BIPOLAR DISORDER

Manage Bipolar Disorder Through Mindfulness

Dramatic shifts in mood and energy can create havoc in the lives of those with bipolar disorder. It can be tough to hold down a job, manage everyday responsibilities, manage symptoms and maintain relationships, even if you’re taking medications or involved in therapy. That’s what prompted William Marchand, MD, to explore the value of mindfulness […]

Risperdal

Risperdal is the brand name of risperidone, a drug sometimes prescribed by mental health professionals for the treatment of schizophrenia and some problems associated with bipolar disorder. It falls within a class of drugs called “antipsychotics,” and may be taken by mouth (orally) or injection. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), resperidone […]

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, also known as “mood (affective) disorders,” are those conditions that affect your emotional state. For example, depression and bipolar are mood disorders. The mental health profession’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (also known as the DSM5) also includes under mood disorders those brought on by substances such as alcohol and […]

Surviving Mental Illness

If you’ve ever wondered how to effectively deal with mental illness, Jessie Close has a lot to tell you. Her new book, Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness, offers a heartbreaking, honest description of her 40 years of personal experience. Jessie, the sister of actress Glenn Close, has experienced decades of great […]

How Can It Be Treated?

Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated effectively over the long-term. Proper treatment helps many people with bipolar disorder—even those with the most severe forms of the illness—gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. But because it is a lifelong illness, long-term, continuous treatment is needed to control symptoms. […]

Signs and Symptoms

People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called “mood episodes.” Each mood episode represents a drastic change from a person’s usual mood and behavior. An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, […]

What Causes It

Scientists are studying the possible causes of bipolar disorder. Most scientists agree that there is no single cause. Rather, many factors likely act together to produce the illness or increase risk. Genetics Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Some research has suggested that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder […]

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can […]