Bipolar Disorder For Dummies E-Book

Candida Fink

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 643

Beschreibung

Understand the realities of bipolar disorder When one receives the diagnosis that they or a loved one has bipolar disorder, it can be a time of fear and worry. Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, 3rd Edition explains the brain chemistry behind the disease and covers the latest medications and therapies. You'll get reassuring, sound advice and self-help techniques that you and your loved ones, including kids and teens, can use to ease and eliminate symptoms, function in times of crisis, plan ahead for manic or depressive episodes, and feel a whole lot better. This new edition will include new and updated content on genetics, biochemistry, and imaging studies relevant to bipolar, expanded coverage on how to handle the high costs of treatment, and supporting a loved one (who may not want help, medications and treatment options, including DSM-5, ECT, and TMS along with new coverage on special populations (how bipolar affects different groups, like women and various ethnic groups and special populations, like seniors and expectant moms. Bipolar disorder, which has also been called manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual mood swings and shifting energy levels. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can, if not understood and handled properly, wreak havoc on personal and professional relationships. Though bipolar disorder is a serious condition, it's one that can be treated! With a firm understanding of what you're dealing with, you can navigate your way through the challenges of bipolar disorder, whether you or a loved one suffers from this illness. * Recognize the warning signs of mania and depression, which may point to bipolar disorder * Understand where to find the latest treatment options * Stay on track with personal and professional aspects of life * Effectively and compassionately respond to rants, depression, mania, and other behaviors associated with bipolar disorder Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, 3rd Edition offers straightforward, reassuring information about bipolar disorder to help you or your loved one conquer the disease.

Leseprobe

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2015951120

ISBN: 978-1-119-12186-2

ISBN 978-1-119-12186-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-12187-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-12188-6 (ebk)

Bipolar Disorder For Dummies®

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/bipolardisorder to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Cover

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Started on Your Bipolar Journey

Chapter 1: Grasping Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Diagnosis

Cracking Open the Diagnostic Manual: DSM-5

Exploring the Poles of Bipolar Disorder: Mania and Depression

Distinguishing Types of Bipolar Disorder

Digging Deeper with Bipolar Specifiers

Distinguishing Bipolar from Conditions with Similar Symptoms

Considering Comorbidity: When Bipolar Coexists with Other Conditions

Confronting the Challenges of Diagnosing Children and Teens

Chapter 2: Finding the Cause: The Brain and Body Science of Bipolar Disorder

Digging Up Bipolar’s Genetic Roots

Investigating Nongenetic Factors

Examining the Circuitry of Bipolar

Recognizing How Medications Do Their Thing

Chapter 3: Reining in Bipolar Disorder: Prognosis and Treatments

So, Doc, What’s the Prognosis?

Responding Reactively and Proactively to Bipolar Disorder

Recognizing the Components of an Effective Treatment Plan

Part II: Obtaining a Diagnosis and Building a Treatment Plan and Team

Chapter 4: Diagnosis Step 1: Ruling Out Other Health Issues

Could It Be Something Else?

Seeking Your Doctor’s Advice

Digging Deeper with Additional Tests and Procedures

Receiving a Clean Bill of Health — Now What?

Chapter 5: Diagnosis Step 2: Obtaining a Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Plan

Finding Professional Help

Knowing What to Look for in a Psychiatrist

What to Bring to Your First Meeting

Arriving at a Diagnosis

Responding to Your Diagnosis

Receiving Your Treatment Plan

Chapter 6: Building a Winning Mood-Management Team

A Psychiatrist for Diagnosis and Medication Management

A Lifestyle Director: Highlighting the Therapist’s Roles

Assembling Your Personal Support Staff: Family and Friends

Working as a Team

Expanding Your Network through Local Support Groups

Part III: Managing the Biology of Bipolar Disorder

Chapter 7: Leveling Moods with Medication

Unlocking the Bipolar Medicine Cabinet

Exploring Bipolar Psychopharmacology

Treating Mood Episodes and Preventing Future Episodes

Peering into the Promising Future of Bipolar Medications

Chapter 8: Coming to Terms with Medications and Their Side Effects

Facing Your Emotional Reactions

Performing a Cost-Benefit Analysis

Alleviating Undesirable Side Effects

Switching, Reducing, and Stopping Meds

Chapter 9: Expanding Your Biological Treatment Options

Treating Your Moods to Supplements

Treating Depression with Light Therapy

Stimulating Your Brain with Electricity and Magnetism

Chapter 10: Treating Bipolar Disorder in Women and Other Specific Populations

Bipolar Disorder in Women

Older Adults and Bipolar Disorder

Accommodating Cultural Differences

Bipolar in the LGBT Community

Part IV: Developing Essential Survival Skills

Chapter 11: Exploring Self-Help Strategies, Therapies, and Other Supports

Monitoring Your Moods

Charting Sleep and Energy Levels

Identifying Stressors and Triggers

Seeking Out Therapy and Support

Chapter 12: Making Lifestyle Adjustments

Cultivating a Healthy Home Environment

Establishing Healthy Routines

Serving Healthy Foods

Building Healthy Relationships

Relieving Stress through Exercise

Avoiding the Bad Stuff

Chapter 13: Communicating Effectively

Setting the Stage

Avoiding the Four Big Tiff-Makers

Becoming Less Confrontational with “I” Statements

Validating Other People’s Feelings

Disengaging from Unproductive Conflicts

Chapter 14: Solving Problems and Resolving Conflict

Setting the Stage for Effective Problem Solving

Identifying the Problem

Redefining the Problem/Conflict: From Right Versus Wrong to Unmet Needs

Brainstorming Possible Solutions

Planning and Implementing Agreed-Upon Solutions

Avoiding Unproductive Approaches

Letting Go of Problems You Can’t Solve on Your Own

Chapter 15: Planning Ahead for a Mood Episode

Teaming Up with Your Care Providers

Thwarting a Mood Episode

Choosing a Psychiatric Facility

Documenting Essential Information

Signing Releases … Or Not

Part V: Dealing with the Fallout

Chapter 16: From Hospitalization to Recovery

Coming to Terms with Hospitalization

Knowing What to Expect

Knowing Your Patient Rights

Making Your Stay More Comfortable

Keeping Your Team in the Loop

Making Recovery Your Top Priority

Reclaiming Your Life

Chapter 17: Returning to Work … or Not

Reality Check: Are You Ready to Return to Work?

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Disclosing Your Diagnosis … or Not

Requesting Workplace Accommodations

Finding More Suitable Work

Is Not Returning to Work Right for You?

Chapter 18: Overcoming Financial Setbacks

The Public Mental Health System

Filing for Disability Benefits

Exploring Health Insurance Options

Low- or No-Cost Healthcare Resources

Other Ways to Survive the Hard Times

Part VI: Assisting a Friend or Relative with Bipolar Disorder

Chapter 19: Supporting Your Loved One

Establishing the Right Mindset

Nurturing a Sense of Empathy

Recognizing Your Limitations

Remaining Vigilant for Warning Signs

Helping Someone Who Refuses Help

Taking Care of Yourself

Chapter 20: Dealing with Crisis Situations

Consulting Your Loved One’s Doctor or Therapist

Discussing the Emergency Plan

Responding in a Crisis

Chapter 21: Backing Your Bipolar Child or Teen

Recognizing the Diagnostic Difficulties

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children

Requesting a Professional Evaluation

Breaking Out the Treatment Toolbox

Parenting a Child with Bipolar Disorder

Part VII: The Part of Tens

Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Managing Bipolar

Team Up with Your Doctor and Therapist

Take Medications as Prescribed

Regulate Your Sleep

Develop Daily Routines

Build Mindfulness and Other Self-Centering Skills

Clearly Communicate Your Needs

Avoid Alcohol and Stimulants

Monitor Your Moods

Identify Your Early Warning Signs

Get Help at the First Sign of Trouble

Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Help a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder

Find Out More about Bipolar Disorder

Treat Your Loved One with Respect

Hone Your Communication Skills

Become a Problem Solver

Disengage When Tensions Rise

Keep Detailed Records

Partner with Your Loved One

Brush Up on Medications

Flex Your Expectations

Enjoy Your Life

About the Authors

Cheat Sheet

Advertisement Page

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

Imagine yourself cruising down the highway at a comfortable speed of 65 miles per hour when your cruise control goes berserk. The speedometer climbs to 75 and then 85 … you hit the button to cancel … tap the brakes … 90 … nothing slows you down … 95 … your car is shaking and weaving … 100 … people are honking … 105 … police cars are chasing you … 110 … your spouse is yelling at you to SLOW DOWN … 115 … 120 … .

Or imagine the opposite: You’re driving through town in a 30-mile-per-hour speed limit zone. Nobody’s in front of you — you’re practically pushing the accelerator through the floor — but your car can only creep along at 3 miles per hour. Your neighbors are honking, passing you on the right — on bicycles — and giving you dirty looks and other gestures of discontent.

When you have bipolar disorder, your brain’s accelerator is stuck. At full speed, it launches you into a manic episode. In low gear, it grinds you down into a deep depression. If this were a situation with your heart, somebody would call an ambulance; doctors and nurses would flock to your bedside; loved ones would fly in from other states; and you’d get flowers and fruit baskets. But when your brain is stuck in park or overdrive, people tend to think you’re lazy, you’ve snapped, or you’re too weak to deal with life. Instead of flowers and fruit baskets, you get a pink slip and divorce papers.

The good news is that the mind mechanics — psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists — have toolboxes packed with medications and therapies that can repair your brain’s accelerator. In this book, we reveal those tools along with strategies and techniques you can use to achieve and maintain mood stability and to help yourself feel a whole lot better.

About This Book

Although psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists are better equipped than ever to treat bipolar disorder, studies increasingly show that the more involved patients and their loved ones are in the treatment plan, the better the outcome. Our goal in writing this book is to make you a well-informed patient or support person and to empower you to become a key player on the treatment team.

Organized in an easy-to-access format and presented in plain English, the newest edition of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies brings you up to speed on bipolar disorder, explaining what it is, what causes it, and how it’s diagnosed and treated. We present the most effective treatments, explain why preventive treatment plays such a critical role in keeping symptoms at bay, and point out the positive prognosis that you can expect with the right combination of medication, therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and support.

In addition to comprehensive coverage of bipolar disorder, this book contains numerous first-person accounts from people living with bipolar disorder and their loved ones. These stories give you a glimpse inside the minds of people living with bipolar disorder along with additional insight into how people deal with the challenges in their own lives.

When we refer to medications or drugs, we use this format on first reference: generic name (Brand name), as in fluoxetine (Prozac), and in an attempt to be fair to both sexes, we alternate the use of “he” and “she” as we change from one section to the next instead of using the bulky “he or she” approach or the really weird “s/he” solution.

Foolish Assumptions

When you (or your loved ones) are diagnosed with bipolar, you automatically become a rank beginner. You never needed information about this illness before and probably had little interest in the topic. Now you have to get up to speed in a hurry. With that in mind, we assume that you know very little about bipolar disorder. If you’ve been to a doctor or therapist and received a diagnosis, however, you know at least a little. And if you got burned by a misdiagnosis or the wrong approach, you know you don’t want that to happen again. But no matter how experienced you are, this book can help.

We also assume that you or someone you know has bipolar or that you’re at least somewhat curious about the condition. The more the disorder affects you, your family, or someone else you know, the more this book can help.

Finally, we assume that you have a sense of humor. Yes, bipolar disorder can be brutal, but laughter is one tool that enables you to rise above the absurdity and frustration of dealing with it.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout this book, we sprinkle the following icons in the margins to cue you in to different types of information that you may or may not care to see:

If you happen to forget the rest of the stuff in this book, at least remember what we mark with these icons.

Tips provide insider insight from behind the scenes. When you’re looking for a better, faster way to do something, check out information flagged with this icon.

“Danger, Will Robinson, danger!” This icon appears when you need to be extra vigilant or seek professional help.

Throughout the book, we feature cameos of people living with bipolar disorder. This icon shows you where to meet them.

This icon points out supplemental (and free) information at www.dummies.com/extras/bipolardisorder.

Beyond the Book

Every For Dummies book has a Cheat Sheet chock-full of helpful information that you can refer to on a regular basis. You can find this book’s Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/bipolardisorder.

We also offer some bonus goodies at www.dummies.com/extras/bipolardisorder. You can read a bonus Part of Tens chapter on ten questions to ask a psychiatrist, a bipolar disorder glossary, and additional articles related to bipolar disorder.

Where to Go from Here

Think of this book as an all-you-can-eat buffet. You can grab a plate, start at the beginning, and read one chapter right after another, or you can dip into any chapter and pile your plate high with the information it contains.

If you want a quick overview of bipolar disorder, check out the chapters in Part I. Before you visit a psychiatrist for a diagnosis, see Chapters 4 and 5 to find out what to expect during the diagnostic process. For information and insight into the medications used to treat bipolar disorder, head to Chapter 7. Turn to the chapters in Part IV for self-help strategies. If you have a friend or family member with bipolar, skip to Part VI. Use the index to look up any bipolar term you’re unfamiliar with and find out where we cover it in the book. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll find plenty of useful information.

Part I

Getting Started on Your Bipolar Journey

Visit www.dummies.com for free content that helps you learn more and do more. You can also access a list of commonly used terms and their definitions at www.dummies.com/extras/bipolardisorder.

In this part …

Understand what bipolar disorder is and what it isn’t according to the diagnostic categories spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) — the book psychiatrists look to when developing their diagnosis.

Explore genetic and nongenetic factors, such as physical and emotional stress, that likely team up to trigger the manic and depressive episodes characteristic of bipolar disorder.

Take a look inside the different parts of the brain to understand the biology of bipolar disorder.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder, so you know what’s involved and the sort of outcome you can expect when treatment proceeds according to plan.

Chapter 1

Grasping Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Diagnosis

In This Chapter

Meeting the manual used to diagnose bipolar disorder

Recognizing the two poles of bipolar: mania and depression

Telling the difference between bipolar I, bipolar II, and other types

Augmenting the diagnosis with specifiers and distinguishing it from other conditions

Diagnosing bipolar in children … or not

When you initially encounter bipolar disorder, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is, “What is it?” The short answer is this: Bipolar disorder is a medical illness characterized by alternating periods of abnormally elevated and depressed mood. The second question that most people ask is, “Can I get tested for it?” And the short answer is no. Doctors arrive at a diagnosis by conducting a physical and mental status examination; taking a close look at a person’s symptoms, medical history, and family history; and ruling out other possible causes. For guidance, doctors use a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM), which presents the diagnostic criteria for determining whether a person is likely to have bipolar disorder.