Understanding Bipolar?

Bipolar is a psychological term that is frequently misunderstood. It is often called manic depression because it describes the two states that make up bipolar. Bipolar is a condition where the person alternates between feeling euphoric (manic) and feeling depressed, with little respite of feeling relatively neutral in between.

Most people have moods that vary between feeling a little happy to feeling a little sad. This is a natural movement and there are no problems in being that way. When the highs are much higher and the lows much lower, we have bipolar, because the moods swing between the two opposites, or poles.

Bipolar is relatively common with approximately one percent of the population suffering with it at some point. The most frequent onset is at the end of the teens and before the person reaches forty. Men and women suffer equally with the complaint.

There is no test for bipolar, there are only the reports made by the sufferer which a psychiatrist or other qualified person can use for a diagnosis. Even though the chemistry within the body may be altered, there are no blood tests that show up the condition.

The cause of bipolar is unknown, but one theory is that the mind (for some reason) becomes depressed; in an attempt to rectify the mood and return to normality, the mind overcompensates and the person becomes euphoric. When the mind tries to balance its mood again, it fails to do so correctly and goes too far with the person becoming depressed again.

The symptoms of the depressed phase are:

- Emotional - A feeling of low confidence and self esteem, a feeling of hopelessness, general unhappiness and irritability.
- Thinking - Generally negative thinking with poor focus and concentration.
- Physical - Often a loss of weight, difficulty getting to sleep and waking early, constipation and a low libido.
- Behaviour - Difficulty getting going, lots of crying and a desire to avoid people.

The symptoms of the manic phase are:

- Emotional - Feeling unrealistically happy, excited and optimistic, and a feeling of being important.
- Thinking - Lots of new ideas but with a butterfly mind; may even hear voices.
- Physical - Feeling full of energy, unable or unwilling to go to sleep, and a high libido.
- Behaviour - Having grandiose plans, being very active, talking rapidly, being reckless with money, low inhibitions and odd spontaneous actions.

The medical treatment for bipolar is lithium. This is a natural salt that seems to reduce the mood swings, but the exact mechanism for doing so is not known. There are few side effects with lithium, mainly thirst, muscle weakness and nausea, but these can be managed by careful monitoring with blood tests. It is important to maintain bodily fluids at the right level or the lithium levels will increase or reduce providing an incorrect level of medication.

In addition, psychotherapy is known to help. One of the first ways is by educating the person so that they can understand bipolar and how they should view it. It does not mean the end of their life, just an additional factor that has to be dealt with.

Therapy can help people spot their mood swings and changes so that they can apply strategies that they have learned to deal with them. Learning to cope is important for both the sufferer and for those around him. Understanding, awareness and education are all necessary to make life more bearable.

It is important to maintain a good diet, maintain fluids and minimise caffeine levels. They key is to maintain lithium levels at a similar point and this is best done by neither flooding nor depleting the body with fluid.

Stress is an important factor, so by using various tools that therapy provides, the person can learn to reduce and maintain stress levels at a low level.

Exercise is important to maintain the body in a fit state. Approximately twenty minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week should be enough. In addition to maintaining a level of fitness, it is well known that exercise is an excellent way of dealing with stress.

One of the keys to managing bipolar is the quality of the relationships that the person has. Friends and relatives are able to assist and support the person through times that can be quite demanding.

Finally, psychotherapy can help the person regain a balance in life. The balance should include a combination of work, time with friends and family, and personal time. If any of these is missing, then the person will not feel satisfied with their life.

Bipolar is a psychological term that is frequently misunderstood but with proper education and help from a professional, the condition can be managed at least and eradicated at best.

For more information, visit the website http://www.san-luis-clinic.co.uk.

If this article raises quesions in your mind, call Grahame on 0034 965 405 631 or visit the website http://www.san-luis-clinic.co.uk

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