Bipolar Disorder Treatment, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Medication And Facts

What was once called manic-depressions and is now more commonly called bipolar disorder is still a serious mental illness. People with this condition can put themselves, their relationships and the safety of others at risk if they are not treated for this condition in a timely manner.

If moods can be thought of poles (as in polar opposites) the moods of people with bipolar disorder can swing unpredictably and wildly between two very opposite emotional states. These two states are often wild elation or agitation and profound depression. It is also true that bipolar people can experience more normal emotional states for extended periods of time even when they are not being treated for their condition.

The wildly elated state is the “manic” side of bipolar disorder. Behavioral symptoms of this abnormal state include restlessness, excessive energy, recklessness, euphoria, delusion thinking and feelings of immense power. Very common behaviors include excessive generosity, uncontrolled spending sprees and impulsive sexual escapades.

Seemingly without warning that mood can alter and the bipolar individual becomes profoundly depressed, angry, suspicious, irritated, confused or simply morose. The bipolar person may be overcome with a sense of worthlessness and sadness, may weep uncontrollably for little apparent reason, and be unable to sleep or take pleasure in anything.

The course of bipolar disorder is complex and unpredictable. Diagnosis can prove difficult. Duration of the bipolar emotional states can vary wildly among bipolar patients and within a single patient as well — from a few hours to a number of years with all the markers in between. Frequency of bipolar episodes also varies considerably.

Psychiatrists familiar with bipolar disorder tend to discuss the moods experienced by their patients as a spectrum of emotions and behaviors. Mood swings experienced by people with bipolar disorder may even be welcomed at times, because they can become exceptionally productive and creative at least for a while.

The destructive and pathological aspects of the disorder come to the fore when patients enter extreme emotional states and lose complete touch with reality. Their mania makes them abandon any respect for the rules of law, finance or sexual morays; they spend wildly and engage in outlandish or completely promiscuous sexual behaviors.

When they become unreasonably depressed they also become a danger to themselves and commonly entertain serious thought of suicide.

Bipolar disorder, for some obvious reasons, has a profound effect on families as well. Many psychiatrists consider bipolar disorder to be the hardest of all the psychological disorders for families to cope with. Perhaps what make this disorder so hard to understand are not the periods of abnormal behavior, but the periods of normalcy. It can be difficult to believe that someone who seems so normal one day can behave so strangely or feel so badly the very next day.

It’s important to remember this regarding bipolar disorder. If you suspect that you or someone you care about has bipolar disorder you should see a psychiatrist. Also take note that effective treatments are available for bipolar disorder as well.

Alternative medicine and dietary supplements have gained in esteem and usage over the last twenty years. It seems inevitable that this therapy with supplements of all kinds should be considered for treatment of mood disorders. Additionally alternative medicine regards the body in somewhat different ways from traditional medicine. The mind the body and spirit regarded as a single integrated system. A life that balances these elements is regarded as ideal.
The explosion of alternative medicine has only been accelerated by the vast amount of information available on the Internet. It can be tempting to jump right in and see what’s available for treating someone one’s self for symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.

Self medication has always had its perils. Self medication using herbal supplements without consulting with your doctor can be yet more dangerous. At the very least you should do your homework and consult with your doctor. In that way you may be able to initiate an intelligent discussion of the options available for treating your condition.
Be advised that supplements and herbal remedies can interact negatively with medications you are currently using.

Dietary Supplements Defined

The FDA defines dietary supplement ingredients as one or more combinations of the following substances:
• Herbs or botanicals
• Minerals
• Vitamins
• Amino acids
• Dietary substances to supplement the diet that increase intake (e.g. enzymes or tissue storm organs or glands)
• Concentrates, constituents, or extracts

What is 5 HTP and What Good Can It Do?

It has been found that 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an effective treatment for mild depression. It can control the levels of eight brain chemical called serotonin and achieve a calming effect. It appears to influence sleep patterns, overall mood, and resistance to pain. Most certain levels can result in anxiety depression irritability and the lack of patience.

You should speak with your doctor before a taking 5-HTP supplements of any kind. There have been reports of adverse side effects and interactions with other medications that are used to treat bipolar disorders associated with this supplement. Furthermore, 5HTP simply cannot be regarded as a replacement for bipolar medications.

What is DHEA and what good can it do?
Until you are about 25 years old your body produces its own supply of a hormone called dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA). At that point production of the hormone declines and may eventually stop altogether. DHEA is touted by advertisers as having anti aging properties and anti-depressive properties. Many of us who are past the age of 25 might feel happy to feel 25 again, but claims made for this hormone have yet to be proven conclusively true. Some studies on patients with Addison’s disease showed promise while other studies on patients who were HIV positive appeared to have little effect on mood or well being. Side effects of the DHEA are few.

What about St. John’s wort?
Herbal therapy with St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has shown encouraging results for alleviating the symptoms of mild depression. It appears to act on or in conjunction with the same three brain chemicals associated with bipolar disorder, serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. It would still be advisable to consult your doctor before commencing therapy with this herb.

The answer to that somewhat provocative question is No. People with bipolar disorder cycle between two very opposite emotional states. These two states are often called mania and depression. Although it is true that bipolar people can experience more normal emotional states for extended periods of time even when they are not being treated for their condition, bipolar disorder cannot be spoken of as being prevented even if its symptoms are completed controlled.
This mental illness doesn’t discriminate according to age, gender or ethnicity, but its occurrence can be traced among generations of families.

Warning Signs
When we use the word “prevented” in the context of bipolar disorder we can only be discussing the prevention of its symptoms from occurring or escalating in the behavior of individuals. One good way of preventing the symptom of this mental illness from occurring is watching for the warning signs of the disorder.

What science has concluded regarding therapeutic efforts for bipolar disorder is that they should for the most part seek to prevent symptoms from recurring after a bipolar episode.

Essentially the symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder are two extremely abnormal mood states.
Symptoms of the abnormal state known as mania include restlessness, excessive energy, recklessness, euphoria, delusion thinking, excessive talking, extreme spending and generosity, drug and alcohol abuse, high-risk sexual encounters, less need for sleep, feelings of immense power, grandiose business schemes and hallucinations.

Symptoms of the abnormal state known depression include a sense of worthlessness and sadness, weeping uncontrollably for little apparent reason, an inability to sleep or take pleasure in anything, excessive sleeping, slow speech, changes in appetite, drug or alcohol abuse, suicidal ideation and inexpiable aches or pain.

Treatment
Lithium and Lamictal are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Both are regarded by psychiatrists as mood stabilizers. Should these medications fail to achieve their intended effects other psychiatric medications such as mood elevators, sedatives and antidepressants may be prescribed for persons with bipolar disorder.

There is a longstanding tradition of using psychotherapy to treat bipolar disorders as well. This type of therapy can help a patient develop and maintain coping mechanisms that will allow them to handle the everyday ups and downs of life. It may also be designed to encourage them to take their medications since extremes of mood can make it hard for a patient to act according to their own best interests in the wake of heightened euphoria or profound depression.

Family counseling can also be important for maintaining a stable psychological environment for the bipolar patient. Bipolar disorder can be particularly hard on family relations.

Group counseling can be of special benefit to bipolar persons who mistakenly believe that they are the only individuals on earth who feel the way that they do.

If they are fortunate enough to receive an appropriate amount of personal, psychological and medicinal care many individuals with bipolar disorder can live happy and productive lives with minimal or absent symptom logy. Treatment of symptoms often involves some trial and error since each case of bipolar disorder is different.