Treatment for Bipolar Disorder in Jackson, WY

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is more commonly known as manic depressive disorder. The previous name for the disorder highlighted the characteristic high episodes interspersed with depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder is very different than the normal mood swings that most of us experience from time to time. Individuals with bipolar disorder suffer from dramatic high periods, during which they sometimes engage in very self-destructive behavior, and dramatic low periods that can be so severe they can drive one to suicide. 

What causes Bipolar Disorder?

It is thought that bipolar disorder is caused by many factors. The two most prominent are probably genes (there are strong heritability factors in bipolar disorder) and abnormal brain structure and brain function. 

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

People who have bipolar disorder can have depressive episodes, manic episodes or mixed episodes. In order to diagnose bipolar, one must have had at least one manic episode in their lifetime. 

      Mania is often characterized by the following:

• feeling up, happy, elevated or sometimes irritable
  
• feeling jumpy or wired
  
• racing thoughts often accompanied by feeling like you need to talk a lot or talk fast to get all of the ideas out
  
• difficulty sleeping or unwinding
  
• feeling like you are on top of the world; could accomplish anything
  
• often engaging in risky behavior, such as substance abuse, spending a lot of money, accumulating lots of credit card debt or having reckless sex

      Depression is often characterized by the following:

• feeling down or sad more days than not
• feeling anxious and having trouble concentrating
• being forgetful
• feeling easily tired 
• low self-esteem and feeling empty
• inappropriate guilt
• tearfulness
• lack of motivation or interest in things you normally enjoy

A mixed episode is when someone has symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time. Episodes typically last weeks or months. Sometimes individuals have psychotic symptoms with either depression or mania (audio or visual hallucinations and/or delusions).

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

There are many different types of medications that are helpful in treatment of bipolar, including anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, lithium and atypical anti-psychotics. Those who use medication should be monitored by their physician and be engaged in regular therapy. Therapy can help individuals manage their symptoms, behavior and lives. 

Prognosis

Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime, although some patients exhibit significant improvement in symptoms over time. Most individuals with bipolar will need to work toward acceptance of their illness as a part of their life that they need to constantly manage. Reducing the duration and frequency of episodes normally includes taking medication regularly, practicing good sleep hygiene, eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.