does anyone know if there is a different treatment for bi-polar than the medicines ,?
345359
I have heard that herbs, vitamins work but don't know for sure.  I would suggest at looking at a product called Serenity.  I have known some people to take this and they have said that even their doctors told them it would be ok.  Bipolar is a serious disease and anything you can do to help your child be at a more normal lifestyle, please do it.  I have relatives who have it and in fact some have taken their own lives.  Please know that thi is a disease, but can be treated.
45490
kytrailman gave some good advice.\nAny relationship is unique.  My wife was diagnosed as being bi-polar over 25 years ago.  We have been together for over 22 years.  Treatment is usually effective, but human support is also helpful.\nI do not know who told you that people with bi-polar condition  can not last in a relationship, but older studies of the condition (manic-depressives) usually listed this as one effect FOR UNTREATED patients.\nIf you love the person and the person is under treatment, then do not worry.  Just read something like the book mentioned above so you know what you are getting into.\nHey, and give kytrailman the points.
995724
Best to visit a good psychiatrist. I was diagnosed Bi-Polar about 6 years ago- I'm not sure that the diagnosis is/was correct, but I do very often resemble a person that is bi-polar. I dont have many down (depression) episodes at all, I'm up and more up mostly. There are many drugs available for every condition out there. My personal opinion is that mental and emotional disorders or maladies are very hard to pinpoint. I feel that I'm Mildly Autistic or have aspergeurs Syndrome, NOT Bi-Polar Disorder. The truth may be that I have several overlapping conditions, who knows? There are many web sites to check out also NAMI is an organization that caters to this subject. Good Luck!
692688
It depends what you are treating and in who. From the drugs I would guess Bi-Polar disorder and maybe some trouble sleeping. Ask your doctor about a drug called Lamictal. I had to be taken off lithium after 15 years due to it's toxic side effects and the Lamictal not only worked as well as the lithium, it did it without the side effects! It was a like a fog lifted from my brain. Obviously this is for you to decide with your doctor. The transition from Lithium to anything has to be taken very seriously and done both slowly as well as under supervision.
48802
If you have it, stay on your meds.  If your boyfriend has it, you're in for a long, rough road.  I once dated a bi-polar gal.  It was just too much for me.  My life wass hard enough to deal with, without having to deal with her issues, too.
798946
So, you're from Australia then... (Lovan's the giveaway)\n\nLovan (fluoxetine, or Prozac to everyone else) is not noted for cognitive impairment, but Epilim (aka Depacon, valproate sodium) certainly is. \n\nI had a similar issue with lamotrigine (I'm also bipolar), and my psychiatrist recommended large doses of B complex vitamins. That has certainly helped me, so it may be worth a try for very little outlay.
299187
Some doctors got the idea that people could not deal with Truth. So, instead of the doctors telling the patients they were mal-adapted to society, or had bad manners and bad judgment, or that they were mentally ill, they coined the term "chemical imbalance". I do not think there is scientific evidence today to prove bi-polar disorder (which is the most over-used diagnosis), or psychosis, and certainly not neurosis. Pharmaceutical companies and doctors have to be able to SELL patients their products, and people are currently buying into it.
42899
There are lots of different mdications used to treat Minic Depression/Bipolar Disorder.\n\nThey fall into three categories, mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics. \n\nLithium is a mood stabilizer that has been used to treat bipolar for a long time. Newer mood-stabilizers are usually anti-convulsant medications like Depacote and Lamictal.\n\nThere are several pages of info on this source link:
514895
It depends on the severity of the Bi-polarism. Some are ok as long as they are aware of it and keep it "in check." Some become un-hirable liabilities.\nSome become homeless staticstics.\nSome just argue and fight with their loved ones all the time.\nSome, like myself have to constatly keep myself in check. I'm alergic to many bi-polar meds and have taken to a more natural approach. I do "biorhythms", take calcium suppliments, camomile and St. Johns Wort. I see a "congnative" therapist and have a loving and understanding partner who's seen all the crap I've been through just to get the proper diagnosys.
968381
Your best bet is to speak to a psychoanalyst. Unlike like normal psychologist and doctors who use CBT which is what I use fro treatment with bipolar disorder. They are more concerned with resolving past issues in order to work back up. My experience with CBT  has been talking about the past but dealing with my present issues and not dealing a lot with what the source was from my past. however when i went to a psychoanalyst, she had me start from childhood and find the root of the problems it's causing me now. try looking on the National institute for Mental health's website for more information and also if you have insurance look on their website to find a Doctor that may offer this sort of therapy or call them directly
1153161
I would have him evaluated by a pediatric specialty team at your nearest children's hospital or rehab center. My daughter was dx'd with ADD/ADHD/PDD-NOS and then High-functioning Autism by her ped and later by state funded physical and occupational therapists through early intervention. She was medicated at the school's insistence for ADHD. When that made things worse instead of better, we had her evaluated at our local pediatric rehabilitation center and learned that she was actually a perfect match for the symptoms/actions of Aspergers Syndrome and early onset bi-polar disorder. The reason the meds made things worse was that with bi-polar, you can't give just the anti-depressant, you have to do a mood stabilizer as well, or the manic symptoms will intensify and often times go out of control. Hope you find the help you need to help your child
71561
If you have dramatic mood changes, like either extremely up or down, like going from crying to extremely angry, to happy and or have trouble sleeping because you are to wound up or have thoughts that race constantly you should see your doctor. The most common drug used if neccesary is Lithium and will help to balance your moods. You should get at least 20 min a day of direct sun light every day too,it helps increase the amount of seretonin your brain produces. It doesnt mean your a psyco weirdo if your diagnosed as bi-polar you just have to learn to manage it.
878177
People suffering from bi-polar have 2 very different emotions that they exhibit, thus the name bi-polar.\nAt one moment they may be joyously happy and bouncing around the room. The next they will be manicly depressed, and in some cases suicidal.\n\nThe best thing to do if you think someone is bi-polar is take them to a psychiatrist. They can do many personality tests and interviews with the patient to determine their mental health status.\n\nAnother thing to point out, it that they will swear blind they do not have a problem. Don't believe them. If they are very close to you, you will have seen a change in their personality that will indicate something is wrong.\nIf you have to, drag them to the doctor because they do need help!
459224
I think that you need to talk to your doctor and have him change the type of medication or the dosage because it sounds to me that you are still having manic/depressive episodes. My best friend went through this for months and they found out the medication was conflicting with other meds and they were just not effective. If nothing else get a second opinion!
646623
READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN ON WEB AND IN MEDICAL BOOK; TALK TO DOCTORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OR PSYCHIATRIST, OR TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS. I've had bi-polar at least 18 yrs. & possibly longer. I think i've read that STRESS can bring it ON  or make it worse. Some helpful info i read was info. about Mentall illness that i ordered from the U.S. Government--I think it was; the way i found it: first thru: Consumer SOMETHING (I SORRY I CANNOT think of name of it right now.\nSome of my symptoms of Bipolar: very excessive TALKING with mania--just couldn't get enough said & told; flights of money making ideas- thinking of the ideas--ALMOST faster than U can write them down;also lots of hostility and BEING HATEFUL,ETC.; also too much mental energy & need for very little or no sleep;  in depressive cycle:  too much sleep & at bottom of barrel--excessively DEPRESSED & can't Make myself do things that I needed to do.  (My med. helps a little, but not LOTS & i refuse to take more then 1.5 mg.'s of zyprexa DAILY, but to possible side effects-especially Diabetees, which i don't think I HAVE -yet, anyways. --u can type in BIPOLAR I THINK UNDER SEARCH at yahoo and /or google. ---ALSO, in depressed cycle: too much sleep & lack of energy.
476338
I'm surprised that your doctor can't provide any answers. Is this a your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist? Your primary care doc may not have the best information, but if it's your psychiatrist, geez... \n\nGo back and get more specific. Ask for options or reading material. Do a Web search (www.webmd.com is a good place to start), and get your own information. Sometimes you have to take charge of your own care. \n\nYou also should ask the school about adaptive teaching for you. This is a disability and they can make accommodations. My son has ADHD and needs extra time to complete papers becuase he has trouble focusing. He also takes his exams with a headphone playing classical music. It helps keep him from getting distracted by other things in the classroom. \n\nGood luck, and I wish I could offer more insight. I know there are medications for this, but you already may be taking them. One key is to take them all the time. People with bi-polar disorder tend to drop the meds when they're in the "good mood" phase.
56595
I have an aunt that has been diagnosed for years. What I would recommend is going to www.webmd.com to show you the kind of behavior you are in for if you choose to stay (which I wouldn't recommend, at least until he is stabilized)Bi-polars without medication can stay up for days, even weeks and can reach a state of insomniatic psychosis where they can become violent to themselves or others. They can also slip into a deep depression where they can't find an reason to get out of bed, or complete the simplest task to take care of themselves. Suicide is in greater numbers among this psychological diagnoses. I would recommend slipping into more of a friendship role, because if you don't you are in for the roller-coaster ride of your life.