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Are you entangled in difficult
relationships or painful emotions?
We help people untangle
their lives and reclaim their freedom.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Note: I prefer to refer people who have been
diagnosed with medical conditions to medical doctors, ideally to doctors who
have received our training.
Many people who complain of recurrent depression and mania are diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. The
same symptoms may also be labeled manic depression, endogenous depression, cyclothemia
or cyclic depression. This condition appears to be inheritable.
A medical diagnosis of bipolar disorder implies a
severe, chronic mental illness characterized by episodes of elation and high
activity; alternating with periods of depression and low energy. Yet
many people we meet with this diagnostic label describe quite different
symptoms. The frightening words bipolar disorder can be applied
to a single episode of depression, a single episode of mania, to recurring depressive episodes,
or to a cycle of depression and mania.
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After a depression concerning my boyfriend when I was 26, a
psychiatrist told me that I had bipolar disorder
and that I would never work again. That stopped me in my tracks. After
eight years without depression, I went back to school for a medical degree.
Although I am now a medical doctor, that
diagnosis still haunts me. Psychiatry is a shell game. My attempts to
dispute my diagnosis were used as evidence to confirm it. California, USA |
A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is an opinion
that cannot be proved or disproved by medical tests, although such opinions may
haunt people throughout their lives. Although symptoms of bipolar
disorder are often managed with psychoactive medication, we sometimes help people resolve emotional and relationship
issues that support these symptoms.
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Glucose is brain-fuel and a blood
glucose imbalance
can result in: mood swings and
depression, as well as
fatigue, insomnia,
irritability, dizziness,
excessive thirst,
night sweating, poor concentration, forgetfulness,
digestive disturbances and blurred vision.
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Symptoms that are sometimes labeled bipolar disorder may be associated with entangled relationships, emotional incest
and identity conflict. We help people to
explore and dissolve the consequences of relationship disappointments including
the consequences of abuse by authorities.
How is Bipolar Disorder diagnosed?
There are no medical or laboratory tests - only opinions that
cannot be confirmed or rejected.
| Manic phase |
Depressive phase |
- feeling euphoric, elevated, or high
- feeling agitated, irritable, restless
- racing thoughts, talkativeness
- sleep disorders
- reckless activities
- inflated self-esteem; poor judgment
- delusions or hallucinations
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- feeling depressed, low or down
- feeling melancholy and hopeless
- difficulty making decisions
- poor self-evaluation
- low interest in daily activities
- withdrawal from family or friends
- suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts
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A label called bipolar disorder often seems to be applied
to adults, who as children coped with parental conflicts and/or
parental alienation and/or emotional incest. People showing
symptoms associated with chronic conflict often express two sub-personalities, and swing
back and forth between them.
And there are many other explanations, for example that mood
swings may be triggered by food allergies,
although no specific nutrient has been proven to cause or cure bipolar.
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Depression is a thought. Depressive feeling
is a thought. The pain of depression cannot exist if you refuse to think it. No
thought is powerful enough to think itself without your going along with it.
A.B. Curtiss, Cognitive Therapist |
If a diagnosis of bipolar disorder represents an extreme
example of what we call complex conflict or identity conflict - then we can help
people to explore ways to integrate these two sides. (The
symptoms associated with bulimia may offer a
similar example.)
Identity Conflict
A person showing identity conflict often
makes decisions or promises when one persona (or part or side) is active, and forgets, ignores
or denies those decisions and promises when another persona
is active. This behavior appears to be common - perhaps one person in six.
We have met many people who appeared to have identified with two
other people. Typically the role models were two adults who were in conflict with each other
while the person was a child - typically parents, grandparents or other
relatives.
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If one parent was depressed, and the other motivated or
aggressive, a child may attempt to show loyalty to both parents by sequentially expressing their depressed and motivated
personalities. See chronic conflict. We help people improve their mood stability.
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If one parent was frequently absent,
missing or dead, a child may perceive the missing parent through the
descriptions and behavior of the remaining parent. If the
remaining parent disliked the other parent, the remaining
parent may alienate the other parent in the mind of the child.
(We also help people recognize, prevent and control the consequences of
parental alienation).
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
After diagnosing bipolar disorder, medications may be
prescribed to help people manage their emotions.
The most common medications prescribed for bipolar disorder are currently lithium
and Thorazine (chlorpromazine). Another treatment for bipolar is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Side Effects of Lithium
Increased frequency of urination or lost bladder control
is more common in women than in men. Patients may experience increased
thirst; mild nausea and trembling of hands.
Side Effects of Thorazine (Chlorpromazine)
Increased constipation; decreased sweating; dizziness;
drowsiness; dry mouth and congestion.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is passing enough electric current through the
brain to cause a convulsion. Electroshock is
generally used to treat people with symptoms of depression, mania
and schizophrenia, especially people who do not respond
well to, or abreact to, psychiatric medications.
Side Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electrocution, brain damage, memory loss, increased
distractibility, difficulty with multiple tasks, trouble with arithmetic and
language, nausea and headaches are all associated with electroshock.
Solutions for Complex Conflict
To summarize, we sometimes help people who suffer from complex conflict to
find lasting resolution of many symptoms. See my
conflict transcript
for insights into
managing inappropriate thoughts and uncomfortable emotions.
Please consult a physician
about medical conditions.
We help people improve relationships and manage unpleasant
emotions.
Do You Want Results?
Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2002-2012 All rights reserved
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