Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental ailment that occurs due to several factors like biological, neurological, environmental and emotional. It is featured by very frequent mood swings or cycling among extreme emotions like mania, depression, and normal behavior of the patient.

While there are several treatment options available for bipolar disorder, the most commonly used option is a combination of therapy & medication.

However, not all patients can be put under the same drill. The cases that involve a history of drug abuses, cannot be put to medication, else it could land up in a great risk. Also, it is hard to find that mood swings occurred due to bipolar disorder or drugs and say if the extent o bipolar disorder was not too much in the body, the medications would end up harming the patient quite severely. Also as a basic fact the patients move to medication only when no other resort is found.

In such special cases where medications are not the right choice, CBT comes in to being. The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy popularly known as or CBT is a sort of a therapy that is used to assist the patients in recognizing the exact triggers & causes of their depressive & manic states. Then the patients are made to learn the techniques so as to avoid the triggers & henceforth and cope up with the symptoms during the episodes. 70% of bipolar I disorder patients are made to undergo the CBT experience, especially those when one or a few episodes have taken place with in 4 years of initiating the CBT treatment.

CBT treatment to cope with bipolar disorder is used to accomplish two major goals. These are:

i. To recognize the manic episodes prior to their becoming uncontrollable & making a conscious change in how one reacts to these episodes.

ii. To learn the techniques, thoughts, reactions & behaviors that would help them offset the depression.

With the various activities & techniques prescribed by the expert therapists, these goals are achieved quite effectively.

Under CBT, the effectiveness of the treatment of the bipolar disorder mainly rests in the hands of the patient, as he/she is allotted homework like – performing some exercises, reading, etc. These are focused on helping the patient understand his/her condition and to help them learn the methods to cope with the situation.

The steps to conduct CBT are as follows:

1. Making a Contract with the Patient

Initializing CBT, you need to make a treatment contract with your patient. In this treatment you draw a definite plan of treatment for the patient and he/she agrees to follow the same. This also includes the patient’s promise to do all his homework complete taking all assignments seriously. The patient in this contract also ensures that he/she would take any & all the prescribed medication just as directed. This is a crucial step towards CBT as this process largely depends on the patient’s desire to cope with the bipolar disorder and his/her sense of responsibility towards the same.

2. Recording the Mood Swings

In the second step, CBT involves monitoring and grading the moods of the patient. For this the doctor gives the patients several worksheets that the patient fills in regularly. In these sheets the patient records his/her moods for the day. They also file the other important details like for how many hours did they sleep, the level of anxiety, & the level of irritability they felt. Especially the patients of Bipolar II Disorder must record all these details daily as in that case the mood cycles very frequently.

3. Patient does the Homework

Once the therapist is able to understand the mood cycles of the patient of bipolar disorder, the next step in CBT is for the patient. Here the therapist gives some reading material to the patient for him/her to understand exactly how our thoughts effect our emotions. This is done by the patient filling in the worksheets and once he/she understands the drill, they would be able to practice through altering their thoughts in far more rational way. Their emotions then become very rational, thereby decreasing the number & severity of the depressive & manic episodes.

4. Recognizing the Triggers

Further, you must be able to know the triggers in the case you are curing. Triggers are the basically any emotional or physical clicks that arouse a depressive or a manic episode like emotions, thoughts, times of the year, situations, environments, events, etc. Once the patient starts understanding and recognizing their triggers, he/she would then be able to learn to avoid them entirely, henceforth decreasing the severity & number of the depressive & manic episodes.

All in all, CBT is quite an effective method of treatment for the bipolar disorder patients. In case you think that you need this therapy, contact your doctor or therapist before it gets too late!

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Bipolar disorder is a mental illness caused mainly by what is believed to be chemical imbalances in the brain. This causes tremendous mood and behavioral changes resulting in bouts of depression and/or mania. There is currently no cure for this disease, and treatment is a lifelong battle. However, with the proper usage of medication and psychotherapy bipolar treatment can be successful.

Types of Medication Used

The causes of bipolar disorder, whether from failed neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) or as in some evidence suggests, biological or environmental factors, must be treated with medication. The most common medications used in bipolar treatment are mood-stabilizers. What mood-stabilizers do is try to balance back out the brain functions making it less likely to encounter depressive and manic episodes and lessen the severity when they do occur.

Anti-depressants can also be used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Due to other factors being involved with this condition, anti-depressants may be used to help neutralize depressive episodes and also prevent them from triggering. Usually anti-depressants are taken in conjunction with mood-stabilizers to control bipolar symptoms.

In some cases of extreme mania, anti-psychotic medication is used. The main purpose of this type of medication is to help relieve symptoms of manic episodes. It is most often taken with other medications for bipolar treatment. If left untreated, manic episodes could become psychotic.

Since everyone’s body chemistry is different and the symptoms and severity of bipolar disorder vary from patient to patient, medication strategies will be different as well. Whatever combination works for one person might have a lesser effect on another and so on. It could take months or longer of trial and error to determine the accurate combinations and dosages of medicine per individual.

Remember, it just takes time. Even if you got the right medicine on the first try it would take weeks or more for it to show effective results, so don’t give up if you try something for a while and the desired results are not achieved. Talk with your doctor and come up with another plan. Bipolar treatment is not an easy task, but with proper medication, therapy, and patience, it can have positive effects.

Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong illness, but it does not have to be a struggle. To learn more about bipolar treatment from someone with firsthand experience, please visit http://www.mybipolartreatmentblog.com

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Prescribed medicines used in the treatment of bipolar disorder are highly effective. However, there are negative effects on the body from medication in bipolar treatment that alarm patients and physicians.

According to the FDA, antidepressants are generally safe but some studies suggest that they may have unintentional effects on some people, particularly in adolescents and young adults. It is important to observe patients taking antidepressant drugs closely regardless of age particularly in the first two weeks of treatment for possible side effects. Observe for worsening depression, onset of suicidal thinking or behavior, or any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social functions. The family or caregiver should report any suspicious change in behavior to the patient’s doctor immediately.

If a patient is taking mood-stabilizing drugs like lithium, he can suffer from its common side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, mood swings, stuffed or runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms.

Patients taking antipsychotic drugs should refrain from driving because of the following side effects, drowsiness, and dizziness when changing positions, blurred vision, and rapid heartbeat, sensitivity to the sun, skin rashes and menstrual problems for women.

There are rare cases wherein the long-term use of atypical antipsychotic drugs causes tardive dyskinesia or involuntary muscle movement usually around the mouth. In severe cases, patients only partially recover after stopping the drug.

Studies show that patients taking olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, develops a tendency to gain weight. Side effects like this may increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease.

A patient who develops side effects from medication during bipolar treatment must tell his doctor about it immediately so that the doctor may alter the dosage or prescribe a different medicine. Under no circumstance should a patient stop his medication because it may lead to a rebound or a dangerous worsening of his condition.

Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong illness, but it does not have to be a struggle. To learn more about bipolar treatment from someone with over 10 years of first-hand experience, please visit http://www.mybipolartreatmentblog.com.

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Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness is a brain disorder, which causes unusual swing or shift in mood, energy, and activity levels that affects an individual’s ability to carry out common day-to-day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. Presently, there is no known cure for bipolar disorder however; there are medical interventions that can control the symptoms and help people with this illness lead a full and productive life. This condition is a lifetime and recurring illness so people with the disorder need continuing bipolar treatment to sustain control of the symptoms.

The treatment plan for a person with bipolar disorder includes pharmacological and psychotherapeutic modes to control the symptoms and prevent recurrence. However, patients respond differently to treatment, which may also vary according to age and gender.

The available pharmacological treatment for people with bipolar disorder includes mood stabilizing and anticonvulsant medication, atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.

The primary medicines doctors prescribe are lithium and lamotrigine. They are effective in controlling the symptom of mania and prevent the recurrence of manic and depressive episodes. Lithium is a mood stabilizer while lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant. Valproic acid is a popular alternative to lithium. Other mood stabilizing drugs are gabapentin, topiramate and oxcarbazepine.

Doctors prescribe atypical antipsychotic medications when patients show serious symptoms particularly severe mania and psychosis. The most common are olanzapine, which rapidly treats agitation associated with a manic or mixed episode. Aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone are other antipsychotic drugs.

Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants to treat symptoms of depression but with mood stabilizers because taking an antidepressant alone increases the risk of shifting to mania or hypomania and develop rapid cycling symptoms. Fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and bupropion are examples of antidepressants used for bipolar treatment.

Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong illness, but it does not have to be a struggle. To learn more about bipolar treatment from someone with over 10 years of first-hand experience, please visit http://www.mybipolartreatmentblog.com.

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I don’t support self-treatment for bipolar disorder or any other health condition. There’s always a limit to what you know, especially if you have no medical background, experience or knowledge in issues such as this. That’s why it’s very important to get the experts and professionals involved and they will prescribe the right solution for you.

No matter how much you have read on any health issue or how much you think you know, if you are not a medical expert, it’s not a good idea to go it all on your own. Since health is very important, you shouldn’t take it for granted. Anything you read on your own should mainly be for “informative” purposes; they should not lead you into attempting to self-diagnose or self-treat yourself. Let the doctors do the diagnosis and treatment for you, because they know best.

Even if someone else tells you what to do, if they don’t have any medical background, experience or knowledge, it’s still not a good idea to listen to them. It’s much better to visit and hear directly from your doctor about the type of treatment you should take and why.

One of the reasons why you need a doctor’s guide when it comes to the treatment for bipolar disorder is that some of them have side effects. If you don’t know how to handle the side effects, then they can be disastrous. A doctor will give you the right advice and guide to effectively using the different treatments out there and how to handle the adverse effects, if they come up.

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Some of the triggers of the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder include stress, poor eating habits and lack of sleep. While these three are just some of the possible triggers, there are ways to take control of these with food, fun and some exercise.

Food is necessary so we get the right amount of nutrients daily. This means eating a balanced meal with fruits, vegetables and a few dairy, poultry and fish products. It will also be helpful to take multivitamins and food supplements.

Eating right also means staying away from beverages with alcohol and caffeine. Instead, you can drink alcohol free or reduced variations as well as non-caffeinated products.

Chances are you will be taking medication to help you deal with your mood swings. Some of these drugs have side effects and one of them is weight gain. So aside from eating right, you should exercise to increase the metabolism in your body and combat stress.

Some exercises to think about include jogging, running and walking. You can do this on a treadmill or in the streets so don’t get tired staring into black space when your brain is able to relax looking at the natural environment. Exercising outdoors also has one more benefit and that is exposing yourself to sunlight that has proven to affect your mood positively.

If the area outside is polluted, naturally you will have to exercise indoors. You can buy a DVD or enroll in a gym that provides non- strenuous programs. A couple examples of these include Pilates and Yoga. These exercises are designed to make your mind relax as you breathe deeply which promotes both flexibility and strength.

Another form of exercise you can do is playing basketball or any other sport you know with friends. It also wouldn’t hurt to learn something new because it is always educational and fun.

Before you start out any exercise, it is best to see a doctor so he or she can say if the program you are getting into is safe. If what you plan in mind is not feasible, surely something else can be recommended.

Since you sweat when you exercise, don’t forget to drink lot of water. This will help replenish the liquids lost as certain medications may also cause your body to overheat.

Seasonal changes may also affect your mood. Studies have shown that during the fall, winter and spring those who are suffering from bipolar disorder are depressed. You can counter this by planning ahead so you know what you are supposed to do for that day.

It also wouldn’t hurt to say “no” so you are not pressured to do something when you really don’t feel like doing it. You should also work on a budget so you don’t overspend buying gifts and then worrying later on how you are going to pay for them when the bill comes in.

The same strategy can also be used who experience mania episodes during the summer. This is to avoid getting yourself over excited as to where to go during the Memorial Day weekend. As much as possible you find to relax.

Although it is not advisable for people with bipolar disorder to isolate themselves it wouldn’t hurt once in a while to do some things on your own. After all, you are not a baby anymore who can’t take care of yourself. Just remember that after some alone time, you should hang out with friends and family because they are the only people you have left that can help you with this problem. You can go watch a movie and talk about the good old days that will surely make you laugh.

There are more than 2 million Americans who suffer from bipolar disorder and this can happen to anyone regardless of age and gender. Although doctors have yet been unable to find a cure, treatment with or without the use of medication can make life normal again for these people.

So eat right, find something to do and have fun. If you are able to work on a schedule and stick to it, you will not experience an episode that will surely ruin your day.

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There are some bipolar disorder treatments that take days – weeks even – to take effect. These are the kinds of treatment that usually involve some lithium carbonate. Such must be taken at normal times so that they can shorten, delay, or even prevent either the manic or depressive phase of the condition, or both.

There are all kinds of medications that are used in the treatment of this disorder treatment all over the world. Sometimes, the physician in charge of your case may decide to mix several of those procedures on you alone, and at other times, they may just think to keep it simple. Quite simply, it is all based on the result of the diagnosis, something you are going to have to help them with.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one bipolar-disorder treatment that psychiatric doctors and psychologist prefer to save as a last resort for the disease. Because of the potential side effects of turning you into a vegetable, many of them are not keen on it. But after trying all else, they may have no choice. Sorry. However this is one way of giving you relief from the symptoms of the condition.

Whatever treatment you are taking for this condition, you often also have to surrender to psychotherapy in the same breath. While they treat your body for the severity of the condition, they have to treat your mind as well, don’t you think? Just see to it that you are not trying to avoid these things, as you may not get better without them.

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It is no longer news; many bipolar patients tend to attempt suicide at some time during the course of their illness. The present state that you are in may not be the phase in which you are prone to do the same to yourself, but you want to seek treatment already. Sincerely, you should care about your loved ones enough to do the right thing.

Many people suffer from bipolar disorder for long years before those around them even suspect that they have the syndrome. This is because various stages of the condition can last for long years themselves. But once treatment starts, you may not switch moods so often anymore. And so you need the bipolar disorder treatment in a hurry.

Children and teens also suffer from bipolar type of disorder. Although it does not show in the same manner in these kids, it is no less potent. For that reason, you need to see that you get your kids the treatment they need so that they never get to the point where they begin to contemplate taking a trip to the Other Side, so to speak.

Lithium is a good bipolar disorder treatment you should know about. It is very potent and can be rather dangerous if used unadvisedly. For this reason, you cannot get it from a drugstore without a prescription. As such, you had better see that you are diagnosed and under treatment by a doctor so that you can get it if you need it.

It’s worth saying — NEVER take any treatment without getting prescription or guide from your doctor, no matter how good other people tell you the treatment is. This is critically important!

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With all the treatment options available for Bipolar Disorder today, finding the right combination of medication can be a long trial and error process. What works for one patient will not work for others, as everyone reacts to medication differently. Most physicians will try combinations of bipolar medication to provide the sufferer the best results possible. While there is no cure for Bipolar Disorder, medications can aid in long-term alleviation of symptoms, but an important factor in this is that all the bipolar medication prescribed are being taken as directed. It is common to see someone who thinks they are doing better discontinue taking their medication, and stopping medication suddenly can have serious consequences, so it is important to have someone who can continuously check to see that the sufferer is taking their medication properly.

Most patients will show some positive response to their bipolar medication, but outcomes will vary by individual. Some patients will recover fully and some will show minimal to no response to their bipolar medication. It can take time finding the “just right” combination of medication to achieve optimal results for some individuals.

Seeing and having good communication with a physician is a vital part in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. Be sure to tell them any and all side effects you notice when taking any medication. Write down any questions you have between visits so that you don’t forget to ask. You doctor is likely to introduce other means of treatment to compliment the medications you are taking. These treatments are likely to include, therapy, a diet and exercise plan, maintaining a calm and relaxed environment, being sure to avoid over-stimulating environments, and being sure the sufferer is getting plenty of rest.

Mood stabilizers will also be introduced to be used in conjunction with your other medications. Mood stabilizers balance certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that control emotional states and behavior. Some mood stabilizers may interact negatively with other medications, so be sure to talk with your doctor about any other medicines you are taking.

This Article is by Stefanie Madyco. Educate Yourself More About Bipolar Symptoms and Learn More About Bipolar Medication facts with these sites from Stefanie Madyco.

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Bipolar disorder, also known as Manic-Depression or Manic-Depressive-Illness, is a mental illness characterized by an alternating pattern of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). This condition is divided into two main sub-types: Bipolar I disorder, with the presence of at least one manic episode; and Bipolar II disorder, with at least one episode of depression and at least one hypomanic episode. In addition, some people have rapid cycling bipolar disorder, with four or more mood swings within twelve months; and mixed state bipolar disorder, in which symptoms of both mania and depression occur simultaneously. The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but a variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors are known to trigger this condition.

Bipolar disorder is a long term condition that requires life-long treatment, even during periods of remission. The Ayurvedic treatment of this condition is aimed at treating the presenting symptoms and preventing recurrence of the condition. In order to treat the manic phase of this condition, medicines like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Jyotishmati (Celastrus panniculatus) and Kushmand (Benincasa hispida) are used. A special procedure called ‘Shirodhara’ is also quite useful in reducing agitation, aggression and sleeplessness.

To treat the depressive phase of bipolar disorder, medicines like Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Shrung-Bhasma, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Vacha, Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica), Tagar (Valeriana wallichii), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Shilajit (Purified bitumen), Tankan (Purified borax) and Makardhwaj are used. In order to prevent recurrence of this condition, medicines like Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki, Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Vacha, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Suvarna-Bhasma, Abhrak-Bhasma, Trivang-Bhasma and Suvarna -Parpati are used in small doses for prolonged periods.

It is important to adapt a healthy life style; and avoid self medication and known conditions which can precipitate symptoms of bipolar disorder. Family therapy, group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help in considerably reducing symptoms of this condition. Left untreated, bipolar disorder can result in severe emotional, legal and financial problems and can even result in suicide. Regular treatment and supervision by a Psychiatrist is therefore very important in this condition.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com

The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 24 years and clinical research experience of 10 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

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