Thursday, April 18, 2024

Can Bipolar Go Away With Age

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This Huge Secret About Donald Trumps Finances Just Got Outthis Cant Be Real

Bipolar Disorder – When we use Lithium

Turns out Donald Trump may not care too much about after all, as it has been announced his new media company is worth an eye-watering $10 billon! Yes, you read that right and no, we couldnt believe it either!

Trump Media and Technology Group was set up earlier this year by the 75-year-old former president following his ban from Twitter after the raid on the Capitol building. It has yet to actually produce anything but with plans to launch its very own social media platform entitled Truth Social, investors are flocking to support him!

Turns out Donald Trump may not care too much about after all, as it has been announced his new media company is worth an eye-watering $10 billon! Yes, you read that right and no, we couldnt believe it either!

For the eager traders out there, we must inform you that there isnt actually any stock associated with the business yet, but investors can buy into a Special Purpose Acquisition Company which will at some point merge with TMTG. When the news was first revealed, shares of the SPAC rocketed from $10 to $60 each over the last month! Thats business that even Trump himself would be proud of!

Be warned though that SPACs are often overvalued, and research shows that 16 SPACs that merged in the last two years lost an average of 35% of their values. Not so good after all Trump would not approve!

Can You Be Hypomanic Without Losing Control

Think of two people with very different temperaments or personality styles. One is usually calm, even-tempered, rarely anxious and mostly has positive self-esteem. The second person, by contrast, approaches most things with apprehension and doubt and often feels that stress undermines his or her capacity to think clearly and make good decisions. These are people who approach life quite differently.

Imagine these two people both experience the same difficult and challenging day. While their external stress may be comparable, these individuals’ capacity to manage their day is quite different. For the one with anxiety and deficient self-soothing, their fearfulness and difficulty remaining calm are stressors in and of themselves. In other words, the psyche of the individual absolutely plays a significant role in how the day is experienced. The notion that circumstance or other people make us feel anyway in particular is inaccurate. Life comes at us, but our response is our own creation.

I dont want to replicate the perspective that I criticized at the outset of this blog. Psychotherapy wont likely resolve the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Even the most insightful, self-aware, self-accepting bipolar individual will still experience some mixture of highs, lows and/or irritability that will be difficult to manage. Thats life with bipolar disorder.

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Managing A Manic Episode

It is not always possible to prevent a manic episode, but as the condition progresses, the individual and their friends and family may start to notice the signs of a mood change.

Here are some tips when this happens:

  • See a doctor, if it is the first time, if you have discontinued treatment, or if treatment is not working.
  • Follow the treatment plan and keep all medical appointments, as medications may need adjusting.
  • Try to keep to a regular sleeping pattern and avoid unnecessary stress when possible.
  • Eat a healthful diet and get enough exercise.
  • Avoid alcohol and other substances.
  • Keep track of your moods and feelings.

If you have people around you, try to share with them what is happening so that they can support you.

Other remedies that do not involve the use of traditional drugs include supplements and counseling.

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When Your Teen Has Bipolar Disorder Or Depression

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Experts coach parents to expect the worst during the teen years: defiance, acting out, drug experimentation, even minor criminal activity. With friends moaning about their childrens attitudes and outrageous stunts, its easy to assume your teenagers behavior falls in line with the norm. It may and it may not.

It can be difficult to separate teenage moodiness from a more serious mood disorder like bipolar disorder or clinical depression.

Look over the following characteristics associated with bipolar disorder. If your teens behavior matches four or more, you should have him or her evaluated for bipolar disorder with a doctor.

Some or all of the following characteristics indicate depression:

  • lack of interest in activities once enjoyed

  • persistent sadness

  • persistent thoughts of death or suicide

  • unexplained aches and pains suicidal thoughts

If that person only exhibits/reports the symptoms listed above, the doctor typically suspects depression .

What If We Dont Even Want to Know?

Denial works, but only in the short term. Your life and those of everyone in the family will improve once the ill individual receives an accurate diagnosis. Why?

Can a Mood Disorder Underlie My Teenagers Terrible Behavior?

  • academic failure

  • poor social relations

  • suicide attempts

The Diagnosis is In . . .

Your teen will most likely work. They will most likely have friends and even spouses,

Telomeres And Biological Aging

Grange Hill

Telomeres act as protective caps on the ends of DNA strands. Each time a cell divides, the telomere becomes shorter, until it is so short that the cell can no longer replicate.

In this way, telomere length can be used as a measure of biological aging and susceptibility to disease. In older people, telomeres are generally shorter. However, biological aging is different from chronological aging.

Various genetic and environmental factors can influence the rate of biological aging, meaning that two people of the same chronological age might be different ages biologically.

Telomere length is currently being investigated as a biomarker for neuropsychiatric conditions. For instance, shortened telomeres have been found in individuals with major depressive disorder, , and dementia.

An association has also been found between telomere length and the structure of the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain involved in memory and mood regulation. Similarly, shorter telomeres are associated with

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Opt Out Of Substances Like Cannabis And Alcohol

Substance use may worsen the clinical course of bipolar disorder. You may experience earlier onset, more rapid mood cycling, or more mixed mania episodes.

When youre in a mood episode, trying to mute symptoms with alcohol or recreational substances may be an option you keep on the table just in case. Youre not alone in this thought. Though you may feel benefits initially, the long-term effects could be problematic.

What Are The Treatments For Bipolar Ii Disorder

Hypomania often masquerades as happiness and relentless optimism. When hypomania is not causing unhealthy behavior, it often may go unnoticed and therefore remain untreated. This is in contrast to full mania, which by definition causes problems in functioning and requires treatment with medications and possibly hospitalizations.

People with bipolar II disorder can benefit from preventive drugs that level out moods over the long term. These prevent the negative consequences of hypomania, and also help to prevent episodes of depression.

Mood Stabilizers

Lithium : This simple metal in pill form is highly effective at controlling mood swings in bipolar disorder. Lithium has been used for more than 60 years to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium can take weeks to work fully, making it better for long-term treatment than for acute hypomanic episodes. Blood levels of lithium and other laboratory tests must be monitored periodically to avoid side effects.

Carbamazepine : This antiseizure drug has been used to treat mania since the 1970s. It’s possible value for treating bipolar depression, or preventing future highs and lows, is less well-established. Blood tests to monitor liver functioning and white blood cell counts also are periodically necessary.

Valproate : This antiseizure drug also works to level out moods. It has a more rapid onset of action than lithium, and it can also be used “off label” for prevention of highs and lows.

Antipsychotics

Benzodiazepines

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First Identify Your Stressors

Stressors can worsen episodes that were already queuing in the brain.

The symptoms of a mood episode may be difficult to spot. They can start slowly, building as time goes on. By identifying stressful events, places, or situations, you can take precautions against significant shifts in mood stability.

Holidays, for example, can be stressful for many people. You may not realize youre feeling symptoms of mania or depression until you suddenly feel inundated. Perhaps your ex-spouse is getting remarried, and you worry your kids will take to the new stepmom. Or youre up for your annual review at work and the uncertainty sparks a depressive episode.

Identifying stressors can also help you plan ahead. You can focus on things that help you relax. You can reach out to family and friends for additional support.

Which Teens Are At Risk For Bipolar Disorder

What is PSYCHOSIS?

A teen is at higher risk for bipolar disorder if another family member has it. Researchers are still looking for the gene or genes that may cause the disorder.

The disorder often starts in the teen years or early adulthood. It affects boys and girls equally. But girls tend to have more symptoms of depression.

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Mental Health Treatment Locator

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides this online resource for locating mental health treatment facilities and programs. The Mental Health Treatment Locator section of the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator lists facilities providing mental health services to persons with mental illness. Find a facility in your state at www.nimh.nih.gov/findhelp.

Types Of Bipolar Disorder

There are three basic types of bipolar disorder all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely up, elated, and energized behavior or increased activity levels to very sad, down, hopeless, or low activity-level periods . People with bipolar disorder also may have a normal mood alternating with depression. Four or more episodes of mania or depression in a year are termed rapid cycling.

  • Bipolar I Disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least seven days or when manic symptoms are so severe that hospital care is needed. Usually, separate depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least two weeks. Episodes of mood disturbance with mixed features are also possible.
  • Bipolar II Disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes described above.
  • Cyclothymic Disorder is defined by persistent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes. The symptoms usually occur for at least two years in adults and for one year in children and teenagers.
  • Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorders is a category that refers to bipolar disorder symptoms that do not match any of the recognized categories.

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When Does Bipolar Development Begin

Bipolar tendencies can develop during early adolescence, as a teenager, or later on as a young adult. However, it can be difficult to make an early diagnosis since many of the symptoms of bipolar overlap with the natural tendencies of hormone fluctuations and puberty that occur at those ages. Negative symptoms may also seem to get better or go away for extended periods. As a result, bipolar is often diagnosed later in life after it has already fully developed into a more acute form. At that point, the individual can try to cope with episodes, but mood fluctuations may increase in intensity until one has no choice but to seek professional treatment.

How Is Nimh Addressing Bipolar Disorder

BUILD A STRONG BRAIN

The National Institute of Mental Health conducts and supports research on bipolar disorder that increases our understanding of its causes and helps develop new treatments. Researchers continue to study genetics and bipolar disorder, brain function, and symptoms in children and teens who have bipolar disorder, as well as family history in health and behavior.

Learn more about NIMHs research priorities and current studies.

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Bipolar Disorder: How Common Is It In Seniors

The exact number of seniors with bipolar disorder is unknown.

A recent study estimated that one in ten new cases of bipolar disorder occur in adults over 50, but many researchers believe that these numbers are too high.

The Veterans Administration and other organizations found the following data in their studies on how bipolar disorder affects the elderly.

  • 25 percent of patients with bipolar disorder treated at VA hospitals were 65 years of age or older.
  • 6 percent of older patients with bipolar disorder were recently diagnosed with the illness.

An independent clinic study conducted outside of the VA noted that 41 percent of the participants ages 18 to 70 first noticed their bipolar disorder symptoms after they had turn 40 years old.

Researchers are not indicating that the disease is suddenly increasing in frequency, only that bipolar disorder in seniors might have always been more common than they thought only it was either undiagnosed or attributed to other disorders/conditions.

Studies also found that bipolar disorder occurs equally in men and women. When it appears in adults over 50, women are twice as likely to exhibit symptoms as men.

In What Age Groups Is The Onset Of Bipolar Affective Disorder Most Likely

The age of onset of bipolar disorder varies greatly. For both BPI and BPII, the age range is from childhood to 50 years, with a mean age of approximately 21 years. Most cases of bipolar disorder commence when individuals are aged 1519 years. The second most frequent age range of onset is 2024 years.

Some patients diagnosed with recurrent major depression may indeed have bipolar disorder and go on to develop their first manic episode when older than 50 years. These individuals may have a family history of bipolar disorder. However, for most patients, the onset of mania in people older than 50 years should lead to an investigation for medical or neurologic disorders, such as cerebrovascular disease.

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How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed In A Teen

Bipolar disorder can be hard to spot. Thats because it may look like other health problems, such as depression. A teen must have both depressive and manic symptoms to a varying degree to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

A mental health provider will ask about your teens health history and symptoms. He or she will also do a mental health evaluation before making a diagnosis.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Olderage bipolar disorder with Dr. Martha Sajatovic

Sleep disturbances are common during all phases of bipolar disorder. You may find you sleep excessively when in a depressive episode or dont feel the need for sleep at all during mania.

  • optimizing your bedroom for light and sound exposure
  • focusing on relaxation before sleep
  • eliminating blue light exposure before bed
  • creating a comfortable, soothing bedroom atmosphere

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When To Call A Doctor

Since people in a manic state often dont realize anythings off, its unlikely that theyll call a doctor. Its one reason that some data has found that people wait an average of almost six years after the first sign of bipolar disorder to get diagnosed and treated. Most people with bipolar disorder seek help themselves when theyre in a depressive state. But antidepressants can make bipolar disorder worse, so its important that a professional takes your full medical history to ensure a proper diagnosis.

If you have a friend with bipolar disorder, it’s important to be aware of the signs and suggest they see their doctor. Its tricky not offending someone when you tell them their behavior is erratic or their moods unhealthy. But if you discuss it in a non-judgmental way, you may be able to help them see they need to seek help. Make it clear that you care and are only looking out for their best interests. Explain that its not their fault, many people struggle with this condition, and its an issue that can be helped by medicine and therapy. Sharing the facts of how you see their moods impacting them, you, and others can be helpful, particularly if you do it in a solution-seeking manner instead of an accusatory one.

Suicide is also a grave concern with bipolar disorder. If you, or someone you know, experiences any of the following signs, contact a professional immediately, or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255:

What To Expect During The Diagnostic Exam

A diagnostic exam for bipolar disorder generally consists of the following:

Psychological evaluation The doctor or bipolar disorder specialist will conduct a complete psychiatric history. You will answer questions about your symptoms, the history of the problem, any treatment youve previously received, and your family history of mood disorders.

Medical history and physical There are no lab tests for identifying bipolar disorder, but your doctor should conduct a medical history and physical exam in order to rule out illnesses or medications that might be causing your symptoms. Screening for thyroid disorders is particularly important, as thyroid problems can cause mood swings that mimic bipolar disorder.

In addition to taking your psychiatric and medical history, your doctor may also talk to family members and friends about your moods and behaviors. Often, those close to you are able to give a more accurate and objective picture of your symptoms.

Are your symptoms caused by something else?

Medical conditions and medications that can mimic the symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

  • Thyroid disorders
  • Adrenal disorders

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