance states—like staring at a candle flame—I’d suggest being cautious here. I’ve seen plenty of cases where yoga didn't actually help, but instead caused issues for people who seemed perfectly healthy at the start. There is a big difference between using these things for spiritual growth versus therapeutic health. Take fasting, for example. Some spiritual groups use it to the point of exhaustion, or even death. It might be due to theological ideals, or perhaps they're chasing a specific mental state, where pushing too hard can mess with your consciousness. But if your actual goal is physical health, these extremes are rarely useful. In most cases, it’s healthier to just focus on eating well.
For instance, when you look at trance practices in certain spiritual traditions, they often involve staring fixedly for massive stretches of time. On the other hand, I’ve heard from some practitioners of holistic medicine in India that they limit it to just a few minutes. Then there are practices that mandate celibacy as a prerequisite, sometimes involving specific muscle contractions to control ejaculation. Meanwhile, traditional Ayurvedic texts (specifically regarding the latter) can view such things as potentially harmful. Ultimately, no single method or technique is inherently good or bad. It all depends on the intention, the individual, their current health, and their underlying predispositions.
If you’re doing yoga for health reasons, make sure your instructors understand that context. Most importantly, watch out for overly intense spiritual organizations. When religious fervor kicks in, people tend to lose objectivity; they'll believe whatever the guru says, and "going with the flow" becomes a convenient way to solve every life problem. This is especially dangerous when they push through pain or setbacks by labeling them as "cleansing." Usually, calling something a "cleansing" is just a way to rationalize a belief system when it hits a wall of reality—it's basically just cognitive dissonance.
Edit: One more thing—while you can combine things like yoga, hypnosis, or bioenergy with almost anything (though even that is debatable), you have to be much more careful with supplements and medications. People often assume herbal remedies are completely harmless, thinking they'll either work or do nothing, and that they won't interfere with "official" medical treatments.
But that isn't the case. Nothing exists in a vacuum; everything we do affects everything else. The conventional medications you take can significantly alter how herbal remedies work, and vice versa. We don't live two parallel lives with two independent treatment tracks, so we need to account for those interactions. It’s not always easy, though, because the qualifications of people practicing unregulated methods like Ayurveda can be questionable. Since these practices and substances aren't standard in the US, I’m not even sure how accurately a local doctor could predict potential interactions.
It’s also true that progress takes time, especially when you're trying to overhaul everything from the ground up. You can't fix your physical condition overnight. If you start a perfect diet and exercise routine tomorrow, you won't be in peak shape by next week. You have to give your body space to adapt, build new habits, or even repair tissue. This isn't an area where we should be looking for a "magic pill" in any form. We can find real, high-quality help, but only if we're willing to roll up our sleeves and change our lifestyle to better handle whatever life throws at us.
