The medical society may have disagreed about so many diseases in this world since Pandora has opened the little box of horrors. One of the few things that they have agreed upon is that bipolar disorder is not caused by a lone factor. Several factors are intertwined together to produce a cloth of the illness. Hence, its being so called to run among blood relatives, other factors such as biochemical and environmental can not just be eliminated. In other words, having a relative with a bipolar disorder doesn't always mean you'll get it too, but there is a big possibility. Moreover, having a clean slate in the family background doesn't always save you from the lash of the sickness.
Luck seems to be the key to escaping any illness or disease.
Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by cyclical mood swings which may start during the adolescent years or later in life. There are some cases where young children were afflicted with the disorder. It does not spare any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. The disorder is treated with an amalgamation of mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, anti-manics or anti-psychotics, and psychotherapy.
In any case, individuals afflicted with the disorder seem to have biologic similarities that are detected by tests and imaging scans. The patients manifest an over production of cortisol (stress hormone); more than the usual hyperactivity in some parts of the brain that is related with movement and emotional functions; reduced brain activity in parts that are linked with cognitive functioning; fast biological clock (regulates the body's circadian rhythm: cycle of sleep and waking); and extreme flooding of calcium into the brain cells.
Bipolar disorder can be caused by either or a combination of these factors: biochemical or biological, genetic or familial, medication induced, and environmental.
Biochemically speaking, bipolar disorder takes place in a certain part of the brain where a number of neurotransmitters (a sort of chemical messenger) are said to have been malfunctioning. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are just the three, maybe a lot more, of neurotransmitters involved in bipolar disorder. With this in mind, the disorder may be just sleeping or dormant for years and can be set off by some external factors such as stress or crisis. A closer look at the brain research scientists have discovered that a patient's brain suffering from the disorder is "wired differently" from the normal person, which may explain the maddening alterations of extreme emotions.
As for its familial/genetic factor in the cause of the illness, individuals with first-degree blood relatives such as siblings, offspring, or parents are highly possible candidates for the disorder compared to those who have no relatives with the illness. Research scientists have been working hard to discover the specific genes that are involved in the disorder.
Bipolar disorder may also be triggered by medications. This usually happens during misdiagnosis, and therefore the patient is given a medication that may not be competent enough to control the disorder. With a different illness in mind (in some cases only the depressive mood could have been diagnosed), the physician may not be alert in detecting unusual changes in the patient that may be sidetracking from the original diagnosis. An example is the antidepressant medication which can activate a manic incident in patients who are vulnerable to bipolar disorder. This is due to the fact that the manic stage could have been overlooked upon in cases of misdiagnosis. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder should be prescribed both anti-manic and antidepressant medications. Antimanic medications produce a shield that protects the patient from mania that is stimulated by the anti-depressant.
Other drugs that can be abused which can cause mania in individuals are appetite suppressants, cold medications, corticosteroids, designer drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, etc.), and an excessive intake of caffeine. Abuse of alcohol and other stimulants can also trigger the disorder.
Stressful life events can also single-handedly trigger this mood disorder. Events in a person's life that causes much stress may vary from a shocking death of a loved one, career loss, pregnancy, geographic changes, to financial bankruptcies. Individuals who are highly likely vulnerable to a stress-caused bipolar disorder are adolescents, old adults, and pregnant women. These are population groups that can be easily pinpointed to have been undergoing huge changes in their lives and thus, with a shaky foundation, whether family support or low-self-esteem, they may easily find themselves in a crisis.
Studies have shown that a one time trigger of the disorder can cause a progression and the cycles may begin. If not diagnosed early, it can be hard to control the disorder. Nevertheless, it all boils down on how strong the individual's coping mechanisms are, and a little self-awareness, too.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder: Getting Rid of that Monkey on your Back
It is a common occurrence that bipolar disorder is undiagnosed in a sufferer for an average of eight years. Individuals afflicted with the disorder do not seek out professional help for at least a decade after the first manifestation of symptoms. Though the disorder can be controlled with proper treatment, there are a lot of people who suffer from the disorder because they are left untreated or are treated inappropriately.
There is a huge population of sufferers that have multiple incidences and it is quite uncommon for them to have a sole episode of depression or hypomania in bipolar disorder in a lifespan. The duration of the symptom-free periods increase with the advancement of age. The existence of major symptoms may well forecast long-term psychosocial dysfunction. The danger of a relapse is high in patients with mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms.
The disorder, being untreated, can cause a variation of damage in the life of the sufferer. Therefore, it is imperative that the disorder be diagnosed as early as possible and treatment plans be started at an early stage as well.
There are varieties of treatments for Bipolar disorder. Some may fail but some are successful in controlling the disorder. Oftentimes the patients easily give up on their medication thinking that the drugs have failed them when in fact there are drugs that need a certain amount of time before it works. Compliance is also a major factor in the success of a treatment. Any lapse in the medication intake can easily allow a relapse of the disorder.
There are two stages of treatment: the acute and the preventive or maintenance stage. Acute stage treatment is intended to end the present depressive, hypomanic, manic, or mixed mood swing episodes. Preventive or maintenance treatment is for the continuation of the healing process to avoid or control future episodes.
Treatment is composed of medication, psychotherapy, and education. Medication is important for almost all patients throughout the acute and preventive stages. Psychotherapy aids both patients and their families in dealing with the more than the usual bipolar behavior of the patients. Education is also very helpful to patients and their families as they become more aware of the complexities of the disorder as well as how to manage it.
In any case, all treatments aim to decrease the incidence of episodes, prevent cycling from one mood stage to another, decrease and treat the intensity of acute mood episodes of depression or mania, and aid the patient as much as possible in between mood episodes.
Before any treatment is prescribed, the physician will first identify what had caused the episode and will assess the patient for any other emotional or medical predicaments that could get in the way of the treatment.
The following are medications and other treatments used to help individuals suffering from bipolar disorder:
- Mood stabilizers are the core medication treatment for bipolar disorder. These medications are efficient for short-term or acute episodes of depression and psychotic mania. It is also used for maintenance treatment. Lithium and valproate are mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed. These two drugs act to stimulate the liberation of glutamate (a neurotransmitter).
- Atypical Antipsychotic drugs are prescribed treat schizophrenia. This drug also has mood stabilizing characteristics which is helpful in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and ariprazol are the five standard medications for the bipolar mania and mixed episodes. Quetiapine is only utilized for the treatment of mixed episodes. These drugs may be used single-handedly or can be combined with mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate. Furthermore, a blend fluoxetine and olanzapine is also accepted for bipolar depression treatment.
- Antiseizure medications are also utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from rapid-cycling and mixed episodes, mania, and for those who have suffered the consequences of substance abuse. Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine are the antiseizure medications usually used in helping patients suffering bipolar II disorder and rapid cycling.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also an efficient treatment. This is ordered for patients suffering acute emotional stages or may also be utilized for maintenance.
- Sleep Management and Psychotherapy in combination with bipolar medications are also highly helpful in the treatment plan for bipolar disorder.
Consequences of medications may include increase occurrence of diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain. To diminish such risks, the patient is instructed to have a dietary intake that will include whole grains, foods that are low in saturated fats, foods low in sugar, fruits, and vegetables. These can help decrease the incidence of gaining weight, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
With vigilance and discipline in addition to a strong support of family and friends the individual who is suffering from bipolar disorder may well sail through without much difficulty during troubled times.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
There is a huge population of sufferers that have multiple incidences and it is quite uncommon for them to have a sole episode of depression or hypomania in bipolar disorder in a lifespan. The duration of the symptom-free periods increase with the advancement of age. The existence of major symptoms may well forecast long-term psychosocial dysfunction. The danger of a relapse is high in patients with mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms.
The disorder, being untreated, can cause a variation of damage in the life of the sufferer. Therefore, it is imperative that the disorder be diagnosed as early as possible and treatment plans be started at an early stage as well.
There are varieties of treatments for Bipolar disorder. Some may fail but some are successful in controlling the disorder. Oftentimes the patients easily give up on their medication thinking that the drugs have failed them when in fact there are drugs that need a certain amount of time before it works. Compliance is also a major factor in the success of a treatment. Any lapse in the medication intake can easily allow a relapse of the disorder.
There are two stages of treatment: the acute and the preventive or maintenance stage. Acute stage treatment is intended to end the present depressive, hypomanic, manic, or mixed mood swing episodes. Preventive or maintenance treatment is for the continuation of the healing process to avoid or control future episodes.
Treatment is composed of medication, psychotherapy, and education. Medication is important for almost all patients throughout the acute and preventive stages. Psychotherapy aids both patients and their families in dealing with the more than the usual bipolar behavior of the patients. Education is also very helpful to patients and their families as they become more aware of the complexities of the disorder as well as how to manage it.
In any case, all treatments aim to decrease the incidence of episodes, prevent cycling from one mood stage to another, decrease and treat the intensity of acute mood episodes of depression or mania, and aid the patient as much as possible in between mood episodes.
Before any treatment is prescribed, the physician will first identify what had caused the episode and will assess the patient for any other emotional or medical predicaments that could get in the way of the treatment.
The following are medications and other treatments used to help individuals suffering from bipolar disorder:
- Mood stabilizers are the core medication treatment for bipolar disorder. These medications are efficient for short-term or acute episodes of depression and psychotic mania. It is also used for maintenance treatment. Lithium and valproate are mood stabilizers that are commonly prescribed. These two drugs act to stimulate the liberation of glutamate (a neurotransmitter).
- Atypical Antipsychotic drugs are prescribed treat schizophrenia. This drug also has mood stabilizing characteristics which is helpful in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and ariprazol are the five standard medications for the bipolar mania and mixed episodes. Quetiapine is only utilized for the treatment of mixed episodes. These drugs may be used single-handedly or can be combined with mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate. Furthermore, a blend fluoxetine and olanzapine is also accepted for bipolar depression treatment.
- Antiseizure medications are also utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from rapid-cycling and mixed episodes, mania, and for those who have suffered the consequences of substance abuse. Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine are the antiseizure medications usually used in helping patients suffering bipolar II disorder and rapid cycling.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also an efficient treatment. This is ordered for patients suffering acute emotional stages or may also be utilized for maintenance.
- Sleep Management and Psychotherapy in combination with bipolar medications are also highly helpful in the treatment plan for bipolar disorder.
Consequences of medications may include increase occurrence of diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain. To diminish such risks, the patient is instructed to have a dietary intake that will include whole grains, foods that are low in saturated fats, foods low in sugar, fruits, and vegetables. These can help decrease the incidence of gaining weight, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
With vigilance and discipline in addition to a strong support of family and friends the individual who is suffering from bipolar disorder may well sail through without much difficulty during troubled times.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Going Nuts or Just Normally Moody? (Bipolar Tests)
Bipolar disorder is an illness that is illustrated by extreme mood changes, from being manically euphoric to the very depressed and vice versa. This disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. Changes in the mood to the extremes are constantly occurring, this can happen within hours, days, or months. Bipolar disorder typically appears in the late teenage years and continues until death. There are also cases wherein the illness starts as early as childhood or as delayed as late adult years.
Although a lot of people experience mood swings every now and then, only a small group really experience radical changes in their moods which are highly characteristic of bipolar disorder. This illness can heavily affect everyday living of the sufferer. It can have a huge impact on their relationships with significant others, occupation, academics, and their day to day interaction with other people.
Are you quite curious if you're afflicted with this unlucky pestilence of a disease? Here are some of the signs and symptoms that you can check yourself with:
Signs and symptoms of depressive phase
- pessimistic, have long moments of crying
- a feeling of hopelessness
- low self-esteem
- diminished libido
- progressive decrease in energy and activities of daily living
- apathetic
- antisocial
- cognitive difficulties
- always anxious and irritable
- changes in weight (weight loss or gain)
- either insomnia or oversleeping
- abuse of drugs or alcoholic substances
- suicidal ideations
Signs and symptoms of manic phase
- extremely euphoric
- aggressive
- impulsive, irresponsibly wild
- excessively adventurous and involved in activities that are life threatening (sex, drugs, violence, excessive spending)
- insomniac
- flight of ideas, exceedingly talkative
- very outgoing
- self-centered; sometimes with hallucinations or delusions
- easily distracted, restless
- no idea that the their behavior is causing problems
If you have any of these symptoms and these odd behaviors are causing disruptions in your normal life, it is best for you to seek professional help.
There may be numerous tests out there that are used to differentiate a bipolar sufferer from the run-of-the-mill sad and/or energetic individuals, but there is no exact specific test. This is because the signs and symptoms of this illness are very similar to other mental aberrations like ADHD, borderline personally disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorders.
To diagnose the disorder, physicians provide a battery of tests to potential patients. The following are the basic tests that these professionals use:
- Medical examinations. This is used to assess the patient for other probable grounds of the mood swings he or she experiences.
- Oral and written psychiatric questionnaire or evaluations
- Family history. Bipolar disorder have a tendency to run in families
- Medical history. There may be medications that the patient is using or has used that could have triggered the mood swings.
- Interview family members and significant others regarding the patient's behavior. These people are usually the first witnesses of the disorder unfolding in the patient.
Although the doctor may be armed with these tests to help him diagnose a patient, it is quite difficult for the doctor if the patient him or herself doesn't recognize the problem. It is therefore imperative for the doctor to have an absolute and careful history of the patient's mood swing episodes. Compared to normal happiness, a person suffering the mania stage is extremely happy for four consecutive days at the very least. These patients are also easily distracted, very talkative, and has a flight of ideas.
The disorder is suspected to individuals who have previously suffered from a depression and had a quick and excellent response to the treatment, but had frequent relapses which are followed by a disintegration to respond to antidepressant treatment.
But with early diagnosis, the disorder can be easily controlled. A combination of psychopharmacologic medications and psychotherapy may just do the trick. A strong emotional support from family and friends is also imperative for the patient who's suffering from this disorder. Just make sure you choose the right medical professional to help you or a friend in need. You may find the best help even from only searching through the net as some institutions have websites of their own.
Just remember, anybody who is suspect to any mental disorder is innocent until examined and diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Although a lot of people experience mood swings every now and then, only a small group really experience radical changes in their moods which are highly characteristic of bipolar disorder. This illness can heavily affect everyday living of the sufferer. It can have a huge impact on their relationships with significant others, occupation, academics, and their day to day interaction with other people.
Are you quite curious if you're afflicted with this unlucky pestilence of a disease? Here are some of the signs and symptoms that you can check yourself with:
Signs and symptoms of depressive phase
- pessimistic, have long moments of crying
- a feeling of hopelessness
- low self-esteem
- diminished libido
- progressive decrease in energy and activities of daily living
- apathetic
- antisocial
- cognitive difficulties
- always anxious and irritable
- changes in weight (weight loss or gain)
- either insomnia or oversleeping
- abuse of drugs or alcoholic substances
- suicidal ideations
Signs and symptoms of manic phase
- extremely euphoric
- aggressive
- impulsive, irresponsibly wild
- excessively adventurous and involved in activities that are life threatening (sex, drugs, violence, excessive spending)
- insomniac
- flight of ideas, exceedingly talkative
- very outgoing
- self-centered; sometimes with hallucinations or delusions
- easily distracted, restless
- no idea that the their behavior is causing problems
If you have any of these symptoms and these odd behaviors are causing disruptions in your normal life, it is best for you to seek professional help.
There may be numerous tests out there that are used to differentiate a bipolar sufferer from the run-of-the-mill sad and/or energetic individuals, but there is no exact specific test. This is because the signs and symptoms of this illness are very similar to other mental aberrations like ADHD, borderline personally disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorders.
To diagnose the disorder, physicians provide a battery of tests to potential patients. The following are the basic tests that these professionals use:
- Medical examinations. This is used to assess the patient for other probable grounds of the mood swings he or she experiences.
- Oral and written psychiatric questionnaire or evaluations
- Family history. Bipolar disorder have a tendency to run in families
- Medical history. There may be medications that the patient is using or has used that could have triggered the mood swings.
- Interview family members and significant others regarding the patient's behavior. These people are usually the first witnesses of the disorder unfolding in the patient.
Although the doctor may be armed with these tests to help him diagnose a patient, it is quite difficult for the doctor if the patient him or herself doesn't recognize the problem. It is therefore imperative for the doctor to have an absolute and careful history of the patient's mood swing episodes. Compared to normal happiness, a person suffering the mania stage is extremely happy for four consecutive days at the very least. These patients are also easily distracted, very talkative, and has a flight of ideas.
The disorder is suspected to individuals who have previously suffered from a depression and had a quick and excellent response to the treatment, but had frequent relapses which are followed by a disintegration to respond to antidepressant treatment.
But with early diagnosis, the disorder can be easily controlled. A combination of psychopharmacologic medications and psychotherapy may just do the trick. A strong emotional support from family and friends is also imperative for the patient who's suffering from this disorder. Just make sure you choose the right medical professional to help you or a friend in need. You may find the best help even from only searching through the net as some institutions have websites of their own.
Just remember, anybody who is suspect to any mental disorder is innocent until examined and diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The More than the Usual Moody Disorder
Bipolar Syndrome or manic depression is a psychiatric aberration that is a group of mood disorders in which an individual afflicted with it undergoes extreme emotional states from being clinically depressed to an elevated mood states (or vice versa), and/or a combination of these mood states. If this disorder is ignored and untreated, it can be a crippling condition and may possibly cause suicide.
The term "manic-depressive" made its first appearance in the late 1950s and the present name, bipolar disorder, only became in trend recently. But this mood disorder has been around since time immemorial. The Romans, thanks to their Latin, have coined the words 'ania' and 'manos'. Specifically, it was Caelius Aurelianus, a Roman physician, who proposed these etymologies. 'Ania' means to generate immense mental distress, while 'manos' on the other hand means relaxed or calmed down. Through the centuries great minds have tried to understand this mood swing that had gone terribly wrong. From Gao Lian, the Chinese encyclopedist who cited the illness in hid Eight Treatises on Nurturing of Life, to Jules Baillarger the Frenchman who explained the two-phased mental disorder being the origin of frequent cycles involving depression and mania.
But the considered father of the modern concept of Bipolar disorder is German psychiatrist Emil Kraeplin. He sorted out and studied the course of untreated patients afflicted with the disorder way back before mood stabilizers were formulated. From his studies, he conceived the phrase "manic depressive psychosis". He observed that his patients undergo a cycle with moments of acute depression or mania, with symptom-free intermissions that allows the patient to act normally.
But Kraeplin may be the father of the modern concept of this illness, Dr. John Cade discovered the treatment. He found out that Lithium Carbonate is the right medication that can really treat any psychiatric illness. This discovery pioneered the start of the treatment of psychiatric conditions through medications.
In a nutshell, having a bipolar syndrome is just like having mood swings, and a terrible one at that. This over the top kind of mood swing can cause either harm or enhance an individual's everyday life based on the disorder's severity (from mild to severe) and route (elevated or depressive mood). It causes alterations in ones sleep cycles, energy and activity levels, cognitive functioning, and social life.
This disorder time and again appears as depression in the teenage years and then can have jumpstart as bipolar disorder in the late teens. There are also cases that started early in childhood or late in life. Bipolar is not exclusive to any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. It can strike just about anybody.
The female patients are likely to start with a depressive episode, and the males with manic episode. This disorder has a tendency to run among blood relatives.
Mood swing changes or episodes may last for as long as months or as short as hours. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is when a patient undergoes four or more mood changes or episodes of depression interchanging with mania in a single year.
A full cycle can be accomplished in days or hours by patients with bipolar rapid cycling, though mood changes with bipolar disorder usually take place progressively. These rapid cyclers are very unstable and very difficult to treat; female patients are prone to be rapid cyclers.
There are four types of bipolar disorder. It is classified based on the symptoms' intensity and patterns.
- Bipolar I disorder. This is comprised by one or more or mixed episodes, in addition to one or more major depressive mood change. This is the severest form of bipolar disorder since it is manifested by extreme manic episodes.
- Bipolar II disorder. This is a combination of one or more depressive incidents with at least one hypomanic episode (mild for of mania that may last for at least four days). Hypomanic episodes may not cause severe trouble in everyday living but some patients can be destructive.
- Cyclothymic disorder. This is a unceasing variation of moods which involves stages of depression and hypomania. These two stages are more acute, less severe, and are not experienced with the regularity encountered in the two previous types of bipolar disorder. Patients with cyclothymia may have the possibility to progress to a more severe type of bipolar disorder.
- Unspecified Bipolar Disorder. There are cases that a patient experiences symptoms of depressive and manic episodes without really fitting in any of the above mentioned types of the disorder. This disorder is curable.
But this mood disorder should not be looked down on as if it was Leprosy in the ancient times. Not does it only have an available medication to stabilize the patient's moods but it oddly gives the individuals afflicted with it a creative edge. With a good combination of medication and therapy, the disorder is very manageable.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
The term "manic-depressive" made its first appearance in the late 1950s and the present name, bipolar disorder, only became in trend recently. But this mood disorder has been around since time immemorial. The Romans, thanks to their Latin, have coined the words 'ania' and 'manos'. Specifically, it was Caelius Aurelianus, a Roman physician, who proposed these etymologies. 'Ania' means to generate immense mental distress, while 'manos' on the other hand means relaxed or calmed down. Through the centuries great minds have tried to understand this mood swing that had gone terribly wrong. From Gao Lian, the Chinese encyclopedist who cited the illness in hid Eight Treatises on Nurturing of Life, to Jules Baillarger the Frenchman who explained the two-phased mental disorder being the origin of frequent cycles involving depression and mania.
But the considered father of the modern concept of Bipolar disorder is German psychiatrist Emil Kraeplin. He sorted out and studied the course of untreated patients afflicted with the disorder way back before mood stabilizers were formulated. From his studies, he conceived the phrase "manic depressive psychosis". He observed that his patients undergo a cycle with moments of acute depression or mania, with symptom-free intermissions that allows the patient to act normally.
But Kraeplin may be the father of the modern concept of this illness, Dr. John Cade discovered the treatment. He found out that Lithium Carbonate is the right medication that can really treat any psychiatric illness. This discovery pioneered the start of the treatment of psychiatric conditions through medications.
In a nutshell, having a bipolar syndrome is just like having mood swings, and a terrible one at that. This over the top kind of mood swing can cause either harm or enhance an individual's everyday life based on the disorder's severity (from mild to severe) and route (elevated or depressive mood). It causes alterations in ones sleep cycles, energy and activity levels, cognitive functioning, and social life.
This disorder time and again appears as depression in the teenage years and then can have jumpstart as bipolar disorder in the late teens. There are also cases that started early in childhood or late in life. Bipolar is not exclusive to any race, gender, social class, or ethnicity. It can strike just about anybody.
The female patients are likely to start with a depressive episode, and the males with manic episode. This disorder has a tendency to run among blood relatives.
Mood swing changes or episodes may last for as long as months or as short as hours. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is when a patient undergoes four or more mood changes or episodes of depression interchanging with mania in a single year.
A full cycle can be accomplished in days or hours by patients with bipolar rapid cycling, though mood changes with bipolar disorder usually take place progressively. These rapid cyclers are very unstable and very difficult to treat; female patients are prone to be rapid cyclers.
There are four types of bipolar disorder. It is classified based on the symptoms' intensity and patterns.
- Bipolar I disorder. This is comprised by one or more or mixed episodes, in addition to one or more major depressive mood change. This is the severest form of bipolar disorder since it is manifested by extreme manic episodes.
- Bipolar II disorder. This is a combination of one or more depressive incidents with at least one hypomanic episode (mild for of mania that may last for at least four days). Hypomanic episodes may not cause severe trouble in everyday living but some patients can be destructive.
- Cyclothymic disorder. This is a unceasing variation of moods which involves stages of depression and hypomania. These two stages are more acute, less severe, and are not experienced with the regularity encountered in the two previous types of bipolar disorder. Patients with cyclothymia may have the possibility to progress to a more severe type of bipolar disorder.
- Unspecified Bipolar Disorder. There are cases that a patient experiences symptoms of depressive and manic episodes without really fitting in any of the above mentioned types of the disorder. This disorder is curable.
But this mood disorder should not be looked down on as if it was Leprosy in the ancient times. Not does it only have an available medication to stabilize the patient's moods but it oddly gives the individuals afflicted with it a creative edge. With a good combination of medication and therapy, the disorder is very manageable.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tips on Recognizing Bipolar Symptom and Its Importance
Bipolar disorder, also called as manic-depressive disease has severe effects on the life of the sufferer as well as those people closest to them. The patients need almost everybody's attention. They need it from their psychiatrist, physicians, close friends, and supportive networks.
There are approximately 2 million Americans who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But most of them are unaware that such condition is present. It is because it can trigger any time. In most cases, the symptoms started to manifest during adolescence or early adulthood. Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about because this brain disorder is treatable. You just need to recognize different symptoms to achieve proper diagnosis as well as treatment.
If you know someone who is suffering from a bipolar disease then you already know the effects in their daily lives. However, it does not necessarily mean that a person with bipolar disorder is always down and depressed. Their moods just have a tendency to alter from an extremely high to an extremely low status. This mood swings is very hard to recognize. Coping with such condition is also difficult since the patient is also affected physically.
Always expect for a worst scenario. Never forget that persistent highs and lows of moods in most patients can mean committing suicide in the end. It is because they think that it is their way to escape. If this is often the case, calling 911 is important. Do not think that you would waste their time if ever nothing happened. What matters most is that you have avoided any worst consequences.
Reoccurrences of the illness is possible thus it can affect a person throughout his or her life. Lifetime treatment is applicable through building and maintaining a strong support group. But the first step for achieving successful results in the future is to learn some basic tips on how to spot symptoms of a bipolar disorder.
1. It is very easy to determine manic episodes. The most distinguishing factor is euphoric mood and increased level of energy. These characteristics are easily noticed and very evident. It is obvious that a person first manifested a depressed mood for a longer period of time. Other signs include spending sprees, loss of concentration, and increased drive for sex.
2. Spotting depression can be quite easy but sometimes it can be misinterpreted as a bad day. An anxious or a sad mood over an extended duration of time is a very obvious sign of a depressed person. This is the first characteristic you must look for. Another is lack of interest on the things which was once enjoyed by the person, including sex or hobbies.
3. Mood swings associated with serious cases of bipolar disorder can later display psychosis symptoms including delusions and hallucinations. These are also easier to recognize. However, the sufferer may not be aware of it.
4. To spot a mixed state of a bipolar disorder, you should know that the sufferer is simultaneously experiencing both depression and mania. It can include sleep deficiency, agitation, and appetite changes. The patient having this kind of bipolar disorder can become very depressed, yet he or she still possesses a very high energy level.
5. The symptom that is considered to be the most horrifying is morbid thoughts. Most people ignore it subconsciously hoping that it will just soon vanish. Suspecting a patient who have morbid thoughts and contemplates suicide must be acted upon immediately. Call 911 if necessary to prevent worse consequences from happening.
Keep in mind that recognizing these symptoms correctly is important to reveal the real nature of a bipolar disease. Improper diagnosis can lead to prolong or lifetime suffering. The patients can seek advice from professionals when depression attacks them but sometimes they are not disclosing their manic behaviors. It is because they linked it with normalcy or happiness.
Recently, more and more people are getting the proper education regarding the distinguishing symptoms of a bipolar disorder because of the attentions given on its research and studies. Guidance is available through excellent resources such as reputable websites or local clinics which provide detailed information. Never forget that the debilitating nature of a bipolar disorder can be stopped to lead productive and healthy lives.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
There are approximately 2 million Americans who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But most of them are unaware that such condition is present. It is because it can trigger any time. In most cases, the symptoms started to manifest during adolescence or early adulthood. Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about because this brain disorder is treatable. You just need to recognize different symptoms to achieve proper diagnosis as well as treatment.
If you know someone who is suffering from a bipolar disease then you already know the effects in their daily lives. However, it does not necessarily mean that a person with bipolar disorder is always down and depressed. Their moods just have a tendency to alter from an extremely high to an extremely low status. This mood swings is very hard to recognize. Coping with such condition is also difficult since the patient is also affected physically.
Always expect for a worst scenario. Never forget that persistent highs and lows of moods in most patients can mean committing suicide in the end. It is because they think that it is their way to escape. If this is often the case, calling 911 is important. Do not think that you would waste their time if ever nothing happened. What matters most is that you have avoided any worst consequences.
Reoccurrences of the illness is possible thus it can affect a person throughout his or her life. Lifetime treatment is applicable through building and maintaining a strong support group. But the first step for achieving successful results in the future is to learn some basic tips on how to spot symptoms of a bipolar disorder.
1. It is very easy to determine manic episodes. The most distinguishing factor is euphoric mood and increased level of energy. These characteristics are easily noticed and very evident. It is obvious that a person first manifested a depressed mood for a longer period of time. Other signs include spending sprees, loss of concentration, and increased drive for sex.
2. Spotting depression can be quite easy but sometimes it can be misinterpreted as a bad day. An anxious or a sad mood over an extended duration of time is a very obvious sign of a depressed person. This is the first characteristic you must look for. Another is lack of interest on the things which was once enjoyed by the person, including sex or hobbies.
3. Mood swings associated with serious cases of bipolar disorder can later display psychosis symptoms including delusions and hallucinations. These are also easier to recognize. However, the sufferer may not be aware of it.
4. To spot a mixed state of a bipolar disorder, you should know that the sufferer is simultaneously experiencing both depression and mania. It can include sleep deficiency, agitation, and appetite changes. The patient having this kind of bipolar disorder can become very depressed, yet he or she still possesses a very high energy level.
5. The symptom that is considered to be the most horrifying is morbid thoughts. Most people ignore it subconsciously hoping that it will just soon vanish. Suspecting a patient who have morbid thoughts and contemplates suicide must be acted upon immediately. Call 911 if necessary to prevent worse consequences from happening.
Keep in mind that recognizing these symptoms correctly is important to reveal the real nature of a bipolar disease. Improper diagnosis can lead to prolong or lifetime suffering. The patients can seek advice from professionals when depression attacks them but sometimes they are not disclosing their manic behaviors. It is because they linked it with normalcy or happiness.
Recently, more and more people are getting the proper education regarding the distinguishing symptoms of a bipolar disorder because of the attentions given on its research and studies. Guidance is available through excellent resources such as reputable websites or local clinics which provide detailed information. Never forget that the debilitating nature of a bipolar disorder can be stopped to lead productive and healthy lives.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Bipolar Support Group: A Guide to a Better Living
The most difficult and stressful experience that you could have is being diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. If this is your case, managing your disorder better is recommended. Whether you handle it by yourself, with your families, or with your friends, building and maintaining a strong support group system is very important.
There are approximately twenty five million Americans who are suffering from mood disorders including bipolar disorder. In this case, their families need better understanding of how such illness is affecting their lives. People need support from those who takes time to understand them.
A support group system is the combined forces of people who are offering emotional and unconditional support to people having a bipolar disorder. They have the desire for understanding the difficulties and struggles of people living in such condition. This group consists of other support groups, mental health workers, doctors, friends, and families.
A support group for manic depression can be a very good source for getting support from peers. They can help lots of people how to cope up with emotional aspects of their lives. A safe place is provided to give a chance for these people to share their experiences as well as learn from other sufferers who are facing the same situation.
People having a manic depressive disorder can feel secluded and isolated. They can also feel alone in their struggle in managing the symptoms. But those people who attend a support group may feel strong and confident that they're not alone in facing their battles and easily recover upon treatment. The people who are within a support group are likely to experience the highs and lows of a bipolar disorder. No one will relate better with people who are suffering from a bipolar disorder except those people who also experiences the same situation.
A support group system is not often specifically designed for people having a bipolar disorder but also for other mood disorders including clinical depression. Consulting a psychiatrist or therapist to obtain information about a support group system is advised.
People who are joining a support group should also have their personal assessment regarding their condition. If something is going better, then continuous involvement is good. However, when things get worse, it is better to undergo specific treatments. There are instances that a person may feel hopeless and desperate if he or she sees other people in a support group displaying such behaviors.
The idea of a support group is to help each other on their journey to recovery. Someone during his or her normal period can still be the light of other members who have difficulty in coping up with their present situation.
Today, the internet technology becomes the major source of finding an appropriate support group. There are even designed chat rooms for people experiencing manic depression. Although this is a good resource for sufferers of bipolar disorders to get the support they need, this isn't enough. They should continue to attend their local support group system. Since there is always a tendency for self-isolation, being with other sufferers can provide good social interactions.
After the illness is diagnosed and treatment is provided, support from other people is vital in achieving a lifetime wellness. Most support groups have their own chapters to meet the needs of every sufferer. They will find direction and comfort in a supportive and confidential setting where a big difference is made in their lives. The services provided also vary depending on the needs of their members. However, never think that a support group is your alternative to professional care.
Many support groups offer self-help by facilitating meetings. People with bipolar disorder can obtain benefits such as opportunity from reaching out to others, motivation in following a treatment plan, understand mood disorders, help rediscover humor and strength, and provide forums for mutual understanding and acceptance.
Having a family and trusted friends who are always ready to provide emotional support is a very valuable asset for people suffering from a bipolar disorder. This is necessary especially for people who always have suicidal tendencies and have a hard time in controlling outbursts of emotions. That is why a support group system is extremely essential, truly a guide for a better living.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
There are approximately twenty five million Americans who are suffering from mood disorders including bipolar disorder. In this case, their families need better understanding of how such illness is affecting their lives. People need support from those who takes time to understand them.
A support group system is the combined forces of people who are offering emotional and unconditional support to people having a bipolar disorder. They have the desire for understanding the difficulties and struggles of people living in such condition. This group consists of other support groups, mental health workers, doctors, friends, and families.
A support group for manic depression can be a very good source for getting support from peers. They can help lots of people how to cope up with emotional aspects of their lives. A safe place is provided to give a chance for these people to share their experiences as well as learn from other sufferers who are facing the same situation.
People having a manic depressive disorder can feel secluded and isolated. They can also feel alone in their struggle in managing the symptoms. But those people who attend a support group may feel strong and confident that they're not alone in facing their battles and easily recover upon treatment. The people who are within a support group are likely to experience the highs and lows of a bipolar disorder. No one will relate better with people who are suffering from a bipolar disorder except those people who also experiences the same situation.
A support group system is not often specifically designed for people having a bipolar disorder but also for other mood disorders including clinical depression. Consulting a psychiatrist or therapist to obtain information about a support group system is advised.
People who are joining a support group should also have their personal assessment regarding their condition. If something is going better, then continuous involvement is good. However, when things get worse, it is better to undergo specific treatments. There are instances that a person may feel hopeless and desperate if he or she sees other people in a support group displaying such behaviors.
The idea of a support group is to help each other on their journey to recovery. Someone during his or her normal period can still be the light of other members who have difficulty in coping up with their present situation.
Today, the internet technology becomes the major source of finding an appropriate support group. There are even designed chat rooms for people experiencing manic depression. Although this is a good resource for sufferers of bipolar disorders to get the support they need, this isn't enough. They should continue to attend their local support group system. Since there is always a tendency for self-isolation, being with other sufferers can provide good social interactions.
After the illness is diagnosed and treatment is provided, support from other people is vital in achieving a lifetime wellness. Most support groups have their own chapters to meet the needs of every sufferer. They will find direction and comfort in a supportive and confidential setting where a big difference is made in their lives. The services provided also vary depending on the needs of their members. However, never think that a support group is your alternative to professional care.
Many support groups offer self-help by facilitating meetings. People with bipolar disorder can obtain benefits such as opportunity from reaching out to others, motivation in following a treatment plan, understand mood disorders, help rediscover humor and strength, and provide forums for mutual understanding and acceptance.
Having a family and trusted friends who are always ready to provide emotional support is a very valuable asset for people suffering from a bipolar disorder. This is necessary especially for people who always have suicidal tendencies and have a hard time in controlling outbursts of emotions. That is why a support group system is extremely essential, truly a guide for a better living.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Support That a Person with Bipolar Disorder Needs: Effectively Managing the Manic Depressive Illness
For you to be able to function properly in society, you have to consider that you need to have a good physical health. You may have heard this over and over again. However, you have to consider that physical well-being is not the only thing you need to consider in order to function productively in society. It is a fact that there are quite a lot of people who is considered to be physically healthy but cannot function well in society. You have to consider that your mental health is also very important.
The brain is one of the most important parts of the human body and without it, you will not be able to live. The brain is needed for your basic motor skills, for speech, and also for controlling your moods and emotions. The brain simply acts like a microprocessor in a computer and your nervous system as the wires that connect all of your body to it. However, there are certain mental disorders that can affect your daily life where you will have no control of some aspects of your body.
One example of a mental disorder is called bipolar disorder. This particular illness can affect the area of your brain that controls your way of thinking, your emotions and your moods. Bipolar disorder can significantly and negatively affect your daily functions. Normally, people have some ups and downs in terms of moods. If something pleasant happens, you feel happy, and if something bad happens, you will feel depressed about it. This is a normal reaction of the brain and the body. However, with bipolar disorder, the moods can cycle from being manic to being normal to being depressive and back to being manic at some intervals.
Bipolar disorder can have a negative impact in your daily life as it can impair the way you think. It can affect your social life, your relationship, and can also impact your performance at work and at school negatively. You should also consider that bipolar disorder is a very dangerous disorder that can lead to death. There have been cases where severe bipolar disorders have forced people suffering from it to think of death and suicide during the depressive episodes and some have actually attempted to commit suicide.
Bipolar disorder can cause harm to the person suffering from it and also to the people around them. This is why it is important that the family should actively participate in the treatment. Treatments can include psychotherapy and medications. During the therapy sessions, the family of the people who are suffering from bipolar disorder should be actively involved during the long and sometimes hard process of treatment. You have to consider that bipolar disorder is a long term illness and has no cure. The treatments are usually needed throughout their entire life and it also needs carefully managing it.
Family and friends should know how to support the person suffering from this disorder and should understand all about bipolar disorder in order to effectively treat them and also effectively manage the illness. It is also important that you should choose a reputable psychotherapist in order to make sure that they can effectively treat the patient.
Bipolar disorder is a kind of illness that needs support from members of the family. It does not entirely mean that the person suffering from it needs to be alone in the treatment process. It is important to realize the fact that the family plays a very important role during the treatment process. Without family support, the treatment for the illness can have little or no effect at all. You should consider that people suffering from this mental disorder are suicidal and during the treatment process, they will need emotional support in order to get their thoughts off about death and suicide.
These are the things you should consider when you have a family member suffering from bipolar disease. With the proper treatment and support, you can be sure that they will be able to recover from their illness and effectively manage it throughout their lives. In time, they will be able to live independently and function productively in society again.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
The brain is one of the most important parts of the human body and without it, you will not be able to live. The brain is needed for your basic motor skills, for speech, and also for controlling your moods and emotions. The brain simply acts like a microprocessor in a computer and your nervous system as the wires that connect all of your body to it. However, there are certain mental disorders that can affect your daily life where you will have no control of some aspects of your body.
One example of a mental disorder is called bipolar disorder. This particular illness can affect the area of your brain that controls your way of thinking, your emotions and your moods. Bipolar disorder can significantly and negatively affect your daily functions. Normally, people have some ups and downs in terms of moods. If something pleasant happens, you feel happy, and if something bad happens, you will feel depressed about it. This is a normal reaction of the brain and the body. However, with bipolar disorder, the moods can cycle from being manic to being normal to being depressive and back to being manic at some intervals.
Bipolar disorder can have a negative impact in your daily life as it can impair the way you think. It can affect your social life, your relationship, and can also impact your performance at work and at school negatively. You should also consider that bipolar disorder is a very dangerous disorder that can lead to death. There have been cases where severe bipolar disorders have forced people suffering from it to think of death and suicide during the depressive episodes and some have actually attempted to commit suicide.
Bipolar disorder can cause harm to the person suffering from it and also to the people around them. This is why it is important that the family should actively participate in the treatment. Treatments can include psychotherapy and medications. During the therapy sessions, the family of the people who are suffering from bipolar disorder should be actively involved during the long and sometimes hard process of treatment. You have to consider that bipolar disorder is a long term illness and has no cure. The treatments are usually needed throughout their entire life and it also needs carefully managing it.
Family and friends should know how to support the person suffering from this disorder and should understand all about bipolar disorder in order to effectively treat them and also effectively manage the illness. It is also important that you should choose a reputable psychotherapist in order to make sure that they can effectively treat the patient.
Bipolar disorder is a kind of illness that needs support from members of the family. It does not entirely mean that the person suffering from it needs to be alone in the treatment process. It is important to realize the fact that the family plays a very important role during the treatment process. Without family support, the treatment for the illness can have little or no effect at all. You should consider that people suffering from this mental disorder are suicidal and during the treatment process, they will need emotional support in order to get their thoughts off about death and suicide.
These are the things you should consider when you have a family member suffering from bipolar disease. With the proper treatment and support, you can be sure that they will be able to recover from their illness and effectively manage it throughout their lives. In time, they will be able to live independently and function productively in society again.
Learn The Real Truth About How To Cope, Manage And Control Bipolar Disorder And Live The High Quality, Fulfilling Life you Deserve!
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