Hope for Bipolar Disorder

The two most common symptoms of bipolar depression are extreme mania and deep depression. These two symptoms are on opposite ends of the mood spectrum, making mood swings in a bipolar person.

A bipolar sufferer in manic mode can experience euphoria and happiness. When the episodes is hypomania person exhibits very creative and motivated characteristics. They can also be very productive. Ideas come easily and they can be infectious and motivate other. In extreme the full blown mania their feelings, behavior and thoughts become irritable and often angry; fits of rage can occur when they at the height of mania.  They can become hostile and destroy property. When they experience delusions and hallucinations the condition is called a state of out of touch with reality. At this point there is a burst of unnecessary move in order to release the anxiety from the endless energy. The emotions are confused and their thinking and speech is often illogical to the point of sounding like gibberish. Mania can often bring the person to suicide. Suicide is seen in depression but can be found in manic people who have the energy to carry out the act.

Bipolar depression is also experience of deep depression. While in this state a person has feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, loss of interest in family and work, anxiety, pessimism and extreme fatigue. The person is unable to complete even the simplest actions and often neglect themselves and daily activities. Bipolar depression includes weight loss or gain, suicidal thoughts and actions and physical complaints. In the most severe hospitalization is needed in order to protect the person from starving themselves or other actions that can cause harm to themselves.

Given time this disorder may progress from having hypomania and mild depression to mania and clinical depression.

Causes are thought to be by many different things. A stressful incident or serious of stresses early in life may trigger the first manic episode. Research is being done to prove that bipolar disorder is genetic and may be passed down through family members.  Brain scans show that the brain of bipolar people differs and can also play a role in bipolar depression.

 When these drugs are used along with psychotherapy there is a good chance that persons with bipolar disorder can live normal lives.  Bipolar disorder needs not be as debilitating and self destructive.  With all of the research that is being done the pain of living with bipolar disorder can be diminished.  The anguish of the depression the instability of mood swings and unpredictable episodes are treatable and the outlook of people with bipolar disorder looks more promising

Mental Illness and Unemployment

Losing a job ranks almost as high as the death of a spouse and divorce as one of life’s greatest stressors. Your risk of becoming clinically depressed is greater.  When you lose a job, you may feel frustrated, guilty, hopeless, and angry. You miss the routine and the feeling of belonging. It can be a humbling, even humiliating experience.  If it was an economic layoff, it is difficult to accept, but if we were fired, it is much more difficult to explain it to family and friends. It is important to watch for signs of depression. If you’re sleeping or eating too much or too little, if you’re finding it difficult to take care of yourself or if you’re becoming so paralyzed that you can not take action with your job hunt, it may be time to get help. Along with depression, anxiety which can result from the stress of unemployment. Physical symptoms such as upset stomach, and chest pains, headaches or shortness of breath can indicate panic attacks. Talk to your doctor. Becoming productive is answer to avoid a setback.  Avoid isolating yourself. Let others be supportive.  Stay active.  Stick to a routine, try for the one you had when you were working. Get up, have breakfast and get dressed about the same time every morning.  What can not be stressed more is be aware of the symptoms that you may have out of the ordinary.  Stay tuned with you health mental and physical.  Avoid stressors as much as possible.  There is life after a setback like unemployment how you face the challenge is up to you.  Unemployment is a part of life and should be recognized as that just one other part of life.

Breaking the Restraints of Depression

In order to recover from depression requires action and the ability to focus on the ultimate end to the nightmare of depression.   

Depression recovery is to start with a few small goals and slowly build from there. Take things one day at a time and reward yourself for each accomplishment. Stay focused on your goal to feel better.

Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away. On your own, it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression. But the depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. Isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your relationships and social activities are important. The thought of reaching out to even family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk. When you are depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into a shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed

Try to stop being so hard on yourself.  Think about less harsh statements and turn them into more realistic descriptions. Try to avoid self imposed stress by challenging your negative ways of thinking. You are not perfect none of us are; try to look at a negative thought as an outsider and try to change the negative into a positive.

Socialize with positive people. Notice how people who always look on the bright side deal with challenges, even minor ones, like not being able to find a parking space. Then consider how you would react in the same situation. Even if you have to pretend, try to adopt their optimism and persistence in the face of difficulty.

 Whenever you experience a negative thought, write down the thought and what triggered it in a journal.  Keep track daily. Read the journal when you mood lifts.  Think about other ways to view the situation.

In order to overcome depression, you have to take care of yourself.

 Depression involves sleep problems. Whether you are sleeping too little or too much, your mood worsens. Get on a sleep schedule if you find a change work on healthy sleep habits Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Taking a short walk in the sunshine, drinking your coffee outside, or just sitting out in the garden will \help to lift the depression.  

Stress can depression worse, and it can also trigger it.  Try to find out all the things in your life that are stressing you out. Once you’ve identified your stressors, you can make a plan to avoid them or minimize their impact.

Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, and reduce stress.

Try to push yourself to do things, even when you may not feel like it.  You will gradually feel more energetic as you make time for fun activities.

To sustain mood benefits exercise regularly. Choose activities that are moderately strenuous walking, swimming, dancing, biking, or yoga. Start slowly, and do not overdo it. Start a healthy, mood boosting diet. A balanced diet of protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables will help lift your mood. Don’t skip meals. . Minimize sugar. You may crave sugar, cake, or pasta or french fries. But they lead to a crash in mood and energy  Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain breads, and bananas can satisfy your cravings without a crash.

If you find your depression getting worse and worse, seek the help from a doctor.  Sometimes the negative thinking when depressed can make you feel like you are a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Medications for Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder, you will need medication. You will need medication for the rest of your life.

Bipolar disorder is a real medical illness. Taking medication is just like taking medication for high blood pressure or heart disease.

Along with medication, ongoing psychotherapy has an important role in treatment for bipolar disorder. During therapy, you can discuss feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that cause you problems. Therapy can help you understand and overcome any problems that impair your ability to function well in life. It also helps with medication compliance and helps you deal with effects of bipolar disorder on your social and work life. Also it can help you maintain a positive self-image.

Types of psychotherapy used in the treatment of bipolar disorder are: Behavioral therapy; this focuses on behaviors that decrease stress. Cognitive therapy; this type of therapy involves learning to identify and modify the patterns of thinking that accompany mood shifts. Interpersonal therapy; this involves relationships and aims to reduce strains that the illness may place upon them.

Bipolar disorder distorts your view of things; medication assists seeing more clearly.

Doctors use a number of different classes and brands of drugs to treat bipolar disorder.  Treatment for bipolar mania may include lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines.

Many people who have bipolar disorder keep taking these medications for years after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder manic to stay healthy. This is called maintenance therapy for bipolar disorder.

During a period of bipolar depression, you might need other medications. Lithium and other mood stabilizers, antipsychotic drugs, and sometimes antidepressants are used to treat bipolar depression. For bipolar patients with severe mania or mixed episodes an antipsychotic medication combined with either lithium or the anticonvulsant Depakote is the drug of choice.

Anticonvulsants offer more treatment options for those with bipolar disorder.  Anticonvulsants may be combined with lithium or with other anticonvulsants for optimal effect. Some commonly used anticonvulsants include Lamictal, Depakote, Tegretol, and Trileptal.

For some it may seem that there life is in the control of a doctor or therapist. But the actually you have the control over any medications by taking control of your symptoms of bipolar disorder.  A life long medication regime may seem to be the end of your normal life but in reality it is the beginning of a new life with recovery. 

Women and Bipolar Disorder

Research shows that women experience more periods of depression than men. In bipolar disorder, women develop   bipolar II meaning they do reach severe mania but have milder episodes of hypomania alternating with depression.

Women are more prone to rapid cycling, having four or more mood episodes in one year.  hormones   antidepressants may contribute to rapid cycling.

Women who are pregnant run the risk with prescribed medication it has been shown that the risk of birth defects and certain medical issues in newborns and the risks may outweigh the benefits.  

Women who have bipolar disorder and plan to become pregnant should talk with their psychiatrist about the risks that are involved.

The hormone fluctuations of menopause can cause mood disorders in woman in general not just those with bipolar disorder. For those already having troubles with major depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorders there can be an increase in symptoms. Women during menopause may experience    more frequent episodes of depression because of lowering of estrogen levels. Women with bipolar disorder sometimes mistake their mood swings for PMS.
 
Women with Bipolar disorder looks is different in women than  in men doctors  sometimes make a wrong diagnosis the same way that women with heart disease because  the symptoms differs  from the symptoms of the disease.

Most people with bipolar disorder have their first manic episodes in their 20s or 30s, and research has shown that women develop symptoms of the disorder three to five years later than men

Taking all into consideration there are many ways that women can have episodes that are unique.  Their episodes may change for various reasons.  Women must be aware of the changes and communicate their concerns with their doctor.

Self Injury

Self-injury, also known as cutting, is when someone intentionally and repeatedly harms themselves the most often type used is cutting but other common behaviors such as burning, or drinking something damaging like bleach or detergent.

Approximately two million people in the U.S. injure themselves in some way.  The majority are teenagers or young adults with women more than men. They are of all races and backgrounds.

 Some people say they hurt themselves to express emotional pain or feelings. Some people who engage in self-injury may do so methodically or regularly, almost as if self injury were a ritual. 

Other people may use self-injury impulsively as a way to get immediate release for built up tension. They may use self-injury either as a way to regulate intense emotions or as a distraction technique.

It can be a way to have control over your body when it is difficult having control over anything else in your life. A lot of people who cut themselves also have an eating disorder.

Some people who engage in self-injury may do so methodically or regularly, almost as if self-injury were a ritual. Other people may use self-injury impulsively as a way to get immediate release for built up tension. They may use self-injury either as a way to regulate intense emotions or as a distraction technique to find a way to stop thoughts that they are unable to control.

.

They usually are not trying to kill themselves sometimes they are unable to control the injury and can die from an injury accidentally.

Suicide is a major risk for people with a mood disorder. But people who engage in self injury to get rid of bad feelings are not necessarily suicidal.

Though self-injury and suicide are different, self injury is not a small problem. Self injury is physical damage to one's body. It's important for the self-injurer to seek help.

No matter how self-injury is used, it is unhealthy and dangerous and can leave scars, physically and emotionally.

There are healthy ways to relieve stress, exercise can bring relief from the pent up tension, and there are also healthy ways to cope with negative feelings. For some people, self-injury is a coping mechanism.