Bipolar disorder is a mental health disease in which the brain causes a person to go into extreme moods for lengthy periods of time. The manic mood is a high-energy, erratic mood full of racing thoughts and risky behavior; while the depressive mood is a low-feeling, low-energy sad state of affairs. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the good news is that it is a very manageable disease with several treatment options.
Medication. Medication is the first recommended treatment for bipolar disorder. For bipolar I, an untreated manic phase can have life-threatening consequences. A manic mood can induce psychosis, delusions, substance abuse, and highly erratic behavior that sometimes lead to very risky or criminal activity. Anti-psychotics like Lithium and mood stabilizers slow the brain down to help prevent a manic phase from becoming out of control. During depressive periods, medications like Lexapro and Celexa help the brain retrain serotonin, a hormone responsible for elevating your mood.
Cognitive Based Therapy. Since bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, it helps if a patient can understand all aspects of the mood onset and how to adjust or compensate for any uncontrollable moods. Cognitive Based Therapy is a style of therapy that's highly effective with treating bipolar disorder because it helps patients process the current thoughts and emotions behind them. Patients may do tasks like journaling their thoughts when the moods become extreme and bringing the entries to the therapist to help sort out what's rational versus irrational.
Family Focused Therapy. Family focused therapy includes the loved ones of the bipolar patient. The theory is that, although the patient suffers from the symptoms, everyone in the family is affected by bipolar disorder at some level. They can also contribute to managing it or make the symptoms worse. For example, a child patient in a depressed state shouldn't be forced to go to the funeral of a distant loved one. Family Focused therapy allows everyone-not just the patient- realize their roles and how they can help.
Nutrition. Nutrition is sometimes underrated as part of treatment. Certain foods and nutrients can be natural stimulants (caffeine, B vitamins) while others can bring down a mood (tryptophan, which is often found in dairy products). Eating well-balanced meals can promote well-balanced moods and, in some cases, reduce the medication dosages needed.
Mood Charts. Mood charts help bipolar disorder patients establish patterns to anticipate upcoming changes and make life adjustments as needed. Bipolar disorder can interrupt natural sleeping patterns; some patients may feel better sleeping midday than at traditional hours. If this is discovered through the mood charts, they may find themselves better off at shift work versus the regular 9-to-5 schedule.
Medication. Medication is the first recommended treatment for bipolar disorder. For bipolar I, an untreated manic phase can have life-threatening consequences. A manic mood can induce psychosis, delusions, substance abuse, and highly erratic behavior that sometimes lead to very risky or criminal activity. Anti-psychotics like Lithium and mood stabilizers slow the brain down to help prevent a manic phase from becoming out of control. During depressive periods, medications like Lexapro and Celexa help the brain retrain serotonin, a hormone responsible for elevating your mood.
Cognitive Based Therapy. Since bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, it helps if a patient can understand all aspects of the mood onset and how to adjust or compensate for any uncontrollable moods. Cognitive Based Therapy is a style of therapy that's highly effective with treating bipolar disorder because it helps patients process the current thoughts and emotions behind them. Patients may do tasks like journaling their thoughts when the moods become extreme and bringing the entries to the therapist to help sort out what's rational versus irrational.
Family Focused Therapy. Family focused therapy includes the loved ones of the bipolar patient. The theory is that, although the patient suffers from the symptoms, everyone in the family is affected by bipolar disorder at some level. They can also contribute to managing it or make the symptoms worse. For example, a child patient in a depressed state shouldn't be forced to go to the funeral of a distant loved one. Family Focused therapy allows everyone-not just the patient- realize their roles and how they can help.
Nutrition. Nutrition is sometimes underrated as part of treatment. Certain foods and nutrients can be natural stimulants (caffeine, B vitamins) while others can bring down a mood (tryptophan, which is often found in dairy products). Eating well-balanced meals can promote well-balanced moods and, in some cases, reduce the medication dosages needed.
Mood Charts. Mood charts help bipolar disorder patients establish patterns to anticipate upcoming changes and make life adjustments as needed. Bipolar disorder can interrupt natural sleeping patterns; some patients may feel better sleeping midday than at traditional hours. If this is discovered through the mood charts, they may find themselves better off at shift work versus the regular 9-to-5 schedule.
Paul Bright invites you to visit his blog, Bipolar Loved Ones, for more up-to-date resources and news about bipolar disorder. Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_S_Bright |
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