Someone very close to me:
He was born to a mom who couldnt take care of him - emotionally (she had bipolar) or financially (she was on disability) had a childhood that included moving from family member to family member and eventually foster care. He also was invloved in a love-hate relationship with one of these family members who physically abused him. There is no doubt he has emotional issues and anger issues. He has been on anti-depressents for about 6 months. The Lexapro has helped him become calmer and steadier but he still feels that something is missing. I am a close friend and can only help him so much. Is there a way to tell if someone has bipolar? How does he know when he's "cured"? These disorders are so confusing to us and they seem like they have been combined into one disorder in his case - does anyone have experience/advice? What about counseling? Does it really help someone with bipolar/depression? In what way?
2006-08-28 05:14:05 · 4 answers · asked by plenymo 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Also, how does he know he is on the right medicine??
2006-08-28 05:18:42 · update #1
You're right to be confused. Until recently bipolar used to be defined as manic depression. And then there are two kinds, I and II. One being with mostly manic episodes and the other with more depression. However, these disorders are considered mostly physiological then psychological.
As with all disorders, counseling can help the individual but it's not a cure. Seeing a trained individual can help you cope with your personal situation as you can release some of the stumbling blocks of the past and learn how to reduce the affects of stresses. It's easy to have depression based on environmental factors not necessarily bio-chemical ones. When working on diagnosis it's always good to consider the opinion of a reputable professional.
Where medications are concerned, sometimes you could be on one that's not quite for you. That's why there are so many different forms out there. And if all that is going on is in the early diagnosis of your disease, there's going to be some work before you get a detailed regiment hammered out.
Good luck with your friend. And take care of yourself.
2006-08-28 05:35:41 · answer #1 · answered by Hacksaw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Counseling would definitely help. The trauma he has endured in his life has given enough reason for mental illness. Bipolar disorder is hard to diagnose. I was quickly diagnosed as being bipolar, but after seeking counseling I was told it was not bipolar disorder. I suffer from anxiety depression. I also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I was in a mentally & physically abusive marriage for 10 years. He needs to see a phyciatrist. They can help with counseling and make sure he is on the right type of meds.
2006-08-28 05:25:13 · answer #2 · answered by sweetestthing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the drugs that bi-polar take are only to keep the chemicals in the body to balance out. With the traumatic past, there is no doubt that your friends has chemical imbalance (which resulted to having a bi polar syndrome)..
even though the drugs balance the body, counselling (both by professionals and friends) are very important for the chemicals in the bosy to stay that way../
2006-08-28 05:23:59 · answer #3 · answered by mr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he may not be able to tell if he is on the right medicine, but medical doctors treating his case may. its also called manic depession & there are new drugs out there to help. one older medicne is called lithium & its a for life medicine once you are on it.all i can say is for his doctors is to try ones that are avaiavble & see which one has the best results. try each one for a tempory amount of time & see if results vary from one to another. he will never be cured, but the correct medicine will help him to live a live that he can cope with. but as i said, these medicines may be for life, so to miss his medicine one time could throw him off the deep end until he gets back on track. good luck!
2006-08-31 13:14:24 · answer #4 · answered by rje46805 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋