Depression in bipolar
disorder is more than just chemical imbalance but a combination
of biological, physical and social factors. It may be caused by problems
at work, stress or in your relationships but depression in these instances
are situational and can be remedied by changing the situation like looking
for a better job or talking to your friends or family to clear up any
misunderstandings.
In cases like bipolar disorder depression, knowing the risk factors and
making lifestyle changes are essential in reducing the risk of developing
this mental illness.
Depression can also occur in ?special situations?. These situations
are depression in men, women, elderly
and treatment-resistant depression. Seasonal
affective disorder (SAD) is also considered a special case
because it happens mainly in the winter.
Untreated and severe case of SAD may lead to bipolar disorder. Post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also be included in
this case since this mental illness develops in response to a traumatic
experience. A person with PTSD may experience fear or a sense of helplessness.
PTSD may also become a bipolar disorder if incorrectly diagnosed.
PSTD may be cured by taking up Prozac, Aropax and Zoloft. But using cognitive-behavioral
therapy, also used for patients with bipolar disorder, is seen to be more
effective than using drugs.
Medications
for depression are usually mood stabilizers just like the
ones generally prescribed to individuals with bipolar disorder. Some of
these are:
? Lithium
? Carbamazepine (Tegretol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), Quetiapine (Seroquel)
and valproic acid (Depakote). Some of these medicines were originally
designed as anti-seizures, and they are sometimes used as bipolar disorder
medications.
? Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is said to be relatively safe for pregnant women
who have bipolar disorder. Risperidone (Risperdal) is also prescribed
to individuals suffering from psychosis and often given to bipolar disorder
patients as well.
Men rarely acknowledge their feelings of hopelessness, helplessness
or sadness that is why they come to seek help and treatment rather too
late. Men would often try to deal with depression using drugs and alcohol.
Even though women are twice as likely to develop depression and other
mental illness like bipolar disorder as men, men are at a higher risk
of committing suicide, especially older and elderly men.
There are symptoms of depression that are more common in men than in women.
These include the following:
? greater risk-taking
? sudden anger
? irritability
? increased loss of control
? aggression.
Men are more competitive than women and want to rely on themselves more
than on others. They rarely talk about their feelings even to the ones
closest to them. As a means to cope up with their depression, men may
become more focused on their work than their relationships. They also
avoid trying to have arguments because they feel physically uncomfortable
dealing with it. Those who are divorced and are in the process of separation
are most likely to kill themselves. Thinking of suicide is also a symptom
of bipolar disorder.
Depression in later life usually coincides with other medical illnesses
and disabilities. Getting old is also accompanied by the loss of social
support systems, usually due to the death of a family member or retirement.
People are expected to slow down in their activities when they reach old
age that is why doctors and family members might miss the diagnosis of
depression thus delaying effective treatment. As a result, many old people
fight off depression symptoms for a long time before being treated.
Depression in elderly
people doubles the risk of developing cardiac disease which further reduces
their ability for recovery. Most importantly, the risk of committing suicide
is more likely in elderly people, especially men. Take note that if depression
is not diagnosed immediately and properly, it may lead to bipolar disorder.
There are several factors to consider that increase the risk of depression
in the elderly:
The likelihood of women developing depression and other depression-related
disorders like bipolar disorder is actually higher than men because they
have a lot to think about like their family, career, pregnancy, even menstruation
and eventually menopause.
Hormonal changes are factors but genetic predisposition can also be a
risk factor for depression in women. Some of the depression disorders
more frequently developed in women are melancholia active and neurotic
depression while puerperal and post-partum psychosis are found in women
alone.
Aside from depression, seasonal-affective
disorder (SAD) is also associated with bipolar disorder.
This is a form of depression common in areas with severe winter weather
patterns and limited sunlight like the northern climates.
People who suffer from this mental illness experience the following symptoms
which are a bit similar to bipolar disorder except for a few exceptions:
? Lack of energy
? Depression
? Craving for sweet foods
? Increased sleepiness
? Weight gain
Because people with bipolar disorder tend to put off seeking treatment
for their ?normal? mood swings, proper diagnosis cannot be done in time.
When they experience mania, they usually feel good and are full energy
and often seem to think that they are doing well in their lives.
The opposite occurs when they experience depression; in that they immediately
seek professional help. But when they do, doctors may mistake their condition
as being major depression only and make an incorrect diagnosis. It should
be remembered that bipolar disorder has similar symptoms with other mental
illness like schizophrenia.
Exercise can improve symptoms
of depression and anxiety. If you have a depressive or bipolar
disorder, you are probably advised to do regular exercise
in addition to medication or psychotherapy. Exercise cannot cure depression
or bipolar disorder but its psychological and physical benefits can dramatically
help to improve your symptoms.
Exercise is known as a way to maintain physical fitness. It also helps
in preventing certain health concerns like high blood pressure, diabetes
and other diseases. A growing number of research explains that exercise
can also help improve symptoms of certain mental health conditions, like
depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Exercise may also help prevent
a relapse after treatment for depression, anxiety and other mental illness
like bipolar disorder.
Electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT) is actually a procedure wherein electric currents are
used to deliberately trigger a seizure. This method can help ease some
mental illnesses such as severe depression
and bipolar disorder.
In the past, much controversy has surrounded this method due to the use
of excessively high voltages of electricity administered without anaesthesia
which causes loss of memory and death. ECT are known to cause side effects
and even some complications, but modern technology uses electrical currents,
which are precisely-calculated. They are administered under a controlled
setting in order to achieve fewer risks but greater benefits.
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