On The Path Of Recovery:Accepting Your Condition And Seeking A San Diego Bipolar Treatment Programs Always The First Step

How Does Depression and Bipolar Disorder Differ From One Another?

Depression is a major symptom of bipolar disorder and people get confused sometimes between the two mental illnesses. People who are depressed can manage to lead a normal and happy life on the surface and then switch to being downcast. So how can you tell the difference?

Ryan Thebo explains: “The distinction between bipolar disorder versus depression or unipolar, as we would call it, is a gray area really for many patients and mental care providers as well. For example, individuals back in their 20s may have had depression most times, and then a few days of elevated mood within that period. And while battling depression, they stayed up and studied a lot. They were more social, impulsive, and doing what normal people their age do.”

The distinction would then depend on the patient’s symptoms no matter when they occurred and the details should be accurate in order to come up with an accurate diagnosis. Accuracy is key in determining whether the condition is depression (unipolar) or bipolar with hypomanic episodes. This is because it will help mental care providers formulate an appropriate San Diego bipolar program of treatment.

How Similar Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Depression Can Cause Misdiagnosis

Often, individuals with bipolar disorder are mistakenly diagnosed with unipolar depression, especially when episodes of depression outnumber the episodes of mania. It also happens because patients are most likely to seek treatment during their depressive state and not during their manic state.

When you are misdiagnosed, the consequences can be serious. Your time for recovery may take longer and your condition may become more severe. Taking the wrong medication like some anti-depressants can also cause manic episodes or rapid cycling. In the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a study conducted showed that 55% of bipolar individuals who took anti-depressants suffered episodes of mania after.

To avoid such dire repercussions, find a psychiatric specialist who performs a thorough test and evaluates your medical history. You as a patient should also cooperate and be truthful about your condition and experiences. Bipolar disorder can be a scary diagnosis for a lot of individuals, but facing this reality is key to recovery.

Changes in the Pre-frontal Cortex

Bipolar disorder may also be caused by changes and disruptions in the prefrontal cortex and other brain networks responsible for regulating the emotions. These brain networks include the limbic system or the emotional center of the brain.

Is Medication the Only Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?

We often see on TV and in movies where characters with bipolar disorder have fits of euphoria, depression, and hallucination when they fail to take their pills. Claire Danes’s Carrie Mathison in the series Homeland is a good example. But is this dramatized or inspired by a real-life situation?

According to our team of San Diego psychiatric specialists, there’s truth to this. Medication is necessary to balance the brain chemicals involved with bipolar symptoms. However, there are alternative treatments that you can practice in your daily life to manage depressive and hypomanic episodes, such as:

• Complete and quality sleep
• Using BB (blue light blocking) glasses)
• Psychotherapy in support of medication
• Lifestyle adjustments

Remember that these practices do not eliminate the need for medication, but they can help reduce mood episodes significantly. Consult your healthcare providers for guidance before making these adjustments.