Motivation and Mental Health

Motivation is tied to mental health;depression which is a chronic mental and  often with physical symptoms has adebilitating lack of motivation. But a mental imbalance can cause excessive motivation,as in bipolar disorder during a manic episode. The relationship of motivation andmental health occurs in many different ways. Motivation can be severely lackingwith depression. The symptoms of depression stifle motivation, and thestronger these symptoms are, the lower your motivation is to accomplish goals.

Depression is best treated withmedication. Depression, due to past failures or traumas, can be better helpedwith therapy that focus on increasing coping skills. As your motivation increases,there is a decrease in the symptoms of depression.

Bipolar disorder is anotherdisorder where  motivation and mentalhealth is affected. People with bipolar disorder experience alternating periodsof depression and mania.

During depressive periods, theperson experiences most of the symptoms of major chronic depression, lowmotivation included. Manic episodes cause people to experience a degree ofmotivation that is the extreme opposite of depression. Both mania anddepression treated with medication and if needed therapy can balance themotivation.

With Bipolar I Disorder motivationwill help with staying with your treatment plan and assist you with yourmedication regime. To keep motivated, record your progress and how you arefeeling each day. This way you will be able to see how you are improving. Adaily journal is a good way to keep track of your progress.

Staying motivated to take your medicinemay help when you wonder if the medicine is really helping you. Progress inyour treatment plan may be slow at first. You may find that you have days whenyou're making good progress, and other days when your therapy seems to be at astand still. With  Bipolar I Disordergetting it under control sometimes is trial and error.

Treatment is the important thingand not losing  confidence in yourtreatment plan, even if you do not seem to be making progress for a few days, stickingwith your treatment plan is imperative to finding the right combination ofmedication any concerns should be discussed with your doctor.

There is hope for a recovery formental illnesses, although the work and commitment that is involved may seem attimes impossible.  Making mental wellnessis a goal that is worth striving for. Diligent adherence to proposals by your doctor and medication is vitalto healing and keeping mental  well being.

Bipolar Disorder and Medication

If you have bipolar disorder, medicationwill be prescribed. Medication can bring mania and depression under control andprevent relapse once your mood has stabilized. Medication used long term maynot be pleasing as an easy way of life, especially if you’re struggling withunpleasant side effects. But just as a diabetic needs to take insulin in orderto stay healthy, taking medication for bipolar disorder will help you maintaina stable mood.

If you have bipolardisorder, taking medication to reduce the frequency and severity of moodepisodes is the goal of treatment.

If side effects are severe, your doctormay switch the drug or change the dose. You should always check for druginteractions before taking another prescription medication, over-the-counterdrug, or herbal supplement. Drug interactions can cause unexpected side effectsor make your medication less effective or even dangerous. Mixing certain foodsand beverages with your medication can also cause problems. Learn aboutpotential interactions by discussing them with your doctor or talking to yourpharmacist.

Medication works best when makinghealthy choices. A pill can not work properly with abuse of a healthy way ofliving. Reduce or discontinue alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and makes recoveryeven more difficult. It can also interfere with the way your medication works.

Lithium: Mood stabilizers aremedications that help control the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. They arethe cornerstone of treatment, both for mania and depression. Lithium is theoldest and most well-known mood stabilizer. It is highly effective for treatingmania.

Lithium can also help bipolardepression. But, it is not as effective for mixed episodes or rapid cyclingforms of bipolar disorder. Lithium takes from one to two weeks to reach itsfull effect.

 The side effects that is common on lithium.Some may go away as your body adapts to the medication. Weight gain ; drowsiness; tremor; weakness or fatigue ; excessive thirst; increased urination; stomachpain; thyroid problems; memory and concentration problems; nausea, vertigo; diarrhea

Anticonvulsants areused in the treatment of bipolar disorder as mood stabilizers. Originallydeveloped for the treatment of epilepsy, they have been shown to relieve thesymptoms of mania and reduce mood swings.

Valproic acid is ahighly-effective mood stabilizer. Common brand names include Depakote .Valproic acid is often the first choice for rapid cycling, mixed mania, maniawith hallucinations or delusions. It is a good bipolar medication option if youcan’t tolerate the side effects of lithium.

Common side effects include: drowsiness;weight gain; dizziness; tremor; diarrhea.

Other anticonvulsants that can beused as mood stabilizers include:  Tegretol; Lamicta; andl Topamax

Be wary of natural moodstabilizers they may cause paradoxical reactions.  But used with caution can help to stabilizeyour mood until the medication becomes more effective. There are many thingsyou can do to stabilize your mood. The way you live your life is just asimportant, than the medication you take. Making healthy choices for yourselfcan make a huge difference in how you feel.

Although antidepressants havebeen the drug of choice for episodes of bipolar depression, their use is becomingmore and more questionable. Antidepressants should be used with caution. Antidepressantscan trigger mania in people with bipolar disorder. If antidepressants areused at all, they should be combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium orvalproic acid. Taking an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer is likely totrigger a manic episode.

Antidepressants can increase moodcycling. Over time, antidepressant use in people with bipolar disorder caninduce mania, and can increase the frequency of manic and depressive episodes.

 If you can stop your mood cycling, you mightstop having depressive episodes entirely. If you are able to stop the moodcycling, but symptoms of depression remain, medications may help

If you lose touchwith reality during a manic or depressive episode, an antipsychotic drug may beprescribed. They have also help with regular manic episodes. Antipsychoticmedications may be helpful combined with a mood stabilizer such as lithium orvalproic acid.

Common side effects ofantipsychotic medications for bipolar disorder Drowsiness Weight gain Dry mouthwhich can lead to tooth decay Constipation Blurred vision

Other medications for bipolardisorder are Benzodiazepine. Mood stabilizers can take up to several weeks toreach the effective dosage.  Other med,benzodiazepines should only be used until your mood stabilizer orantidepressant begins to work. Those with a history of substance abuse shouldbe especially cautious medications which are used for bipolar disorder are Benzodiazepineto relieve symptoms of anxiety, agitation, or insomnia. Benzodiazepines arefast-acting sedatives. Because of they are highly addictive.

Bipolar Misdiagnosis

  

Bipolar disorder isone disorder with symptoms at times can be confused with schizophrenia; thisleads to mistaken diagnoses, especially in children. Individuals with bipolardisorder, even those that display psychotic symptoms as a feature of theirillness, never meet the full diagnosis for schizophrenia. Someone with bipolardisorder is not always in a manic or a depressive phase all o0f the time;  there are periods during which they do nothave the disordered thinking, delusions, voices, or other symptoms ofschizophrenia. Psychotic symptoms are in bipolar disorder which can occur in amanic or a depressive state are delusions of grandeur and hallucinations;either wildly optimistic and grandiose, or disastrous and guilt-riddenthoughts.

Schizoaffective disorder is a disease that does contain symptoms of both schizophreniaand bipolar disorder. The distinguishing difference between schizoaffective andbipolar with psychotic symptoms is that to be diagnosed schizoaffective, aperson displays the symptoms of schizophrenia without mood symptoms of mania ordepression.

 Psychosis is a term used to describe psychoticsymptoms. Bipolar may include a kind of psychosis. Several different brain disorderscan lead to psychotic symptoms, and the fact that the symptoms are not beingcaused by some other brain disorder is frequently not obvious.

The main difference betweenbipolar disorder and major clinical depression is, of course, the absence of manicepisodes.  Distinguishing between thesetwo illnesses makes a big impact on treatment choice; while depression isusually treated with antidepressants, someone with bipolar disorder needs moodstabilizers. Taking antidepressants with bipolar disorder can sometimes triggera manic episode.

Some of other diagnoses are that are lesscommon but still seen at a high rate among patients previously diagnosed withbipolar disorder. Include antisocial personality disorder and impulse-controldisorder.

Borderline personality disorder shows an unstablemood, impulsive behavior and problems maintaining relationships with otherpeople. There are no medications approved specifically for treating borderlinepersonality disorder butt some forms of therapy are effective. However, moodstabilizers and other treatments for bipolar disorder are not helpful intreating borderline disorder.

 Over diagnosis of people as having bipolardisorder is of a major concern; the side effects of the medicationantipsychotics included are so devastating if prescribed incorrectly. And the underdiagnosis of bipolar disorder leaves many people at a risk of not being treatedor not having symptoms noticed before a disaster such as suicide is treated.

Delusions and Hallucinations

Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences or perceptions. These sensory impressions arecreated by the mind rather than by any external factors, and may be seen, heard, felt, and smelled or tasted.

A hallucination occurs whenenvironmental, emotional, or physical factors such as stress, medication,extreme fatigue, or mental illness cause the brain that helps to distinguishconscious perceptions from internal perceptions. Hallucinationsoccur during periods of consciousness.

A delusion is a false belief based on incorrect assumption about external reality. This belief is sustained despite what almost everybody else believes. The belief is not one ordinarilyaccepted by other members of society.

Delusions are a common symptom ofseveral mood and personality mental illnesses, including schizoaffectivedisorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Theyare also the major feature of delusional disorder. Individuals with a delusional disorder suffer from long term delusions and include persecutory, grandiose, jealousy. In extreme cases people with bipolar disorder and other disorders are in a state of psychosis. The person has strange thoughts, such as delusions and hallucinations. They lose the sense of their immediate environment and are not able to distinguish the difference between reality and hallucinations.

Ideas of reference and delusions of reference involve people having a belief or perception that are irrelevant,unrelated occurrences in the world refer to them directly or have specialpersonal significance.

In psychiatry the states areconsidered in the psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, delusionaldisorder, or bipolar disorder during the elevated stages of mania. It can also be a characteristic of paranoidpersonality disorder. These symptoms can also be caused by intoxication,especially with hallucinogens or stimulants.

In true paranoia the person exhibitsan unreasonable or exaggerated mistrust and suspicion of others. This suspicionis not based on fact and often become delusions. Paranoia is a symptom that canbe part of several disorders, including delusional disorder, paranoidpersonality disorder, psychotic and mood disorders including bipolar disorderand schizophrenia, as well as other illnesses for example substance abuse.

While delusions andhallucinations are a part of these disorders it is not as commonly seen but doplay a role in diagnosing the disorder. In some cases they are overlooked and can only be found in the officesof doctors.  When they interrupt theperson’s life and normal activity the hallucinations and delusions need to betreated. Antipsychotic medications are effective. The recovery rate is excellent with compliance to the treatment plan. 

Psychosis and Auditory Hallucinations

Explaining what it feels like tohear voices is not easy especially if you have never had theexperience. Some people, who have hearing voices is a common experience lastingfor days or months and in some cases long term. Auditory hallucinations may varyand each experience with hearing the voices can be different.

Hearing the voices is often heardas though they were generated from outside of the ears but can be as if theyare thoughts in their head or an internal thought.  Many believe it telepathy.  What is called inspirational ideas do notencompass the concept of hearing voices. Hearing voices is a sign of a medical or mental disturbance.

 Certain description of hallucinations are as athought that appears as words in the person’s mind. The voice could talkcoherently to the person or engage in conversation. The person is not incontrol of what the voice says. There are many different types ofhallucinations including: visions, images, tastes, smells, and touch. Hearingvoices can be a different way for other people.

Some would even hear the voicesinside or outside their heads or even from their bodies. They could her justone voice or hear many of them. They hear the voice as something that talks toyou or talks about you.

Hearing voices is like a dream ornightmare except that it does happen in real life. The voices are present allday for some people and can disrupt their normal routines every day. Some ofthe voices tend to be abusive and commands the person to do various acts as is commonwith schizophrenia.

To hear voices is a disturbingexperience. Hearing voices are considered as an auditory hallucination inpsychiatry and as symptoms for schizophrenic disorders, bipolar disorder andpsychosis. Medication such as, antipsychotics are used to control thehallucinations.

Not everyone responds to thistreatment however, it is extremely rare that the hallucinations can   not becontrolled

Studies have found out that somepeople who hear voices are able to cope well without any psychiatricintervention. It was also found out that the people who hear voices who canregard them as a positive part of their life and not as negative aspects oftheir lives.

 Throughout history there are those who havesaid that the voices that they hear are comforting and inspirational. Despitethat it is still considered as a sign of a psychosis or other mental aberration.

For some coping with voices canbe a relationship with the voices: even if they experienced them as abusive,guiding or inspirational.

By some professionals hearingvoices can be thought of a something real, meaningful, at times painful,overwhelming and fearful.

Hallucinations can make theperson see, hear or feel things that are not really there. The experiences arenot real but for the person experiencing it, the visions and all the other sensationsthat feels is real. There is a break from reality.

This condition is diagnosed withother disorders, in dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuseand some personality disorders. Many famous people all throughout history arereported to have experienced hallucinations at some degree. It can also betriggered when someone loses a loved one or if they have had a traumaticchildhood experience. The symptoms of hallucinations on these conditions can betemporary.

Psychosis and Auditory Hallucinations

 Some people, who have hearing voices is a common experience lasting for days or months and in some cases long term. Auditory hallucinations may vary and each experience with hearing the voices can be different.

Hearing the voices is often heard as though they were generated from outside of the ears but can be as if they are thoughts in their head or an internal thought.  Many believe it telepathy.  What is called inspirational ideas do notencompass the concept of hearing voices. Hearing voices is a sign of a medical or mental disturbance.

Certain description of hallucinations are as athought that appears as words in the person’s mind. The voice could talkcoherently to the person or engage in conversation. The person is not incontrol of what the voice says. There are many different types ofhallucinations including: visions, images, tastes, smells, and touch. Hearing voices can be a different way for other people.

Some would even hear the voices inside or outside their heads or even from their bodies. They could her justone voice or hear many of them. They hear the voice as something that talks toyou or talks about you.

Hearing voices is like a dream or nightmare except that it does happen in real life. The voices are present allday for some people and can disrupt their normal routines every day. Some ofthe voices tend to be abusive and commands the person to do various acts as is commonwith schizophrenia.

To hear voices is a disturbingexperience. Hearing voices are considered as an auditory hallucination inpsychiatry and as symptoms for schizophrenic disorders, bipolar disorder andpsychosis. Medication such as, antipsychotics are used to control thehallucinations.

Not everyone responds to this treatment however, it is extremely rare that the hallucinations can   not becontrolled

Studies have found out that some people who hear voices are able to cope well without any psychiatricintervention. It was also found out that the people who hear voices who canregard them as a positive part of their life and not as negative aspects oftheir lives.

Throughout history there are those who havesaid that the voices that they hear are comforting and inspirational. Despitethat it is still considered as a sign of a psychosis or other mental aberration.

For some coping with voices canbe a relationship with the voices: even if they experienced them as abusive,guiding or inspirational.

By some professionals hearing voices can be thought of a something real, meaningful, at times painful,overwhelming and fearful.

Hallucinations can make theperson see, hear or feel things that are not really there. The experiences arenot real but for the person experiencing it, the visions and all the other sensationsthat feels is real. There is a break from reality.

This condition is diagnosed withother disorders, in dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and personality disorders. Many famous people all throughout history arereported to have experienced hallucinations at some degree. It can also betriggered when someone loses a loved one or if they have had a traumaticchildhood experience. The symptoms of hallucinations on these conditions can be temporary.

Bipolar Disorder and Psychosis

Bipolar disorder is anillness that affects a person’s ability to control their mood. The two mainmood swings are mania and depression. Bipolar psychosis is very complex and a part of Bipolar I disorder.Psychosis is commonly found to be in to bipolar disorder, in mania and depressiveepisodes and it can be seen in Bipolar II depression.

Statistics show that approximately 70% ofpeople in a full blown manic episode experience psychosis. Howerever, peoplewith Bipolar II hypomania rarely experience psychosis. Though studies vary, itis estimated that 50% of people with bipolar depression experience psychosis.

Bipolar psychosis is when thereis a state of where the person is out of touch with reality, loss of reasoningat this point the treatment is difficult as the person often resists anytreatment.

Bipolar psychosis can be verydisruptive and cause significant work and relationship problems due to misperceptionsand hallucinations.

People with bipolar disorder may have many different symptoms, including depression,joy, and psychotic symptoms like delusions or paranoia. These are all symptomsof one condition not separate conditions that a person has to deal with.

Bipolar disorder makes the mind swingbetween different thoughts and emotions, But when treated the psychosis can bemanaged.

Psychotic symptoms occur most oftenduring manic episodes. But people can also experience psychotic symptoms duringepisodes of depression..

Patients sometimes have to behospitalized if they have psychotic symptom. They may have grandiose delusionsthey have powers.  It may be that theyhave a special connection with the universe. People can be so depressed thatthey can be psychotic depression. It happens frequently with mania can occur indepression. People may be a danger to themselves

Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers willstop the psychosis and keep it from coming back. While  medication is effective in managing psychoticsymptoms and bipolar disorder. therapy is often recommended to help tounderstand the psychotic symptoms and to recover from the psychotic experience .Regular follow-ups with a doctor are important for managing psychotic symptomsand bipolar disorder itself, so that any recurring episodes can be spotted andstopped quickly.

Bipolar disorder is an illness thatrequires a long term commitment to staying well, compliance to treatment, andmonitoring.   Just taking a pill does not make it just go away.While symptoms can be managed, but it is important to keep aware of them to seesymptoms start up again.

Bipolar disorder isn't something thatcan or should be managed alone. The individual with bipolar disorder needs helpto be monitored, and to watch for symptoms that he might not be able to notice.Family can help in monitoring symptoms, and letting the doctor know of anychanges or signs of an impending episode. The earlier signs are caught, thebetter the opportunity to prevent an episode and keep symptoms under control.

Major Affective Disorders

Affective disorders are psychiatricillnesses.  Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, and anxietydisorders are the most common affective disorders. The effects of thesedisorder are   difficulties in interpersonal relationships and the risk forsubstance abuse are major concerns. Affective disorders can result in symptomsranging from the mild and inconvenient to the severe and life-threatening.

Major depressive disorder, alsoknown as unipolar depression disorder, is a common, severe, andsometimes life-threatening psychiatric illness. It causes prolongedperiods of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion, with a considerable riskof self-destructive behavior and suicide. Major studies haveidentified Major depressive disorder is one of the leading causes of  disability and premature death.

Bipolar affective disorders are  various types and exhibit different symptoms bipolarI and bipolar  II disorder, cyclothymicdisorder, and hypomania disorder. Other names for bipolar affective diseaseinclude manic-depressive disorder, cyclothymia, manic-depressive illnessand bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of manicepisodes alternating with periods of deep depression. Bipolar disorders arechronic and recurrent affective diseases that may have degrees of severity, thatworsen with time if not treated. Severe crises can lead to suicidal attemptsduring depressive episodes  or to physical violence against oneself orothers during manic episodes. In many patients, however, episodes are mild andinfrequent. Mixed states may also occur with elements of mania anddepression simultaneously present. Some people with bipolar disorders showa rapid cycling between manic and depressive states.

The symptoms of affectivedisorders or mood disorders is shown in children and adolescents, as well asadults. However, children and adolescents do not necessarily experience orexhibit the same symptoms as adults. It is more difficult to diagnose mooddisorders in children, especially because children are not always able toexpress how they feel. At any age, mood disorders put individuals at risk forother conditions at any age these symptoms may persist long after the initialepisodes of depression are resolved.

What causes mood disorders is notwell known. There are chemicals in the brain that are responsible for positivemoods. Most likely, depression and other mood disorders are caused by achemical imbalance in the brain. Life events may also contribute to a depressedmood.

Affective disorders sometimes runin families and are considered to be inherited. The factors that produce thetrait or condition are usually both genetic and environmental, involving acombination of genes from both parents.

Anyone can feel sad or depressedat times. However, mood disorders are more intense and difficult to manage thannormal feelings of sadness. Children, adolescents, or adults who have a parentwith a mood disorder have a greater chance of also having a mood disorder. Lifeevents and stress can trigger feelings of sadness or depression, making thefeelings more difficult. These life events and stress can bring on feelings ofsadness or depression or make a mood disorder harder.

Bipolars and Money

One of the symptoms of a manic or hypomania episode in bipolar disorder isexcessive money spending, compulsive shopping and impulsive purchases.

 Themajority of people have at some stage experienced these activities.  So why this is considered as part of a majormental disorder? Not all reckless spenders are bipolar but for anyonewith bipolar disorder it can become a problem with serious consequences.

During bipolar episodes there is often a lackof ability to associate actions with consequence. This might in part be due tothe feelings of grandiosity; inflated unrealistic ideas of ability. Also thediminished ability to think and reason contributes but knowing why is notenough when the bills pile up.

There are some for which seems to thecompulsion to reach the goal totally dominates the action. The creativecapability of hypomania may be the driving force. The reasoning ability is not clearenough to know the compulsion to get what they want at that point in time whichdominates all actions is part of the disorder.

For the bipolar individual it is best toaccept the potential for inappropriate financial activities exists and to takeprecautions to limit the potential damage. Access to credit cards is vital. Anycash allowance should be spread over time instead provided all at once.

 Often it is the compulsive need to spend,without regard for the desired or need for the items that the act satisfies.Whatever the case it is known that the inability to handle money by bipolar peoplethe paramount issue is to prevent catastrophe and avoid the consequences thatcome from the symptom.

Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymia is a chronicedepression where a person's moods are regularly low. The  symptoms of Dysthymia are not as severe asmajor depression.

The cause of dysthymia isunknown. It usually runs in families and is thought to be genetic. Dysth occursmore often in women than in men.

Many people with dysthymia have ahistory of an extended  medical problemor another mental health disorder, such as anxiety or substance abuse some  people with dysthymia will also have anepisode of major depression at some point in their lives.

The main symptom of dysthymia isa low, or sad mood on most days. In children and adolescents, the mood can beirritable instead of depressed.

 Other symptoms can be present almost all of the time: are feelings ofhopelessness; too little or too much sleep ; low energy or fatigue; poor self-esteem or reduced appetite or overeating troublewith concentration. People with dysthymia will often take a negative or view ofthemselves, their future, other people, and life events.

Treatment for dysthymia includesantidepressant drug therapy, along with  psychotherapy. Medications often do not workas well for dysthymia as they do for major depression.  

People with dysthymia often benefitfrom psychotherapy.  Psychotherapy is agood place to talk about feelings and thoughts, and to learn ways to deal withthem.  People can learn to be more awareof their symptoms, learn what seems to make depression worse, and learnproblem-solving skills.

Dysthymia is a chronic conditionthat lasts many years. Though some people completely recover, others continueto have some symptoms, even with treatment.

Although it is not as severe asmajor depression, dysthymia symptoms can affect a person's ability to functionin their family, and at work.

Psychotherapy and Bipolar Disorder

Although medication a necessarytreatment for Bipolar disorder most people can often benefit from a combinationof medication and psychotherapy.  Thosewith Bipolar disorder have to learn to adjust to their illness and find ways tounderstand it. Psychotherapy can help them the ability to live bipolar and howto distinguish the world of their illness which sometimes is distorted by theirmood swings.

The pattern of each symptom variesfrom individual and recognizing ones own patters in one’s thoughts, moods andbehavior. Recognizing the stressors in daily life and how this affects theirmoods. In this way they can learn how to cope with the challenge of life’sevents and how to address issues that come up. Psychotherapy can assist in exploring issues that are unique to one’s necessityof the medication as part of their wellbeing. With psychotherapy they can explore and understand the emotions thatthey experience by living bipolar. 

There are many types of therapyand what works for one individual may not work for someone else. In choosing thetype of therapy there are things\ to take in consideration. Those whoparticipate in psychotherapy must be focused in behavior and on their treatmentand are stable with medication before therapy begins.The symptoms of severedepression often bring thoughts of such a compelling and intense nature that itis difficult for the person to think objectively.  These thoughts influence one’s mood andphysical well being. In order to identify these thoughts and type of thinking cognitivebehavior therapy is used to evaluate and challenge the ideas.

Coping skill focuseson altering the way that one responds to negative events.  Loss is a common negative event.  Coping skills therapy is focused on actions enablingthe person to respond with alternate ways of responding to bad events.

The many types oftherapy should be explored before choosing the one that is right for the personaffected.  While there is not cure for Bipolardisorder.  Therapy offers the chance tobetter a persons life while being Bipolar and living Bipolar.