ECT, also known as electroconvulsive therapy, is used to treat unipolar depression and bipolar depression. It is also utilized for treating other mental illnesses. A medical professional can also prescribe ECT treatment for some individuals who have mania or are in a mixed state. Older patients and those who are not responding to regular treatment are strong candidates, as…
The whole process of searching for a new psychiatrist or other prescribing medical professional can feel scary and overwhelming. So I put together this list of “5 criteria to look for when searching for a new psychiatrist.” Each of us has our own specific needs. However, you can use this list to give you a baseline for…
A support group is a great component of an overall treatment plan. There are support groups for almost every type of illness and malady imaginable. Regarding bipolar disorder, some groups focus only on the illness itself. Other groups are offered for family and friends or are a combination of those living with bipolar disorder, family, and friends meeting altogether. Throughout…
Warning possible trigger Bipolar disorder greatly impacts a person’s ability to make both short-term and long-term goals. Those of us living with bipolar disorder have a more difficult time making a goal and following through with them, compared to someone without bipolar disorder. A New Set Of Rules I wish I could follow the advice…
Recently, my wife read a book called “Hidden Valley Road” by Robert Kolker, which is a true story about a family with multiple children living with schizophrenia. She mentioned parts of the storyline to me, and this triggered a question in my mind about the treatment for mental illness: How did we get here? In an effort…
If you look around the world today, you will notice there are not enough psychiatrists and other medication-prescribing professionals to handle the demands of patients. The demand for these doctors is greatly increasing, and the supply of resources is not keeping up. Pre COVID-19, there was already a shortage of resources to help support those…
The medical model of treatment is comprised of medication management and therapy. Finding a therapist may seem intimidating and overwhelming, but I am here to provide you with some guidance. What To Look For In A Therapist When looking for a therapist, you must ask yourself some direct questions. The answers you get from these questions will help…
Progress is something you need to gauge regularly. Reviewing your progress will help you decide if the treatment plan you are following is successfully managing your bipolar disorder. Successfully managing your bipolar disorder will lead to greater stability. This will give you more control over your illness. The result is stability. Lifting Weights is Similar to…
Have you ever heard of “treatment fatigue”? If you live with bipolar disorder and have never heard of the term, treatment fatigue is what you experience as you look for a successful treatment plan. Over time, searching for the right treatment takes its toll on you. I know it did for me, and it still sometimes happens to…
Many times throughout the past few years, people have asked me, “Is there a ‘cookie cutter approach’ to the treatment of bipolar disorder?” I wish I could answer with a resounding yes. That would make things so much easier. Unfortunately, there is no “cookie-cutter approach” to the treatment of bipolar disorder. That is one of the main reasons…