Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder that effects a person's mood. The mood swings are very extreme with a manic (high elation) phase and a very deep depressive phase. There is estimated to effect approximately 1% of the adult population. There is also evidence that shows that neither men nor women have a greater chance of suffering from bipolar disorder than the other. Bipolar is the third most common disorder after major depression and dysthymic disorder (a mild but persistent form of depression). Because of the extreme psychological disturbances caused by bipolar disorder, it can destroy lives. Alcohol and drug problems are often present in sufferers and without proper medication and care, it leads to 20% of sufferers committing suicide.
Many people experience a depressive phase most of the time, while only experiencing very few manic episodes. It is the swing between moods that people find hardest to deal with. Although no one would care to feel deeply depressed.
There is no cure for bipolar disorder and it is a life-long condition that often needs to be controlled with medication. Lithium is used to help control mania phases of people who suffer from bipolar disorder. Bipolar often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and continues throughout life. Bipolar disorder is very seldom diagnosed in people who are 40 years old and above.
Types of Phases
Although it is generally accepted that bipolar disorder alternates the sufferers mood between mania and depression, the American Psychiatric Association has identified four different moods that are experienced in varying degrees of intensity and length, or not at all.
Depression - typical depression from a lack of motivation or interest in anything including eating to thoughts and attempts at suicide.
Mania - often begins with an elated or euphoric feeling. can also cause a sufferer to feel angry and irritable.
Hypomania - a milder form of mania where the person feels good and feels they are becoming more productive with their life.
Mixed mood - a mixed episode is characterised by experiencing feelings of mania and depression all in the same day.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder symptoms are disturbances or abnormality of moods with the sufferer alternating between a manic phase and a depressive phase repetitively.
Depressive Phase Symptoms
Very deep negative moods often with thoughts or attempts at suicide.
Eating disorders.
No interest in activities enjoyed in the past.
None or very little interest in sex.
No self esteem.
Sleeping problems high an low.
Feeling guilty.
Manic Phase Symptoms
Excessive high or euphoric feelings along with many grand or over-ambitious ideas or plans.
Excessive amounts of energy.
Unnaturally high self-esteem and self-belief.
Increased sex drive which may lead to promiscuity and aggressive sexual behaviour.
Extreme irritability and easily distracted.
Alcohol and drug abuse, usually cocaine and sleeping medication.
Little need for sleep.
Manic phase lasts at least one week.
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
 | ||||
|
You will still need to put the physical actions in to achieve what you want. The affirmations are only changing the beliefs, but physical action allows you to take advantage of those beliefs in the best way possible. As you learn to focus your mind and establish greater control within, greater results overall can be created for you.
Overall, affirmations can be a useful way to change your thinking and belief systems. When repeated with passion and as if it is real, it can enter your unconscious mind (same as the subconscious) and be charged with the power of intention. This means you will act as if the belief is true, and this will help to carry you in the direction of your goal. However, remember than you still need to put in all the physical efforts to make maximum progress from this.
Overall, affirmations can be a useful way to change your thinking and belief systems. When repeated with passion and as if it is real, it can enter your unconscious mind (same as the subconscious) and be charged with the power of intention. This means you will act as if the belief is true, and this will help to carry you in the direction of your goal. However, remember than you still need to put in all the physical efforts to make maximum progress from this.
Bi Polar, Are You Like a Yo-yo, up and down? Then Read This! by ...
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Treatments
Bipolar Disorder in Children
Helping a friend
Support Groups
Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression because a person’s mood can alternate between the "poles" mania (highs) and depression (lows). This change in mood or "mood swing" can last for hours, days weeks or months.
Bipolar disorder affects more than two million adult Americans. It usually begins in late adolescence (often appearing as depression during teen years) although it can start in early childhood or later in life. An equal number of men and women develop this illness (men tend to begin with a manic episode, women with a depressive episode) and it is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. The illness tends to run in families and appears to have a genetic link. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also negatively affect spouses and partners, family members, friends and coworkers.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder differs significantly from clinical depression, although the symptoms for the depressive phase of the illness are similar. Most people who have bipolar disorder talk about experiencing "highs" and "lows" – the highs are periods of mania, the lows periods of depression. These swings can be severe, ranging from extreme energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal life activities distinguish bipolar mood episodes from ordinary mood changes.
Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder
• Increased physical and mental activity and energy
• Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
• Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
• Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
• Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
• Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
• Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility
• Reckless behavior
• In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
Symptoms of depression - the "lows" of bipolar disorder
• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
• Pessimism, indifference
• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a medical professional, clergy member, loved one, friend or hospital emergency room or call 1-800-273-TALK or 911 immediately. You cannot diagnose yourself. Only a properly trained health professional can determine if you have bipolar disorder. Our online self-assessment can help you communicate your symptoms to your health care professional.
Many people do not seek medical attention during periods of mania because they feel manic symptoms (increased energy, heightened mood, increased sexual drive, etc . ) have a positive impact on them. However , left unchecked, these behaviors can have harmful results.
When symptoms of mania are left untreated, they can lead to illegal or life-threatening situations because mania often involves impaired judgment and reckless behavior. Manic behaviors vary from person to person. All symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Patterns and severity of symptoms, or episodes, of highs and lows, determine different types of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (symptoms of both a mania and a depression occurring nearly every day for at least 1 week) and one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder is the most severe form of the illness marked by extreme manic episodes.
Bipolar II disorder is characterized by one or more depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe, but must be clearly different from a person’s non-depressed mood. For some, hypomanic episodes are not severe enough to cause notable problems in social activities or work. However , for others, they can be troublesome.
Bipolar II disorder may be misdiagnosed as depression if you and your doctor don’t notice the signs of hypomania. In a recent DBSA survey, nearly seven out of ten people with bipolar disorder had been misdiagnosed at least once. Sixty percent of those people had been diagnosed with depression. How can I spot hypomania? Talk to your doctor about the possibility of hypomania if you’ve had periods of several days when your mood is especially energetic or irritable, and/or
• You feel unusually confident
• You need less sleep
• You are unusually talkative
• Your thoughts come and go faster than usual
• You are more easily distracted or have trouble concentrating
• You are more goal-directed at work, school or home
• You are more involved in pleasurable or high-risk activities, such as spending or sex
• You feel like you’re doing or saying things that are unlike your usual self
• Other people say you’re acting strangely or you’re not yourself
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuating moods involving periods of hypomania and depression. The periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms are shorter, less severe, and do not occur with regularity as experienced with bipolar II or I. However , these mood swings can impair social interactions and work. Many, but not all, people with cyclothymia develop a more severe form of bipolar illness.
There is also a form of the illness called bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) that does not fit in to one of the above definitions.
Because bipolar disorder is complex and can be difficult to diagnose, you should share all of your symptoms with your health care provider. If you feel your symptoms are not getting better with your current treatment and your doctor does not want to try something new, do not hesitate to see another doctor to get a second opinion.
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Several therapies exist for bipolar disorder and promising new treatments are currently under investigation. Because bipolar disorder can be difficult to treat, it is highly recommended that you consult a psychiatrist or a general practitioner with experience in treating this illness. Your treatment may include medications and talk therapy.
Be sure to tell your health care providers all of the symptoms you are having. Report all of the symptoms you have had in the past, even if you don’t have them at the time of your appointment. Since these illnesses can run in families, look at your family history. Tell your health care provider if any of your family members experienced severe mood swings, were diagnosed with a mood disorder, had “nervous breakdownsâ€
Is Depression contagious?
You have probably spent time around a depressed
person only to find yourself also depressed!
bit more about the nature of depression and why it's so
important to stay away from people who are chronically
depressed...
The Power of Association
Have you ever heard of the term "guilty by association"
? If so, it might not have occurred to you
that guilt isn't the only thing that we acquired by
association.
Being around enthusiastic people causes you to become
enthusiastic, being around ambitious people encourages
you to become ambitious...and being around depressed people
causes you to become depressed.
This is because human beings are social creatures and we
rely on the support of one another to survive. Think about
how painful rejection is, and that ought to give you an
idea of how connecting with others is hardwired into us.
It's a part of our survival instincts, and so there's
nothing you can do to change that...and most of the time
that's okay.
But this survival instinct also causes us to blend in
with the people around us so that we will have a sense of
belonging. This, again, is completely normal - but it can
also be a double-edged sword.
Think about it, if you're around people who are
depressed all the time, how are you going to develop a
sense of belonging when you're with them?
By identifying with the way that they think and "tuning
in" to the same physical vibrations which you can "feel"
coming off of them. This might sound a little bit new age,
but the human body actually admits electrical signals and
vibrations according to the condition of the nervous system...
...which is an electrical system by the way.
So when I say that you "tune in" to the
vibration of the people around you, I mean that your body
can actually pick up on these vibrations and cause you to
think thoughts that will cause you to match that vibration.
This is also the same reason why depressed people are
attracted to one another, enthusiastic people are attracted
to one another, and so on and so on.
What About Influencing Them Instead?
Now, it might be tempting to think that you can be a
positive person around the depressed and cause them to take
on YOUR vibration. This is true sometimes....but it's also
true that for most people, vice comes easier than virtue...
Mahatma Gandhi said that by the way.
He also said that it's not possible for a reformer to be
in a close relationship with someone who they are reforming.
So if you know someone who is chronically depressed, it's
probably a good idea if you create some distance and
boundaries. Even if you love this person, depression isn't
as weak a state of mind as many of us think it is... for many
it's a position of power.
It's a position which allows people to gather sympathy
from others and to suck away their emotional energy.
The best way to help someone who has fallen into
chronic depression is to provide a positive example for them
to see...and it's hard to do this when you're allowing
them to suck all of your energy away.
At best, you can set an example for them to follow and
give them advice as to how they can change...but if they
won't, don't assume that they can't. More likely, their
depression is a position of power that they've been using to
get what they want for a very long time.
Knowing this, and the fact that depression is contagious,
it's best that you focus on keeping your vibrations consistent
with the type of people who will build you up and empower you
to become a better person.
If you would like to eliminate negative self beliefs and
thoughts, give "Subliminal MP3s" a go to retrain your
subconscious mind: Go Here Now
The Six Stages Of Bipolar And Depression
Moving From Bipolar Disorder To Bipolar IN Order
Everyone has up and down times. It is a natural part of life. If we observe our lives over time we might say there are two poles that we have; some days we feel on top of the world and other days perhaps on the bottom. That is the basis for the word bipolar and the reason I say that everyone is bipolar. Some may argue that there are people who are unipolar and only experience the up or down side, but even they have a range of experience with a "pole" on each end.
Unfortunately, the word bipolar is generally used to describe a subset of people who have adverse reactions when they go to far toward the high and low poles. Although related to how far from center one is, there is no distance from center that guarantees one would necessarily react to it in an adverse way. It really depends on how far we are from our comfort zone. One person might be perfectly comfortable and highly functional at a certain point from center while another could be so uncomfortable that he/she is literally in danger of suicide. I see the comfortable person as keeping life in-order, while the person in danger of suicide has lost control and is in dis-order. Using bipolar as a term to describe the dis-ordered person is an over-simplification that goes too far. We should at least distinguish the difference between having Bipolar Dis-Order or Bipolar In-Order.
But life is not even that simple. If I just won a marathon, for example, I might be very high emotionally yet completely drained and low physically. To really see where we are on the spectrum from high to low we need to consider all of the aspects of our lives: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and career/financial. It is probably more accurate at any given time to say that we are really in a "mixed state" instead of somewhere on a straight line between the two poles, so we must see even the expansion of bipolar to Bipolar Disorder and Bipolar IN Order as just a convenient simplification of a much more complex topic.
There are six distinct stages of bipolar: Crisis, Managed, Recovery, Freedom, Stability, and Self-Mastery. The first three are considered Disorder, while the last three are clearly IN Order once you understand the difference.
Bipolar Disorder
We are in Crisis when the intensity of our high or low state overwhelms us. On the down side, commonly called depression, we either cannot function or we can function only enough to attempt suicide. On the up side, commonly called mania, we lose our ability to control our behavior and may put ourselves and others at great risk.
But, even the most disordered of us are not in crisis all the time. The majority of people considered to have Bipolar Disorder spend most of their time in Managed Stage. They use various tools to keep the intensity from reaching a Crisis level, yet still experience times when it is clearly uncomfortable. They struggle to minimize the intensity with the goal of getting to Recovery.
Recovery, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), means the manias and depressions have been removed. The recovery movement might challenge such a definition, but I have yet to hear anyone define recovery as moving further toward the two poles. At the least, recovery means to decrease the intensity of mania and depression to the point where we are in control of our behaviors.
The NIMH has determined Recovery to be an unstable state in their landmark STEP-BD study: "According to the researchers, these results indicate that in spite of modern, evidence-based treatment, bipolar disorder remains a highly recurrent, predominantly depressive illness." Therefore, one is still considered to have Bipolar Disorder even when in temporary remission.
The medical model that only sees bipolar as a disorder or an illness is not working. The assessments, tools, and goals are all based on the idea that bipolar is a disease that must be managed toward reduction if not completely eliminated. It is a system that has been proven not to work by their own studies and is unacceptable given that we have already produced much better outcomes.
Bipolar IN Order
Freedom Stage begins when we reject the notion that we cannot handle bipolar and are making the effort to expand our comfort zone instead of trying to hold on to remission. We assess where we are in terms of ability to function at different intensities, use tools designed for increasing functionality at slightly elevated intensities instead of reducing them, and take well planned steps slightly outside of our comfort zone and immediately back in again. With practice, we find that we become highly functional and comfortable with intensities that were once outside of our full control. We learn to thrive WHILE manic and depressed instead of aiming for temporary remission.
Stability Stage is achieved when we are able to expand our comfort zone to the same intensities that once caused a Crisis for us. It takes tremendous insight and effort to achieve such Stability, but the idea that it is impossible has already been proven wrong; many of us have already accomplished it. We are definitely Bipolar, but there is no way to consider our condition in disorder. When we are in Stability we are comfortable instead of suffering and so are the people around us.
Some of us have achieved a stage beyond Stability. We call if Self-Mastery because we have mastered ourselves to the point that we can function highly during levels of intensity beyond what once caused a Crisis for us. This stage is reserved for those willing to dedicate a tremendous amount of effort to it. I like to compare it to the difference between a casual hiker and one who would climb the Himalayas. Mastery is functioning at the top level in any endeavor; Self-Mastery comes with understanding (instead of rejecting) every state of mind, while being able to function so highly that you see the value in every one of them.
Even for those who do not aspire to Self-Mastery, breaking out of the disorder model gives us all an opportunity to achieve measurably better results through better assessments, better tools, and stage specific plans that were developed by those of us who have already succeeded with them. In business and sports, we learn from those at the top of their game because they have achieved the ultimate success. We would never seek instruction from someone who settles for half way. Those who struggle with their bipolar condition should learn from those who have achieved Bipolar IN Order and reject the advice of those who defend Bipolar Disorder as the best they can hope for.
timothykendrick.org
Books By Timothy Kendrick
Smoketipecigs
The Truth About Hypnosis
Panic Miracle
DEPRESSED? NEED HELP FAST? CLICK HERE!
Get Free Coupons From Coupons.Com
Tom Wootton - see on YouTube, follow on Twitter, or Facebook - is CEO of Bipolar Advantage. Along with experts in complementary fields, including doctors teaching the next generation of therapists, their mission is to help people with mental conditions shift their thinking and behavior so that they can lead extraordinary lives. Tom is the author of three books: The Bipolar Advantage, The Depression Advantage, and most recently, Bipolar In Order: Looking At Depression, Mania, Hallucination, And Delusion From The Other Side.
Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by Tom Wootton (or subscribe to their feed).
Life With Bipolar Disorder
Even if you've only recently been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder , you have probably been on this journey for a long time. You may have been misunderstood or misdiagnosed for years. You may have been up and down with severe mood swings or relapses. You may feel your current treatment is not working, or you may be troubled by the side effects of your medication.
You're not the only person living with Bipolar Disorder
If your symptoms are not managed, friends and family may feel confused by your extreme changes in mood. It may be constructive for you and your family to attend family therapy together. This can help promote understanding and strengthen relationships.
Friends and family can be tremendous sources of support. They can help you stick to your treatment plan by encouraging you to avoid harmful habits, learning the warning signs of an episode, and sharing the responsibility for care.
Help your family and friends help you. Share our information for family and friends.
To get the most from your treatment, make sure you talk with your doctor about how you're feeling on your medication and whether you are experiencing any side effects. Ask about what you can do, other than taking medication, to help treat your symptoms.
Learn how a healthy lifestyle that includes weight management and avoidance of alcohol can help you. Learn more.
Importance of therapy
While there is no cure for Bipolar Disorder , there are effective approaches to help manage these symptoms. Some options may include talk therapy, group therapy, and prescription medication or any combination of these.
Some healthcare professionals encourage patients to track their moods and discuss mood changes with a therapist. Many healthcare professionals agree that sharing this information and establishing a supportive and consistent relationship between a patient with Bipolar Disorder and a therapist can be an invaluable part of the treatment plan.
In addition to having the opportunity to discuss current challenges and ways to cope with symptoms during these sessions, patients with Bipolar Disorder may also be able to discuss and better understand past episodes and behaviors.
Withdraw from Drugs at Home
There are about 15,000 Rehab and detox centers in the USA & Canada. Unfortunately, statistics show that their national average success rate is only 20%. Tibor Palatinus, founder of DrugRehabAdvisor.com spent the past decade educating children about the damaging effects of drugs and addiction, and searching for suitable rehab programs to help individuals who had fallen victim of addiction.After a decade of research we have so far found 35 programs that produced results 3 to 4 time better than the national average. We only recommend centers that are client centered and focused on the person's full recovery.
Why Some Holistic Rehab & Detox Programs Are More Successful
Holistic means addressing the whole person: socially, emotionally, physically, mentally, educationally, nutritionally, and medically. Holistic rehab & detox programs treat the whole individual. We'll help you discover what to look out for so you can expect a 60% to 80% chance of success!
Conversely a non-holistic rehab program tends to focus on behavior and perhaps medical assessment. These non-holistic rehabs may include meetings and medication, that's not holistic; even if they have an exercise or yoga class and call themselves 'holistic'. Often a for-profit or insurance based rehab program is about numbers. I'll help you spot those and avoid them before even calling them up.
Rehab means rehabilitating a person back to health and recovery while in drug rehab. Achieving a healthy recovery requires more than dry or clean time plus meetings. Rehabilitated applies to the whole person's life.
The Right & Wrong Way to Measure Success in Rehab
There are several types of 12-step programs as well as alternatives to 12-step, and all define success differently, so it is important to know how a rehab program that boast a high success rate measures its success.
For example, a typical 12-step rehab center defines a success as someone who completes the first 3 steps of a 12-step program within 28 days, and is then sent home to complete the remaining steps. But you know that person is not yet worthy of your trust and stable enough to be considered a success.
Other rehab centers prescribe substitute drugs, which can be highly addictive, for months and years, and call this compliant person a 'program completion or success'.
A Drug Rehab Advisor Success is:
At Drug Rehab Advisor, a 'Rehab success' is someone who is off ALL addictive drugs
and capable of living an honest and productive life after the rehab program is finished.
A medical 'Detox success' is someone who is stably off ALL addictive or abusive drugs with minimal to no withdrawal symptoms.
and capable of living an honest and productive life after the rehab program is finished.
A medical 'Detox success' is someone who is stably off ALL addictive or abusive drugs with minimal to no withdrawal symptoms.
Over the past decade we have sent over 500 hundred addicts to specific rehab and medical detox centers across North America and spoken to about 15,000 people who went to other rehabs. During this past decade, we have found 23 private rehab and detox centers across North America that meet our standard of success and some that boast impressive success rates that are 4 times that of the national average.
Our services at Drug Rehab Advisor are complementary
We represent alternatives to 12-step and 12-step rehab programs. All these rehab and detox programs are Holistic, which means they help the person deal with all their life situations. Holistic programs also use the latest scientific breakthroughs to treat underlying medical conditions as well as the source of emotional distress. This is far more effective than merely treating symptoms with more medication.
Our Rehab and Detox Intake counselors will answer your questions, such as:
- Which programs represent the best hope of recovery for your loved one?
- Which centers accept PPO Insurance?
- Where can you find a loan to finance a private rehab program?
- Is one of these centers in your local area?
- Will the center use medication to help recovery?
- How can you convince a loved one to reach out for help?
- How to increase the likelihood of success by 40%
- How long is the program that we recommend for your loved one?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)