Understanding Bipolar Disorder » bipolar

Comprehending Bipolar Manic Depressive Disorder

Ken P Doyle — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:25:39 +0000

In America, 5.7 million grown individuals have a bipolar manic depressive disorder. Additionally, 3.4 million kids in the U.S. and adolescents with depression have a greater likelihood of having bipolar manic disorder or bipolar depression symptoms. The NIMH additionally says that the disorder may take up to 9.2 years away from your life resulting in self destructive or suicidal behaviors. Thus, these issues are some of the leading causes of disability. Bipolar manic depressive disorder is defined as a psychiatric sickness causing instant and strange alterations in activity, energy levels, and mood, affecting the capability of a person for carrying out their daily jobs. Symptoms of manic depression go from feeling really sad, desperate, and helpless, to an instant feeling of euphoric joy, being too active and nearly on top of the globe, which might cut relationships, hurt school and job performance, or may even result in suicide.

Meaning of Bipolar Manic Depression

Symptoms of bipolar manic disorder include sleeplessness, high energy levels, having large plans for activities, restlessness, talkativeness and uneasiness. Symptoms of bipolar depression are low energy with negative feelings like hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, and appetite loss. A patient might have many of these symptoms daily. The symptoms typically happen throughout the late teenage or early grown up years. The majority of patients begin having the symptoms at approximately twenty five years old. According to statistics, females are 3X more likely to have bipolar episodes than males are. The NIMH additionally says that a family history of the disorder might make an individual’s risk of having these symptoms higher.

Examination

Physical examinations, interview, lab tests like blood work and brain scans and evaluation of the patient’s medical history is involved in the first step in diagnosis. The doctor may provide referral to a trained mental health specialist such as a psychiatrist, who is more experienced in handling bipolar disorder after a complete diagnostic evaluation. Extremely important in helping bipolar sufferers lead a normal life is proper and immediate diagnosis. To reduce the frequency or severity of the symptoms, it will also help provide the right kind of treatment.

Remedy

A combination of medication and psychotherapy is usually recommended to effectively prevent relapse and bipolar episodes. Mood stabilizers (lithium, valproic acid, and anticonvulsants), atypical antipsychotic (olanzapine, aripiprazolw, quetiapine, risperidone) and antipsychotic drugs may be prescribed among bipolar patients. These are usually prescribed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. In some cases, sleep medications or sedatives are recommended to patients having trouble sleeping. Psychotherapy or ‘talk therapy’ provides support, guidance and education among bipolar patients as well as their families. It involves several approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy and psycho education.

Warning

With bipolar manic depressive disorder, making it more difficult to diagnose and treat because there are other illnesses that may coexist. Causing behavioral problems associated with bipolar manic disorder and substance abuse may prolong or trigger bipolar symptoms. Bipolar disorder may be overlapped with anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress, social phobia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Developing thyroid disease, migraine headaches, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, other physical illnesses and people suffering this condition have higher risks also. Hence, seeking professional help is advised upon experiencing symptoms of bipolar depressive or bipolar manic disorder.

Ken P Doyle has vast amounts of knowledge and understanding in mental health issues. For additionalinformation on bipolar manic depressive disorder or bipolar manic disorder, look up his websitetoday.

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What Bipolar Disorder is Really

Steve Jones — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:13:19 +0000

People with bipolar disorder and their loved ones have basically been told that the disorder is one of a chemical imbalance of the brain and/or a mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings. However, bipolar disorder really is much more than that.

In truth, bipolar disorder is actually quite historical. It has roots that go as far back as the second century AD, when a man named Aretaeus first discovered that manic and depressive symptoms may be linked.

Bipolar disorder is not only mental, or having to do with your mind, but is physiological as well, because it can also affect your body.

Sometimes bipolar disorder is considered a neurological problem since it is associated with your brain, but it can also be termed a chemical imbalance of the brain, and be considered a physical disorder.

Believing that bipolar disorder has biological roots, scientists are currently studying genes they think may cause the disorder. If they find the specific gene or genes that are linked to the disorder, they will be steps away from a cure. Of course, there is great debate in the scientific community about the validity of this research, and there is quite a long way to go before a cure can be found.

Your doctor might tell you that the disorder has a medical element to it as well. When you are in a bipolar depressive episode, there is a greater risk of physical symptoms; such as: body aches, headaches, stomach aches, backaches, etc.

Psychiatrists, of course, confirm that bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) was probably what your psychiatrist used to diagnose you with the disorder in the first place.

As many studies have shown, bipolar disorder is hereditary and may be passed down through families.

For certain, bipolar disorder is definitely an emotional disorder. As anyone who has bipolar disorder can tell you, your moods may swing from depression to mania and back again, and there is little you can do to control it. There are also emotional side effects that can include anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

As with many disorders, bipolar disorder has a very personal element to it, as well. Because there is such a stigma in our current society against mental illness, many people with bipolar disorder choose to keep the truth of their disorder to themselves. It becomes an intensely personal thing, and they may not tell others they even suffer from the disorder.

Bipolar disorder is truly more than a chemical imbalance of the brain or a mere mood disorder. It is both of these things – and more.

David Oliver has the #1 website for bipolar information, symptoms, causes, medications and treatments.

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Panic Attack Symptoms – Are They Always Simple to Identify?

RT — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:47:28 +0000

The major reason why individuals mistake anxiety panic attacks symptoms for a grave medical issue is because of the likeness of symptoms they are feeling. Learn how and why this mistake is often made and what you can do. read … Continue reading →

Getting the Best Form of Panic Attack Help You Can

RT — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:25:47 +0000

Panic attacks help comes in many varieties with the aim being to bring anxiety and stress to normal levels so that the occurrence of panic attacks is nullified. Among the most popular forms of panic attacks help is behavioral therapy that focuses in on the root causes of anxiety and aims to bring about permanent improvements. One such behavioral therapy is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

Meanwhile, another form of panic attack help involves Exposure Therapy. For instance, consider the case of Mr. X who suffers from panic attacks each time he flies. Behavioral therapy – be it Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or Exposure Therapy – has been known to work wonders for most people in need of help.

That said always keep in mind that help for panic attacks can be also found from within. Such panic attacks help includes changes to one’s lifestyle such that more healthy living patterns are adopted. Remember that panic disorders and attacks are a curable problem, with help available to you if you so wish it.

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Overcome Panic Attacks the All Natural Way

RT — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:08:25 +0000

You may be reading this article because you want to find out how to overcome panic attacks the all natural way. Anyone can have a panic attack anytime and anywhere. It could happen at work, shopping, home or basically anywhere when you least expect it. In most cases you can feel it coming on.

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Break-through Preventative Care Program For People Living With Bipolar Disorder

RT — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:54:50 +0000

A major breakthrough in mental health has been developed, a cooperative venture between the National Bipolar Foundation and the MedicAlert Foundation; a preventative care program called “Safe ’til Stable.” It provides vital medical information to emergency responders in time of need through our live 24-hour emergency response service…

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If Bipolar Disorder Is Over-Diagnosed, What Are The Actual Diagnoses?

RT — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:52:08 +0000

A year ago, a study by Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University researchers reported that fewer than half the patients previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder received an actual diagnosis of bipolar disorder after using a comprehensive, psychiatric diagnostic interview tool — the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)…

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What Rorschach Tests Really Tell Us

RT — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:07:24 +0000

One of the most well-known psychological tools is the Rorschach Inkblot Test. A viewer looks at ten inkblots, one at a time, and describes what they see. The rationale behind this test is the idea that certain aspects of the subject’s personality will be exposed as they are interpreting the images, allowing for the possible diagnosis of various psychological disorders…

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Stanford To Offer Bipolar Education Day On July 25

RT — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:28:58 +0000

The Stanford University School of Medicine will host its fifth annual Bipolar Education Day on July 25. Individuals with bipolar disorder, their families, caregivers, friends and interested community members are invited to attend. The free event will be held at the William R. Hewlett Teaching Center at 370 Serra St., located on the main campus. More than 5…

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FDA Approves Saphris Tablets (asenapine) To Treat Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder

RT — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:49:53 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Saphris tablets (asenapine) to treat adults with schizophrenia, a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder, and to treat bipolar I disorder in adults, a serious psychiatric disorder that causes shifts in a … Continue reading →