Bipolar disorder

[highlands]

I have a friend from another psychology forum. I am not bipolar but she is.

People with bipolar disorders uses a complicated medication schedule depending on their mood

What I wonder is that what type of therapy is more suitable for bipolar disorder.

What is your opinion ?

 

[jillio]

I have a friend from another psychology forum. I am not bipolar but she is.

People with bipolar disorders uses a complicated medication schedule depending on their mood

What I wonder is that what type of therapy is more suitable for bipolar disorder.

What is your opinion ?

Rational Emotive Behavior therapy, Reality Therapy, Gestalt, and Psychodyanamic approaches have all been shown to work well with this disorder. Meications are essential for controlling the mood swings that are related to chemical changes in the brain, though.

 

[VamPyroX]

Is it possible for bipolar disorder to be so severe that medication can't help? Unless, it's not possible and should be defined as something else such as being insane or schizophrenic?

 

[highlands]

Rational Emotive Behavior therapy, Reality Therapy, Gestalt, and Psychodyanamic approaches have all been shown to work well with this disorder. Meications are essential for controlling the mood swings that are related to chemical changes in the brain, though.

Thanks .

One more point, Is bipolar disorder curable or permanent in life ?

 

[jillio]

Is it possible for bipolar disorder to be so severe that medication can't help? Unless, it's not possible and should be defined as something else such as being insane or schizophrenic?

It often takes some amount of time to get medication levels adjusted properly for individuals. The same dose does not work in the same way for all. Also, over time, tolerance develops, and levels must be adjsuted as a result. Likewise, side effects often become intolerable, and medications must be changed to reduce the side effects.

The most common reason for meds not working is that the individual with Bi-polar Disorder stops taking meds, or attempts to adjust dosages themselves because the miss the manic, hyper-active phase of the cycle. The results achieved from meds are variable, and that is why it is always recommended that an individual combine meds with therapy to manage the disorder.

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[shel90]

It often takes some amount of time to get medication levels adjusted properly for individuals. The same dose does not work in the same way for all. Also, over time, tolerance develops, and levels must be adjsuted as a result. Likewise, side effects often become intolerable, and medications must be changed to reduce the side effects.

The most common reason for meds not working is that the individual with Bi-polar Disorder stops taking meds, or attempts to adjust dosages themselves because the miss the manic, hyper-active phase of the cycle. The results achieved from meds are variable, and that is why it is always recommended that an individual combine meds with therapy to manage the disorder.

Hope this answers your questions.

My hearing brother did that to his meds...he is now 19 years old and hopefully, he will take the responsibility to take his meds.

Do u think adult people with this disorder should be held fully accountable for taking their meds?

 

[jillio]

Thanks .

One more point, Is bipolar disorder curable or permanent in life ?

Infortunately, it is not curable, as it is a chronic disorder. However, it is very treatable given proper meds and therapy. It is also often seen to be more severe at specific points in and individual's life cycle due to natural hormonal and chemical changes. For instance, more severe in young adulthood than in older adulthood.

 

[jillio]

My hearing brother did that to his meds...he is now 19 years old and hopefully, he will take the responsibility to take his meds.

Do u think adult people with this disorder should be held fully accountable for taking their meds?

That's a tricky one. They need to be encouraged to take responsibility for taking their meds, but it is a facet of the disorder that they will lapse from time to time. So, no, they can't always be held fully accountable, because the disease is actually responsible for their lapses in judgement. That doesn't mean that we don't hold them accountable for getting back on schedule, or that we allow them to fall back on excuses, but that we understand the reasoning behind it. KInd of like responsibility with a large degree of tolerance and empathy thrown in.

19 is a little young to expect the type of self awareness that increases the chances of adhering to the medication schedule, but it does seem to get better with age.

 

[shel90]

That's a tricky one. They need to be encouraged to take responsibility for taking their meds, but it is a facet of the disorder that they will lapse from time to time. So, no, they can't always be held fully accountable, because the disease is actually responsible for their lapses in judgement. That doesn't mean that we don't hold them accountable for getting back on schedule, or that we allow them to fall back on excuses, but that we understand the reasoning behind it. KInd of like responsibility with a large degree of tolerance and empathy thrown in.

19 is a little young to expect the type of self awareness that increases the chances of adhering to the medication schedule, but it does seem to get better with age.

I hope so. When I saw him in AZ, he had just gotten out of jail and had all these weird jerky switches so my husband and I were wondering if he was going through withdrawals. My dad and stepmom are a little afraid that he will snap and hurt the whole family. It must be a frightening way to live for them.

 

[jillio]

I hope so. When I saw him in AZ, he had just gotten out of jail and had all these weird jerky switches so my husband and I were wondering if he was going through withdrawals. My dad and stepmom are a little afraid that he will snap and hurt the whole family. It must be a frightening way to live for them.

That may be a side effect from the meds more than withdrawal. Maybe time for an adjustment in dose?

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for someone with Bi-polar Disorder to do things during a manic phase that get them into trouble with the law. And living with an individual that doesn't have the disorder under control is very stressful, and frightening. People with this disorder are generally more of a danger to themselves than to others, though.

It sounds like maybe he has developed a tolerance tothe meds he has been on, and needs an adjustment in dose, or a change in the cocktail.

 

[shel90]

That may be a side effect from the meds more than withdrawal. Maybe time for an adjustment in dose?

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for someone with Bi-polar Disorder to do things during a manic phase that get them into trouble with the law. And living with an individual that doesn't have the disorder under control is very stressful, and frightening. People with this disorder are generally more of a danger to themselves than to others, though.

It sounds like maybe he has developed a tolerance tothe meds he has been on, and needs an adjustment in dose, or a change in the cocktail.

I dont know. He was using drugs so I dont know if he is trying to quit drugs and going thru withdrawals. Seems like it is a taboo subject with my family.

Yea, he has been in and out of jail since he was 12 years old. Really tough to see someone u love go through this.

 

[jillio]

I dont know. He was using drugs so I dont know if he is trying to quit drugs and going thru withdrawals. Seems like it is a taboo subject with my family.

Yea, he has been in and out of jail since he was 12 years old. Really tough to see someone u love go through this.

Drug use is pretty common, too. (Self medication.) Yes, it is tough, and I empathize with the pain you go through. I'm sure that you worry about what will become of him, and feel helpless to do anything to help him through his struggles.

There are those that will object to my next statement, but the criminal justice system has no doubt contributed a lot to his current problems. Anyone with a mental illness only gets much worse when they are incarcerated. Jails simply do not know how to deal with mental illness, and as a consequence, do all the things that tend to make an individual more ill.

 

[VamPyroX]

It often takes some amount of time to get medication levels adjusted properly for individuals. The same dose does not work in the same way for all. Also, over time, tolerance develops, and levels must be adjsuted as a result. Likewise, side effects often become intolerable, and medications must be changed to reduce the side effects.

The most common reason for meds not working is that the individual with Bi-polar Disorder stops taking meds, or attempts to adjust dosages themselves because the miss the manic, hyper-active phase of the cycle. The results achieved from meds are variable, and that is why it is always recommended that an individual combine meds with therapy to manage the disorder.

Hope this answers your questions.

Okay...

Let's suppose this person... calls people names all the time... is easily bothered by noises... blames her problems on everyone else... denies the obvious... refuses to work... has an obsession on certain things like favorite musician or favorite clothes or whatever...

Would you call this bipolar disorder or something else... and could this be something that can be fixed with medication?

 

[jillio]

Okay...

Let's suppose this person... calls people names all the time... is easily bothered by noises... blames her problems on everyone else... denies the obvious... refuses to work... has an obsession on certain things like favorite musician or favorite clothes or whatever...

Would you call this bipolar disorder or something else... and could this be something that can be fixed with medication?

It is difficult to come up with a diagnosis based on the behaviors that you have described. Those behaviors could be symptomatic of several different disorders. It could possibly be symptomatic of bi-polar disorder, but it could also be symptomatic of several other disorders. For a diagnosis to be made, an extensive interview would be needed and DSM criteria applied.

 

[VamPyroX]

It is difficult to come up with a diagnosis based on the behaviors that you have described. Those behaviors could be symptomatic of several different disorders. It could possibly be symptomatic of bi-polar disorder, but it could also be symptomatic of several other disorders. For a diagnosis to be made, an extensive interview would be needed and DSM criteria applied.

That's what I thought.