Bipolar disorder for dummies
Book - 2023
Describes the symptoms and treatment options of bipolar disorder and offers advice on living with the illness.
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- Subjects
- Genres
- Self-help publications
- Published
-
Hoboken, NJ :
For Dummies
[2023]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Other Authors
- Edition
- 4th edition
- Item Description
- Includes index.
Previous edition: published as Bipolar disorder for dummies. 2016. - Physical Description
- xvii, 426 pages : illustration (black and white) ; 24 cm
- ISBN
- 9781394168675
- Introduction
- About This Book
- Foolish Assumptions
- Icons Used in This Book
- Beyond the Book
- Whereto Go from Here
- Part 1. Getting Started on Your Bipolar Journey
- Chapter 1. Grasping Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Cracking Open the Diagnostic Manual: DSM-5-TR
- Exploring the Poles of Bipolar Disorder: Mania and Depression
- Manic episode
- Hypomanic episode
- Major depressive episode
- Not your average moodiness
- Not attributable to other psychotic disorders
- Distinguishing Types of Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Substance/medication-induced bipolar disorder
- Bipolar and related disorder due to another medical condition
- Other specified bipolar and related disorder
- Unspecified bipolar disorder
- Digging Deeper with Bipolar Specifiers
- Current or most recent episode
- Severity of illness
- Presence or absence of psychosis
- Course of illness
- Additional features that doctors use as specifiers in making the diagnosis
- Distinguishing Bipolar from Conditions with Similar Symptoms
- Considering Comorbidity: When Bipolar Coexists with Other Conditions
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Substance use disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Personality disorders
- Memory and thinking problems
- Confronting the Challenges of Diagnosing Children and Teens
- Chapter 2. Exploring Possible Causes: The Brain and Body Science of Bipolar Disorder
- Digging Up Bipolar's Genetic Roots
- Exploring the genetic connection through twin, adoption, and family studies
- Shaking the family tree
- Grasping the genetic complexities
- Flipping the bipolar switch: Epigenetics
- Investigating Nongenetic Factors
- Examining the Circuitry of Bipolar
- Brushing up on brain structure and function
- Connecting the brain to bipolar disorder
- Investigating Medication Mechanisms: What We Know and Don't Know
- Chapter 3. Reining in Bipolar Disorder: Prognosis and Treatments
- Knowing What to Expect: Adopting a Long-Term Perspective
- Responding Reactively and Proactively to Bipolar Disorder
- Reacting: Extinguishing the flames
- Preventing future flare-ups
- Taking a Quick Look at Treatment Options
- Exploring medication and other biological remedies
- Sampling self-care strategies: The big five
- Reviewing foundational skills for success
- Comparing psychotherapies and other professional counseling
- Rounding up the troops: Relationship and family support
- Ensuring continuity of care
- Part 2. Obtaining a Diagnosis, Developing a Treatment Plan, and Building a Team
- Chapter 4. Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
- Finding a Specialist to Perform Your Psychiatric Evaluation
- Narrowing your list to qualified candidates
- Seeking referrals
- Knowing what to look for in a psychiatric care provider
- Knowing What Happens During a Psychiatric Evaluation
- Exploring what's happening now
- Digging into your past
- Being aware of other steps a psych evaluation may involve
- Starting with a Differential Diagnosis
- Considering other psychiatric causes
- Investigating non-psychiatric causes
- Digging Deeper with Additional Tests and Procedures
- Medical tests that your doctor may order
- Thyroid tests
- Additional medical specialists who may help
- Putting It All Together for an Official Diagnosis
- Responding to your diagnosis
- Understanding your prognosis
- Chapter 5. Building Your Treatment Plan
- Understanding Bipolar Treatment Plan Fundamentals
- Appreciating the importance of having a personalized treatment plan
- Laying the groundwork for close collaboration
- Going beyond medications: A comprehensive approach
- Evolving and changing your treatment plan overtime
- Addressing Medication Management
- Treating an acute mood episode
- Preventing future episodes
- Providing informed consent
- Getting your treatment plan in writing
- Scheduling your next appointment
- Incorporating Therapy in Your Treatment Plan
- Finding a therapist
- Documenting how you, your doctor, and your therapist will work together
- Adding Self-Care Strategies to Your Treatment Plan
- Chapter 6. Building a Winning Mood-Management Team
- A Psychiatric Provider for Diagnosis and Medication Management
- Diagnostician
- Master planner
- Prescriber/medicine manager
- A Therapist: For Non-Medication Treatments and Monitoring
- Skills trainer and coach
- Resident soundboard
- Self-care guide and cheerleader
- Continuity of care person
- Referral service
- Knowing where to turn when you're having trouble finding a therapist
- Assembling Your Personal Support Staff: Family and Friends
- Building a network based on trust
- Understanding their fears, anxieties, anger, and other emotions
- Educating your supporters
- Establishing your team's level of involvement
- Encouraging open communication
- Working as a Team
- Tapping the Power of Self-Advocacy
- Part 3. Managing the Biology of Bipolar Disorder
- Chapter 7. Leveling Moods with Medication
- Unlocking the Bipolar Medicine Cabinet
- Lithium
- Valproate (Depakote) and other anticonvulsants
- Antipsychotics
- Mood-boosting antidepressants
- Calming anxiolytics and sleep agents
- Exploring Bipolar Psychopharmacology
- Selecting the best medications for you
- Pharmacogenetic testing
- Knowing what to expect
- Testing for med levels and health issues
- Mixing your pharmaceutical cocktail
- Juggling meds for comorbid conditions
- Treating Mood Episodes and Preventing Future Episodes
- Muffling mania
- Lifting bipolar depression
- Keeping mania and depression at bay: Maintenance treatment
- Treatment-resistant bipolar disorder
- Peering into the Promising Future of Bipolar Medications
- Meds that target the glutamatergic pathways
- Protein kinase C inhibitors
- Other meds worth mentioning
- Chapter 8. Coming to Terms with Medications and Their Side Effects
- Examining Objections to Taking Meds
- I'm not sick
- They don't work
- I'm fine now
- The side effects are unacceptable
- I forget to take them
- Normal is boring
- I just want to be me
- I can manage my moods without medication
- I want to drink alcohol or consume cannabis sometimes
- They cost too much
- Performing a Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Alleviating Undesirable Side Effects
- Tweaking your doses and times
- Trying different meds in the same class
- Exploring other options
- Dealing with specific side effects
- Switching, Reducing, and Stopping Meds
- Chapter 9. Expanding Your Biological Treatment Options
- Treating Your Moods to Supplements
- Fishing for a cure: Omega-3 fatty acids
- Pumping up your brain with vitamins and minerals
- Investigating herbs and other supplements
- Assessing the safety of alternative remedies
- Treating Depression with Light Therapy
- Stimulating Your Brain with Electricity and Magnetic Fields
- Moderating moods with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- Zapping your moods with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Soothing depression with neurostimulation
- Exploring the Effects of Marijuana on the Brain
- Reviewing the Research on Psychedelics
- Chapter 10. Addressing Bipolar Disorder Across Diverse Communities
- Bipolar Disorder in Women
- Considering the nature of the illness
- Tracing reproductive development
- Bipolar disorder and pregnancy
- Managing bipolar during menopause
- Bipolar in the LGBTQIA+ Community
- Bipolar Disorder in Historically Marginalized Communities
- Recognizing additional risk factors for individuals in these communities
- Finding culturally competent providers
- Older Adults and Bipolar Disorder
- What's so different about older adults?
- Addressing dementia and bipolar
- Medication issues for older adults
- Part 4. Developing Essential Survival Skills
- Chapter 11. Exploring Self Help and Professional Therapies
- Monitoring Your Moods
- Charting Sleep and Energy Levels
- Identifying Stressors and Triggers
- Exploring Therapies That May Help with Bipolar Management
- Psychoeducation
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
- Mindfulness and other centering activities
- Relationship and family therapies
- Group therapy
- Exploring Online Resources
- Weighing the pros and cons of online care
- Differentiating information from misinformation
- Getting Involved in a Support Group
- Chapter 12. Making Lifestyle Adjustments
- Cultivating a Healthy Home Environment
- Educating all household members
- Setting a more structured schedule
- Cranking down the volume
- Reducing conflict and criticism
- Considering the kids
- Establishing Healthy Routines
- Regulating your sleep
- Scheduling social activities
- Leaving room for spontaneity
- Enjoying Nourishing Foods
- Cutting back on simple carbohydrates
- Getting your fill of vegetables and fruits
- Powering up with protein
- Feeding your brain healthy fats
- Banning all comments about bodies, weight, and food
- Building Healthy Relationships
- Checking relationship vitals
- Having some fun
- Taking breaks from one another
- Getting Your Body in Motion for Joy and Health
- Avoiding the Stuff That Doesn't Serve You
- Seeking the Support of a Four-Legged Friend
- Chapter 13. Communicating Effectively
- Setting the Stage
- Choosing the right time and place
- Establishing ground rules
- Watching what you say
- Keeping a neutral tone
- Being sensitive to posture, position, and body language
- Adding mood symptoms to the mix
- Avoiding the Four Big Tiff-Makers
- Criticism
- Judgment
- Demand
- Blame
- Becoming Less Confrontational with "I" Statements
- Validating Other People's Feelings
- Disengaging from Unproductive Conflicts
- Chapter 14. Solving Problems and Resolving Conflict
- Setting the Stage for Effective Problem Solving
- Identifying the Problem
- Redefining the Problem/Conflict: From Right Versus Wrong to Unmet Needs
- Brainstorming Possible Solutions
- Planning and Implementing Agreed-Upon Solutions
- Avoiding Unproductive Approaches
- Letting Go of Problems You Can't Solve on Your Own
- Chapter 15. Planning Ahead for a Mood Episode
- Teaming Up with Your Care Providers
- Thwarting a Mood Episode
- Scoping Out Psychiatric Facilities
- Documenting Essential Information
- Signing Releases … Or Not
- Release of information authorization
- Power of attorney
- Advanced directive
- Part 5. Dealing with the Fallout
- Chapter 16. From Hospitalization to Recovery
- Coming to Terms with Hospitalization
- Knowing What to Expect
- Seeing the doctor
- Adjusting your medications
- Engaging in therapy
- Looking into seclusion and restraint policies
- Exploring variations in visiting hours
- Knowing about how long you'll stay
- Getting released
- Knowing Your Patient Rights
- Making Your Stay More Comfortable
- Keeping Your Team in the Loop
- Making Recovery Your Top Priority
- Anticipating the aftershock
- Mastering the art of self-care
- Retreating to a safe, quiet place
- Following your doctor's orders
- Reclaiming Your Life
- Knowing when you're ready
- Returning to friends and family
- Chapter 17. Returning to Work … or Not
- Reality Check: Are You Ready to Return to Work?
- Getting Back into the Swing of Things
- Disclosing Your Diagnosis … or Not
- Weighing the pros and cons of disclosure
- Talking to supervisors and coworkers
- Requesting Workplace Accommodations
- Finding More Suitable Work
- Dreaming up your ideal work situation
- Taking a skills and interests inventory
- Pursuing your dream job
- Is Not Returning to Work Right for You?
- Chapter 18. Overcoming Financial Setbacks
- The Public Mental Health System
- Surveying available resources
- Accessing local financial support
- Public systems in Canada and the U.K.
- Filing for Disability Benefits
- Meeting the guidelines
- Improving your chances of approval
- Exploring Health Insurance Options
- Low- or No-Cost Healthcare Resources
- Tracking down a university medical center program
- Finding peer support
- Contacting religious organizations
- Prescription assistance programs
- Negotiating payment with a psychiatrist or therapist
- Other Ways to Survive the Hard Times
- Asking family and friends for help
- Finding temporary financial relief
- Government safety net programs
- Part 6. Assisting a Friend or Relative with Bipolar Disorder
- Chapter 19. Supporting Your Loved One
- Establishing the Right Mindset
- Forming realistic expectations
- Disassociating the disorder from the one you love
- Figuring out how not to take it personally
- Nurturing a Sense of Empathy and Curiosity
- Recognizing Your Limitations
- Doing what you can
- Recognizing what you can't do
- Remaining Vigilant for Warning Signs
- Knowing when to step in
- Knowing when to step back
- Making a deal: Drawing up a contract
- Helping Someone Who Refuses Help
- Taking action in an emergency
- Expressing your concerns
- Calling the doctor or therapist
- Contacting a local support group
- Contacting a local mental health center
- Considering involuntary hospitalization
- Taking Care of Yourself
- Chapter 20. Dealing with Crisis Situations
- Consulting Your Loved One's Doctor or Therapist
- Discussing the Emergency Plan
- Figuring out how involved to be
- Determining when to intervene
- Knowing whom to call for help
- Deciding where to go
- Responding in a Crisis
- Suicidal threats or attempts
- Agitated behavior
- Reckless driving
- Overspending
- Hypersexual behavior
- Substance abuse
- Runaways and disappearances
- Arrests
- Chapter 21. Supporting Your Bipolar Child or Teen
- Recognizing the Diagnostic Difficulties
- Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Unipolar depression
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Trauma
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Toxic exposures
- Requesting a Professional Evaluation
- Finding the right doctor
- Knowing what to do when seeking help
- Breaking Out the Treatment Toolbox
- Considering medication issues
- Understanding the diagnosis and treatment plan
- Parenting a Child with Bipolar Disorder
- Fine-tuning your parenting skills
- Tending to school matters
- Practicing lifestyle management
- Recognizing red flags for suicide
- Part 7. The Part of Tens
- Chapter 22. Ten Tips for Managing Bipolar
- Team Up with Your Doctor and Therapist
- Take Medications as Prescribed
- Regulate Your Sleep
- Develop Daily Routines
- Build Mindfulness and Other Self-Centering Skills
- Clearly Communicate Your Needs
- Avoid Alcohol, Stimulants, and Other Counterproductive Substances
- Monitor Your Moods
- Identify Your Early Warning Signs
- Get Help at the First Sign of Trouble
- Chapter 23. Ten Ways to Help a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder
- Find Out More about Bipolar Disorder
- Treat Your Loved One with Respect
- Hone Your Communication Skills
- Become a Problem Solver
- Disengage When Tensions Rise
- Keep Detailed Records
- Partner with Your Loved One
- Brush Up on Medications
- Flex Your Expectations
- Enjoy Your Life
- Index