HOMOEOPATHY FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by extreme shifts in mood. Symptoms can include an extremely elevated mood called mania. They can also include episodes of depression.

Bipolar disorder, formerly called bipolar disease or manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

People with bipolar disorder may have trouble managing everyday life tasks at school or work, or maintaining relationships.

When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.

Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).

Causes

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors may be involved, such as:

·        Biological differences. People with bipolar disorder appear to have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually help pinpoint causes.

Genetics. Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a first-degree relative, such as a sibling or parent, with the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder

Environmental factors. Outside factors may contribute to bipolar disorder. These factors can include extreme stress, traumatic experiences, and physical illness.

Symptoms

There are several types of bipolar and related disorders. They may include mania or hypomania and depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood and behavior, resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life.

·        Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).

·        Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.

·        Cyclothymic disorder. You've had at least two years — or one year in children and teenagers — of many periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms (though less severe than major depression).

·        Other types. These include, for example, bipolar and related disorders induced by certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.

Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder, but a separate diagnosis. While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, individuals with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause significant impairment.

Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, typically it's diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and symptoms may vary over time.

Mania and hypomania

Mania and hypomania are two distinct types of episodes, but they have the same symptoms. Mania is more severe than hypomania and causes more noticeable problems at work, school and social activities, as well as relationship difficulties. Mania may also trigger a break from reality (psychosis) and require hospitalization.

Both a manic and a hypomanic episode include three or more of these symptoms:

·        Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired

·        Increased activity, energy or agitation

·        Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)

·        Decreased need for sleep

·        Unusual talkativeness

·        Racing thoughts

·        Distractibility

·        Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees, taking sexual risks or making foolish investments

Major depressive episode

A major depressive episode includes symptoms that are severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships. An episode includes five or more of these symptoms:

·        Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless or tearful (in children and teens, depressed mood can appear as irritability)

·        Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all — or almost all — activities

·        Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite (in children, failure to gain weight as expected can be a sign of depression)

·        Either insomnia or sleeping too much

·        Either restlessness or slowed behavior

·        Fatigue or loss of energy

·        Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt

·        Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness

·        Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide

Other features of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders may include other features, such as anxious distress, melancholy, psychosis or others. The timing of symptoms may include diagnostic labels such as mixed or rapid cycling. In addition, bipolar symptoms may occur during pregnancy or change with the seasons.

Symptoms in children and teens

Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be difficult to identify in children and teens. It's often hard to tell whether these are normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma, or signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder.

Children and teens may have distinct major depressive or manic or hypomanic episodes, but the pattern can vary from that of adults with bipolar disorder. And moods can rapidly shift during episodes. Some children may have periods without mood symptoms between episodes.

The most prominent signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may include severe mood swings that are different from their usual mood swings.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for the first episode include:

·        Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder

·        Periods of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic event

·        Drug or alcohol abuse

Complications

Left untreated, bipolar disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of your life, such as:

·        Problems related to drug and alcohol use

·        Suicide or suicide attempts

·        Legal or financial problems

·        Damaged relationships

·        Poor work or school performance

Co-occurring conditions

If you have bipolar disorder, you may also have another health condition that needs to be treated along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can worsen bipolar disorder symptoms or make treatment less successful. Examples include:

·        Anxiety disorders

·        Eating disorders

·        Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

·        Alcohol or drug problems

·        Physical health problems, such as heart disease, thyroid problems, headaches or obesity

Prevention

There's no sure way to prevent bipolar disorder. However, getting treatment at the earliest sign of a mental health disorder can help prevent bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions from worsening.

If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, some strategies can help prevent minor symptoms from becoming full-blown episodes of mania or depression:

·        Pay attention to warning signs. Addressing symptoms early on can prevent episodes from getting worse. You may have identified a pattern to your bipolar episodes and what triggers them. Call your doctor if you feel you're falling into an episode of depression or mania. Involve family members or friends in watching for warning signs.

·        Avoid drugs and alcohol. Using alcohol or recreational drugs can worsen your symptoms and make them more likely to come back.

·        Take your medications exactly as directed. You may be tempted to stop treatment — but don't. Stopping your medication or reducing your dose on your own may cause withdrawal effects or your symptoms may worsen or return.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When bipolar disorder is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

Homoeopathic remedies can magically manage this condition, bipolar disorder.

AURUM METALLICUM 200-Aurum met. is an effective remedy for bipolar disorder with depression.Aurummetallicum patients are very serious people, strongly focussed on work and achievement, who become depressed if they feel they have failed in some way. Nervous breakdown.Thinks of committing suicide but fears death greatly.Disgusted of life and thoughts.Profound despondency.Peevish.Rapid and constant questioning without waiting for answers. Oversensitive to noise.Discouragement, self – reproach, humiliation and anger can lead to feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. The person may feel worse at night with nightmares or insomnia.

BELLADONNA 200-Belladonna is an excellent remedy for bipolar disorder with mania. Violent behavior of the patient, violent occurs in fits that come and go suddenly. Biting, striking , tearing mania. He bites and strikes the person near him. Spits on faces of other persons. Face becomes red, hot or bluish red. Quarrelsome.

CANNABIS INDICA 200--CannabisIndica is a wonderful homeopathic medicine for bipolar disorder where, the energy level is very high. Sudden loss of memory and exaltation of spirits is characteristic to cannabis indica. Forgetful, cannot finish a sentence. Sudden loss of speech, cannot finish a sentence. Depression and constant thought of becoming insane. Emotional excitement, rapid changes of moods. Misperception of time and space. Time seems too long , seconds seem ages. A few miles an immense distance. Full of fun and mischief and laughs, uncontrollable laughter.

HYOSCYAMUS NIGAR 200--Hyoscyamus Niger is an effective remedy for bipolar disorder, where the patient behaviors violently. Mania, erotic, expose genitals, sings amorous songs. Laughs, sings, talks, babbles, quarrels. Talkative, obscene, lascivious mania, uncovers body, jealous. Does foolish things and behaves like mad. Inclind to laugh at everything. Fears being alone, being pursued of water, being poisoned etc. Fear of being bitten by beasts. Very suspicious. The patient’s perception that he will be poisoned thus refusing to take anything offered, even medicine too. Restless, picking bed clothes, jumps out of bed, wants to escape. Rage with desire to strike, bite, fight insult, scold and to kill.

 IGNATIA MARA 200- Igantia , where the bipolar disorder is due to depression. Depression in teenages.Depression due to grief and worry. Sensitive people who suffer grief and disappointment and try to keep the hurt inside may benefit from this remedy. Wanting not to cry or appear too vulnerable to others , they may seem guarded, defensive and moody. They may also burst out laughing or in to tears, for no apparent reason. A feeling of a lump in the throat and heaviness in the chest with frequent sighing or yawning are leading indications of this remedy.Insomnia or excessive sleeping , headaches and cramping pains in the abdomen and back are also often seen. Ignatia is also effective for seasonal affective depression.

LILLIUM TIGRINUM 200—Lillium tig is indicated for bipolar disorder with profound depression of spirits. Constant inclination to weep. Consolation will aggravate the complaints. The person fears that he is suffering from some organic and incurable disease. Disposed to curse, strike, think obscene things. Dread of insanity with wild crazy feeling. Sometimes heart or uterine symptoms associated with mental symptoms.

NATRUM MURIATICUM 200-Natrum mur. is another remedy for bipolar disorder with depression. People who need this remedy seem reserved, responsible, and private—yet have strong inner feelings (grief, romantic attachment, anger, or fear of misfortune) that they rarely show. Even though they want other people to feel for them, they can act affronted or angry if someone tries to console them, and need to be alone to cry. Anxiety, brooding about past grievances, migraines, back pain, and insomnia can also be experienced when the person is depressed. A craving for salt and tiredness from sun exposure are other indications for this remedy. Depression due to hunger.

NATRUM SULPH 200-Natrum Sulph is an important medicine for the treatment of bipolar disorder with depression. Depression worse music or subdued light, sitting near a stained glass window. Severe suicidal impulses , has to use self control to prevent shooting himself. Intermittent attacks of mania. Melancholy with periodical attacks of mania.

VERATRUM ALBUM 200—Veratrum album is another remedy for bipolar disorder with mania, Mania with desire to cut and tear things. Prays, curses, shrieks in turn. Cursing, howling all night. Mania associated with child birth.