bipolar depression
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manic bipolar depression

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Q: What is the colour of bipolar / manic depression?
what colour is used for bipolar / manic depression – for example on ribbons etc etc??

Also is there a universal symbol for bipolar?? I saw one that looks kinda like a capital P but with the round part in the middle – do you know what it means??

Thanks

A: That would be a silver ribbon. It covers all genres of mental illness, as well as children with diabeties (I don’t know why diabeties is lumped into that category, but oh well).

As for a universal symbol, can’t say I’ve ever heard of one, sorry.

Q: Bipolar (manic depression) How do you handle the depressive rocketing out into mania?
My roommate has become a “Rocket Man” with manic behavior and I am stuck here with his mania. As I am bipolar myself, I am aware of the symptoms, but don’t know how to handle this guy.

A: Mania can be a very dangerous phase, and as for trying to control someone there – it is difficult.

Clearly if they are a friend then you need to watch out for them and try too stop them doing anything too dangerous or stupid.

Perhaps you can then talk when they are feeling better and ask them when it happens next time what they would like you to do for them.

Q: How many people with bipolar/manic-depression are on answers to night?
Wanted to see who has been staying awake all night, that way I’ll have someone to chat with. The more research I read on manic-depression the more I learn to appreciate my illness and you the excellent talents that come with it. There has been a correlation found between manic-depression, intelligence, and creativity. Something to be proud of; we are all wonderful and talanted people.
Does anyone feel like chatting tonight?

A: My mother and mother in law are both bipolar. Currently waiting on tests that are supposed to say that I am as well. One big manic depressive family

Q: what is a good site to us for research on manic bipolar depression?
what is a good site to us for research on manic bipolar depression

A: http://health.yahoo.com/mentalhealth-overview/bipolar-disorder-topic-overview/healthwise–ty1019.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml

Q: How is mental illness such as bipolar/manic depression + depression in general treated in egypt?
According to someone w/ a psychology degree in egypt, acceptance and understanding of mental disorders is a fairly new phenomenon. I’d like to know what kind of treatment people w/ bipolar receive in egypt since I find those w/ the “disease” fascinating individuals (tend to be musicians and artists…and to the potential uninformed person who wants to go off on multiple personalities and schizophrenia, it’s medically not the same as manic depression/bipolar. You’ll find that fact pointed out in a beginning psychology text book). Also, if recognition of mental illness isn’t as prevalent since the acceptance of mental sicknesses are kind of new, is there a severely high rate of suicide or other destructive behaviors? And with the lack of availability of jobs preventing ppl. from marrying at the time they would like to marry (and probably being a major factor in ppl. feeling sexually repressed and possibly upset often because of it), are depression rates high? If so, what is done4 it

A: I agree, it is really only just being acknowledged as a treatable condition in many countries, including Egypt.
Regarding Egypt,one problem faced is the difficulty of obtaining a correct diagnosis.
Most Egyptian people can not afford to seek a medical referral to a consulting specialist diagnostician in this area.
Many in fact cannot afford basic medical care,so this type of condition if recognised, becomes a low priority for committing money to.
There are among some, cultural issues to be considered.
More pronounced conditions also go untreated, not just because of the families financial situation and lack of treatment centres.
But also because any “illness” that is considered to weaken a person’s character, such as bipolar /manic depression, would be a form of discredit to the whole family.
Especially if the patient was male.
Up until very recently this was also the attitude of Western cultures,including America ,Europe and Australia.
Many would send the affected family member away to distant relatives to be cared for.
Or have them institutionalised.
It was a relatively common practice to lock the individual away from the eyes of even close friends and neighbours.
Denial by the individual is likely to play a very big part in the lack of those diagnosed and treated .
If at all possible, a normal “front” is played out with excuses made for the severe episodes.
This is still prevalent in the West,and is unlikely to change much at all in Egypt and other countries whose public health care system is deficiant in so many areas,such as education and availability by all to treatment.
Until education enlightens the inherent fear of any problem affecting our way of behaviours, those with these types of conditions will sadly continue to go untreated .

Q: Can you give me factual medical information on bipolar manic depression?
I was diagnosed with this. I take medication to keep at a stable medium mood. But at times my moods drop into severe depression and even suicidal modes. Last night was the first night that every two minutes I delt with a different mood. Happy, crying, panic attacks, self destructive, suicidal, worthlessness, and a medium stable clear headed mood. Every two minutes was a change. I know my stress levels have increased due to factors in my life. When in a stable medium mood I almost feel “normal”. In times like these I think maybe I need to be locked away in a psych facility long term with no people contact and be isolated. My mind runs rapid. My chest feel like it will explode at times. I cant breath. Then I feel worthless and hopeless and unloved and cry. Too much for one person to handle. I take medication. Should I take more? Or a different kind? I am going today back to the doctor for a check up on the bipolar. Do you have any helpful info to help me deal with this battle?

A: It hard to tell everything from what little you wrote, but it seems you have a few more problems than just bipolar, maybe some paranoia and schizophrenia. You say you take medication. Do you take it regularly everyday like the doctor prescribed, or do you miss a lot of doses? Most psych meds are meant to be taken continuously, even on days that you feel good. Don’t stop without asking your doctor first. Maybe you should check into a mental health facility for an extended stay, like 6 months to a year. Don’t think of it as a bad thing or being “locked away”. The doctors are there to help you get control of your life. They can monitor your meds daily and see what works best for you. You can’t do that by yourself. From what you wrote, it sounds like you are a danger to yourself and possibly others. Ask a family member to help you find a good facility close by. Don’t wait until its too late.

Q: What is it like having bipolar (manic depression)?
Tell me what your depression is about for instance what issue in your life is keeping you depressed? Do you believe you can’t change this issue but you think someone else could?

Also what are you high about? What other issue that is not a depression but is something that others don’t have in their lives that which you are manic over?

A: People with Bipolar Disorder go through long periods of deep depression followed by long periods of mania or elevated mood, long period meaning weeks or months or years…..

This is what it is like to have Bipolar disorder:

Depression – too tired to get out of bed, shower, even to brush my teeth. Cry all the time, sleep 16 hours a day. Feelings of self loathing and guilt that drive me to think of suicide but I’m to tired to even think about how to go about killing myself……. this can last from a couple of weeks to a couple of years.

Mania – Way too happy! PARTY GIRL! love drink and drugs. Talk really fast and pressured because my thoughts are going faster than my mouth can keep up with. Hypersexual – like I sleep with strangers and guys I just met on the internet or I masturbate 10 times a day. I once became bisexual because there were twice as many people to sleep with. Spending sprees….. I once spent my mortgage money on african violets, yep, $1500 on African violets (then I got depressed and let them all die). Quit my job because I wanted my vacation pay for lottery tickets and I was so convinced I would win that I started shopping and writing bad checks because I’d be rich as soon as the numbers were drawn. Only sleep 2 or maybe 3 hours a night for months on end and never feel tired. This can last for months

I also have mixed states when I am depressed and manic at the same time which are truly the worst… By body and mind are depressed but there is this undercurrent of energy running all the time….. I’m highly emotional but the emotions tend to be negative (guilt and anger) I have intrusive thoughts and urges to mutilate myself (like wanting to stick my hands in the garbage disposal or cooking them on the BBQ). This is when I am most suseptible to suicide because I am depressed, wanting to hurt myself, and I have the mental energy to plan and carry it out.

There are not issues that cause depression or mania or any of the other Bipolar symptoms….. it is strictly because of changing chemistry in the brain. The changes happen completely randomly and have no “issies” triggering them. Most people’s brains are very good at regulating the levels of chemicals in their brains…. Thos with Bipolar do not have that regulation so our brains chemical levels swing all over the place…..

Q: Are manic depression and Bipolar disorder really the same thing?
I was diagnosed with Manic Depression about three years ago. I stopped taking the meds after six months because I didn’t like what they do to me.

I have been having difficulty with my MD a lot lately–it’s been worse. Mood swings for no causes whatsoever. I was googling some alternatives to prescribed medication for Manic Depression and everything that came up was Bipolar disorder.

I knew that the two were similar–but are they really the same thing?

A: Yes, they are two names for the same disorder. Manic Depression is the old name for what is now called Bipolar Disorder. Professionals chose to discard the name “Manic Depression” or “Manic-Depressive Disorder” in favor of Bipolar Disorder because it is more accurate. Not all forms of bipolar cause manic episodes – bipolar II does not have manic features, but instead the patient suffers from “hypomanic” or “sub-manic” episodes. Cyclothymia also has these hypomanic features, as well as less profound depressive episodes. Because of the different varieties of the disorder, the name “Manic Depression” was misleading and inaccurate, so it was changed to Bipolar Disorder.

Hope that helps clear things up!

Q: What is the difference between Bipolar, manic depression, and?
boarderline personality disorder? How does one determine if they have one of these disorders or if they are just suffering from depression and anxiety?

A: Bipolar and Manic depression are the same thing.BPD is a personality disorder.

Q: I am bipolar (manic depression) and am taking lamictal and just started to take Invega for depression.?
I have reworded a question I asked last week to make it a bit more clearer. Unfortunately I was unable to get any good answers because I probably did not explain exactly what my condition is.

Has anyone that is bipolar (manic depression) ever been on the combo of Lamictal for manic depression and Invega which helps with depression that creeps up while on Lamictal?

A: The invega is not for depression but as an antipsychotic for bipolar disorder.It will pevent you going into mania if lamictal cannot control the mood swings

Q: What is the difference between Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression?
Every time I search for facts on Manic Depression, I get stuff on Bipolar Disorder instead, so is it the same thing?

A: I believe mental health professionals no longer use the term manic-depression, now it is officially called bipolar disorder.

Occasionally the DSM changes the names of certain disorders. For example there is no longer such a thing as ADD, now there is only ADHD with or without hyperactivity.

However, once a certain name has been used for so long, the name kinda sticks.

Q: HELP! Does anyone know a natural medication for bipolar/manic-depression or any natural ways to cope?
Even though I’ve been in hell all my life I know there is light here and at the end of the tunnel. I know all things can change and become better from the inside in a natural way. I feel that to get a prescription from a psychiatrist is no different than hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. I won’t know ’till I try, but I don’t want to risk it. It’s too scary and dangerous. If anyone out there knows of any natural way of going about something this terrible, please help me! Thank you!

A: The meds have side-effects and can have long-term harm, but untreated bipolar has long-term harm too. Like a lower life expectancy, probably all that stress and negative emotions working on your heart and all that. Also, there is considerable evidence that untreated bipolar progresses, causing brain damage. Treating it seems to help reverse or at least stop the brain damage. There are brain scans and autopsies showing this. Try bipolarworld.net for more, click on Dr. Phelps (ask the doctor) for more info.

I can tell you from personal experience, natural treatments will not be enough. The reason the psychiatrists tell people with bipolar that they need to be on meds is because it is true. Doctors tell diabetics they may avoid drugs if diet and exercise work, and they encourage them to try, docs do not say that for bipolar. Because it won’t work!! It will help, but it is not enuf.

Here are my bipolar treatment tips:

#1 You need to take the meds as prescribed. You can’t miss. A lot of people forget from time to time, and the pills can’t work if you forget to take them. There are pill boxes with little alarms on them. If your symptoms are getting bad, you need to call up your psychiatrist for a med adjustment. You may never get complete relief, but you will need to try things maybe for a few YEARS to be sure you can’t tweak things to a really good place for you.

#2 You probably will need the support of a counselor all your life. You have to learn to cope with stress better than most people, because stress makes the bipolar symptoms a lot worse. You will also have to make big efforts to keep a good social support network. To avoid burning through people, make sure you apologize sincerely and often if you go off on them or ignore them due to symptoms. You may want to join a support group with other people with mood disorders, they will give you a break and take it less personally when you relapse. Get some books on reducing stress. Over time, work your life into a low-stress direction.

#3 You need to keep a routine. Get up and go to bed at the same time each day. Sleeping in makes depression worse, staying up all night makes mania worse. Never take a swing shift type job.

If your depression seems to be more of a problem in the winter, try to get more sun. You could have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, or your depression could have a seasonal component, meaning you can get depressed other times of the year, but you tend to have more trouble in the winter. A light box is really good if you can afford one (about $300 online, don’t get it at a local store, they will charge more for a light less than 1/2 as bright). Since I will always have a mood disorder, I have put in extra windows, keep the drapes mounted so they don’t cover them, make sure I spend a lot of time in southern exposure rooms, painted the walls peach and yellow, mostly. I even have a skylight, although that was here when I moved in (and I LOVE it, it helps a lot!!!!!)

If anxiety is a component of your depression, try turning the heat up in the house or dressing much more warmly. It is hard to feel anxiety when you are too warm. I was able to cut out ativan use altogether by using this trick. Saved me big $$ too, because pills cost way more than heat. Hot baths work too, and in a pinch, like at work/school, you can try running hot water over your hands. Also, if anxiety is a primary problem, avoid caffeine like the plague. I personally use a lot of caffeine, because the depression is much more of a problem than the anxiety. Can’t win for losing! Also, some cold remedies can cause anxiety and mania, and lack of control. Look for the “agitation in children” warning on the box. Adult bipolar folks can get problems too. Other drugs can trigger mania, too, like steroids (given at surgery I think).

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! They help reduce stress, which makes depression worse.
Go out with friends, and if you don’t have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes depression worse. I go to a social club for people with severe mental illness, because I’m ashamed of my disability and don’t want to deal with the “what do you do for a living” question.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really hyper or depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety a lot.

If your mania makes it hard for you to sleep, here are some good “sleep hygeine” tips so you can sleep better. Like go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don’t use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer and all that-just use the room as a bedroom normally would be used. Don’t do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. (sooooooooooo hard!) You want to use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath? Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock radio, even so the light doesn’t shine at you. If you live in the rackety city, use a noise generator (makes wave sounds and the like) to cover up the city sounds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Put a lot of colorful things around the house, happy type things, and keep the blinds open and let the sun in. Get yourself some flowers. Put on some nice clothes. Make a list of things that make you happy. Here’s some things on my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, The first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen’s cherry almond lotion, The crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, flicking a topwater lure out onto the morning-still lake water, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are breaking down.

Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things and too much to do is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family. Ask for help when you are really having symptoms. You have to learn to be humble here, if you need help, you need help. Try your best to be really, really organized, so when you ditz out from cognitive problems, it will be OK.

Make sure friends will intervene if you are manic, or you will bankrupt yourself or get a sexually transmitted disease or something awful like that.

You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is very helpful. Most people in the US or UK are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good to cuddle with, too, if your home situation allows you to get one. (I’m an animal lover, don’t get one if you can’t commit to it for 15 years)

If your bipolar is severe (poorly controlled by meds) then consider asking for help from social services. My county offers classes and there is also a consumer run drop in center, which is a fun club for people with mental illnesses run by people with mental illnesses. We play cards and pictionary and do crafts and take trips places, etc. The drop in center has helped me more than anything else, except the pills. Social support-so important!!

Go to bipolarworld.net and read all of Dr. Phelp’s (Ask the Doctor) stuff, including the links to his site. You can learn a lot from him, he’s a bipolar specialist.

I hope some of these tips have helped!!

Q: What are healthy ways dealing with manic depression bipolar? What are steps to healing and acceptance?

A: 1) Educating yourself on the subject
2) Attending a regular support group (NAMI)
3) Medications when necessary
4) Talk Therapy
5) Gaining support and understanding from your friends and family
6) Knowing that tomorrow is another day and you’ll feel better even if you think everything’s hopeless today.
7) Helping others that have medical problems that are worse than yours

Q: Any words of advice or comfort for the husband of a Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) sufferer?
I have been married to my wife Josie for just over 7 months. She suffers from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), though only really suffers the “manic” cycles. She is currently displaying her trigger symptoms, which are “suspicious thoughts” where she thinks she is in some kind of spy story. Although I thought I’d be able to be strong for her, I’ve found myself very scared and worried.
I am obviously encouraging her to keep the specialist up to date, especially while she is aware of it, in the hope that they can suggest medication etc to stop it ballooning into anything as serious as she has suffered in years gone by.
Just wondered if there was anyone out there with any words of wisdom?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Martin
You may have to forgive my spelling here, but my wife’s medication is Lithium and Olanzapine. The latter has been increased in dose recently, as she is also taking beta-blockers to combat recent migraines.

A: I really feel for you, my husband has bi-polar and we have been married for 17 years.
I found a great book that has helped me to understand the illness a little better, if you can get a copy, it is well worth the read. “Loving Someone with Bi-Polar Disorder” helping & understanding your partner, By Julie A Fast and John D Preston, PSY.D.

Staying on meds and taking at the right time and right dose does not always keep someone with bi-polar stable, it will help flaten out the mood swings but not stop them altogether. If that is the case for your wife, you should both sit down with her doctor and work out a plan of action for when the cycle starts to change.

Q: How should I approach interacting with a person with bipolar or manic depression?
I’ve come across an individual who has bipolar disorder. It seems like this person has some serious issues and is trying to demand a fair amount from me, which I’m really resisting. I just don’t think it’s my place to get involved in the issues. I don’t have the training or skills.

However, I wonder, in general, how I might interact with this person to help while not getting sucked in to the problem.

A: Are you sure he has bipolar disorder or Borderline personality disorder ? Sometimes the symptoms can have overlap. The biggest issue in case of bipolars is managing their mood swings , their anger and rage. You must win his trust and ensure that even in worst of episodes he can be controlled by you. Also observe if he is exhibiting any signs of excessive spending , gambling or in depressive state suicidal attempts or suicidal ideation. Basically ensure that he does not cause any harm to himself or anyone around the society.

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