Here Today... Gone To Hell!

If so, what are the symptons and how do you treat it?

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders, or mood swings, defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are usually separated by periods of "normal" mood, but in some individuals, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

Medication

The mainstay of treatment is a mood stabilizer medication such as Lithium Carbonate or Lamotrigine. There is an evidence based review which shows these two drugs are the most effective. Lamotrigine has been found to be best for preventing depressions. ; these two drugs comprise several unrelated compounds which have been shown to be effective in preventing relapses of manic, or in the one case, depressive episodes. The first known and "gold standard" mood stabilizer is lithium, while almost as widely used is sodium valproate, also used as an anticonvulsant. Other anticonvulsants used in bipolar disorder include carbamazepine, reportedly more effective in rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and lamotrigine, which is the first anticonvulsant shown to be of benefit in bipolar depression.

Treatment of the agitation in acute manic episodes has often required the use of antipsychotic medications, such as Quetiapine, Olanzapine and Chlorpromazine. More recently, Olanzapine and Quetiapine have been approved as effective monotherapy for the maintenance of bipolar disorder. A head-to-head randomized control trial in 2005 has also shown olanzapine monotherapy to be as effective and safe as lithium in prophylaxis.

The use of antidepressants in bipolar disorder has been debated, with some studies reporting a worse outcome with their use triggering manic, hypomanic or mixed episodes, especially if no mood stabiliser is used. However, most mood stabilizers are of limited effectiveness in depressive episodes. Rapid cycling can be induced or made worse by antidepressants, unless there is adjunctive treatment with a mood stabilizer. One large-scale study found that depression in bipolar disorder responds no better to an antidepressant with mood stabilizer than it does to a mood stabilizer alone.Recent research indicates that triacetyluridine may help improve symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Also, Topamax (generic name topiramate) is an anticonvulsant often prescribed as a mood stabilizer. It is an off-label use when used to treat bipolar disorder.

Alternative treatment

Psychosocia

Psychotherapy is aimed at alleviating core symptoms, recognizing episode triggers, reducing negative expressed emotion in relationships, recognizing prodromal symptoms before full-blown recurrence, and, practicing the factors that lead to maintenance of remission. Cognitive behavioural therapy, family-focused therapy, and psychoeducation have the most evidence for efficacy in regard to relapse prevention, while interpersonal and social rhythm therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy appear the most effective in regard to residual depressive symptoms. Most studies have been based only on bipolar I, however, and treatment during the acute phase can be a particular challenge. Some clinicians emphasize the need to talk with individuals experiencing mania, to develop a therapeutic alliance in support of recovery.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

Yes!!!...ummm, I mean no!!!

If you think you might have this disorder you should see a doctor, not ask for advice on a GNR message board.

Where's the fun in that?

I have never been clinically diagnosed *never been to a psychologist* but I definitely have all the symptoms.

Good diet, Sleep and exercise keeps me in check

if I don't do all three, I am a mess.

I would refrain from medication if at all possible, I just think medicine has interesting affects on a lot of people and they aren't always positive.

I just brought it up because, if you think about it, it is indeed a very annoying thing to suffer from but it has an interesting side: art. There?s TONS of celebrities, poets, musicians, film directors, etc... that suffer from it. So it is linked directly with creativity.
As for the treatment, I understand that convetional medicine can be not so good..I?ve seen people taking medicine for this kind of disorders and they, sometimes, appear lost and zoned out.

very few people suffer from true bipolar disorder. most suffer from cyclothymic disorder, a much milder form.

a textbook example of a manic episode(mania is required for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder) is the following:

a guy who doesn't sleep much (decreased need for sleep)and spends a lot of money in order to buy expensive clothes (shopping sprees)  gets arrested trying to enter the white house. he doesn't stop talking to the policemen (pressure to keep talking) and keeps telling them that he wants to meet with the president in order to organize a telethon to cure AIDS (ideas of grandiosity). When the policemen try to keep him away, he becomes aggressive (psychomotor agitation)

yeppers I was told I was bipolar (we'd like to put you on lithium), then I was told I was cyclothymic (take 6 of these quetiapine day and you'll be fiiine) and then....I said FUCK YOU DOCTOR PRICK I'M NOT TAKING YOUR STUPID PILLS ANYMORE.  -

I'm a thousand times more stable without the meds!

Like D says - medication does fuckin' weird things to a person.  I stopped dreaming and it didn't stop my behaviour at all....just made me walk an' talk like a zombie.  So not golden.


-singing along with that la-la bit in Catcher...-

I thought you were from another planet? or universe?? ???

didn't they have a cure for it before you came here? ;)

I think some of these diseases can also be cured by the root, as often is inherited.

To have people contemplate more before having children.

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

In all seriousness if you read any DSM IV criteria for any mental illness chances are that you will find that you have some of the symptoms.  Hence why you need a doctor, not a message board.  Mental Illness is the same as any other, it needs treatment.  Would you come on here and ask us how to deal with your cancer or diabetes?

Just 'cause you have access to WEB MD doesn't make you an expert.

Medication is trial and error, the same drug or combination thereof does not work for every person.

Norway, your views on things continue to remind me of Hitler.  No offense of course but maybe you might want to think before you actually type something out.  Should black people not procreate because they are more prone to Sickle Cell Anemia?  Every single person has GENETIC PREDISPOSITION TO SOMETHING, there is no PUREBRED as YOU seem to think there is.

True^^

But i will say assholes should never reproduce.

^ true ..
there should be a blood test you have to take....more brown then red, do not bed.. ;D

no bed , but spew it into a sock then throw it at the bottom of the laundry basket.

LOL@ predisposition to asshole-ism.  Indeed they should make such a test. :hihi:

There are so many undiagnosed cases it is almost sad....I was raised by one of them.....

an asshole or a bipolar?

i've dated a few girls who were bi-polar

Almost like dating Jekyll and Hyde.

So we need to erase every trace of these dispositions.
These "humanistic" idea's are unatural, it doesn't allow man to become the superhuman.

I think parents that by inheritance has caused children harm should go to jail.

Anyway, what do YOU know what I seem to think? I always said Christianity is shallow and breed shallow thought.

Battling diseases at the root of them is a natural solution, apart from that most advices already been posted. :peace:


Good! At least they don't remind you of Jesus :hihi:

Legitimating the idea of having someone else suffer and die because of our actions or for our temporary comfort is not ok imo.

Some people don't understand eliteism cause more long term life quality in quantity. A better trade-off as I see it.

actually, I think D's onto something here. People excercise way less than they should and the percentage of the depressed in the population is rising.

With exercise you get endorphine. Endorphine raise the pain treshold and produce sedation (Reduction of anxiety, stress, irritability, or excitement ) and euphoria.

If everyone exercised more there would maybe be a lot of less depressed persons out there.

Now, if you're heavily depressed hitting the gym must be the farthest thing on your mind since it takes all your energy to struggle through a day at work.

Maybe it would help just to give a depressed person some vacation, like a month?

You have issues and I would urge YOU not to populate.  I can't have a healthy conversation/debate with someone who has such ignorant views.


Less depressed, yes but this certainly would not cure bipolar disorder.

Well thank you very much for your wonderful insight and the personal advice, who are you?


Coming from someone who compares an norwegian to Hitler... ::)

You know, his views didn't originate from him...

Anyway, you said it yourself; I should not have children because I have "issues". Thats the same message as mine.

When it's used to mock it doesn't show a very sympatethic charracter (including that those who suffer from genuine conditions certainly wouldn't feel any better by the fact that you are using "issues" as an insult to attack) tho, but still-
-Those views are a part of all healthy and sane beings. Quality is all that matters.

Humans are actually worth more than some fractured egos you know :P



With depressions yeah, and not only what you point out but the estetiques in the enviroment of nature affects this too.

But a lot of the more serious and complex conditions, thats something many are borned with however...

Like I said before, I don?t think medicine is the best treatment, from what I undertsand it screws your mind and health in so mnay other ways. There?s natural treatments that work just fine, from what I?ve heard. However, I believe the best of treatments is to put your mind on something, get distracted as much as you can, a job, school or something. I guess that when people who suffer from this are not doing anything, their minds start to act against them, control them and makes them think lots of stuff. It seems that people who suffer from this have a lot of paranoias and shit.

Throwing English words together senselessly doesn't make a coherent argument, FYI. 

I compared your views, yes and they are quite the same.  You want to build a super race of those you see fit to breed.  The point you are missing is that the ones who think like YOU are the sick ones and should probably refrain from putting any more like yourself on this planet.  I don't give a rat's behind where you come from as I do not care where anyone does as I do not judge anyone by their ancestry or heritage or "genetic disposition".  Your "issue" is pure ignorance and severe stupidity, not one of mental illness.  I do not mock, I type this plain as day.

There are plenty of tactics on how to deal with mental illness and not all of them include medication.  Sometimes it is a necessary evil in the case of severe disorders like Bipolar Disorder.  Many people think any kind of erratic behavior must mean the person is Bipolar.  The term itself is used much too widely, IMO.

This made me  :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:  for some reason

I have found that berating Republicans on various message boards help ease my symptoms.

That explains so many liberals actually....   ;)

Well duh...his views came from folkgroups, not him.  And I think you should focus on his decisions, not views.

I guess you also think that the runes are nazi-symbols... ::)



Mhm...

Someone needs to control their temper and think twice before posting. :P

 

You said the same, certain people should not breed.

Where you mocking or were you giving an honest answer? Some many people should not have children right?




What part is ignorance and stupidity?

You're drawing hostile conclusions out from stereotyping and narrowminded, ignorant assumptions.

The diference between me and you in this is that I don't measure anyone for their philosophical views. ;)

We can save a lot of people from suffering by being more concious about genepool.
Knowing what is passed on and what the risks are etc...

Having people inherit disabillities, deformalities and  illness for our disrespect of nature and shallow, egocentric intrest...meh.




Find the best doctor, double-check and do exactly as they suggest, thats my advice. :peace:

I said you should not breed and you shouldn't.

Do you wait all day to type novels at me that make no sense?  Possibly you need some air or a life.  I am sure even your mentor, Hitler, had one. :hihi:

I read in TIME magazine many years ago that all highly creative people have some degree of Bipolar disorder. You need the intense mood swings in order to create. There are degrees though. If you can function in society, have a job etc than you probably don't need meds. The BACH FLOWER REMEDIES are a nice homeopathic treatment. They make me feel better.

You really are the center of the internet aren't you? Oink! :-*

 :hihi:


Edit:

Never said that you didn't :wave:

I focused on the diferent reasoning we have for those opinions.

You think some people shouldn't have children because:

1. You don't like them.
2. You disagree with their opinions.

Or maybe you're just throwing around insults to revolt around something or to express your feelings about me personally.

I think some people shouldn't have children because of nature and science, to prevent disorders f.x.

No, are you?

Norway you are so well....can't describe your type, I think they broke the mold when they made you, and you may want to keep it that way : ok:

Can you be bipolar if your mood changes all the time? I mean, like 20 times a day?

I just like to point out that when you call women "ladypigs", maybe you shouldn't start expecting me to run to your rescue when posters make fun of you....

Maybe you should've thought about that before starting to post your narrow minded crap....



I'm sorry that this Nordic brother is letting you down.  :rofl:




/jarmo

I am what they call "Gemini" moody is my middle name, but do I think I am bipolar, that would be a no :no:

I'm a fat ladypig 'because I am almost 5 months pregnant dammit!!!  :hihi:

It's just a damn good thing there are no serious genetic disorders in my family or I certainly shouldn't be breeding according to some here! ;D

LOL Jarmo! :beer:

This would qualify more as a personality disorder, see Borderline Personality.  Not you, MsAxl but someone who did have that many severe mood changes in a short period.  For some reason Bipolar and this disorder are often confused.

congrats bandita.

On topic I don't think I'm bipolar altho I might be some sort of maniac.

no trust me msaxl43 doesn't have a personality disorder.

http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv

I dunno about bi-polar but garry is a bit bi-curious

what does bi-curious mean??

like bi-assed?

Thanks ppbebe :)

Really, I think I made the wrong statement kind of ??? ( except for being Gemini) I can have a fast change of mood given a justified reason, that holds true for most, I do see where the two could be associated, yet easily confused, though I am sure I don't fall under either catagory thankfully :)

I got all negative in that test although that doesn't mean a shit.  :hihi:

IMO personality disorders are more troublesome than bi polar or mental disorders.

for example anti social personality disorder might have been the root of all evil in human history.

Fine, nothing new...getting used to it already but people are really missing the actual point.

"All men are pigs" hasn't gotten the same reactions. Sexist Bastards! :P



Oh, I myself am just a nazipigthatwannasterilizepeople, apart from that I'm normal.

come on norway don't try so hard to pretend you're a bad buy.

what's so wrong with pigs anyway? are you all Muslims in the closet???

 
Sometimes I feel the urge to wrap a towel round my head, yes :-[ :hihi:


Entirely understandable that a lot of men are curious considering what women have become...

Anyway, to Dot;
Always listen to the doctor and check with another if you disagree.

Medicine can have side-effects but consider carefully.

Oh no, I wasn't implying you were---being that I met you and all you seem completely normal and lovely!  I was just stating that swinging moods can be indicitive of BPD but it also has to be in conjunction with other factors.

@ppbebe-thank you!

It's all good Bandita, thanks for the above compliment as well, I didn't take it as if you were implying otherwise : ok: 

Yeah, mad props for Rescue Remedy.  It helped me a lot while I was at school and stressing out before classes an' stuff.

I s'pose I should get some more, now I'm not self-medicating with pot...

There are many cases of people with severe mental illness who were very creative and smart, if not genius. 

I think I remember there being a quote somethin' like 'there's a fine line between genius and insanity'....

Yes indeed.

My first relationship was with a bi-polar person. Kind of interesting.
But, as long as he took his medication, he was fine.

I have cyclothemia and am on citalopram which is mean to take the edge off, although recently I have been starting to think it isnt working as I have been doing my old spending money, going hyper then snapping at peopl routine.

Think its just something I eitehr accept and live with or try to medicate more, its fun when im hyper but not so great when my bank statements arrive, also not fun for the people around me when im down.

It's a very sad thing to have - I know a woman who has it.

I'm a Gemini too... sometimes annoying, sometimes brilliant  :hihi:.

Exactly, it means the guy can't decide whether he wants a shaved ass or a hairy ass. 

citalopram sucks dick! It turned me into a goddamned zombie and didn't fix my mood swings at all either~!!

Nothing worse than a moody zombie.

I'll ask myself and answer later.

Bi-polar?  Nah, just one pole here. 

We're all bipolar to some degree, it's human nature.  The pharmaceutical companies want us to believe that we need meds for it but the meds are stupid and don't do a damn thing.

Sociopaths are much more interesting.

^ Nightprowler, I'd like to see some stats to back up your claim.  I seem to have heard a lot of crimes get committed when these folks are off their meds.
...and yes, there are legitimate cases of bipolar out there.  No offense meant but there are nutjobs out there.  Real, genuine crazy folks.  On their meds they seem to be able to cope in the real world, but off their meds, they are a menace to society.  When you hear of the atrocities it really makes you wonder if we as a society are doing everything we can to protect the innocent victims.

Define normal.  I've yet to meet a person who doesn't have some pyschosis of some sort. 

As for stats  - maybe I'll research that for you.  Sociopaths tend to get caught less frequently because they think out their plans first.  Your run-of-the-mill nutjob just reacts without logic. 

I agree that there seems to be a prescription drug for almost everything. The line can get blurry. It reminds me of something Chris Rock said about all those commercial ads for prescription drugs when referring to the broad symptoms: "Do you go to bed at night and wake up in the morning?...I got that!"

But people should definitely get help if they're having problems.  Unfortunately there's always been a negative social stigma against mental illness. Labels like "crazy" are attached to mental illness. This sort of attitude may cause inhibitions and possibly prevent someone from getting help. And mental illness is not a precursor for violence or criminal acts.

hello!  Now you meet me.

Courtesy of GypsySoul:

God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27)

I always seek comfort in that.