Bipolar Disorder?

Question

What are the specific factors that cause a Bipolar to be very hyper (manic) one week, and seem very down (depressed) the next? Are these biochemical? psychological?

Answer 1

OK, so it's a mood disorder and a serious mental illness. It has a strong genetic component, but appears to be triggered environmentally. There are no diagnostic tests for it, just psychiatric evaluation. Most sufferers are not diagnosed until middle age, and it takes an average of around 8-10 years to get a correct diagnosis. Historically, figures suggested it affects about 0.8% of the population at some point, which makes it about half as common as schizophrenia. In recent years, bipolar disorder has become an 'in' diagnosis, and many more people are being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. As with ADHD, this fad may well pass with time, although for the moment many celebrities appear to be 'popularising' it.

It is characterised by episodes of severe clinical depression and mania or hypomania (for definitions of those, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/current_diagnostic_criteria_for_bipolar_disorder ), although the mechanism that causes the cycling is unknown. Current research seems focused around sodium channels. The extreme end of mania often turns into psychosis, complete with hallucinations and delusions. During manic phases, the person's judgement and perception of reality is severely compromised, leading to risky actions with potentially damaging consequences (financially, sexually and relationship-wise). Untreated, episodes generally worsen over time due to an effect known as kindling. Untreated Bipolar sufferers are at a very high risk of suicide: 20-25% attempt it, and 15% succeed.

The cycles in bipolar disorder are much longer than people generally believe. Anyone whose mood changes from minute to minute is very unlikely to be bipolar. Bipolar 1 is characterised by mood episodes lasting many months, while Bipolar 2 has episodes in the region of weeks to months. Rapid and ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder is rare, and cycles last days to weeks.

There are many drugs available to treat the symptoms of bipolar (there is no cure). These are either anti-convulsants or anti-psychotics (personally I take both), and the most well known of these is Lithium. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.

Answer 2

The signs you record right here do sound like BD, and if this man or woman has this situation there's no option to medication. Depression itself can normally be handled with out treatment, however this isn't the case with BD. “The mortality of sufferers with temper issues is expanded hence no longer simplest of suicides and injuries but additionally of cardiovascular and different sicknesses — for example, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Long-time period cure can shrink suicides through 2-thirds and will usually shrink non-suicidal mortality additionally.” from “Long-Term Outcome and Mortality of Treated as opposed to Untreated Bipolar and Depressed Patients” in International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, Volume two, Issue two, June 1998, pages one hundred fifteen-119. Also, a sufferer age 17 demands steerage from a legit greater than an grownup. That's usual experience. If there may be situation approximately aspect results, bear in mind that we aren't speakme approximately anti-depressants.

Answer 3

Science/Medicine would say: Biochemical... a chemical imbalance really.

Certain herbs can help you regain more of a homeostasis between the chemicals and thus a homeostasis between the emotions.

St. Johns Wart, in large doses, for example.

In my opinion, all Bipolars I have encountered have experienced or created 1 of the following situations in their life which is the catalyst: sexual abuse typically as a child or teenager, though sometimes adult; hard drug use/addiction, out of control, insane promiscuity, consistant physical/emotional abuse over long periods of time... etc..

Basically, something bad created it. And the up and down, once again in my opinion, is demonic control.

Which all humans experience, just these people experience it more because of those experiences It doesn't make them a worse human beign at all.

There are certain prayers that one can pray continiously over time to remove these spirits from their body. It takes a while but one can rid themselves of this disorder through prayer.

Or prescription....

My mom has Parkinson's Disease from prescriptions so.... I know I'd opt for prayer.

Answer 4

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 5

Yes, you can try prayer for bpd or herbs or transcendental meditations. At the end of the day, you better have a competent physician and the right meds or your condition will only worsen.

Answer 6

I found some good info here.

Answer 7

both actually.