Posts Tagged ‘children’

“Bipolar Disorder Symptoms” A Serious Disease If Not Treated

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

We go through life with our ups and down. But those with this mental illness called bipolar disorder, their good days are really up with high energy level and their low days very, very low with low energy . Patients with symptoms of the disorder can have problems with their work, children with their school performance, relationships can go down with daily activities easily disrupted. Bipolar disorder can be treated, but a lot of individuals are not able to see the warning signs and get the help needed. All must be warned that this mental disorder can get worse if its not treated early. Therefore, important to know and learn the early signs and seek help as soon as possible. In other words all must be able to recognize the early symptoms for it is the way forward to getting this mental disease under control.

Also known as manic depression, bipolar which is a mental disease with severe shifting of mood, thoughts, behavior and energy level. The high energy is called mania on one side and the low energy – depression. In some patients the cycles of bipolar can take days, and some others weeks and even months. Mood swings in bipolar are not like ordinary mood changes because it is severe and usually interferes with daily activities.

Know the Difference of Mania and Depression

When victims are going through mania symptoms they can become very impulsive and decide with the spur of the moment to leave their jobs, having a few credit cards with lots of credit and sleeping two to three hours with lots of energy. On the other hand patients going through the depressive episode, this same person can be very tired after a long rest and get out of bed tired with feelings of being hopeless and helpless.

What Causes Bipolar?

To date no one really knows what causes bipolar disease. Experts believe that this mental disorder may be passed on by family members and has biological and environmental causes. Symptoms of bipolar can be noticed in young children as young as age two but that has to be clarified by the experts to determine if its bipolar. Bipolar symptoms in children can be both subtle and confusing because of other mental disorder which may accompany bipolar. With adults it is quite straight forward, the only difficulty is when other symptoms similar to bipolar symptom coming together. This is probably one of the reason why many people are under diagnosed. Having the right diagnosis and treatment, bipolar patients can live a normal life.

Using Bipolar Medication

To help control the lows and highs of bipolar disorder symptoms, doctors are treating bipolar disorder with mood stabilizers. This medication may have some serious side effects, but they are the key in treating both mania and depression symptoms. Lithium is an old medication but quite effective as a mood stabilizer. It has been very effective in treating bipolar mania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to create your own Support Groups

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Not forgetting your daily medication that must be taken,  bipolar support groups allow those who share a common diagnosis or interest to gather for a common purpose. The main idea of these people  coming together is to share ideas on how to cope, and offer emotional support.  Most support groups are usually administered by someone who has some experience in these kinds of dialogue, but this must not dishearten you because it is not an important factor. To come together to just SHARE IDEAS. With the right tool you as a mother or a patient can form a bipolar support group and help those that are interested.

A Suitable Place

A place to meet whether it be in your garage, a hall or even inside your house, the one important factor here is that it must be comfortable and available when you as a group need it.  The most ideal  sitting position is in a circle rather than the church style setup.

Rules to be followed

There are some important points that must be emphasized every time you meet, beside the ones you as a group will make later on:

Confidentiality: everything shared inside MUST stay inside.

No other sources: everything shared must be from personal experience. There should be no quoting from the bible or famous people, it must not be allowed into your meetings.

No preaching: not be tolerated are words such as don’t do this or don’t do that.

Offer suggestions: Use non threatening suggestion. All  suggestions must be from personal experience like; “my child had that same thing and I did this” or “ I went through the same experience and I did this.”

No gossip: dragging somebody’s name down in these meetings must not be  allowed.

JUST LISTEN: Most would come to a meeting not to have their problem solved but to have an opportunity to share all  their  frustrations in their everyday life with bipolar victims.

Primary Goal

Ensuring no one living with bipolar disease or this mental condition feel alone again, the primary goal of most bipolar support groups is to  provide important emotional support. Support groups can improve the physical health and well being of those taking part and a  safety net for patients and caregivers.

Other Functions

In some places bipolar support groups, also called special interest groups (SIG), form an integral part for many health organizations and a critical foundation for those trying to cope with the disorder. Support groups help fill the emptiness between medicine and the daily everyday struggles.  It generally helps patients to cope and also serve as educators and inform about the new advancements in bipolar treatment or therapies available.

Support Groups Online

With modern technologies at our doorsteps, many have found online support a great help. This type of support network is ideal for those living in rural areas or those who are scared of leaving the security of their homes. Many use online support as a backup to their existing bipolar support groups in their community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Brain Disorder That May Be The Cause Of Symptoms Of Bipolar In Children

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

There have been many doubts prevailing about the brain disorder called bipolar in children. Physicians and scientists come out with various opinions and conclusions but many times they have been misguiding. Various theories and statements have been issued about the symptoms of bipolar but all of them have aggravated the confusion. The American Journal of Psychiatry published an article in the year 2000. It stated that “people with symptoms of bipolar have 30% more brain cells in both the parts of their brain. These extra cells send electric signals that cause over stimulation of the brain. Thus symptoms of bipolar are developed in children.

The Cause of the  Disorder?

We have yet to find out where childhood bipolar disorder really comes from, and though it’s tempting to look for a simple, catch all answer, in truth it’s not as simple as all that. It seems, though, that this disorder comes from a combination of factors, where certain biological conditions in the child have to come together with environmental factors in order to create this illness.

The Influence of Genes

Do kids inherit bipolar condition from their blood relatives? Research has shown that in cases of multiple, twin and adoption situations, kids have a greater tendency of inheriting mood imbalances if they have family members with histories of symptoms of bipolar disorder condition. With twins, research found that when one twin has the condition, the other twin has a 300% greater chance of having it also.

The Question of  Neurotransmitters

But what features are inherited? The Neurotransmitter system–the information network of the brain–has unfortunately received a lot of attention as the possible cause of bipolar disorder in both children and adults. Scientists have known for some time that mood disorders and neurotransmitters are linked. Indeed, using medications that target and change these transmitters are able to relieve bipolar symptoms.

Triggers of Stress

All  mental, environmental and emotional issues, having a stressful life are thought to be the main reason bipolar disorder occurs. Stress  can range from the  death of a loved one, losing your only source of income divorce and moving to a new place. These stress can be anything and clear cut, because what may be  one person’s piece of cake may be another person’s misery.

Adding all together

When one looks at  the cause of symptoms of bipolar in children, the best explanation according to research recently available is what they call the “Diathesis-Stress Model.” This  word diathesis when  simplified means, a person with a physical condition that make him/her more than vulnerable  to certain diseases,  somehow  inherits some physical problems that may or may not appear depending on what kind of stress has  occurred  in their lives. To know more about symptoms of bipolar in children visit  knowingbipolardisorder.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rollercoaster Kids: Manic Depressive Children

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

For most of the 20th century, the psychiatric profession did not believe there could be bipolar children. Manic depression, also called bipolar disorder, was considered to be something that only emerged in adults, despite some contrary evidence a few early researchers seemed to have that certain symptoms in adults had manifested before they were ten. What resulted was that all manic depression treatments were for adults. It was difficult to find any reliable bipolar data about either symptoms or treatments for children, for a very long time.

New depression treatment has improved, but there is still far to go. Part of the problem is that many of the symptoms that manifest in bipolar children can overlap with those that occur with other disorders. For example, the intensity of a manic phase may closely resemble the hyperactivity associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Indeed, some children have both, and often the extra hint that the problem isn’t just ADHD is that the children are more aggressive and have more behavioral difficulties than if he or she only had ADHD. So finding the right medical treatments can be a real challenge, not to mention diagnosing the problem in the first place.

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Anxiety disorders can also be an indicator that doctors should watch for manic depression as well, since children with these disorders are more likely also to develop bipolar disorder. Children with bipolar disorder may often have had treatment already for full-blown depressive episodes, which served as precursors for the later illness. Even irritability and hypersensitivity might be warning signs, if they last for days at a time.

Diagnosis is controversial, though, because children with bipolar disorder are much more likely to be diagnosed in the United States than in other parts of the world. Interpretations vary on whether this is because there is simply over diagnosis in the U.S., or whether US doctors are simply recognizing a problem that really exists. Bipolar info and interpretation of symptoms varies considerably from country to country.

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This means that treatment for manic depression will also vary between countries. Yet if this disorder is genuine, it appears to be more intense in bipolar children than in adults, so it’s important to find the right therapies. Some of the antipsychotic drugs usually prescribed for this disorder can damage the liver and increase the risk of heart problems or diabetes. Yet without the medications, children are at risk of psychosis, cognitive impairment or even suicide. Correct diagnosis is crucial, so that the best treatments can be devised, and the risk to the children minimized as much as possible.

Its Good To Know Types Of Bipolar : Disorder Symptoms Of Bipolar

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

This mental illness is a very complex disease with   different symptoms — and types. When we talk about this disease, its main signs are unpredictable shifting of emotions and moods from high (mania), low (depression) and the middle hippo mania. The severity of this mental illness can vary from severe to mild with certain periods when there are no signs showing at all (normal).

Some Signs

One item that is an absolute fact is that patients who suffer from severe depression will not all be impacted the same way. The mood swings, length of time in a severe depression, and other factors will all vary greatly from person to person. Each and every individual is different and bipolar depressive signs may surface very differently from one person to another. Due to the fact that bipolar depression is fairly common and a very serious condition, it is of the utmost importance that as soon as bipolar disorder symptoms are recognized that the individual seek treatment from the closest medical professional in psychiatry.

Experiencing an extreme depression, which is also referred to as the depression stage, may include feelings such as a minimum level of energy, feeling very down and out, anxious and nervous, empty and alone, being of no value to yourself or anyone around you. Along with these adverse feelings, you may consider suicide and how you would actually go about taking your own life. Other feelings you may experience could include feeling guilty, withdrawing from events and activities that you may have enjoyed at one time or another, trouble focusing, insomnia, and a marked change in your appetite.

Children with the illness

It is important for all those working with young children, both parents and school staff, to familiarize themselves with the range of bipolar disorder symptoms. When the important people in a child’s life are able to recognize early-onset bipolar disorder, fast action in the form of diagnosis and treatment can be taken. When everyone works together in a program for the child with behavioral, academic or social problems there is a good chance of successful treatment.

Seeking Treatment

Both mood stabilizing medication and counseling are indicated in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is crucial that those with bipolar disorder learn about their medication and the side effects associated with the drugs. A reliable system needs to be implemented to ensure that the patient takes their medication regularly, even when they are feeling better and stable. Not taking the medication on a regular basis will lead to severe episodes, relapses and hospitalization. Those around the bipolar patient, such as family and friends, should continue to monitor the patient’s mood, sleep patterns, change in eating habits and behaviors to prevent the onset of manic or depressive episodes. Bipolar patients should not use alcohol or drugs, even mild drugs such as marijuana can make bipolar symptoms worse. It is essential that those with bipolar disorder lead a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, adequate sleep and regular exercise. Such a healthy lifestyle will aid in lowering stress levels and improving quality of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Important Tips For Monitoring Moods And Bipolar Disorder Manic Symptoms

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

It is important for bipolar patients to be aware of how they feel to be able to remain healthy. When many people have bipolar attacks or feel depressed too much time has passed to be able to treat the moodiness. Always look for any little variations such as a change in energy, thinking, moods and sleeping habits. Moving quickly and very soon for any problem might help you avoid several minimal mood alterations from becoming a very bad occurrence of bipolar maniac depression.

The early warning signs – Always Know what are your Triggers

It is best to look and understand warning signs of an oncoming bipolar depressive episode. A great method is to create a check list of any symptoms that were common in your  latest episode. It also helps to be alert to triggers, such as outside pressure that caused the issue. Some common triggers are:

Stress: from work or from families. Difficulties financially: because of the hopelessness feeling in bipolar depression ” it can add stress to a patient. Fighting and arguments: especially with your loved ones. Having problems in school or at work: relationships can suffer in these  two different places. Seasonal changes: for some people these seasonal changes can also affect the hormones in the body. Not enough sleep: while getting enough sleep is recommended- lack of sleep can be a sign of what is to come.

Some Warning signs to Look out for

Not wanting to do cooking. Hate being around people. Wanting to have chocolate. Bad headaches. No  interest in everybody. Having the feeling people are bothering  them. Wanting to sleep.

The Warning Signs of Bipolar manic or Hippo manic symptoms:

I can read a lot of books all at once. I am unusually talkative . I easily getting angry. I am hungry even after a good meal. My friends tell me I am bad. I have lots of energy.

Create an Approach to Health care

If you detect signs of bipolar manic or depression, there is no time to lose in treating the problem. You need to have a health care plan in mind and coping strategies will be very helpful until stability returns. The best strategy will take some trial and error. These are techniques that have been helpful for many people like:

Try and talk to a person  who is supportive. Get a good  eight hours of rest. Try and not do too much  activities. Find a support group and attend it. Be faithful to your  psychiatrist or therapist. Be creative and do something fun.

Final Advise

It is important that you control your bipolar manic depression. Stress can attribute to starting an attack. You need to know your limits in everyday life and everyday interactions. Don’t take on more than you can handle. If you start to feel down, take some time to yourself.

 

 

 

 

The Difference Between Bipolar Depression And Other Depressions

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Since man started recording history, this depressive disorder has been known to be with us. When we read in the Old Testament, Job and the famous King David, suffered from this terrible mental disease . It was called by Hippocrates the Greek physician  a black bile (melancholia). Negative in nature which affects how we feel, think and act, it is a clinical depression with a serious medical disorder. Written in literature arts many years ago, this depressive disorder or a bipolar depression disorder was portrayed as a weakness of temperament which was handed down by family members. It was Freud of the 20th century that linked the progress of depression to guilt and conflict.

The Two Divisions of Depression

During the middle of this century depression was divided into two:

• Endogenous: depression is a problem coming from within the body and probably linked to a genetic origin. It may also be caused by the body itself but nobody knows its source. Bipolar depression falls under this category.

•Neurotic or reactive: depression is caused from outside, like the death of a loved one, losing somebody special and the loss of the only source of income. In 70s and the 80s, the focus changed from “the cause”, to the “effects” of depression on victims.

We may never know what causes depression or bipolar depression, but most would agree that:

• It is a syndrome that reflects severe sad, irritable mood which can be classed as abnormal sadness or grief. These feelings of sadness of depression  are both intense and takes a long time when compared to the normal ups and downs.

•The  characteristics are the presence of negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors and not to mention the physical symptoms like, crying spells, aches in the body, very low energy in both work and sex. Other problems may include eating, weight  and sleeping problems.

• Depression increases the risks for coronary artery disease, HIV, asthma, and some other medical diseases. It can also increase the mortality rate  of victims with this depressive conditions.

• In the United States alone the huge financial and human costs includes -  treatment and other indirect costs, like lost in productivity and absenteeism of workers can be  enormous.

Bipolar Depression Symptoms

This bipolar disorder is caused by the brain’s neurotransmitters producing its lows with  feelings of worry, sad, angry, guilt, isolation and hopelessness. This can cause sleeping and eating problems and a shift in moods.

Problems with Depression if Not Treated

Family members of those with peopleof bipolar depression, can drain out the energy of family members. Like any serious diseases, depression  in bipolar can create a lot of problems with those living together, the family, friends, and even your boss at work.

Bipolar Depression  and Bipolar Treatment

Is a member of your family or a friend showing symptoms of bipolar depression like sleeping too much, sad, feelings of helpless, worthless, and hopeless with decreased energy and concentration. Seek medical advice near you so they can be given early bipolar treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Important Tips For Monitoring Moods And Bipolar Disorder Manic Symptoms

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

You need to recognize and monitor how you are feeling in order to stay healthy as a bipolar patient. Most people fail to do so, and by that time the mood swings have already set in it is too late. Monitor yourself for changes, even the slightest, in your sleeping patterns, energy levels, thoughts, and your mood. Monitoring yourself and catching early symptoms are key to preventing full bipolar depression.

Always Know What are your Triggers ” The early warning signs

It is best to look and understand warning signs of an oncoming bipolar depressive episode. A great method is to create a check list of any symptoms that were common in your  latest episode. It also helps to be alert to triggers, such as outside pressure that caused the issue. Some common triggers are:

Stress: either from work or families. Difficulties with money which can add stress to a patient. Fighting loved ones. Problems in school and at work: relationships can go down in these two different places. Seasonal changes can also affect the hormones in the body, especially women. Lack of sleep can be a sign of bipolar depression.

Some warning signs of Bipolar Depression

Not wanting to do any activities . Hate being around people. Wanting  to have a chocolate. Having bad headaches. No interest in everybody. Feeling of being bothered by people. Feeling of wanting to sleep  and sleep even during the day.

The Warning Signs of Bipolar manic or Hippo manic symptoms:

I can read a lot of books all at once. I am unusually talkative . I easily getting angry. I am hungry even after a good meal. My friends tell me I am bad. I have lots of energy.

Create a New Approach to Health care

If you see any signs of bipolar manic or bipolar depression, act quickly. When this happens, it’s best to have a health care approach ready. It may be composed of some activities or coping skills you or your family can utilize to achieve a more stable mood. While it takes a little experimenting and time to find the strategy that works best, many with bipolar systems have found the following to be helpful:

Try and talk to a person  who is supportive. Get a good  eight hours of rest. Try and not do too much  activities. Find a support group and attend it. Be faithful to your  psychiatrist or therapist. Be creative and do something fun.

Final Advise

While stress can initiate episodes of bipolar manic and bipolar depression, keeping the illness under control is very important. Important to know your limits, at home with family members, at work or in school. Finally do not take too much that you cant handle. Learn to look after yourself by taking time for yourself especially if you are starting to feel down.

 

 

 

 

Bipolar Depression And Other Depressions

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Known to be with us since man started recording history, this depressive disorder has been  read in the Old Testament like Job and King David, suffered from this mental illness. The Greek physician Hippocrates called depression, melancholia (a black bile). It is a clinical depression, a serious medical disorder that is negative in nature and affects our feelings, thinking and our actions. Most of what we experience today has been written in literature arts many years ago. But what does this mental illness – depressive disorder or a bipolar depression disorder mean? During the 18th century, this mental illness was portrayed as a weakness of temperament which was inherited from family members. In the beginning of the this century Freud linked  the progress of depression to guilt and conflict.

Depression – The Two Divisions

Depression was divided into two in the olden days:

• Endogenous: depression is a problem coming from within the body and probably linked to a genetic origin. It may also be caused by the body itself but nobody knows its source. Bipolar depression falls under this category.

• Neurotic or reactive: the cause is from outside, like the death of a loved one, losing somebody special and the loss of the only source of income. It was in the 70s and the 80s, that the focus changed.

We may never know what causes depression or bipolar depression, but most would agree that:

• It is a syndrome that reflects severe sad, irritable mood which can be classed as abnormal sadness or grief. These feelings of sadness of depression  are both intense and takes a long time when compared to the normal ups and downs.

•The  characteristics include eating, weight  and sleeping problems and the presence of negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors. The  physical symptoms are, crying spells, aches in the body, very low energy in both work and sex.

• The risks for coronary artery disease, HIV, asthma, and some other medical diseases increases also with mortality rate.

•The huge financial and human costs of depression in the United States alone are huge and this includes -  treatment costs, other indirect costs, like lost in productivity and absenteeism of workers.

Bipolar Depression Symptoms

The unique trait of this illness is, it’s not the outside that is causing the depression, but the brain producing its lows with the feelings of worry, sad, angry, guilt, isolation and hopelessness. This disorder is caused by the brain’s neurotransmitters which can cause sleeping and eating problems and a shift in moods.

Problems with Not Treating

Family members of those with peopleof bipolar depression, can drain out the energy of family members. Like any serious diseases, depression  in bipolar can create a lot of problems with those living together, the family, friends, and even your boss at work.

Bipolar Treatment of Bipolar Depression

Please seek medical advice near you if you find that a member of your family or a friend are showing symptoms of bipolar depression like sleeping too much, sad, feelings of helpless, worthless, hopeless with decreased energy and concentration.  Early bipolar treatment is essential with this type of mental illness.