Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, is a serious mood disorder that affects approximately one percent of Americans. Though many people focus on the depressive episodes associated with the illness, it’s important to note that bipolar mania requires just as much attention and support.
What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Mania?
Opposite of depression, bipolar manias most common symptoms include increased energy, decreased need for sleep, rapid speech, euphoria, hypersexuality, and impulsiveness. Bipolar mania can be described as “hyper” which many people experience.
Common but not always noticeable by family or friends is another symptom connected to thoughts which are disjointed and running. Those suffering from bipolar mania are easily distracted even by things that are not very important and jump from topic to topic quickly, making “clang associations,” which is the association of words based on sound rather than meaning.
Patients with bipolar mania are impulsive and with impaired judgment do not think about the consequences of their actions. Endangering others, patients can lead reckless and risky behaviors. In helping people, treat and manage bipolar it is important they be linked to a support group.
Bipolar Mania and the Support Available
Those struggling with bipolar mania, benefit a lot from support groups helping him/her put feelings, decisions, and thoughts into proper perspective. Usually in addition to seeing a psychiatrist or counselor on a regular basis, bipolar support groups are incorporated into the regular psychotherapy for the treatment of manic depressive illness.
Led by a counselor or psychiatrist who facilitates meetings, gets patients talking, and offers expert advice about comments and questions that come up, bipolar support groups are a great “sounding board” for patients. It is a place where they are reminded about many of the decisions they’re making are because of the illness and not of how they are feeling.
People with bipolar depression can get the support they want, but because they feel “good” when at the manic episode, they don’t want to seek the support they need, and this can be just as dangerous as not getting help when feeling depressed. Great resources can be offered by bipolar support groups to those with bipolar mania or depression episodes.
How to get more information about bipolar.
There’s lots of information available online about bipolar mania and bipolar support groups. One very valuable website is knowingbipolardisorder.com, which is an authority on educating the public about manic depressive illness. The site covers a variety of topics helpful to patients, as well as their friends and family, cope with the disease, including specific articles about bipolar mania and bipolar support groups.
HRB339 is an In-Depth Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine Study (Diagnosis and Treatment) of Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression) and Mental Illnesses (Unmad in Ayurvedic Sanskrit), along with examination of related Vata Anxiety Disorders, Pitta Anger Violence Mania, Suicidal Tendencies (Suicide), Kapha Sadness Depression and Melancholy. Comparison – Contrast of Bi-Polar Manic-Depression classical Diagnosis (Assessment), Etiology (Causes), Pathology (Disease Process – Progress) and Treatment (Therapies) in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M. or Traditional Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture) and Ayurveda — both styles Indo-Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu Ayurveda with along with Tibetan Medicine (Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine – T.A.M.).
Extracted for powerpoint presentation for Medical-Surgical Nursing project to emphasize manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder).
Episode 4: An interview with Megan. Megan is a 25-year old graduate student with Bipolar Disorder. 9-minutes. More info at: bipolarhelp.org
http://www.encognitive.com