Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Bipolar Disorder treatment is given to a mood Disorder patient in which mood swings to its extreme level. People having Bipolar Disorder suffer from changes in mood and energy, fluctuation of mood from Extremely feeling high, very active and euphoric(manic) to extremely feeling low and depressed.

What is Manic Episode?

Manic episode leads to a high mood. In this phase a person is having a huge amount of energy. It lasts from one week. It may include psychotic symptoms which include hallucinations and delusions. People with psychotic symptoms need hospitalization.

What is Hypomanic Episode?

Hypomanic means less than Mania. Hypomanic episode includes symptoms of mania in less intensity. A person swings to a high mood, more active and energetic.
• Insomnia
• Agitation, Irritability, Emotional Intensity
• Inability to concentrate
• Rapid thoughts and speech
• Spending Money more than usual
• Increased Sexual Desire
• Increased Intake of Alcohol
• Impaired Judgement
• Arguments with friends and family
• Increased driven activity to hang out.
• Extreme optimismBipolar Disorder Treatment – Adult Psychiatrist in Cary, Raleigh, Durham NC.

What is Major Depressive Episode?

In depressive episode a person feels too low ,sad and stressed.
• Feeling Sad ,empty, Hopeless
• Loss of interest
• Withdrawal from Family and friends
• Loss of energy
• Feeling exhausted
• Low self esteem
• Feeling of Guilt
• Having Problem in concentration and making decisions
• Suicidal thoughts
• Weight changes
• Insomnia or excessive sleep
• Engaging in Risky behaviours

Difference Between mania and hypomania:

Hypomania is less severe than mania. Mania contains:
• Delusions and Hallucinations psychosis
• Mania is more prolonged
• Mania is marked as impairment of functioning.
• Hypomania do not require hospitalization while mania requires hospitalization.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar I

Bipolar I last for one week or more. A person having Bipolar I must have one episode of depression and one episode of hypomania. Bipolar I is diagnosed in following conditions.
• There must be at least one Manic episode.
• The patient must have previous depressive episode.

• Bipolar II

For Bipolar II there must be one episode of depression and one episode of hypomania.
Hypomania episode is less than manic episode.

• Cyclothymia

In this episode mood swings between short periods of depression and hypomania. In Cyclothymia mood fluctuates and lasts for months and years as well.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often known as mood disorder and is caused by many factors. Some of them are them are mentioned below.
Genetic Factors: Bipolar is caused by genetic factors as well. According to research, It is present 10 to 15 % in child. There are 30 to 40 % chances of Bipolar in child if the Parents are suffering from it.

• Brain Chemical Imbalance:

Bipolar may occur due to Imbalance and misfunctioning of Neurotransmitters in a specific area of a brain. Norepinephrine and Serotonin are the main Neurotransmitters which plays an important role in mood swings.

• Hormonal problems

It may be caused by some hormonal changes that’s why it’s more common in females than men. Pregnancy, irregular menstrual cycle, menopause, imbalance of estrogens can lead towards Bipolar.

• Environmental factors:

Environmental factors is the most common reason that can lead towards Bipolar such as bullying at school, relationship issues, marital issues, family issues, job related issues.

6 Tips to Live Better with Bipolar Disorder

1. 1. Stay Connected – The more you isolate yourself, the more you increase the risk of mood changes going unnoticed and jeopardizing your health. Lack of connection to others can also put you at risk for a depressive episode. So don’t hesitate to assemble of team of professionals to provide guidance and insight. Doctors, counselors, and others can be a part of your support system, and many people find that attending a support group for people with bipolar disorder can be invaluable. Staying engaged with friends, family, and members of your community can also play an important role in keeping you energized and providing support.
   2. Educate Yourself – Education starts with learning the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes and getting up-to-date on research-driven treatment options for bipolar disorder. Share your questions and concerns with your doctor or psychiatrist, and ask them what resources they recommend for you to read or gather. Understanding the illness can help it feel more manageable and assist you in identifying symptoms before they get worse.
   3. Track Symptoms – Many people with bipolar disorder find it useful to keep a daily log of their mood, thinking, and behaviors. If you are able to catch small changes in these arenas, then you may be able to stop or decrease the intensity of a mood episode before it worsens. You should can also track stressors or behaviors which may trigger a mood episode, such as lack of sleep, relationship conflict, school or work stress, substance use, or seasonal changes. The more accurately you can report these changes to yourself and your doctor, the greater chance of stabilizing your mood.
   4. Engage Coping Skills – In addition to alerting your counselor or doctor, you can utilize coping skills to control symptoms or reduce your risk for a mood episode. Different coping techniques work for different people, but they typically involve activities that help you feel calm, stay connected to others, practice healthy habits, and engage interests. Having a list of coping skills available to you can be useful, as it might prove difficult to generate your own ideas when you feel a lack of control.
   5. Establish a Routine – Perhaps the greatest coping skill for preventing mania or depression is the establishment of a healthy, daily routine. You should be taking medication consistently and accurately. Getting consistent and sufficient sleep every night can reduce the risk of mania.2 Getting healthy and exercising can help improve and stabilize your mood as well. Schedule regular times to dedicate to family and friends, attend all doctor’s appointments, and carve out time to relax and unwind from life’s stressors.
   6. Develop a Crisis Plan – There are times when even the best routine and set of coping skills may fail to prevent a mood episode from escalating. It’s important, even while you’re feeling good, to go ahead and develop a crisis plan you can activate when you feel out of control. Create a written plan with a list of people that you or others can contact in emergency as well as information about your medications and warning signs and symptoms. Also, include a list hotline numbers that you can call if you experience suicidal thoughts or psychotic symptoms. Finally, leave a reminder to yourself that you can always call 911, walk into an emergency room, or ask a loved one to get you help if other measures fail.
      If you’re not sure where to start, mental health professionals are trained to help you develop a treatment plan that can engage all of these actions steps. Having a concrete plan can help you feel more in control of your bipolar disorder, and over time you can tailor or alter this plan as needed. Bipolar disorder doesn’t have to be a lonely experience, so think about who you can recruit today to help you build up resilience and thrive in all arenas of life.