Manic depressive disorder, sometimes known as manic depression or bipolar disorder, isn’t one single thing. It’s more a constellation of disorders, mostly characterized by swings between highly elevated moods and severely depressed ones. With variations of the illness manifesting itself in different ways (rapid or slow cycling of moods, for example), finding the best treatments can be a real challenge. Probably the first step in getting a handle on it, in fact, is to find a therapist who knows a great deal about the disorder. Teamwork among the person with the illness and his or her doctors is the key.
Often people who live with manic depressive disorder function well in the periods between manic and depressive episodes. This means they can take an active role, along with their doctors, in devising and monitoring their own recovery depression treatments. They particularly need to guard against the temptation to go off their medications, thinking they no longer need them, if the symptoms seem to disappear. So their therapy will often not be restricted just to the drugs, but may include psychotherapy to help them recognize any of their own behaviors that might contribute to the worsening of their illness.
When it comes to the medications prescribed for manic depressives, there are a great many currently available. However, lithium has been used for many years in various forms, and seems to have the best track record for stabilizing the mood swings and even for reducing instances of suicide. One difficulty with this drug, however, is the side effects of high blood pressure, water retention and constipation. So, new treatments are often sought to see if other drugs might work as well, with fewer repercussions. Interestingly, it’s a breast cancer medicine called tamoxifen that has shown one of the best and quickest responses to a manic phase. Other mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs are also among the current treatments.
As constant research into manic depressive disorder goes on, and knowledge about the manifestations of this illness increases, newer drugs and treatments are also being developed. What people can contribute on their own side of the treatment equation is to gather whatever bipolar info they can, work with a therapist, and become familiar with potential weak spots in their own behavior. A successful treatment strategy can only be developed when all parties work together.
As a leading expert in the field of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for how to treating anxiety disorder. Visit her site for more information on her how to deal with panic attacks and much more.
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