How Bipolar Disorder Differs from Depression and Anxiety
How Bipolar Disorder Differs from Depression and Anxiety“Hi, I’m Tristan Miller, and this is Positive and Negative, a podcast about mental health and the arts.”Podcaster and actor Tristan Miller saw his dad suffer from Bipolar Disorder, but when he suggested to hisdoctor that it might explain his own severe highs and lows, his doctor instead prescribed medicines foranxiety and depression.“And so, I pushed through it, through the whole month, but that month I was more irritable and justmean and closer to killing myself than I ever have been.”What Tristan experienced trying to get help for his severe mood swings is not unusual. Two to 3 percent ofAmericans, like Tristan, have Bipolar Disorder. Also, like Tristan, many are not given the right diagnosis atfirst. Instead, they are told they have anxiety or depression. Sometimes the symptoms change over time andwhat started out as depression alone later includes symptoms of Mania. This is even more complicatedbecause many people with bipolar disorder also have some form of anxiety. And anxiety can sometimes looklike mania, which is part of bipolar disorder.“The problem is, it’s not just anxiety. It's not just fearfulness, unreasoning fearfulness. It's also athinking disorder.”As for depression, that, too, is different in someone who has bipolar disorder. It may look like major clinicaldepression, but the most common medications used to treat depression, called Antidepressants, can actuallymake bipolar symptoms worse.“You give them an antidepressant, they might not respond at all in terms of the depression. Theymight flip over into a mania.”In fact, not getting better with antidepressants is often one clue to diagnosing bipolar disorder. Another clue issigns of manic episodes, the high or irritable side of mood swings.“They're not complaining about being hypomanic. That's actually kind of energizing; people get a lot ofwork done. They feel very creative and they don't want to get rid of those particular sets ofcircumstances. But being depressed is so painful. That’s what gets them to treatment.”If you are worried that you don’t have the right diagnosis, there are steps you can take to help your mentalhealth professional identify bipolar disorder. First, keep track of your symptoms, how severe they are and howlong they last. Make sure to write your symptoms down in a journal you can give to your mental healthprofessional. Family members can help with this.“My primary illness is chronic bipolar disorder.”Mary Neubauer is a mental health advocate who also has bipolar disorder. She says it may take time to findthe correct medications, in the right amounts that work for you. That’s why it’s important to keepappointments with your health care team and let them know if anything changes in how you’re feeling.“Some medications you have to have blood levels done and it's really important to go and have thoseblood levels done when your doctor or your prescriber says you need to have a blood level done toThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54626A EN HowBipolarDisorderDiffersFromDepressionAndAnxiety.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2How Bipolar Disorder Differs from Depression and Anxietymake sure that that blood level is accurate in your body, so you know the medication is doing what itneeds to do.”Psychotherapy also can be a part of managing bipolar disorder. Individual Talk Therapy and Family therapycan help reduce tensions that could trigger manic or depressive episodes. Hobbies and other, healthy ways todeal with stress and emotions can help, too. For Christopher Woynar, another bipolar survivor and aregistered nurse, that means avoiding alcohol and generally trying to live healthier.“I'm very much at higher risk for feeling feelings of hopelessness or being depressed or isolatingmyself. So, with knowing that I continue to live a life where I exercise I try to eat as best as I can.Even though I do like, you know, my sweets. Making sure to have a good support system. Also, tohave a hobby it’s something that you can release emotions healthily you in a healthy way.”Exercising regularly and getting enough sleep also reduce stress, anxiety and depression triggers that cancause a bipolar episode. Other relaxation and stress-reduction techniques can help, too. Meditation is astaple for Mary Neubauer.“It centers me for my day. It gets me ready to think about what my day is going to be about and whereI'm headed. And then I can take a look at what my calendar is and focus on what may take moreenergy than one other piece of my day and what might be more stressful.”There are many ways to manage bipolar disorder and live a successful life, but first you must have the rightdiagnosis. Work with your mental health professional, and be honest about your highs as well as your lows, sothe best treatment plan can be developed for you.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54626A EN HowBipolarDisorderDiffersFromDepressionAndAnxiety.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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