Managing Your Bipolar Illness
Do you have bipolar disorder? If so, you're not alone. Many people from all walks of life suffer from bipolar disorder, also commonly referred to as manic depression. Managing your bipolar illness effectively is possible with a combination of medication, therapy and self-care. If you think you suffer from this disorder but have never been diagnosed, see a doctor or psychiatrist immediately. The sooner you do, the sooner you can find relief from your symptoms. Diagnosis is made through a combination of physical and psychological tests.
There are two main characteristics of bipolar disorder -- depression and mania. As you can see, these characteristics are polar opposites, hence the name bipolar. Depression is recognized by symptoms like despair, sadness, low energy levels, appetite and sleep disturbances, loss of interest in regular activities, and even vague physical discomfort. Mania, on the other hand, is depression's opposite. During a manic episode, a sufferer may have boundless energy and enthusiasm. They may feel a decreased need for sleep. Speech may be rapid or disjointed, and the sufferer may be quick to agitation. Wild spending sprees and impulsive, irrational behavior can also occur. These episodes can be full blown mania or hypomania, a milder variety.
Some bipolar patients experience periods of normalcy in between their manic and depressive episodes. The goal of any treatment plan is to encourage these normal periods for as long as possible. Medications like mood stabilizers are often used to help sufferers stay on an even keel and prevent the occurrence of bipolar episodes. For more severe cases, antidepressants and/or antipsychotics may also be used. Sometimes, these various types of drugs are used together for best results. What's right for one bipolar patient may not be right for another, as the symptoms of this disorder come in varying degrees of severity and duration.
Medication is only one part of managing your bipolar illness. Psychotherapy can also be quite effective in treating bipolar disorder and is often used along with drug therapy. Sessions may be conducted on an individual, family, or group basis. In addition, many bipolar patients find that implementing self-care techniques can provide even more positive results. This may include keeping a journal, recognizing and avoiding triggers, using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques at home, and learning to cope effectively when episodes do occur.
Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved
| Bipolar 'not linked to violence' People with a mental illness are no more likely to be violent unless they abuse drugs or alcohol, a study suggests... | ||
Clues Help ID Depressed People at Risk of Bipolar Disorder - WebMD
| ||
Bipolar Disorder and the Americans with Disabilities Act . The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was amended in 2008 to include bipolar disorder as a covered condition. The original 1988 law was designed to protect... | ||
Bipolar disorder: Your thoughts - CNN (blog)
| ||
Rescuing Childhood: Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Children and . www.AheadWithAutism.com Rescuing Childhood Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents Up until 15 years ago, Bipolar Disorder, or Manic Depression (as it was previously known). was considered to be rare and almost ... | ||
Stimulants and Bipolar Mania | Bipolar Disorder For Dummies . Candida Fink, MD, co-author of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies discusses the possibility of stimulant induced bipolar mania... | ||
Bipolar disorder does not increase risk of violent crime - Science Centric
| ||
Article Directory|Submit Articles » Schizophrenia and Bipolar . Understanding the difference between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder is the key to getting the right diagnosis and treatment. These two conditions are very different with the only similarity being social stigma. ... | ||
Mental illness, violence no link LONDON - MENTAL illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder alone do not make people more violent, but the tendency of people with psychiatric problems to abuse drugs or alcohol does, scientists said on Monday. Experts have long sought to understand the link between mental illness and violence and these findings suggest that the widespread public perception that psychiatric disorders alone ... | ||
Doctors claim Lindsay Lohan was misdiagnosed for drug addiction and bipolar . - New York Daily News
| ||
Bipolar disorder 'not linked to violent behaviour' London, Sep 7 : Researchers have suggested that people with a severe mental illness are not likely to be violent-unless they abuse drugs or alcohol... | ||
Bipolar disorder 'not to blame for violent behaviour' People with a severe mental illness are no more likely to be violent than anyone else - unless they abuse drugs or alcohol, a study has suggested. The relationship between bipolar disorder and violence largely came down to substance abuse, researchers said.... | ||
Technorati Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Managing Your Bipolar Illness, Bipolar Illness
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar 2
- Bipolar And Adhd
- Bipolar Celebrities
- Bipolar Disorder For Dummies
- Bipolar Disorder In Children
- Bipolar Disorder Treatments
- Bipolar Illness
- Bipolar Mania
- Bipolar Manic Depression
- Bipolar Medication
- Bipolar Medicine
- Bipolar Support Groups
- Bipolar Tests
- Cause Of Bipolar Disorder
- Controlling Bipolar Mood Swings Tool Workbook
- Signs Of Bipolar
- Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder
- Trileptal Bipolar
- Social Bookmark This
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap
- Resources
- Add URL