The Beginners Bipolar
Guide
We have prepared this guide for people
new to bipolar disorder. It is a brief overview of the basic elements
of the
disorder and addresses frequently asked questions.
For more detailed information please consult our Bipolar Encyclopedia
and Articles and Info Section.
Formal statistics indicate there are 2 million americans or about 1% of
the population that have the disorder. However, experts in the field
are now beginning to believe that the figure is more like 7%. It
affects all races and sex equally. Bipolar is not contagious or
a disease. Little is known of the cause but hereditary factors are
believed to be involved.
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How is it
diagnosed?
Bipolar Disorder is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms
mimic other disorders or conditions such as thyroid malfunctioning and
it's onset is usually during the late teens when radical behavior is
common. Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder must be made by a mental health
professional and fall within the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV
published by the American Psychiatric Association.
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What is
Depression?
Everyone has felt depression at some point in their lives.
However, if the depression lasts more than two weeks and doesn't seem
to be proportional to a cause or attached to a cause at all, then more
in likely the person is experiencing a major depression. Typically,
Bipolar people find themselves unable to get out of bed for days at a
time and may bypass personal hygiene. Major/Clinical Depression can be
dangerous because it creates an overwhelming sense of worthlessness and
desperation that makes conditions ripe for suicidal thoughts and
actions. For a complete list of symptoms look under bipolar basics in
our info section.
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What is Mania?
Mania is best described by the symptoms. They include insomnia,
pressured or rapid speech, grandiosity, Typical behavioral patterns are
uncontrollable spending, sexual promiscuity as well as other
risky behaviors with no thought of consequences. Sometime people in a
manic state can become psychotic, lose touch with reality, and in
extreme cases can become delusion. For a complete list of symptoms look
under bipolar basics in
our info section.
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What is
Hypo mania?
Hypo means small or mild. Hypo mania is a mild mania. Hypo manic
symptoms are basically the same as mania but are general confined to
only
a few and there are no psychotic or delusion features.
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What's the
difference between Bipolar
I and Bipolar II?
The difference is basically the degree of mania. Both have
depressive episodes but Bipolar II only experiences hypo manic episodes
and not full manic episodes.
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What is Rapid
Cycling?
The time it takes to swing from a depression to a mania and
back is considered a cycle. Normally a cycle occurs over years,
but a
cycle can go a quick as within a few months, days or even hours.
This known as rapid cycling which can be especially debilitating
to the patient and is often induced by some anti-depressants.
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What is a Mixed
State?
A mixed state is when the patient experiences symptoms of both mania
and depression and the same time. An example would be rapid thoughts,
which is manic, but those thoughts are of death and suicide which is
depressive.
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Is it Curable?
No. Once the disorder develops it's there for life and
must be dealt with otherwise it typically gets more severe over time.
However, with the use of therapy and modern medications the bipolar
person can lead a fairly normal life. Today, research and development
of new treatments and medications is active and ongoing making it
easier and easier to deal with.
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How is it
treated?
Therapy and medications are the key to controlling bipolar disorder. A
drug regime is needed first to offset the chemical imbalance in the
brain, reduce or eliminate the mood swings and provide balance.
Normally, the core of a drug regimen is a mood stabilizer.
Typically this has been lithium. However, in the last few decades
anticonvulsants, such as Depakote, have been discovered to be
effective mood stabilizers as well. Sometimes in addition to a
mood stabilizers, anti-depressants are prescribed as well as
anti psychotics. It is important to know that there are a variety of
all these types of medications available and no one responds exactly
the same to them in terms of their effectiveness and side effects. So
it may take time to find the right medications that work for the
patient.
Other than medications, therapy is also necessary to help control the
disorder. Bipolar disorder, primarily because of the negative behaviors
the mood swings create, is a breeding ground for developing deep rooted
feelings of regret, remorse and guilt. Also, Stress can trigger mood
swings. Therefore, environmental factors are important to control
by setting boundaries to avoid them and to develop cognitive behaviors
that help to cope with them. Also, there are issues with acceptance and
the dependence on medications to maintain balance.
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Where do I go
for help?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors that specialize in psychiatric
disorders and are the ones who primarily prescribe drugs. Many of them
also provide talk therapy but generally that is done by a psychologist
who holds of Ph.D. or a therapist / mental health counselor who has a
masters level education. To find these professionals that specialize in
mood disorders, contact with your local mental health agency or
hospital. There are also online doctor finders provided be the American
Medical Association and The American Psychological Association.
You can find links to these in our web links section.
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Is
hospitalization necessary?
It might be, If the patient is in a psychotic, delusion or suicidal
state, hospitalization may be necessary to get the patient balanced.
This is usually attainable in a matter of days, but in some cases it
may take weeks or months. Hospitalization should not be
considered a shameful thing. It is important to get back to a
normal state in order to control the disorder and live with it.
Hospitalization, if needed, may not only occur at the point of
diagnosis but and different times when treatment drastically fails.
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What can
family members do to help?
Patients, understanding and support are the main thing a family
member can do. This is not always easy. One helpful keys is to remember
that the behaviors of the patient are because of the disorder and not
because of who they are. Another important function is to help
create and protect a nurturing stress free environment. The
disorder is just as rough on the family member as the patient so to be
supportive is mutually beneficial. However, it is important that the
patient lives a normal life filled with responsibility. What can
be considered a loving and caring gesture can easily become enabling
and prevent the patient to full cope with their disorder. It is
ultimately their responsibility to control the disorder, so they must
have to cope and live with the consequences of their actions. A family
member is actually doing a dis service to the patient if their always
bailing them out of situations, such as overspending.
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