Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Fast Facts: Bipolar Disorder
- Women and men are generally both equally affected by Bipolar Disorder
- Adolescents and young adults are most likely to develop Bipolar
- Some researchers believe that several parts of the Bipolar brain have more cells sending more signals to other parts of the brain
What is it?
Once called Manic Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings from depression to mania. The intervals between these emotional swings can vary from relatively short to quite long periods of time.
What causes it?
There is no consensus answer as to what causes Bipolar Disorder. Most researchers and clinicians believe it is a combination of biological (e.g. inherited) , neuro-chemical, and environmental (e.g. trauma) factors. However, the majority of the adolescents treated at CERTS facilities have a history of significant trauma, such as rape, adoption, a death or an illness in the family, or a divorce between parents. As will be discussed below, because clinical work around the trauma has been so empirically successful, it is impossible to overstate the role of resolving the environmental factors in helping people make progress on living with Bipolar.
How do you help a loved one coping with Bipolar?
There is tremendous help available today for those suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Most successful bipolar disorder treatment involves a joint effort with psychiatric services helping to find the proper medication combined with therapy to resolve and work through life issues. A loving and understanding support system of family and/or friends can be invaluable. Excellent on-line resources are also available today to both educate and to help with support groups. Where appropriate, long-term treatment is available in ways that have proven highly effective in returning people to normal, productive lives.
The CERTS approach:
CERTS provides specific bipolar disorder treatment centers that combine outstanding medication management with intensive, yet loving therapy to help resolve past issues. Because the presentation of Bipolar can be so different, the formula for each person in treatment should also differ. For this reason, CERTS programs involved a wide range of therapeutic modalities so that each clinician has the widest possible range of tools in their tool belts.
Learn more about Bipolar:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/the-causes-of-bipolar-disorder-manic-depression/
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Bipolar+disorder
http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/default.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000926.htm
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