If you suspect that you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, it's important to talk to a health professional. Your doctor can help you get the proper treatment for this condition. Mental health providers can also help you deal with the symptoms of bipolar disorder. You can also find out more about Misdiagnosis and Genetics.

Treatment options

There are many BIPOLAR DISORDER treatment options, including medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle change. Psychotherapy can help you better understand your symptoms and triggers, and can also help you develop new coping strategies. Other types of therapy include interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, which teaches you how to live a rhythmic life and adjust your sleep and eating schedule. Cognitive behavioral therapy targets your thoughts and behaviors, and can also help you manage your mood and speech.

Mood stabilizers are often prescribed to treat bipolar disorder and control manic episodes. These include lithium, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, and ziprasidone. If these medications are not effective, your psychiatrist may prescribe antipsychotics, which are more powerful and work faster. However, they often cannot be taken alone, and may need to be added to other medications.

Misdiagnosis

Binocular vision dysfunction can occur when the eyes are misaligned, leading to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and motion sickness. The condition can also lead to life-changing anxiety and a decreased quality of life. A medical professional should be consulted to ensure a correct diagnosis.

Several studies have shown that general practitioners often incorrectly diagnose acute eye conditions. Developing definite referral protocols will help reduce this rate, as well as improve the standard of referrals and the quality of care provided to patients. One such study revealed that only 15% of patients referred for eye disease had a history taken and only a fifth of patients received a physical eye exam.

Genetics

Psychiatric disorders are highly complex, and bipolar disorder is no exception. The disorder is thought to be caused by multiple genes, as well as environmental factors. However, individual genes may only contribute a small portion to the overall risk of developing the disorder. In addition, identifying the specific genes that cause bipolar disorder is difficult. Methodological issues are also critical in this area of research. For example, early studies of affective disorders often failed to distinguish between unipolar and bipolar illness, and questions remain about the validity of today's bipolar diagnosis.

Although the cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, genetic studies have shown that bipolar disorder is heritable. In the 1980s, early linkage studies used large family pedigrees to study bipolar disorder. These studies tended to assume that all cases were caused by a single genetic factor. In the late 1980s, two high-profile studies published in Nature journal claimed a linkage to chromosome 11p markers.

Stressful life events

The correlation between stressful life events and bipolar disorder was found after the study collected information from over twenty-five thousand adults. However, the researchers found that the association was not always clear. The interviewers required that participants list stressful life events before assessing psychiatric symptoms.

The researchers also found a strong association between stressful life events and depressive episodes. But they questioned whether the relationship was causal. Regardless, it is important to understand that stressful life events do increase the risk of major depression.

Medicines

Bipolar disorder can be extremely difficult to live with, but there are ways to manage it. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis, and then to seek treatment. Your doctor will examine your moods and assess your mental health. Treatment options will include medicines and therapy. It may take some time to find the right treatment for you, but it will be well worth it. In the meantime, keep a close eye on your moods and try to manage them as best you can.

Medicines for bipolar disorder are usually prescribed for adults, though there is limited research on the safety of bipolar medications in children. However, you should discuss any changes to your medication plan with your doctor to ensure that you do not have any unwanted side effects. If you do experience a manic or hypomanic episode while taking bipolar medicines, it is best to consult a doctor immediately. In addition, you should remember that some medicines may pass through breast milk, so they are not suitable for breastfeeding.

Support groups

Online forums and chat rooms are a great way to connect with people who share your experience with bipolar disorder. The DailyStrength bipolar support group, for example, has thousands of members and offers an opportunity to share your story, get encouragement, and get help. It also provides contact information for medical professionals. In addition, members are encouraged to remain anonymous, but there are also options for voice only communication and webcam video conferencing.

There are many types of support groups for bipolar disorder. Some are local, while others are national. In-person support groups are usually led by mental health professionals. Others are led by individuals who live with bipolar disorder themselves. They all offer different levels of support and can range in cost.