Bipolar disorder is a mood effecting illness that can be very problematic for those who suffer from it, and millions of people do. Many people do not even realise that the way they are feeling is actually a medical condition until the find out about bipolar symptoms and recognises that they are in fact bipolar. Here are the depression and mania bipolar symptoms to look out for if you suspect you are bipolar or someone you know is.
Depression bipolar symptoms
• Having no energy and constantly feeling tired
• Losing interest in things you were once keen on, this can also include sex
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Sleeping much more or much less than normal
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Suicidal thoughts
Archive for category Bipolar
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding bipolar disorder and bipolar treatment that sufferers can expect to receive. One of the reasons for this is too many people feel equipped to talk about people who are bipolar without actually fully understanding the types of bipolar treatment that are available. In fact talk to most people and ask them to name a bipolar treatment and it is likely that they will reply with a one word answer such as “Prozac”. Whilst Prozac can and is used to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder this drug is just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to bipolar treatment as there is much more out there from medication to alternative therapies.
When someone is diagnosed as being bipolar it is easy to think that a simple pill each day will rid them of their symptoms and life will return to normal in a few days. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case and this is why it takes some time for some individuals to get the correct bipolar treatment which will work well for them.
As previously mentioned Prozac can work well as a form of bipolar treatment, it works by encouraging the production of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a natural chemical which when produced lifts the mood and this helps as a form of bipolar treatment as it can stabilise the mood of a sufferer. This type of medication (and others) is in the group of SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) which are often prescribed to combat the symptoms and feelings that bipolar disorder produces. Another group of medication that is also used as a bipolar treatment are tricyclic medications which work along the same lines as SSRIs. Lithium can also be used as a bipolar treatment as this too works as a mood stabiliser and this is one of the most well known and ‘popular’ treatments for bipolar disorder.
Cogitative behavioural therapy can be extremely useful as an additional bipolar treatment and many psychiatrists recommend it to people suffering from bipolar disorder. CBT works so well because it helps those with a bipolar diagnosis to recognise the ‘triggers’ that tend to signal the start of a bipolar high or low. Once these triggers are recognised a person who is bipolar is then able to put into practice some of the self help methods and techniques which have been shown to them in CBT sessions.
Some people also advocate a change in diet as a secondary bipolar treatment, as many believe that a healthy diet that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for those with bipolar disorder. Complementary therapy’s such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture can also be used as these can play a large and important role in the emotional wellbeing of a person and can also help to lift the mood. Exercise can also help as a bipolar treatment as exercise releases endorphins, the body’s own ‘feel good’ chemicals and these can boost the mood significantly.
A moving portrait of actor Maurice Benard, relating how crucial his wife’s support has been throughout his illness.
Being bipolar and living with the illness means that you should have a bipolar disorder treatment plan in place. This usually begins to be formed from the time that a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made. Often the bipolar disorder treatment is split into two types â one for treating manic episodes and one for treating depressive episodes. It is essential that this happens so that the person with bipolar disorder is getting the correct bipolar disorder treatment.
During a manic episode the bipolar disorder treatment will start with the elimination of any substances that might could the sufferer harm â many will turn to stimulant drugs so they should be removed as they can further alter the mood. Next an assessment should be made to determine whether the best form of bipolar disorder treatment is to hospitalise the sufferer. In particularly extreme manic episodes this can happen to prevent the sufferer from coming to any harm.
Then mood stabilising drugs need to be administered as the next phase in the bipolar disorder treatment. Lithium tends to be used at this stage as it is can be a highly effective mood stabiliser. If after a week or so the bipolar sufferer will then be given antipsychotic drugs which should help to stabilise the moods. After this stage of bipolar disorder treatment additional drugs may be prescribed along with any therapy that might be needed. By this point the bipolar sufferer should be quite stable and able to continue with their daily life as usual.
During a depressive episode the bipolar disorder treatment is quite similar with lamotrigine or lithium being given to the sufferer initially. If they fail to respond to these many doctors have the opinion that they will have to cope with the depressive episode for as long as it lasts. Strangely antidepressants are not normally included in bipolar disorder treatment plan for depressive episodes as they donât tend to work very well.
Once the bipolar disorder treatment is underway the next step could be to begin cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) so that the sufferer can start to recognise what triggers their bipolar disorder and learn ways to avoid these triggers. Therapy of this form can be hugely successful if the sufferer is willing to try this type of bipolar disorder treatment. By being able to manage their different moods a bipolar sufferer is helping to reduce the number and severity of depressive and manic episodes. Alternative bipolar disorder treatments are also quite popular with yoga and meditation being two of the most widely used by sufferers around the world.
Although there is no known cure for bipolar disorder there are a number of ways that bipolar disorder treatment can help sufferers and there is constant research into finding more ways. It may seem as though there is nothing that can be done for someone who is bipolar but as you can see there are several options that sufferers can try to find which is the best bipolar disorder treatment for them.
For full name list click on “more info” 00:10 President – Abraham LINCOLN 00:17 Musician – Adam ANT 00:25 Actor – Ben STILLER 00:30 Actor – Burgess MEREDITH 00:34 Astronaut – Buzz ALDRIN 00:44 Author – Charles DICKENS 00:48 Nurse – Florence NIGHTINGALE 00:53 Director – Francis Ford COPPOLA 00:57 Boxer – Frank BRUNO 01:02 Scientist – Isaac NEWTON 01:06 Actor – Jean Claude VAN DAMME 01:10 Musician – Jimi HENDRIX 01:14 Actor – Linda HAMILTON 01:19 Composer – Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN 01:27 Prime Minister – Winston CHURCHILL 01:32 Music Producer – Phil SPECTOR 01:36 Director – Tim BURTON 01:41 Actor – Richard DREYFUSS 01:46 Musician – Ray DAVIES 01:50 Model – Sophie ANDERTON 01:53 Musician – STING 02:00 Musician – Kurt COBAIN 02:04 Actor – Ned BEATTY 02:14 Musician – Ozzy OSBOURNE 02:18 Actor – Jim CAREY 02:22 Actor – Robert DOWNEY JR 02:28 Actor – Robin WILLIAMS 02:31 Actor – Spike MILLIGAN 02:36 Actor – Stephen FRY 02:41 Artist – Vincent VAN GOGH
Living with Bipolar Disorder
Jan 30
Two people cope with dangerous mood episodes. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com
This video (Episode 1) explains the signs and symptoms bipolar disorder (manic depression). If you suspect that you, or someone you know may be bipolar then you should watch this video. You will learn the common signs and symptoms of this mental illness. More info at: bipolarhelp.org
Recently there has been a lot of media attention in the press and on television about bipolar disease as more people are starting to be diagnosed with the illness. Many people also believe that bipolar disease is a new psychological illness that has only just been discovered in the past 5 – 10 years but this is incorrect. Previously bipolar disease was known as manic depression and many people may still call it this and that is where some of the confusion can stem from. There are also a lot of myths that surround the illness which people actually believe to be true. Here are some facts and myths about bipolar disease which should help people to understand a little more about it.
Facts
• Bipolar disease can affect anyone at any age, although it is not as common in children as it is in adults.
• People who are bipolar tend to have fluctuating moods which can swing between incredible highs and lows.
• Bipolar disease can be quite safely controlled with the correct medication and on some occasions, cognitive behavioural therapy.
• People who have bipolar disease have a higher chance of having children who will go on to be diagnosed with bipolar disease themselves – but this should not stop them from having children as it will not happen in every case.
• People diagnosed as being bipolar are perfectly able to have a job and function normally, particularly when they have the right medication and are able to stabilise their mood swings.
• Bipolar disease can have different types and levels of severity, not everyone who is bipolar will exhibit exactly the same symptoms as each other.
Myths
• People with bipolar disease are not mad – they have fluctuating moods which need to be stabilised with the correct medical help.
• Being diagnosed as being bipolar does not mean that a person is likely to commit suicide although depression is part of the symptoms.
• Bipolar disease can’t be caught from someone who has it.
• People who are bipolar do not have to be ‘sectioned’ in hospital during one of their highs or lows. This can happen but only in very severe cases when a person has not received the correct treatment or is refusing to take their medication.
• Taking drugs will not ‘give’ you bipolar disorder but it can play a part in the mood swings that people with bipolar have if they take stimulants like cocaine. In other words they do not help the situation if someone is bipolar.
Hopefully these facts will have given you a better indication of what having bipolar disease means to those who suffer from it and separated fact from myth. People with bipolar disease are not mad and dangerous; they are people who have unbalanced moods which need careful medical attention for them to stay on an even level. Without this they can have extreme highs and lows which can make daily life very difficult for them and this needs to be understood.
Bipolar Disorder My Story is an account of the symptoms suffered leading up to an extreme manic breakdown which led to my hospitalization
Has someone told you that you have bipolar disorder or manic-depression? Have you been wondering what having bipolar disorder really means? This article will help you make sense out of what you or a loved one is experiencing.