Living With Bipolar Disorder Can A Bipolar Person Live A Normal Life
If a bipolar person can indeed live a normal life, what might that look like? Dr. Nelson gave an encouraging picture of what living with bipolar disorder can be like:
Of course, there is no normal, per se, but you can live with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, if you manage your health, follow a healthy regimen that controls symptoms and take care of yourself. For many, the diagnosis of a mental disorder leads to feelings that they will not be functional, a lot of fear and a lot of unknowns.
In fact, the reality of life with bipolar disorder may turn out to be a good deal better than what a person might fear, according to Dr. Nelson. He said that many people with bipolar disorder, knowing that they need to take care of themselves, might actually do better than normal, because they are conscientious about their health.
Dr. Nelson used the analogy of living with diabetes. He noted that many diabetic patients are so committed to their healthy diet that they are the healthiest eater in the familybecause they know that eating poorly will affect their health more intensely.
What Can I Do To Manage My Symptoms
You can learn to manage your symptoms by looking after yourself. Selfcare is how you take care of your diet, sleep, exercise, daily routine, relationships and how you are feeling.
What lifestyle changes can I make?
Making small lifestyle changes can improve your wellbeing and can help your recovery.
Routine helps many people with their mental wellbeing. It will help to give a structure to your day and may give you a sense of purpose. This could be a simple routine such as eating at the same time each day, going to bed at the same time each day and buying food once per week.
Your healthcare professionals should offer you a combined healthy eating, exercise and sleep programme.
You can find more information about wellbeing any physical health at:www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/wellbeing-physical-health/.
What are support groups?
You could join a support group. A support group is where people come together to share information, experiences and give each other support.
You might be able to find a local group by searching online. The charity Bipolar UK have an online support group. They also have face to face support groups in some areas of the country. Their contact details are in the Useful contacts at the bottom of this page.
What are recovery colleges?
Unfortunately, recovery colleges arent available in all areas. To see if there is a recovery college in your area you can use a search engine such as Google.
Does Bipolar Get Better With Age
Addressing symptoms early on is one of the best ways to minimize a manic or depressive episode. At the same time, identifying the patterns of mood fluctuations may help individuals identify triggers and anticipate episodes. Even in these cases, however, bipolar symptoms usually get worse with age when left untreated. The longer an individual goes without treatment, the greater the negative impact their fluctuating moods often have on their personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, many people put off treatment throughout their lives because the downs of bipolar come and go while the highs convince them theyre better and dont need help.
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What Happens When A Bipolar Person Goes Off Their Meds
If you decide to stop treatment on your own, or skip your medication, the recurrence of manic and depressive symptoms in the next episodes may be more difficult to prevent and manage. Your condition may take a downward spin, meaning the frequency and intensity of the episodes may increase throughout life.
Will It Get Worse Untreated
Yes, untreated bipolar disorder can get worse and become life-threatening. Each successive, untreated episode can become progressively more severe, last longer and prove harder to recover from.
This reality makes early intervention important. As with all things it is better to catch something early, Dr. Nelson said. Usually, a real conversation with a healthcare provider can help someone to see what is going on and get on top of it before the symptoms get worse.
Once a person is on medication and seeing a therapist, they also need to stick with their treatment program. Stopping medication or falling into unhealthy habits can lead to a return of symptoms and consequences related to bad decision making.
If you stop your medication or run out, a visit to your healthcare provider is a must, Dr. Nelson said. Sometimes a patient may think, I do not need this medication anymore, and that is not something you should do without consulting your doctor. It could be a very big mistake and is not something you should decide alone.
In a similar vein, ongoing maintenance therapy can help to ensure you catch things early, since the therapist will know you, will be able to interpret symptoms and talk with you about what you are experiencing. From there, it will be easier to see if a tune up is needed or if there are some helpful things you can add to keep yourself healthy.
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The Importance Of Early Psychosis Treatment
Studies have shown that the earlier treatment is initiated for psychosis, the better the long-term outcomes for the patient. The duration of untreated psychosis, or DUP, is measured as the time from the beginning of psychotic symptoms to the time a person starts treatment for those symptoms or a diagnosed condition.
There is strong evidence that treatment for psychosis is more effective the shorter the DUP is. Patients treated sooner see better improvement in symptoms, have a better quality of life after treatment, and have improved functioning, as compared to those who have long DUPs. In the U.S., the average DUP is longer than what is considered to be acceptable by international standards.
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Why Mental Illness Often Goes Undiagnosed And Untreated
Due to the nature of mental health, those with a mental illness or illnesses in general often live with their symptoms for long periods before seeking treatment if they ever do so at all. Without professional help, mental conditions will only get worse, so the sooner that patients are diagnosed and begin treatment, the better. Persistent symptoms often drive people to self-medicate, which is the act of abusing drugs or alcohol to get temporary relief from their symptoms.
This behavior is typically observed in those with a chronic condition, particularly mental disorders, and can be more accessible than professional treatment depending on the individual case. However, self-medication is only initially effective.
After it becomes the standard solution for symptoms, it shortly becomes the same for any ills whatsoever. This progression soon gives way to substance abuse and addiction followed by patients turning one mental condition into two, each enabling the other to spiral out of control.
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Can All Symptoms Subside
People can have symptoms from mild to severe, Dr. Nelson said, adding that often the disorder is diagnosed in the late teen years.
Since the severity of symptoms can vary between individuals, theres no universal answer to this question. With the right treatment, many or all symptoms may subside. Dr. Nelson explained that bipolar disorder is characterized by the occurrence of down episodes and up moods.
The up episodes can be either hypomanic or manic: Hypomania is an elevated mood and change in behavior but is not as full-blown or intense as full mania, which can often be characterized by irrational or grandiose thinking, risky behaviors, lack of sleep, and a boundless energy.
The fact that bipolar disorder can be episodic means that symptoms can reoccur after a period of dormancy. This means that as with any dynamic system, such as the body or the mind, you need to be aware when you see things that are concerns.
Much like the check engine light on your car alerts you to go in for a service, he continued, there are also some signs that can be helpful to know that a change of medication or self-care adjustment needs to be made.
Not everyone has the same warning signs. It is a good idea to talk with your doctor or therapist about the symptoms you experience and things to watch out for.
Paranoid Schizophrenia: Causes Symptoms And Complications
Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onOctober 17, 2016
Paranoid schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia in which the patient experiences delusions that somebody may be plotting against them or their family or friends. This is the most common form of schizophrenia. These patients may also experience auditory hallucinations, meaning they hear things that are not real.
Patients may spend majority of their time thinking of ways they can protect themselves or their loved ones from these delusions or hallucinations.
Compared to patients with other types of schizophrenia, patients with paranoid schizophrenia often have fewer memory problems, dulled emotions, and concentration difficulties. This allows these patients to think more clearly and have a higher level of functioning.
Paranoid schizophrenia is a chronic condition. And because its there for life, it does increase the risk of complications later on.
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What’s Considered An Abnormal Extreme Change In Behavior And What Does It Look Like
Abnormal manic behavior is behavior that stands out. Its over-the-top behavior that other people can notice. The behavior could reflect an extreme level of happiness or irritation. For example, you could be extremely excited about an idea for a new healthy snack bar. You believe the snack could make you an instant millionaire but youve never cooked a single meal in your life, dont know a thing about how to develop a business plan and have no money to start a business. Another example might be that you strongly disagree with a website influencer and not only write a 2,000 word post but do an exhaustive search to find all the websites connected to the influencer so you can post your letter there too.
Although these examples may sound like they could be normal behavior, a person with mania will expend a great deal of time and energy including many sleepless nights working on projects such as these.
What Is Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be a life-long mental health problem that mainly affects your mood. It affects how you feel, and your mood can change massively. You can experience episodes of:
- mania, and
- depression.
You may feel well between these times. When your mood changes, you might see changes in your energy levels or how you act.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe. They can affect areas of your life, such as work, school and relationships.
You usually develop bipolar disorder before you are 20. It can develop in later life, but it rarely develops after the age of 40.
You could have symptoms of bipolar disorder for some time before a doctor diagnoses you. A doctor might say you have something else such as depression before you get a bipolar disorder diagnosis. This is because diagnosing mental illnesses can be sometimes difficult for doctors. They usually cant do things like blood tests and scans to help them.
Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression.
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How Substance Use Can Affect Diagnosis
Substance misuse can complicate mental illness diagnosis in a number of ways. A person who is using substances such as alcohol or drugs may exhibit behaviors or symptoms that look like bipolar disorder.
Misdiagnosis can occur if a provider does not know the person is using substances and attributes symptoms related to use with bipolar disorder. But some research has suggested bipolar disorder may be misdiagnosed even when a clinician is aware of a person’s history of substance use.
Alternatively, people who are using drugs or alcohol may not be correctly diagnosed with bipolar disorder if their symptoms are attributed to substance use rather than underlying bipolar disorder.
Substance use disorders frequently co-occur with many mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and depression.
Treatment For Bipolar Disorder
If you spot the symptoms of bipolar disorder in yourself or someone else, dont wait to get help. Ignoring the problem wont make it go away in fact, it will almost certainly get worse. Living with untreated bipolar disorder can lead to problems in everything from your career to your relationships to your health. But bipolar disorder is highly treatable, so diagnosing the problem and starting treatment as early as possible can help prevent these complications.
If youre reluctant to seek treatment because you like the way you feel when youre manic, remember that the energy and euphoria come with a price. Mania and hypomania often turn destructive, hurting you and the people around you.
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Rapid Cycling In Bipolar Disease
The phrase rapid cycling refers to four or more cycles in a 12-month period. However, while having four or more cycles in a one-year period means meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of rapid-cycling bipolar illness, rapid cycling is not necessarily a permanent pattern. Rather, rapid cycling can present at any point in the course of the disease. And it can be transient.
While about 2.5% of Americans have bipolar disorder, only about 10% to 20% of those will develop rapid cycling.
Rapid cycling may be more likely to affect those who were young when symptoms first appeared, those who have had bipolar disorder for a longer time, and those who misuse alcohol and other substances.
In addition, the term âultra-rapid cyclingâ may be applied to those who cycle through episodes within a month or less. If this pattern occurs within a 24-hour period, the personâs diagnosis could possibly be termed âultra-ultra-rapid cyclingâ or âultradian.â It is often difficult to tell ultradian cycling from a mixed episode.
What Age Does Bipolar Start
The onset age of bipolar disorder varies from person to person, however, the age range is from childhood to 50.
Though most of the cases start at the age of 15-19 and the second most age range varies from 20-21.
However, there are also some cases where a person older than 50 years develops manic episodes.
Note: If you are an inhabitant of Bihar and suffering from this disorder, then do consult Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh who provides the best Bipolar disorder Treatment in Patna.
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Its Similar To Other Mental Health Conditions
People with bipolar disorder usually get diagnosed with something else firstdepression and ADHD are some of the most common. Depression is a part of bipolar disorder, and most people are more familiar with what depression looks like than mania. ADHD can also look very similar to bipolar disorder, especially in children.
Once a person discovers they have bipolar disorder, that might replace any previous diagnosisor they might have multiple mental health conditions at once. If you know someone who is being treated for a mental illness, but they still struggle with symptoms of bipolar disorder, its worth considering that there may be more going on.
Do People With Bipolar Know They Have It
Bipolar disorder is a pretty common mental health condition. About 1 in 40 American adults live with it. Its common in children and adolescents, but it usually doesnt get diagnosed until adulthoodit can take up to ten years from the time a person experiences symptoms to the time they actually get diagnosed!
So no, not everyone who has bipolar disorder knows they have it. There are lots of reasons why someone with bipolar disorder might not realize itor why they might deny having it even if they do. If you think someone you know might have untreated bipolar disorder, there are a few things you can do to help.
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Differentiating Between Bipolar Disorder & Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are both mental health disorders characterized by manic episodes, depression, psychosis, and hallucinations it can be challenging to distinguish one from the other. Although both can occur because of a variety of genetic and biological factors, these two disorders are diagnosed and treated very differently.
The Importance Of Treating Bipolar Disorder
Manic episodes can cause reckless behavior, including:
-
Binge-drinking
-
Risky sex
-
Overeating
These can lead to legal battles, financial trouble, injuries, broken relationships, lost jobs, and even deathto the individual or to others. These consequences could increase stress and worsen mental health. The risks are so high that doctors generally recommend quick hospitalization for people having a manic episode.
To prevent manic episodes, people with bipolar disorder often get different treatment than people with depression. That is because standard antidepressants can sometimes increase the risk of manic episodes. Instead, treating bipolar disorder often includes mood-stabilizing medicines.
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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.
When Does Bipolar Disorder Develop
People often describe themselves or others as bipolar when theyre happy one moment and sad the next. As with other mental health issues, the words are overused and often ascribed to regular everyday emotions and experiences.
However, theres more to bipolar disorders than mood swings. Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder thats characterized by periods of extreme depression, manic episodes, and normal moods. Sometimes you may cycle through these episodes throughout a month, a few days, or even in a single 24-hour period.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, which means it affects the way you feel and how your brain regulates your moods. Mental health issues like bipolar disorder are complex, and they can be difficult to diagnose. However, detecting the signs and symptoms early can help you get the treatment you need and to avoid some of the worst consequences of the disorder. But whos at risk, and when does bipolar disorder start? Learn more about bipolar disorder, who it affects, and when you should look for the signs.
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