Understanding Bipolar Depression
The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Depression
Based on its name, one can make a decent guess of what bipolar depression is all about. It is actually a mental disorder that causes sporadic and extreme mood changes in a person. It’s not like any regular change of mood either because it often involves switching from one extreme emotion to another. For instance, one minute you may be feeling euphoric and blissful and later on you might become so depressed that you don’t even want to do anything at all. This is why bipolar depression is also sometimes called manic depressive disorder or manic depression. The manic phases of the condition frequently turn into depressives phases, and vice versa.
The dangerous thing about bipolar depression is that it involves more than just emotions but also affects a person’s mental functions. For instance, while in the state of manic euphoria, the person may feel so good about themselves that they think nothing can harm them at all. This can indeed be very dangerous because it can lead to rash decisions that can affect their physical health or financial obligations.
When in the depressive state, a person’s family life and personal relationships may suffer. For example, they may become so depressed to the point that they refuse to even get out of bed. This is what it can be like if living with depression. The frequent fluctuations from these extreme emotions can definitely be too much to handle for some people, and may cause them to desert the depressed person just to get away from the emotional stress of the entire experience.
Keeping a job is also not easy for a person who suffers from bipolar depression. First of all, they may tend to make unwise decisions that can put the entire company at risk especially when they are in the manic stages. Furthermore, the frequent mood swings may not even qualify them for office employment, where they would need to be in the company of other employees.
There are many possible causes of bipolar depression, one of which is substance abuse. According to studies, a large percentage of individuals who suffer from any level of drug addiction also show signs of bipolar depression. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all those with bipolar depression are drug users. This condition can be triggered by other causes like environmental or even hereditary factors. In fact, even children may be afflicted with bipolar disorder, but these cases are often mistaken as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Thanks to advancements in medical research, several treatments for bipolar depression have already been developed. These treatments range from the use of medications to intensive therapy. With the continued research on the disorder, we can expect new and more effective treatments to be available within the next few years.
Bipolar Depression Treatment Options and Medication
Finding Help For Bipolar Depression Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is becoming increasingly more common. Therefore, the demand for effective bipolar depression treatments is also much higher these days.
This psychological anxiety and depression disorder is marked by the rapid and frequent fluctuations of a person’s mood swings between mania and depression.
Bipolar disorder can be very difficult not only for the individual going through the experience, but for the other persons around them as well. There is no telling when the mood shift will take place, as the patient can be extremely jubilant and hyperactive one moment and deeply depressed the next.
Bipolar Treatment Medications
The most common form of bipolar depression treatment is oral medication. Antidepressants are among the most frequently prescribed medications, followed closely by anti-convulsants, which have only become quite popular as bipolar depression treatments within the last couple of years.
Before your doctor can prescribe any form of treatment, they will need to conduct a thorough examination of the patient’s condition. This would typically include a physical checkup, a series of simple questions, plus an interrogation of the patient’s family or close friends regarding their recent behaviors.
Once you start taking any sort of depression medication as part of your bipolar depression and anxiety treatment, it is crucial that you keep taking the medication for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Abrupt cessation of usage can result in severe side effects, plus it won’t help your recovery process at all.
During the first two days of using the medication, your doctor might ask you to be very observant about your own reactions to the medication, just in case you turn out to have allergic reactions to certain ingredients.
It is also important to note that most bipolar depression treatments do come with negative side effects so you should be surprised when they show up. However, you should still let your doctor know immediately in case of such side effects so that they can recommend a contradictory remedy, or perhaps even prescribe a completely different treatment for you.
Just remember that if you wish to stop taking a particular medication or if you want to switch to a different one, you should always consult with your doctor before making any move.
Finally, the most important thing that you should keep in mind is that no matter how severe your condition may be, there will definitely be an anxiety and bipolar depression treatment out there that is just right for you. If you work closely with your doctor, you will surely find this treatment soon enough.
