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How To Get Help For Bipolar Disorder

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Mental Health Helplines And Resources

How to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder

If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, contact the hotlines below to seek for help and emotional support. 

BEFRIENDERS

KL: 03-7956 8145

Ipoh: 05-547 7933

Penang: 04-281 5161

E-Mail: sam@befrienders.org.my

Website: https://www.befrienders.org.my/

Befrienders is a not-for-profit organisation providing emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to people who are lonely, in distress, in despair, and having suicidal thoughts – without charge.

SOLS Health

Website: https://www.sols247.org/solshealth

SOLS Health is a behavioural health centre that connects clients to accessible individual, family and community mental health and nutritional services with an emphasis on combating the stigma of mental health in Malaysia.

Clients with a monthly household income below a certain threshold will qualify for subsidized rates. 

Life Line Association Malaysia

Website: http://lifeline.org.my/cn/

Womens Aid Organization

Contact Number: 

WAO Hotline: +603 7956 3488 

WAO SMS/WhatsApp line, TINA : +6018 988 8058

General Enquiries: 03 7957 5636 / 0636 

E-Mail: info@wao.org.my

Website: https://wao.org.my/

WAO provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, rape, and other forms of violence. 

Malaysian Mental Health Association

Contact Number:

Mania And Mixed Depressive Episodes

Any antidepressant should be stopped. Haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone can be used to treat a manic episode. If these do not work well, Lithium can be added.

Once the treatment has started, symptoms usually improve within a few days, but it may take several weeks for a full recovery. You should check with your doctor if you want to drive while taking this sort of medication.

Find New Ways To Relieve Stress

Trying new things may be one of the last things you want to do when youre in a depressive episode. However, doing so can help alleviate your symptoms.

For example, if youve never gotten a massage before, consider scheduling an appointment at a local spa.

Similarly, yoga or meditation may be new to you, but they can be beneficial during depressive episodes. These activities are known for being relaxing. They can make it easier for you to cope with the stress or irritability you may be experiencing.

You Deserve The Very Best In Life

Do you have anxiety, feeling restless and being insecure about your current situation?

Are you struggling in finding your identity in life?

Is your past holding you back so you can be happy?

Are you going through loss and grieve?

Are you experiencing tremendous amount of stress and it is affecting your sleep, health condition and relationship?

I know its scary when you are at a crisis point in your life where no one seems to understand or able to help you. You feel stuck in life.

Most of us struggle with these questions at some point in our life. Youre not alone, and were here to help.

Not sure if we can help? No worries. Get a free 15 minute consultation call.

For How Long Should Someone Take A Mood Stabiliser

7 Myths And Facts About Bipolar Disorder

For at least:

  • alcohol or substance misuse
  • continuing stress at home or at work.

If you do decide to stop your medication, you should discuss this with your doctor. Its usually best to carry on seeing your psychiatrist for 2 years after stopping medication for bipolar disorder, so that they can check you for any signs of relapse.

If you continue to have troublesome mood episodes, you may need to continue medication for longer.

Reduce Stress Get Rest

  • Try to control the amount of stress in your life. Techniques to relieve stress include physical activity and exercise, breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and counselling and support groups.
  • Get enough sleep. Keep your room dark and quiet, and try to go to bed at the same time every night. If you plan to travel into other time zones, ask your doctor if you should make any changes in your medicines. And ask what to do if you have a manic or depressive episode while you are away.

Where To Find Help For Bipolar Depression

You can find information locally, in your community. Common places include:

  • Doctors offices and clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Libraries
  • University or high school health centers

Online sources of help can be useful, too. These organizations have extensive resource pages that include links to more references, informative articles, and bipolar disorder treatment- and support group locators which allow you to search for bipolar depression help by zip code. Among the most reputable and helpful are:

Crisis lines are important to have on hand. If your bipolar depression ever makes you feel so hopeless that you consider harming yourself or taking your own life, these sources of bipolar depression help connect you with people who are there to listen, talk, and provide additional help.

Getting help for bipolar depression can help you not just survive the difficulties it creates but move past those difficulties and thrive. Use the above information to find people, programs, and support groups that fit you, then utilize the processes to start improving your life.

A Story Of Misdiagnosis

Willa Goodfellow:

“Home from a weeks vacation in Costa Rica, I was at the office of my general practitioner to get a prescription for a different medication for my depression. I told the doctor that I had spent my vacation entirely in my hotel room ‘maniacally writing.’ While my wife went to the beach, explored neighborhoods, and visited my family who lived there, I just wrote. And wrote. And wrote. I wrote so much that I came home with seven chapters of what would become my first book.

“I needed a new prescription because my first prescription for depression, Prozac, had made me irritable. I also could not concentrate, couldn’t sleep, and my language was coarse. These symptoms had been taken by the doctor to indicate a deeper depression, and so she had originally increased the dosage. But a new problem, a side effect of diarrhea, pushed me to noncompliance. I quit taking the medication, and went to Costa Rica during the period needed to wash it out of my system before getting a different medication.

“But now, at this appointment, my use of the word ‘maniacally’ caused my doctor to pause. Antidepressants can cause people with bipolar disorder to ‘flip’ into mania or hypomania. So she screened me by asking just one question, ‘Are you manic?’

“I answered, ‘No. I’m not manic, I’m excited!’ With that, she gave me the next antidepressant.

How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed

Getting Help for Bipolar Disorder

When it comes down to the ways to prevent bipolar disorder or even cure the condition, it is important to ensure that you keep an eye out on some of the factors involved.

You just expect for everything to come up and signify its presence, when that is not necessarily the case. When it comes to the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, the possibilities are quite extensive and one that you possible didnt have any idea about.

This is the reason why it is important to keep an eye out on the signs and symptoms to prevent the situation from getting worse than it already is.

Bipolar Disorder Or Manic Depression

The term ‘bipolar’ refers to the way your mood can change between two very different states mania and depression. In the past, bipolar disorder was referred to as manicdepression, so you might still hear people use this term. Some health care professionals may also use the term bipolar affective disorder .

How To Cope With Bipolar Disorder

No matter how down or out of control you feel, its important to remember that youre not powerless when it comes to bipolar disorder. Beyond the treatment you get from your doctor or therapist, there are many things you can do for yourself to reduce your symptoms and stay on track.

Living well with bipolar disorder requires certain adjustments. Like diabetics who take insulin or recovering alcoholics who avoid drinking, if you have bipolar disorder, its important to make healthy choices for yourself. Making these healthy choices will help you keep your symptoms under control, minimize mood episodes, and take control of your life.

Managing bipolar disorder starts with proper treatment, including medication and therapy. But there is so much more you can do to help yourself on a day-to-day basis. These tips can help you influence the course of your illness, enabling you to take greater control over your symptoms, to stay well longer, and to quickly rebound from any mood episode or relapse.

How To Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder

This article was co-authored by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin specializing in Addictions and Mental Health. She provides therapy to people who struggle with addictions, mental health, and trauma in community health settings and private practice. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011. This article has been viewed 21,017 times.

Living with bipolar disorder can be extremely trying on a person’s relationships with their friends and family. Struggling with difficult emotions or manic episodes is hard, but it’s even more challenging without the support of a good friend. Helping your friend with bipolar disorder requires patience and understanding, but remember to treat yourself with the same care and respect you provide your friend. If you are concerned that your friend may be a risk to themselves or others, get them help immediately.

Disability Benefits Program Options

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

You will most likely be applying for one of two main disability programs offered by the Social Security Administration: Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income .

SSDI is for disabled workers and who have paid Social Security taxes from their paychecks. You will asked for a job history when you apply, which will show that you have worked for long enough to qualify for SSDI. This makes SSDI more suited for working adults. http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/ssdi/qualify-for-ssdi

SSI is another benefit program similar to SSDI, but is intended specifically for elderly and disabled individuals. Instead of a job history, you will be asked to demonstrate that you meet the SSAs strict financial limits. This makes children good candidates for SSI, since they will not have had much experience working. In the case of applications for children, the Social Security Administration will ask a parent to submit part of their finances for evaluation as well.

How To Understand And Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder

If you have some on you love suffering from bipolar disorder,  not only can it put a strain on the relationship but disrupt the person as well as those around them.  The person does not need criticism or someone to put them down they need love and care which would be quite hard for someone to give without properly understanding how to deal with the condition.

Contents

How Much Emotional Space Should I Give My Bipolar Adult Child

Ideally, youve got a supportive, friendly relationship with your grown child that promotes maximum independence, says Robert Hamilton, M.D., a psychiatrist at OSF HealthCare in Normal, IL. How involved you should be depends on how well your son or daughter can function, what their needs are, how well you get along, and what youre able to handle, Dr. Hamilton says. The familys roleparent, partner, sibling, or close friendis to be a consistent source of support and encouragement through the good and the bad, says Teri Brister, L.P.C., national director of research and quality assurance at NAMI.

Understand And Learn About Bipolar Disorder

Trying to understand and learn about the symptoms and treatment options can help you in handling the person better.  The more you know the better.

Encouraging the Person to Get Help:

Bipolar disorder is the type of condition which can be treated more effectively when identified the earliest. If you think your loved one has a bipolar issue, encourage them to take expert advice, do not wait for them to treat themselves or get better with time.

Being Understanding:

People with bipolar disorder or in fact any kind of depression issue hate being criticized or advice they earn for someone to listen, the best thing you can do is lend a sympathetic ear, encouragement, or assistance with treatment. People with bipolar disorder are often reluctant to seek help because they dont want to feel like a burden to others, make sure you keep reminding them that they are important and that you need them.

Also, read Niva CBD Oil review

Showing Patience:

Patience is the key to handling people with bipolar disorder. Even if the person is following the treatment procedure correctly, it still takes time to get better. Under physical issues, mental issues take time to heal. Be patient with the person during the recovery period. Be prepared to get setbacks and challenges because this is along with battle but something that going to be worth it in the end.

Brain Structure And Function

How to Offer Bipolar Help – The Right Way | HealthyPlace

Researchers are learning that the brain structure and function of people with bipolar disorder may be different from the brain structure and function of people who do not have bipolar disorder or other psychiatric disorders. Learning about the nature of these brain changes helps doctors better understand bipolar disorder and may in the future help predict which types of treatment will work best for a person with bipolar disorder. At this time, diagnosis is based on symptoms rather than brain imaging or other diagnostic tests.

Getting Someone To Seek Help For Bipolar Disorder

Very often in bipolar disorder, people with hypomania may not realize it’s a problem. They may even enjoy it, finding it to be a productive time. Or they may fear that taking medicine will make them depressed and they’ll miss feeling good. Others struggle with depression, not getting the help that could relieve their suffering.

For a variety of reasons, people with bipolar disorder won’t go to a doctor for help. They shrug off a friend or family member’s concern. Others view their illness as a distraction or a weakness, and they don’t want to give in to it. Still others put their health at a very low priority compared with other things in their lives.

Often, fear is the reason for not seeing a doctor. That’s especially true if there is a family history of emotional problems. People in denial are protected from their worst fears. They can stay comfortable in their everyday routines — even though relationships and careers can be at stake.

If you’re concerned about a loved one who could have bipolar disorder, talk to them about seeing a doctor. Sometimes, simply suggesting a health checkup is the best approach. With other people, it works best to be direct about your concern regarding a mood disorder. Include these points in the discussion:

 

How Can You Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder

Dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can be difficultand not just for the person with the illness. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone aroundespecially family members and close friends. It can put a strain on your relationship and disrupt all aspects of family life.

During a manic episode, you may have to cope with reckless antics, outrageous demands, explosive outbursts, and irresponsible decisions. And once the whirlwind of mania has passed, it often falls on you to deal with the consequences. During episodes of depression, you may have to pick up the slack for a loved one who doesnt have the energy to meet responsibilities at home or work.

The good news is that most people with bipolar disorder can stabilize their moods with proper treatment, medication, and support. Your patience, love, and understanding can play a significant part in your loved ones treatment and recovery. Often, just having someone to talk to can make all the difference to their outlook and motivation.

But caring for a person with bipolar disorder can also take a toll if you neglect your own needs, so its important to find a balance between supporting your loved one and taking care of yourself.

What Risks And Complications Can Bipolar Disorder Cause

There can be complications and risks for people who live with bipolar disorder. But these risks can be lessened with the right support and treatment.

What about suicide and self-harm?

You might have an illness where you experience psychosis, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Your risk of suicide is estimated to be between 5% and 6% higher than the general population.

You are more likely to try to take your own life if you have a history of attempted suicide and depression. It is important that you get the right treatment for your symptoms of depression and have an up to date crisis plan.

There is also research that suggests you are 30% – 40% more likely to self-harm if you live with bipolar disorder.

What about financial risk?

If you have mania or hypomania you may struggle to manage your finances. You may spend lots of money without thinking about the effect that it may have on your life.

You could make a Lasting Power of Attorney. This is a legal process. This means that you pick someone that you trust to manage your finances if you lack mental capacity to manage them by yourself.

You can work with your carer and mental health team. You can form an action plan. This can say what they can do if you have a period of mania or hypomania and you start to make poor financial decisions.

What about physical health risk?

What about alcohol and drugs risk?

If you want advice or help with alcohol or drug use contact your GP.

What about driving risk?

Who Will I See

Family Support for Bipolar Disorder: How You Can Help ...

You may see your GP at first, particularly if you have a depressive episode. But, if they make a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, they will have to refer you to a specialist a psychiatrist. NICE guidance suggest that mood-stabilisers need to be started by a specialist7, even if your care is later taken over by a GP.

When you see a psychiatrist, you will also meet other members of the community mental health team . They will be able to help with emotional support, information, psychological interventions, and help with sorting out practical matters.

Once any medication you are taking seems to established and effective, your GP can take over most of your care, although they will usually want you to stay in touch with a psychiatrist and the CMHT.

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.

Distance Yourself From Toxic Relationships

Bad relationships are a trigger that keeps making your condition with bipolar disorder worse. Given that your mind is already at unrest, it is important to ensure that you do keep an eye out on the factors involved.

Given that you need the support and the treatment to get you through the condition, it is important to ensure that you surround yourself with people who understand your condition and wont end up trigger your condition even further.

Read:10 Peaceful Ways to Break Up With Your Boyfriend End It In Good Terms!

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.

What Increases Your Risk

How to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can be passed down through families. If anyone in your family has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, your risk of having it is higher.

Some things can increase your risk of a manic episode or depression. These include:

  • Changes in sleep or daily routines.
  • Antidepressant medicine. This can happen if you haven’t been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and are seeking treatment for depression.
  • Stressful events.
  • Quitting your medicine for bipolar disorder. Even if you’re feeling better, it’s important to take your medicines as prescribed.

Alcohol or drug use or abuse puts you at a high risk for having a relapse of mood disturbances.footnote 6

What Are The Different Types Of Bipolar Disorder

There are different types of bipolar disorder.

What is bipolar disorder I disorder?

What is bipolar II disorder?

A diagnosis of bipolar II disorder means it is common to have symptoms of depression. You will have had at least 1 period of major depression. And at least 1 period of hypomania instead of mania.

What is bipolar I or II disorder with mixed features?

You will experience symptoms of mania or hypomania and depression at the same time. You may hear this being called mixed bipolar state. You may feel very sad and hopeless at the same time as feeling restlessness and being overactive.

What is bipolar I or II disorder with rapid cycling?

Rapid cycling means you have had 4 or more depressive, manic or hypomanic episodes in a 12-month period.

What is bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern?

Seasonal pattern means that either your depression, mania or hypomania is regularly affected in the same way by the seasons. For example, you may find that each winter you have a depressive episode, but your mania doesnt regularly follow a pattern.

There can be some similarities between bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern and another conditional called seasonal affective disorder.

What is cyclothymia?

A diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder means you will have experienced regular episodes of hypomania and depression for at least 2 years. You wont be diagnosed with bipolar because your symptoms will be milder. But they can last longer. Cyclothymia can develop into bipolar disorder.

What Are The Symptoms

The symptoms depend on your mood swings, or “highs” and “lows.” During a manic high, you may feel:

  • Very happy, energetic, or on edge.
  • Like you need very little sleep.
  • Overly self-confident.

Some people spend a lot of money or get involved in dangerous activities when they are manic. After a manic episode, you may return to normal. Or your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. During a depressive episode, or low, you may have:

  • Trouble thinking and making decisions.
  • Memory problems.
  • Less interest in things you have enjoyed in the past.
  • Thoughts about killing yourself.

The mood swings of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may come on slowly over several days or weeks or suddenly over a few minutes or hours. These mood swings may last for a few hours or for several months.

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