Bipolar is a condition which wreaks havoc on those that it affects. If you suffer from Bipolar, chances are good that your family suffers with you. No matter if you are that family member trying to learn to cope or you are the person that has been diagnosised, there is hope out there. Although there is no cure for Bipolar, just yet, there are many ways in which you can improve your chances of living a long and happy life. The good news is that the process doesn’t have to be difficult either.
Table Of Contents
Introduction___________________________________________________________5
Chapter 1: Understanding Bipolar To Get Help______________________________6
Bipolar: The Medical Side___________________________________________________7
Do You Have Bipolar?______________________________________________________8
What’s The Cause?________________________________________________________11
Are You At Risk?_________________________________________________________13
Should You Go To The Doctor?______________________________________________14
Who Should I See?________________________________________________________15
Chapter 2: Why Should I Get Help Anyway?_______________________________18
The Stress Goes Farther____________________________________________________20
Chapter 3: Your Doctor’s Bipolar Treatment_______________________________22
Medications______________________________________________________________23
Psychotherapy____________________________________________________________27
Electroconvulsive Therapy__________________________________________________29
What’s Right For You?_____________________________________________________31
Chapter 4: Why So Many Struggle With Treatment__________________________32
Noncompliance And Nonadherence___________________________________________33
You Don’t Understand Your Illness__________________________________________34
Dependency______________________________________________________________35
They Don’t Like The Doctor________________________________________________36
The Awful Side Effects_____________________________________________________36
What Else Can It Be?______________________________________________________38
Chapter 5: Learning To Cope With Bipolar Disorder_________________________39
The Way You Sleep________________________________________________________40
Monitor Your Medications__________________________________________________41
Maintain Your Level Of Activity_____________________________________________42
Don’t Use Drugs Or Alcohol_________________________________________________43
Support__________________________________________________________________45
Reduction Of Stress________________________________________________________47
Watch For Signs__________________________________________________________49
Keep Your Doctor Informed________________________________________________53
Chapter 6: Why You Should Consider Support Groups_______________________55
Who Is Your Support Group?_______________________________________________56
Outside Support___________________________________________________________57
Chapter 7: Coping By Monitoring Symptoms: The Mood Chart________________59
What Is It?_______________________________________________________________60
Conclusion___________________________________________________________62