Bipolar Mood Disorder – Important Facts Patients Must Know
It is important to learn about any bipolar mood disorder even more if there is a case in the family as the chief causes linked with the condition are genetic; some scientists are divided in their opinion about the disorder being caused due to environmental factors, but it is yet to be established. Even if there is no family history of persons diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder, it is important to educate the patient and family members in order to have a loyal, support group that is attentive to the patient’s needs and can provide an emotional prop through hard times.
The first and foremost thing people need to know about bipolar disorder is that it affects the emotional and mental equilibrium of the patient; this means, the person is likely to suffer intense and sudden mood swings. One minute the individual diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder will be happy and the next, he’ll be extremely sad and then swing back to ecstatic again!
Many a time family may notice this change but not give it due importance attributing it to adolescent pangs or new-life changes at the onset of adulthood, since this is the period when the disorder mostly manifests itself. However, detection of the disorder is important at the early stages for timely control and proper treatment to take place after accurate diagnosis has been established.
Due to the extreme and frequent mood swings, patients diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder tend to lose focus on one topic and their mind flits from one thought to another, with the result that they are unable to make good decisions and can end up harming themselves and loved ones.
Many bipolar disorder patients thus, tend to isolate themselves as they are embarrassed about what they will due since many do not have control over their emotions and can be easily overwhelmed by sudden mood swings; but patient care and counseling that this is the wrong way to go about setting things right will help them realize their condition, its limitations and the need to seek ready help.
Denial and aggression are two common reactions of a patient diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder and many may not even be open to considering medical treatment, which is essential in testing, classifying and controlling the extent of the illness – but keeping family and friends in the know is extremely important for coming to terms with the problem.
Even if initially patients find it hard to admit to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with the help of a good therapist, they can inform and educate family and friends about their condition; this will help make their immediate support circle more aware of their needs as they will better understand the situation i.e. why the individual is talking incessantly, getting depressed, considering suicide or attempting it or even at the risk of substance abuse.
It is a known fact that 1 out of 5 bipolar disorder patients commit suicide and therefore, to prevent these persons with a clinically established tendency towards self-harm and destruction, there is an added need to control their symptoms.
It is necessary to emphasize on the need for acknowledging, diagnosing, testing and regularly evaluating the patient for manic-depressive tendencies so that timely clinical therapy and medication can be combined to control their level of bipolar disorder and help them lead as normal a life as possible for them.
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Understanding Bipolar
How will I know if Iâm bipolar? Youâll know by your moods and behaviors. Bipolar Disorder used to be called manic depression. Now itâs called Bipolar I and Bipolar II. When you have a Bipolar I Disorder you will have manic episodes where you have lots of energy, talk fast, have racing thoughts, sleep little, and behave recklessly regarding spending, decision-making or sexual activity. This can create lots of problems later. With Bipolar II you will experience hypomania. This is a milder form than mania and is generally brief. All bipolars experience depression, although with Bipolar II is more frequent and lengthy.
Are there other ways to tell? Yes. Some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol. If they have bipolar, this means they are self-medicating. Since 60% of substance abusers have a bipolar disorder this is a strong indicator.
How do I get it? It is primarily genetic and runs in families.
How old do I have to be? Most people get it in late teens or early twenties although children can develop it too.
What will help? First, get an accurate diagnosis from a professional experienced with bipolar. If you have bipolar then medications and therapy will provide relief. Medications manage your mood swings. Individual, group and/or family therapy give you a safe place to express your feelings about having bipolar. They are where youâll learn new ways to improve aspects of your daily life like diet, exercise, relaxation and sleep. Books also provide up-to-date information.
Does this mean Iâm âcrazyâ? Definitely not. âCrazyâ is an old way of thinking based on misunderstanding. Having bipolar means that you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. Diabetics have a chemical imbalance in their pancreas. You donât think of diabetics as crazy because of their chemical imbalance and neither are you!
Is there a cure? Unfortunately no. Feeling better takes time, energy and patience with yourself. It takes finding professionals who meet your needs. It takes getting the support you require from those who care about you. It means creating stability and structure in your daily life. When you decide to direct your life towards improving your mental health, then you will learn âto manage [your] disorder rather than [be] managed by it.â (âThe Bipolar Survival Guideâ, Miklowitz) Knowing you have an achievable goal is the best solution.
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Resources For Bipolar Support
One of the hardest mental health disorders to deal with in the psychological world is bipolar disorder. What makes this disease even more difficult is that there are many different types of bipolar disorder that each has their own signs and symptoms. Making the initial diagnosis of bipolar is often a difficult process, but narrowing it down to what form can be even harder. As bad as that sounds there are a multitude of services available to help not only those who suffer from this disorder but also their friends and family.
Of all the ways to get support for bipolar disorder the first and best step is to seek out help from a mental health professional. This is true for those who believe they have this disease or for the friends and family of those who are close to someone they feel may need help. A mental health expert can guide those who have this condition to the treatment that will work best for them. Before this can happen the person with the possible bipolar disorder must be examined and tested in order to get an accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
There are many treatment options available for those who suffer from bipolar disorder. Because every one single instance of this disease is unique it sometimes takes a combination of treatments to help those who suffer from it. The wide range of treatments includes prescription medications, individual counseling and therapy, and support groups for those with bipolar disorder and their families. The first step of any bipolar therapy is to control the symptoms. This is normally done with medications. Counseling is the next step which helps people who have bipolar disorder learn how to cope with their illness. This involves recognizing the symptoms and strategies to deal with them. Bipolar support groups make dealing with this frightening condition much easier for its sufferers.
There are a whole variety of resources available for those who are seeking bipolar support. Doing a simple search of the internet will reveal a multitude of websites and other resources that can help people learn how to take effective action against this condition. Family and friends of those who have bipolar disorder can also use the internet to help them understand what their loved one is going through and how best they can help.
If therapy is currently being used ask your therapist for a list of bipolar support groups in your area. They should have this information available and can give you valuable information about which support group may work best for you.
Andrew Bicknell is a writer and the owner of Depression and You. Visit his website for more information about bipolar disorder support and other depression disorders.
