Bipolar disorder is a very serious psychiatric disorder that affects our moods or affect, which is the clinical term for moods. People suffering from Bipolar Disorder will suffer from mood swings from one end of the spectrum, which is very depressed to the opposite end or pole, which is called mania or extreme elation. Some people can be very high in a manic state for months on end and then crash and become so depressed that they can barely function. Others will change moods rapidly within days or hours (this phase is often called a mixed bipolar phase because it contains both the highs and the lows). Bipolar disorder was once called manic-depressive disorder, and bipolar depression refers to the depression experienced with this condition. This form of depression is different from a major depression or clinical depression, which is an entirely different disorder. Also, people who have bipolar depression do not respond to the anti depression medication that is prescribed for major depression. Actually these drugs can often make the bipolar symptoms even worst.

There are as we know different mood swings. Mania is the high end of the spectrum and there are two types of mania one is called hypermania and the other is called hypomania.

Hypomania is almost normal functioning where the person appears to be in a great mood, but does not appear to be otherwise incapacitated. However, hypermania can have serious affects on cognitive functioning due to poor judgment and reckless living.

People who are in the manic phase will feel they are invincible and think they are able to do things which are often impossible. They will show poor judgment in what they actually can handle and volunteer to do jobs that would take 3 people to accomplish; thinking they can do it all by themselves. They can be highly creative, with big dreams and aspirations. Even though they can accomplish a lot in this phase of bipolar disorder they can also be wasteful, destructive, display addictive behavior such as alcoholism and gambling. They are impatient with others, irritable and reject any criticism of their reckless behavior. Their symptoms are so severe they many even have hallucinations and delusions.

Bipolar depression

Bipolar depression is so debilitating that the sufferers may lose all interest in life. They may not eat or bathe, they may have trouble sleeping, have trouble concentrating and they may experience memory loss. They may isolate themselves from family and friends and shut the entire world out while hibernating in their bedrooms for days on end. They feel helpless and worthless. They may have persistent thoughts of death and suicide ideation.

Some Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

ECT – Electro convulsive Therapy, was once used. This therapy was also called shock therapy and was used to stimulate the brain. It had very serious side effects such as memory loss.

TMS – Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an alternative therapy which is also very new and still in the experimental stage. The idea behind this therapy is to pass a coil with an electrical charge over the scalp of the patient to stimulate the brain.

Medication

Lithium is used to control manic and even depressive episodes. Now, there are newer anticonvulsant drugs that are used such as carbamazepine and valproate. Psychotherapy, and cognitive therapy are used to treat these patients. Psychologists will work with the patients to build good coping skills and provide support groups and other valuable resources.

Herbal remedies

Various herbal remedies are used as an alternative therapy to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and so on. A qualified herbalogist would be able to direct interested individuals to good herbal supplements. Also, bipolar depression sufferers should let their doctor and pharmacist know about their intention to use herbal remedies to make sure what they take is helpful not harmful and will not react with their prescribed medications.

Related Articles

• Bipolar, Manic Depressive Disorder & Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Bipolar Psychosis
• Bipolar Diagnosis
• Bipolar 2
• Bipolar II Symptoms
• Bipolar Disorder
• Mood Disorder

In Bipolar Disorder. You can leave a response, or trackback from your site.