What is hypomania? Different in nature from bipolar mania and bipolar depression symptoms, it has continuous abnormal level of joyful mood, which can for some people last 4 to one whole week. It is a gentler and milder level of mania symptoms, characterized by persistence abnormal happiness and behaviors which we will try and discuss through this article.
Bipolar Mania
To really understand hypomania one must first know bipolar mania, because it is from the mania symptoms that we can gauge hippomania. Mania is part of bipolar disorder and its social effect can be very disabling especially when this mania symptoms are severe. There is usually a great feeling of happiness when you're manic, but it is a fact that some people also get angry and agitated when they are a going through hippomanic.
The symptoms of Hypomania
• Those effected tend to expect too much of their capabilities.
• They can feel very high self-esteem or “having an exaggerated belief in one's importance.”
• There alcohol consumption can increase.
• They can have lots of plans but are not able to see risks involved in their undertakings.
• Making so many plans.
• Tend to involve themselves in enjoyable activities
• Uncharacterized sexual flirting increases.
• Want to do too many things all at once.
• Lack of interest in sleep.
• Usually very sensitive.
• Wanting to take many responsibilities.
• Goal-directed activity increases.
Common Mistakes
The hypomania account listed are not really negative, but what makes this symptoms scary is that those with the disorder can make bad to very bad choices when they are with increased energy. The second most common error is because they feel good with hippomania, they stop taking bipolar treatment medications.
What you can do Hypomania sufferers.
• Make sure they have a god nights rest. If they are not able to sleep, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Not having enough sleep can lead to bipolar depression.
• Avoid jumping to any important decision if you are hippomanic, wait until you are okay to make those important decisions.
• If possible try and keep your thoughts directed and focused.
• Make sure to keep your money in some safe and reliable hands who can make tough decisions for you. This will greatly help you in the future. Many have the headache to pay their huge credits after coming out of hypomania or mania episodes.
• Try and be involved in relaxing and calming social activities, but not an environment that can stimulate the symptoms.
• Try and avoid social gatherings which involve disco, dance and the drinks at the bar. This is a very dangerous environment because it can trigger hypomania.
• Always be open about your feelings and consult with your friends or families so they can understand them to.
• Talk to your local doctor before it becomes uncontrollable.
• Try not to consume too much alcohol, sugar or caffeine and always eat well balanced meal.
Finally
It is important for friends and families to recognize the signs of this mood behavior, because most of the time people with hippomania tend to deny that anything is wrong with them. This disorder if not treated well by bipolar treatment can become severe bipolar mania or turn into bipolar depression.
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Bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar manic depression affective disorder. This manic disorder is sometimes described as a category of moods with one or more abnormal moods. The three main bipolar categories are mania which comes under the raised or elevated moods, depression the opposite and hypomania the middle ground or the milder form. No one can pinpoint the real causes of this disease, but there are contributing factors like genes, environment, diet and lifestyle.
Bipolar Manic
Bipolar mania which is part of bipolar manic depression illness has some warning signs or red flags of incoming moods. It is good to know some of these manic symptoms so you can have an early diagnosis and these are:
• High levels of Energy.
• Not sleeping enough or unable to sleep
• Not tired even though they are doing too many things all at once.
• Full of big plans with increased activities.
•Very restlessness and uneasy
• Talkative and speech disruptions
Bipolar Depression
The Signs and symptoms of bipolar manic depression illness are usually shown in its low energy phases with negative emotions. These include consistent feelings of being sad, anxious, feelings of guilt, anger, isolated, or no hope. They can spend long hours of sleep, always tired, loss of appetite and no interest in enjoyable activities. Bipolar depression is usually referred to as the opposite of bipolar mania symptoms.
Hypo manic Moods
With mania on the high energy and depression on the low, hypomania is generally seen as a milder or moderate level of the mania episode. The main characteristics of hypomania are: being talkative with increased activities and less need for sleep. Those with hypomania show MANIA symptoms but a milder form. One of the main difficulties with diagnosing hypomania is it can be seen as mere happiness and secondly it is sitting on the borders of mania and depression.
Other Divisions
The manic and depressive episodes are separated by "normal" mood periods , but in some victims these two symptoms, depression and mania may rapidly interchange, which is sometimes also known as “rapid cycling”. Severe manic moods can sometimes create psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. These bipolar manic disorder can be subdivided into bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, cyclothymia , (short periods of hypomania and mild depression episodes), and other types. “Bipolar Spectrum,” or (BS) is based on mood disorders that show abnormally high mood. These are bipolar I symptoms, a full-blown manic episodes, short periods of hypomania and a mild depression (cyclothymia).
Bipolar Diagnosis
Bipolar manic depression disorder is much more common today than had been thought. It is believed that only one third of those affected are diagnosed accurately. Especially with children, when doctors are making a diagnosis, it is important that they rule out other mental conditions first.
Medications and Difficulties
Difficulties in diagnosing a patient with bipolar manic depression symptoms are:
•Symptoms are similar to other mental illness – in some cases wrong medication is given.
•Not all medications will work – what works for some may not work for others.
•Because of each person’s makeup – some patients will have side effects.
Final Words
All medications must be taken strictly as prescribed. If at any time you as a victim of bipolar manic depression patient feel that the medication prescribed is not working or is too strong, please consult your doctor. It is extremely important that you a bipolar manic victim be patient with your bipolar medications, because many drugs take some time to work in your system.
Filed under Bipolar Symptoms by
Around the world, medication is the standard and most proven treatment for bipolar. Some patients can be maintained on a single drug, but many others have to use a combination of prescribed medications, some call "med cocktail", to stabilize the disorder. These drugs depend on a few factors, the person's unique mood symptoms, their body and brain makeup and some unforeseen factors like other medicine being taken for other conditions. Here are some resources and important information on understanding these prescribed drugs.
• Zyprexa – Olanzapine
This was the first FDA (Food and Drug Administration approved antipsychotic medication for the treatment of bipolar mania. Research has shown that it is in line with Lithium for the use of mixed episodes. However, weight gain is the side effect of this medication.
• Risperidone (Risperdal)
Risperidone has a similar effect as Lithium. This medicine works well for a long-term stability. Side effects such as weight gain can be a concern.
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
Usually works to reduce bipolar symptoms and has been very successful in the treatment of difficult cases. The only concern is that it may reduce blood cell count.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
This is a fairly new medicine which is used to treat intense mania and rapid-moods cycles.
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Recently used medication for bipolar with similar results is also used for very severe mania symptoms. It can have a swift effect on the symptoms.
• Valproate (Depakote)
Approved by the FDA in 1995, it became the first anticonvulsant drug for treating bipolar mania. For those who are going through rapid cycle, this drug is often used as a first line treatment.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Not yet approved by FDA to treat mania, many have found its side effects very difficult to endure.
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
This is a second-generation drug to treat convulsions, while it is still in the experimental stage, it is fairly good alternative medication.
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
This drug comes under the anticonvulsant drugs and is mostly used with other prescribed medications to bring a more desired result.
• Topiramate (Topamax)
This is the newest anticonvulsant in the market, which goes together with therapy. Although it may seem to create some problems with the mind functioning, it has no side effect especially with weight gain.
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
The first antipsychotic medication to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of mania. It is quite as effective as Lithium to treat mixed episodes of bipolar, but weight gain is the main problem with this drug.
• Risperidone (Risperdal)
Similar to Lithium, it seems to work very well in long-term stability, but weight gain is a great concern with this medication.
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
This medicine is well known for its speed to reduce the bipolar symptoms. It has been very successful in the treatment of difficult cases. The only concern is it may bring down the count of blood cells.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
Seroquel is fairly new, used in severe mania and rapid-cycling. The side effects include dry mouth constipation and many more.
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Used for severe mania symptoms, it has been proven to act swiftly to stabilize bipolar mania. The side effects can be constipation, vomiting and for women the stopping of menstrual period to difficulty getting pregnant.
Final Words
As with any bipolar medication, most people do tolerate it quite well with no side effects. But if side effects do happen, please consult your doctor or a healthcare provider.
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Bipolar disorder symptoms swing from one cycle to the other. Some may start from manic episodes, return to normal before cycling into a depressive mode. Because of the two main symptoms of bipolar disease it is possible to divide bipolar disorder symptoms into the two different main mood types; manic and depressive symptoms. There are over twenty symptoms in bipolar and victims do not usually have all of the twenty symptoms to be considered bipolar. Some symptoms may be stronger than the others and some may not show at all. A person can only be called bipolar when either depressive or bipolar mania symptoms is severe, and frequent. For better information on the symptoms of bipolar we will try to take this feeling of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness in detail.
What is Guilt?
“Guilt” is first a feeling of responsibility or remorse for something wrong we have committed, this can be either real or imagined as we will see later on. It is our conscience convicting us for the actions and thoughts. While it should be taken as a gift, most people try and talk their way out of it and as it were quench it. Some may describe it like a nagging voice in us. Unless you are a good actor guilty feelings can be seen in our body language and the words we speak. In those with bipolar this guilt feelings seem to come from nowhere, there is no outside source.
Hopelessness
There are three main aspects to feelings of hopelessness; the future does not look bright, loss of inspiration, and no expectations. It is a pattern of thinking where the person believes that they are trapped in misery with no way out of the situation.
Worthlessness
According to Dr. Beck, worthlessness is a depression mode, where we feel “the Four Ds”, We feel;
• Deprived,
• Defective,
• Defeated,
• and Deserted.
Most people would see this as the contributing factor to feelings of low self-esteem.
Destructive Patterns of Thoughts
Connected to like a “switch" in the mind of a person these destructive patterns of thinking can be triggered to cause a flood of hopeless and abhorrent thoughts. Thoughts such as "I am a bum and a failure," "I am always doing things wrong," "Nobody loves me," "Nothing will get better," "I am not entitled to anything," "I'm not a good person," "Nobody wants to be with me," "No one likes me," "I don’t trust anyone," and the list continues, until the person's own thinking pattern takes them into a deep, dark and depressive pit.
Important Tips
To help anyone with this type of bipolar depression, do not;
• Try and stop them doing something you do not like, “don’t do this, don’t do that” sort of thing.
• Tell them it hurts your feelings.
• Beg them to do something you want done, because if they cannot do it, the outcome is guilt.
• Show distrust. Either by words or actions because negative actions will cause negative reactions in the person with bipolar.
• Negative words or actions.
Anything negative will have a disastrous effect which can make them more guilty to continue on with their self injuries. Always keep in mind that bipolar is a brain disorder and the person with this mental illness are fighting themselves to stay afloat and you may be the only one who will help them stay alive. For a start always use positive words.
Thoughts and attempts of suicide
Many believe that because of the thought patterns mentioned above, suicide and attempts of suicide is the only way out of those thought patterns for those with severe bipolar symptoms. Thoughts of suicide is the result of negative thoughts, which has no source whatsoever, being present and entertained by bipolar depressive people.
Medical Help
If your friend or relative are showing strong depressive symptoms of bipolar, please seek medical help. Early intervention is critical to the treatment of bipolar depressive disorder symptoms.
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The word synonymous with bipolar is psychiatry. Besides the use of the word doctors and physician, psychiatry is used in most articles for the treatment of bipolar. Psychiatry is a profession and a part of medicine. They study patients and make known the cause or the true nature of mental illness and treat the irregular behaviors and conditions that are causing the problems. So psychiatrists are those people who practice psychiatry and treat those with mind problems. Only after proper and thorough diagnosis are they able to prescribe drugs to try and control the mental illness.
Psychiatrists verses Psychologists
According to law, Psychiatrists are in fact medical doctors who can diagnose and prescribe bipolar medications to their patients. On the other hand psychologists are no allowed to do this, because the law made by health government, states that only medical doctors can prescribe medication to their patients. The word psychiatrist is a word divided into two, mind and medication.
Psychology and Bipolar
Psychology according to the Greek is the study of the mind, spirit and the soul. It is the study of the human mental functioning and observable activities. Those in this profession specifically study facts that deal with the human perception, their personality, our behaviors, knowledge, emotion, feelings and human relationships. Some psychologists go deeper in to the study of the unconscious mind. While psychologists can identify a mental problem they are not in a position to administer medication because of the law and knowledge in the field of medicine.
Psychiatry and Medicine
Psychiatrists spend many years learning about the body and the brain and how they work. And when something goes wrong with the body, medications can help the brain or the body work better. Some diseases in the mind can cause the brain to function wrongly, like bipolar disorder. When a mental illness is diagnosed from a psychologist they are usually referred to a psychiatrist in the hope that prescribed drugs may help the person get better. Patients may continue to see psychologist for counseling but for medicine they have to be referred to a psychiatrist.
The Field of Neuropsychiatry
Neuropsychiatry is the field of medicine and those who work in this field are called Neuropsychiatrists. When medications for mental illness were first discovered, there have been numerous ways to study and understand why mentally ill patients behave and think in the way they do. To do this, doctors study the brain as directly as they can. With new tools on offer the results have been amazing because now they can link bipolar disorder to certain chemicals in the brain called “neurotransmitters”.
Hope of Working Together
We can only hope that scientists can find a permanent cure or fix these mental illnesses, bipolar. While we can only wait and hope, we have to do with whatever is available, whether they be medication or therapy. From family members to those who are producing bipolar medication we are all in it together to help those with bipolar illness get better.
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