Monday, February 23, 2009

Knowing Bipolar Mania

By Ken P Doyle

Imagine your friend introduces you to a new member in you theater actors guild. In no time at all, she catches everyones attention with her energy and extraordinary cheeriness. After the nights practice has finished, your new found friend out of the blue invites you to go to the disco. You decide you can not go but give her your home number instead. Later that night, you awake to a call and here her sobbing on the phone. She is going on about how miserable her life is and how she just wants to end it right than and there. There is nobody that would want to be in this situation but what you have just read about is the reality of a brain disorder called bipolar mania or manic-depressive illness.

All about Bipolar Mania

Bipolar mania is a biological disorder characterized by manic as well as depressive episodes. As described above, a person with bipolar disorder shows symptoms of extreme exhilaration at one moment then severe depression the next instant. In particular, manic signs and symptoms include amplified energy, disturbing behavior, poor judgment, restiveness, and a reduced need for sleep. Meanwhile, the depressive state is recognized by feelings of hopelessness, intense grief, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities among others. What is alarming about bipolar mania is that an individual may resort to suicide if it goes unattended.

Still, statistics have shown that bipolar mania is affecting a significant number of individuals in the United States at approximately 5 million of the total population. You would not wish it will happen to you or any of your loved ones but if it does, you have to get ready with all the vital information especially on how you can be of best help to them.

Treatment

Though bipolar mania is a long term challenge, the condition can be treated through a combination of approaches. The first is through the medical method. Mood stabilizers are the medications available for this condition. The more common one is Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) while others are prescribed with anticonvulsant medicines such as valproate (Depakote) or carbamazepine (Tegretol). On top of this, individuals with bipolar mania also see mental health professionals for cognitive or behavioral psychotherapy. Psychosocial approaches to bipolar mania are deemed important to recovery as it involves psychoeducation, family therapy and interpersonal therapy.

Joining Bipolar Support Groups

On the other hand, no medical or psychological approach is successful if its not used in conjunction with other methods. Joining bipolar support groups is an invaluable resource for an individual with bipolar mania. Bipolar support groups are very educational because various discussions about the disorder are made at length. More than the information though is the sharing of true-to-life experiences that makes the group relate well to each other.

Being part of a support group offers a warm environment where a person doesnt have to feel alone and alienated from others. Furthermore, bipolar support groups provide an opportunity to openly talk about the hardships and the pains while gaining acceptance from others. Together, the group can brainstorm about local resources and how to get government support.

Bipolar Mania Prognosis

Whether a person with bipolar mania can or cannot cope with the disorder is out of the question. Whether he gets into a bipolar support group which will see him through the process is the real determinant which has treatment value. Indeed, individuals with bipolar mania are on their way to a fully-functioning life with the right kind of help from the right kind of people. - 15437

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