Posts Tagged ‘Types Of Bipolar Disorder’

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.

4 Types Of Bipolar Disorder Explained – How They Affect Individuals

In psychiatry Bipolar Syndrome and Manic Depression falls under a group of mood disorders where a person experiences emotional states where they go from being clinically depressed to states where their moods are elevated, or the opposite cycle, and can be or include both these mood states. This can be a crippling condition if it is left untreated or ignored, and has been known to cause suicide.

During the late 1950′s was when the term “manic depressive” first came about, although it is now commonly referred as Bipolar Disorder, which is the name for it now. This mood disorder will have been around long before it was discovered. Word such as ‘ania’ and ‘manos’ which come from Latin, used by the Romans. A Roman doctor by the name of Caelius Aurelianus came up with these etymologies (history of words). The meaning of ‘Ania’ is a creating great mental suffering, whereas ‘manos’ on the opposite scale can be translated as being calmer and more relaxed. Through centuries past those known to great minds have tried to work out how these strange mood swings have come about. Gao Lian, a Chinese encyclopaedist was one of the first to cite this illness in his ‘Eight Treatises on Nurturing of Life’; the Frenchman Jules Baillarger found that the origin of these frequent cycles of depression and mania could be explained through two phased mental disorder.

The concept behind what we know today as Bipolar Disorder was considered to be a German psychiatrist – Emil Kraeplin. Long before mood stabilisers were created, he looked at untreated patients and studied their case files and was able to sort them into those that were afflicted with this illness. He conceived and is known as the father behind the term “Manic Depressive Psychosis”. Under observations Emil’s patients were found to undergo cycles where they had acute depression one moment then mania, with intermissions inbetween where the patient had no symptoms and were acting normally.

While Kraeplin discovered the concept behind the illness, it was Dr. John Cade who was credited with coming up with the treatment. He discovered that Lithium Carbonate was effective as a mood stabiliser, suitable to treat all kinds of mental illness. As a pioneer for this medication, it was the first of its kind to be used for treating all psychiatric conditions, which were often treated by electroconsulive therapy or lobotomy.

Bipolar syndrome can be said to be having mood swings, but on a much more frightening scale. These abnormal mood swings will make an individual’s life very difficult or can enhance it depending on the severity of the disorder (on a scale from mild to severe) and which route it takes (a depressive or elevated mood). It can alter a person’s active and energy levels, their cognitive behaviour, affect their social life and disturb their normal sleep cycle.

Whilst a person is in their early teens they will just start of with depression which comes and goes. As they reach their late teens, the Bipolar Disorder begins to surface. In some cases, a person has started with this illness as a young child, and others later on in their life. Bipolar can strike anyone at any age regardless of their ethnic background, their sex, their race or their social class.

Females diagnosed with the illness usually began firstly with episodes of depression, whilst male patients are more known to have started with manic episodes. The disorder is known to be genetic, so if you are blood related to someone with this illness there is a tendency for it to passed on.

These changes or episodes of mood swings can last from a few hours and even for months; everyone is affected differently and have dissimilar coping mechanisms. Where a patient has four or more depressive episodes or mood changes and a combination of mania in any single year, they are known to have Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder.

A patient with Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder can reach a full cycle within hours or days. In Bipolar Disorder the patients progessively move through the mood changes. They are extremely unstable and it is difficult to find the correct treatment for each affected individual. It is the females who are more prone to Rapid Cycling.

Bipolar Disorder is classified and split into four types depending on the intensity and the patterns:

1. Bipolar I Disorder – A patient will suffer one or more mixed cycle, with at least one or more long episode of depression. The severest of all the forms as the manic episodes are extreme.

2. Bipolar II Disorder – The presence of one or major depressive episode with at least one hypomanic episode. The depression is more intense than the mania ( which can last for at least four days). A person can become quite destructive although it may not be troublesome.

3. Cyclothymic Disorder – Milder than Bipolar II, there are varying episodes of depression and mania which are acute stages, but less severe. They do not occur as much as in Bipolar I or II, but could progress to either one of these at a later stage.

4. Unspecified Bipolar Disorder – This is where a person is experiencing depressive and episodes of mania which cannot be classified in those conditions mentioned about, so a person can recover fully from this.

People should not regard this type of disorder as if it was something awful like Leprosy, and wash their hands of sufferers. They should learn to gain a better understanding, that this illness can be treated and stabilised with the correct medication. There is also excellent choices of therapy available to make this disorder more manageable so that patients can lead a normal life. They are able to take control again and be confident.

Celexa and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mental illness that manifests itself as mood swings or mood cycling between depressed, manic, or normal moods. There are two types of bipolar disorder. The first type, sometimes called raging bipolar, manifests itself as almost constant mild mania, with periods of sever mania alternating with depression. Mixed episodes where the patient displays both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time can also occur with this type of bipolar disorder.

The second type, sometimes called rapid cycling bipolar, manifests itself as almost constant depression, with alternating periods of mania and severe depression that can often last a few hours or a few days before cycling to the next episode.

Depression symptoms include oversleeping, extreme sadness, feelings of worthlessness or despair, irritability, anger, and withdrawl. Manic symptoms include sleeplessness, increased energy levels, distractibility, racing thoughts, obsessive behaviors, and extreme happiness.

There are many treatment options for bipolar disorder. Most patients with bipolar disorder require a combination of medication and therapy or counseling for successful treatment of symptoms. However, minor cases of bipolar disorder may not require medication, but may require instead cognitive behavioral therapy. There are some cases, such as in patients with a history of drug abuse, where medication may be recommended but is not a viable treatment option. These cases typically also use cognitive behavioral therapy to assist patients in coping with their illness.

Celexa is an anti-depressant, commonly used with bipolar patients. Celexa, or citalopram, is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. This family of medications has the effect of balancing serotonin levels in the brain, which are thought to be responsible for mood stabilization.

Celexa is most successful as a treatment for unipolar depression and bipolar disorder type two patients. This is because it is an anti-depressant. Serotonin, the chemical in the brain that balances moods and particularly controls strong emotions, often presents imbalances in the form of depression. Celexa corrects these imbalances, giving the patient relief from depression.

Celexa is most successful as a treatment for bipolar disorder type one patients when used in combination with a mood stabilizer. As an anti-depressant, Celexa alone causes bipolar disorder type one patients to swing into a manic episode. Used in combination with a mood stabilizer or anti-psychotic, however, can allow for a balance of moods to take place, ending rapid or raging mood cycling.

Celexa has several possible minor side effects when used for treatment of bipolar disorder. Common side effects include drowsiness, cotton mouth, nausea, and trouble sleeping. Less common side effects include abdominal pain, anxiety, gas, headache, heartburn, increased sweating, pain in muscles or joints, increases or decreases in weight, weakness, and vomiting. If these side effects persist or become unbearable, you should contact your doctor.

Celexa can also have several possible major side effects when used for treatment of bipolar disorder. Common major side effects include a decrease in sexual desire or ability. Less common major side effects include agitation, confusion, blurred vision, fever, increase in urinal frequency, lack of emotion, decreased memory, skin rashes, and trouble breathing. If you experience any of these side effects you should contact your doctor immediately.

Friends, family and patients with bipolar disorder should keep in mind that even when using anti-depressants such as Celexa, suicide, suicide threats, and suicide attempts can still occur. Always be aware of the signs that can lead to suicide so that medical treatment can be found before an attempt is made.

Bipolar disorder should, in all cases, be treated with a combination of Celexa, or other medications, in conjunction with therapy or counseling. Bipolar disorder patients are encouraged to take active part in their treatment plans. Additionally bipolar patients should not attempt to self medicate or treat symptoms with medication alone. If you show symptoms of bipolar disorder, you should contact your doctor about Celexa and other treatment options.