About <![CDATA[Bipolar Disorder]]>

About <![CDATA[Bipolar Disorder]]> http://bipolar.about.com/ Antifungal Drugs and Psych Meds - Watch for Interactions http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm My doctor prescribed an oral antifungal drug, Clotrimazole Troche, for me after diagnosing me with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://womenshealth.about.com/od/womenshealthglossary/g/What-Is-Oral-Thrush.htm">thrush</a>. I'm a little concerned about this, because there can be some moderate interactions between antifungal drugs and some of the psychiatric medications I take.<br /><br /> Fungal infections include athlete's foot, vaginal yeast infections, and jock itch. These are generally treated with over-the-counter topical applications like creams, sprays and powders. While there is less likelihood of drug interactions with antifungals used externally, it's still important to know what signs to look for while you're using one of them, and especially so if you're taking an oral drug.<p> I know what I should be looking for so will be monitoring myself carefully during the ten days I'm taking the clotrimazole lozenges.<p> <b>Read <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/medications/a/athletes_foot.htm">Antifungal Drugs and Psychiatric Medications</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm">Antifungal Drugs and Psych Meds - Watch for Interactions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 23:45:30.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm&zItl=Antifungal Drugs and Psych Meds - Watch for Interactions">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/15/antifungal-drugs-and-psych-meds-watch-for-interactions.htm 2012-05-15T23:45:30Z All About Psychotic Symptoms http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm Whether it's something as mild as seeing a koala on your dresser (a hallucination) or as serious as being sure your spouse is trying to kill you (a paranoid delusion), psychosis is always a serious problem. Here is a roundup of information on all aspects of psychosis - definitions, in-depth descriptions, the mental disorders where psychotic symptoms may appear, and a listing of related details, all in one place.<br /><br /> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/diagnosissymptoms/a/psychosis_symptoms_hub.htm">Psychosis - A Comprehensive Resource</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm">All About Psychotic Symptoms</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 20:39:16.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm&zItl=All About Psychotic Symptoms">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/all-about-psychotic-symptoms.htm 2012-05-14T20:39:16Z A Boy and a Bear: Teaching Children to Calm Down http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/G/h/G/a-boy-and-a-bear.jpg" align="right"><i>A Boy and a Bear</i>, written by Lori Lite and illustrated by M. Hartigan, is a book that will entertain children while effortlessly teaching them how to calm down using a breathing technique. If your bipolar child needs to learn how to calm himself or herself, this book is for you. Highly recommended!<br /><br /> <b><a href='http://bipolar.about.com/cs/books/fr/boyandbear.htm'>A Boy and a Bear: The Children's Relaxation Book</a>.</b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm">A Boy and a Bear: Teaching Children to Calm Down</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 14:36:09.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm&zItl=A Boy and a Bear: Teaching Children to Calm Down">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/14/a-boy-and-a-bear-teaching-children-to-calm-down.htm 2012-05-14T14:36:09Z Queenie's Quest - A bipolar life from chaos to control http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/g/G/army_whitebg.png" alt="U.S. Army" align="right" width="120" height="150" />Guest author Debra got the nickname Queenie from her six younger siblings because they said she was bossy. Maybe having to keep six kids toeing the line is why Queenie went into the Army, but no matter what the reason, this woman with a whole raft of mental disorders ranging from bipolar I to PTSD managed to stay on active duty for 18 years. Her home life, though, was chaotic and dangerous, and having to fight her doctors to get correct diagnoses all along the way made it that much harder.<br /><br /> "Queenie's Quest" is an inspirational story of struggle, determination and triumph in the face of tough obstacles. Can you apply her tenacity to your own obstacle course?<p> <b>Read <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/experience/a/queenie.htm">Queenie's Quest</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm">Queenie's Quest - A bipolar life from chaos to control</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Sunday, May 13th, 2012 at 18:47:24.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm&zItl=Queenie's Quest - A bipolar life from chaos to control">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/13/queenies-quest-a-bipolar-life-from-chaos-to-control.htm 2012-05-13T18:47:24Z Author Michael Janflone on Pharmacists, Drug Addiction, And the Culture of Automatic Medicating http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm Michael Janflone's book <i>Long Sleeved Summers</i> is a gripping look at the stresses and temptations he faced as a young pharmacist that led him into drug addiction. Here, interviewed by Andy Behrman, author of <i>Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania</i>, Janflone gives insights into his struggles, and along the way he discusses his opinions about the number of prescriptions written in the U.S. as well as his belief that a culture of overmedicating that has grown up here - and why.<p> The interview may make you look more sympathetically at your local pharmacists - and also make you more careful about checking your prescriptions when they are handed to you.<p> Read <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/alcoholsubstanceabuse/a/michael-janflone-interview.htm">Michael Janflone Interview</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm">Author Michael Janflone on Pharmacists, Drug Addiction, And the Culture of Automatic Medicating</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 at 18:01:52.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm&zItl=Author Michael Janflone on Pharmacists, Drug Addiction, And the Culture of Automatic Medicating">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/12/author-michael-janflone-on-pharmacists-drug-addiction-and-the-culture-of-automatic-medicating.htm 2012-05-12T18:01:52Z Hateful Feedback: "It's not the meds, it's YOUR fault you're fat" http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm Back in 2010 I posted a blog called <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2010/03/16/bipolar-disorder-meds-and-blood-sugar.htm">Bipolar Disorder, Meds and Blood Sugar</a>. In it I talked about my situation, having gained a total of 80 pounds from various psych meds and developing diabetes as a result. A HIGH percentage of people taking psychiatric drugs gain weight from them, and losing weight gain be more difficult than for the average person because we still <i>need</i> to take those drugs. Many aren't even told about the risk of weight gain - and good luck getting insurance to pay for professional weight-loss counseling unless you are morbidly obese.<br /><br /> The difficulties are substantial, so when that blog got this comment from someone named Richard, it made me want to throw rocks at the writer:<p> <blockquote><i>Okay, you got your anti-psychotic meds, and then you began to "feel" better. You went back to your eatin' everything in the fridge, local burger shack, and every snack imaginable in Safeway is now on your coffee table. You have the exercise enthusiasm of a tortoise, and you wonder why you gained weight? Sure, blame the pills instead of taking responsibility for your gluttony and your fear of exercise. Yeah, I'm heartless, because I just don't believe all this bullshit about blaming every pill for every ill.<p> You may well need the medicines, but you need to get off your fat asses and eat healthy, and do some hard work. Take responsibility for your fatness, you bunch of lard-asses.</i></blockquote><p> GRRRR! <a href =http://bipolar.about.com/b/a/259908.htm>...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm">Hateful Feedback: "It's not the meds, it's YOUR fault you're fat"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 21:00:32.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm&zItl=Hateful Feedback: "It's not the meds, it's YOUR fault you're fat"">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/05/11/hateful-feedback-its-not-the-meds-its-your-fault-youre-fat.htm 2012-05-11T21:00:32Z Nightmares and Night Terrors in Bipolar Disorder http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/e/G/fear-of-falling.jpg" alt="I have an awful fear of falling" /><br /><br /> I've had <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/sleepissues/a/040729_dreams.htm">vivid dreams</a> all my life - long, clear, and so detailed I could write them out as bizarre stories. These are rarely nightmares, but I have those, too, on occasion. My nightmares most commonly revolve around the fear of falling. For example, more than once I've dreamed I was in an elevator with a central pillar, and suddenly the floor turned to rubber and detached from the edges. The only real safety is to hang onto the pillar, but I'm never alone, so several of us are going for that pillar, while others clutch the edges of the heavy rubber sheet as it bends down into the shaft.<br /><br /> <a href =http://bipolar.about.com/b/a/259899.htm>...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm">Nightmares and Night Terrors in Bipolar Disorder</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 at 15:02:48.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm&zItl=Nightmares and Night Terrors in Bipolar Disorder">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/nightmares-and-night-terrors-in-bipolar-disorder.htm 2012-04-23T15:02:48Z What Is Adjunctive Therapy? http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm Adjunctive therapy is, put simply, the addition of one treatment to another for the same condition. The goal may be to increase the effectiveness of the first treatment, to reduce the side effects of the first treatment, or to supplement the first treatment. Adjunctive therapy is very common with medications, but there are other forms as well - for example, chemotherapy after cancer surgery.<br /><br /> For more examples and additional information, see <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossarya/g/gl_adjunctive-therapy.htm">Adjunctive Therapy</a>.<p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm">What Is Adjunctive Therapy?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 at 13:44:40.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm&zItl=What Is Adjunctive Therapy?">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/23/what-is-adjunctive-therapy.htm 2012-04-23T13:44:40Z Blurry Memory and Depression http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/d/G/memory.png" alt="Blurry memory" width="170" hspace="3" vspace="2" align="right" />Suppose you ask me, "What one memory comes to mind when I say 'shopping mall'?" I'm probably going to say, "I hate shopping at malls, because my feet get so tired." That's a wrong answer - it's general rather than being a single memory as was asked for. A <i>specific</i> answer would have been, "I remember when the Younkers store burned at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines."<br /><br /> A simpler example: for the cue word "joyful," someone who answers, "I was joyful when my son was born," is recalling a single memory, while the person answering, "I'm always joyful at our family reunions," has retrieved the general memories of many occasions.<p> Research has found that people who have depression tend to call up memories in general more often than specifically. This phenomenon, called "overgeneral memory" or OGM, appears to be interrelated with clinical and bipolar depression, and may even lead to new treatments for depression.<p> Read about <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/depression-symptoms/a/overgeneral-memory-in-depression.htm">Blurred Memory Function and Depression</a></b><p> <small><i>Image: Chad Baker / Getty Images</i></small><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm">Blurry Memory and Depression</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Friday, April 20th, 2012 at 17:55:18.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm&zItl=Blurry Memory and Depression">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/20/blurry-memory-and-depression.htm 2012-04-20T17:55:18Z You CAN Adopt if You Have Bipolar Disorder http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm <center><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/a/G/carrie-chris-rina.png" alt="Carrie Burr with her children Chris, left, and Rina" /></center><br /> Carrie Burr has Bipolar I disorder, and her history with the mental illness included two extensive hospitalizations. Yet she and her husband were able to adopt two children from foster care and raise them with love, courage and joy. I can attest to this: Carrie is my cousin.<p> In this series of articles from 2000, Carrie tells the honest truth about her bipolar disorder, the process of deciding to adopt, and the adoption process itself - including what she needed to do and say regarding her mental illness.<p> <b>Adoption With Bipolar Disorder</b> <ul> <li>Part 1: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/adoption/a/uc_adoption1.htm">I really want a child, but...</a> <li>Part 2: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/adoption/a/uc_adoption2.htm">Look before you leap</a> <li>Part 3: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/adoption/a/uc_adoption3.htm">My story, my children</a> (2 pages) </ul><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm">You CAN Adopt if You Have Bipolar Disorder</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 at 00:55:18.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm&zItl=You CAN Adopt if You Have Bipolar Disorder">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/10/you-can-adopt-if-you-have-bipolar-disorder.htm 2012-04-10T00:55:18Z Medications for Mania and Hypomania http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm Mania and hypomania are the keys to Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Cyclothymia. The first thing people think of for treating mania is the traditional group of mood stabilizers - Lithium and the anticonvulsant drugs such as Depakote (valproate), Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Tegretol (carbamazepine). But there are other medications that can help control mania and hypomania. These include some drugs classed as antipsychotics, calcium channel blockers, and benzodiazepines.<br /><br /> Explore the traditional mood stabilizers along with the drugs that are known for treating other symptoms and conditions, but not well-known as treatments for mania / hypomania:<p> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/menu_treat/a/0312_treatmania.htm">Medications for Mania and Hypomania</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm">Medications for Mania and Hypomania</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, April 9th, 2012 at 09:17:46.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm&zItl=Medications for Mania and Hypomania">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/09/the-treament-of-bipolar-disorder-medications-for-mania.htm 2012-04-09T09:17:46Z Employee With Bipolar Disorder Wins Wrongful Termination Suit http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/_/G/fired.gif" alt="You're Fired!" height="200" width="116" align="right" hspace="2"/>A store manager who had received performance awards was fired, he says, when he asked for time off to adjust to a new bipolar disorder medication. Last week a US District Court judge ruled that the firing violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and ordered the employer to pay Sean Reilly back wages plus $50,000 for emotional pain and suffering.<br /><br /> The suit was brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Reilly's behalf.<p> Have you ever been fired from a job because you had bipolar disorder? Not because it was affecting your performance, but simply because you <i>have</i> it? Tell your story on one of these pages: <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/u/ua/stigma/stigma.htm">How has mental illness stigma affected you?</a> or <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/u/ua/work/bpatwork_stories.htm">How does having bipolar disorder affect you at work?</a> </ul> Read about your <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/ada/a/080502_adabpI.htm">rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)</a></strong><p> <small>Source: Fastenberg, Dan. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/04/03/employers-on-notice-you-cant-fire-workers-with-bipolar-disorde/">Employer Can't Fire Workers With Bipolar Disorder, Court Rules</a>. AOL Jobs, 3 April 2012.</small><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm">Employee With Bipolar Disorder Wins Wrongful Termination Suit</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Sunday, April 8th, 2012 at 12:25:21.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm&zItl=Employee With Bipolar Disorder Wins Wrongful Termination Suit">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/08/employee-with-bipolar-disorder-wins-wrongful-termination-suit.htm 2012-04-08T12:25:21Z Bipolar Patients, Family Members and Friends: 10 Things Not to Do http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/Z/G/stopsign.png" alt="Stop!" align="left" width="170" hspace="7" vspace="2" />My goal at About.com Bipolar Disorder is always to provide the support and knowledge that patients, friends and family need to help manage bipolar illness in the best way possible. There's information on medications and their side effects, recognizing and understanding symptoms, treatment options, and disability in the United States; there are coping tips, illustrative stories, health information and much, much more.<br /><br /> But sometimes it's important to say <i>don't</i>. Don't do things that could hurt you, things that could be dangerous. Don't let certain things happen to you when you can prevent them and make your life easier. Don't do harm to your bipolar friend or loved one.<p> In <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/definingbipolardisorder/a/10-things-not-to-do.htm">10 Things Not to Do If You, A Family Member or Friend Has Bipolar Disorder</a></b>, you'll learn things you're doing or things you've let happen that can be making life more difficult or actually doing harm to someone with bipolar.<p> My "10 Things Not to Do" is part of a group effort by About.com Health Guides to help our readers improve their mental and physical health. You are very likely to be interested in one of the other conditions in the list compiled by Social Anxiety Disorder Guide Arlin Cuncic. After you check out my 10 Things, take a look at Arlin's and those of 30 other health experts: <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/relateddisorders/tp/10-Things-To-Stop-Doing.htm">10 Things to Stop Doing: Stop and Improve Your Health</a></b>. I guarantee at least one of the topics will make a difference to you.<p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm">Bipolar Patients, Family Members and Friends: 10 Things Not to Do</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 16:15:17.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm&zItl=Bipolar Patients, Family Members and Friends: 10 Things Not to Do">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/bipolar-patients-family-members-and-friends-10-things-not-to-do.htm 2012-04-02T16:15:17Z Things NOT to Say to Someone With Bipolar Disorder http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm I've been lucky - nobody, at least to my face, has ever said, "Everybody has bad days" or "You're sick because you don't pray enough" to me. I did have trouble with a boss who basically told me to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/workplace/a/bl_wp_getoverit.htm">get over it</a>, but my family and friends have been very understanding. I only wish my experience was more common!<br /><br /> Sadly, for thousands of people with bipolar disorder, family and friends are less than understanding. If you're reading this because someone you know has been diagnosed with bipolar, or are looking for some way to get the people you know to understand better, these articles are for you. Don't make the difficult life of your friend or loved one even harder. Learn what not to say to someone who has bipolar disorder: <ul> <li><b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/stigma/a/dont-challenge-bipolar-diagnosis.htm">Don't Challenge My Bipolar Diagnosis</a></b> <li><b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/stigma/a/dont-tell-me-how-to-get-over-bipolar-disorder.htm">Don't Tell Me How to Get Over Bipolar Disorder</a></b> </ul><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm">Things NOT to Say to Someone With Bipolar Disorder</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 15:30:14.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm&zItl=Things NOT to Say to Someone With Bipolar Disorder">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/04/02/things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-bipolar-disorder.htm 2012-04-02T15:30:14Z What Does the Bible Say About Psychiatric Medications? http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm "There is no reason to take a pill for a mental disorder," says the website <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.psychologydebunked.com/">Psychology Debunked</a>. "Mental disorders are NOT medical/physical disorders like cancer and diabetes." And "Every major psychological theory is anti-Christian at its core."<br /><br /> Unfortunately, there are all too many people who actually believe this kind of crap. Fortunately, one of our members is able to debunk IT.<p> In her compassionate essay, Ileana, who has a degree in Christian Religious Education, makes it clear that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/religion/a/christian_views.htm">Christianity and Psychology Can Go Hand in Hand</a>.<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm">What Does the Bible Say About Psychiatric Medications?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Friday, March 30th, 2012 at 19:30:40.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm&zItl=What Does the Bible Say About Psychiatric Medications?">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/30/what-does-the-bible-say-about-psychiatric-medications.htm 2012-03-30T19:30:40Z Brief Reactive Psychosis Diagnosis for Kony 2012 Director Jason Russell's Mental Breakdown http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm Jason Russell was virtually unknown when he made a 30-minute documentary called <i>Kony 2012</i> and uploaded it on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://vimeo.com/37119711">Vimeo</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc">YouTube</a>. The video, which talks about atrocities committed by African warlord Joseph Kony, highlights a group called Invisible Children that Russell co-founded in 2005, dedicated to raising awareness about Kony's brutal activities.<br /><br /> The video exploded into popularity, generating both heavy praise and sharp criticism, and about two weeks into the furor, Russell was found screaming incoherently and pounding his fists on the pavement in his shorts. According to his family, he has been diagnosed with brief reactive psychosis.<p> This illness is actually now called Brief Psychotic Disorder, perhaps because it can occur without being in reaction to an event, so the word "reactive" wasn't accurate. In Russell's case, said his wife Danica, the "great mental, emotional and physical shock his body has gone through in these last two weeks" was likely a strong factor.<p> <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossaryb/g/gl_brief-psychotic-disorder.htm">Here's the lowdown on Brief Psychotic Disorder</a>.</strong><p> More on Joseph Kony: <strong><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/africa/a/United-States-Continues-Its-Efforts-Against-Kony.htm">United States Continues Its Efforts Against Kony</a></strong><p> <sub><strong>Source:</strong><br /> Associated Press. "Wife: Kony 2012 director suffers from psychosis." 28 March 2012.</sub><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm">Brief Reactive Psychosis Diagnosis for Kony 2012 Director Jason Russell's Mental Breakdown</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 17:15:57.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm&zItl=Brief Reactive Psychosis Diagnosis for Kony 2012 Director Jason Russell's Mental Breakdown">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/29/brief-reactive-psychosis-diagnosis-for-kony-2012-director-jason-russell.htm 2012-03-29T17:15:57Z Do You Take Clonazepam or Klonopin? Know the Side Effects http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm If you have anxiety along with your bipolar disorder, your doctor might prescribe Klonopin, the generic version clonazepam, or another brand of the same drug, Rivotril, to help with the anxiety symptoms.<br /><br /> Anxiety is common in people who have bipolar disorder. Indeed, one study found fully half the bipolar patients participating <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/anxietydisorders/a/stepbdanxiety.htm">also had a comorbid anxiety disorder</a>. Thus it isn't unusual for clonazepam to be prescribed to someone who has bipolar.<p> While the most common side effects like dizziness and sleepiness are usually manageable, there are others, less common or rare, that can be serious. Anyone taking this drug, or who has a family member taking it, should be aware of the possible side effects.<p> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/sfx/a/sfx_klonopin.htm">Clonazepam Side Effects</a></b> (Klonopin, Rivotril).<p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm">Do You Take Clonazepam or Klonopin? Know the Side Effects</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 at 16:44:53.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm&zItl=Do You Take Clonazepam or Klonopin? Know the Side Effects">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/28/do-you-take-clonazepam-or-klonopin-know-the-side-effects.htm 2012-03-28T16:44:53Z Mary Key Letourneau - Child Rape or Love Affair? http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/Y/G/mary-kay-letourneau.png" width="200" height="208" alt="Mary Kay Letourneau" align="right" hspace="4" vspace="2">Mary Kay Letourneau was 35 when she began an affair with one of her school students, 13 year old Vili Fualaau. The case highlighted Mary Kay's bipolar disorder, child rape laws and sentencing, and emerged over the years as one of the most bizarre "love stories" of the last two decades. Although the furor had mostly died down, the recent airings of the film "All-American Girl" on cable have brought Mary Kay's story to the attention of a new generation.<br /><br /> Here is the true story, from the beginning, of Mary Kay Letourneau's involvement with Vili Fualaau, with links to my commentary on the case and other material. Was her bipolar disorder to blame, or was she?<p> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/crime/a/0001_marykay.htm">Mary Kay Letourneau: Criminal, Or Victim of Bipolar Disorder?</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm">Mary Key Letourneau - Child Rape or Love Affair?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, March 26th, 2012 at 18:31:08.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm&zItl=Mary Key Letourneau - Child Rape or Love Affair?">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/26/mary-key-letourneau-child-rape-or-love-affair.htm 2012-03-26T18:31:08Z Vivien Leigh - "Gone With the Wind" Actress Had Bipolar Disorder http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/h/bipolar/1/H/W/G/vivien-leigh-and-olivier.jpg" alt="Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh" /><br /><br />Celebrated actress Vivien Leigh, who won an Oscar for her performance as Scarlett O'Hara in the blockbuster of 1939, <i>Gone With the Wind</i>, was diagnosed with manic depression in the mid-1940s. Eventually, her fairy-tale marriage to actor Laurence Olivier, with whom she is shown, became severely strained, and her mental and physical ill-health also damaged her career as well. For a mini-biography and a look at how bipolar disorder affected her life, read:<br /><br /> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/celebs/a/vivienleigh.htm">Vivien Leigh and Manic Depression</a></b><p> <sub><i>Photo: Getty Images</i></sub><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm">Vivien Leigh - "Gone With the Wind" Actress Had Bipolar Disorder</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 23:42:30.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm&zItl=Vivien Leigh - "Gone With the Wind" Actress Had Bipolar Disorder">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/vivien-leigh-gone-with-the-wind-actress-had-bipolar-disorder.htm 2012-03-19T23:42:30Z Don't Give Up On Your Health http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm A lot of people don't realize that having bipolar disorder can affect physical health, too. It goes farther than the increased energy of mania and hypomania, and the fatigue and body aches of depression. Even before diagnosis, there are health issues for people with bipolar.<br /><br /> This article, the first in a series, looks at a pair of destructive habits common to bipolar people both before and after diagnosis, and discusses the problem of physicians who look at bipolar first and physical health symptoms second.<p> <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/relateddisorders/a/do-not-give-up-on-your-health-bipolar.htm">Don't Give Up On Your Health</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm">Don't Give Up On Your Health</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 17:35:32.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm&zItl=Don't Give Up On Your Health">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/19/dont-give-up-on-your-health.htm 2012-03-19T17:35:32Z Do You Fake a Smile When Depressed? It Might Be Good for You http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/T/G/smile.png" alt="Smiling is good for you!" height="170" width="131" hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" />Reader Ashley asked, "Does anyone just completely fake a smile while going through a depressive episode just so no one knows how bad you really are?" It's a great question. I can't say I remember doing this, but I did learn a lesson about smiling long ago - it changes your voice. If I was in a tense mood at the office when the phone rang, I'd force a smile before picking up the receiver and saying, "Word Processing, this is Marcia, how can I help you?" My co-workers knew I was doing this and used to crack up, but it <i>worked</i>. My voice sounded pleasant every time.<br /><br /> In fact, a forced smile can do more than just make your voice pleasant - it actually can help your mood. It's been studied!<p> What about it? Do you fake a smile as Ashley asked? Does it help? If you're wondering why and how to smile - <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/cs/humor/a/000802_smile.htm">What's In a Smile?</a></b> gives you the scientific research and offers some ideas to help you get smiling.<p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm">Do You Fake a Smile When Depressed? It Might Be Good for You</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, March 5th, 2012 at 23:42:50.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm&zItl=Do You Fake a Smile When Depressed? It Might Be Good for You">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/do-you-fake-a-smile-when-depressed-it-might-be-good-for-you.htm 2012-03-05T23:42:50Z Bipolar for Beginners Lesson 5 - In-Depth Info on Bipolar Depression http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/h/bipolar/1/9/S/G/lesson5.png" alt="Lesson 5" width="100" height="110" align="right" /><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/bipolar-for-beginners/a/introducing-bipolar-depression.htm">Lesson 4</a> of the series Bipolar for Beginners introduced you to the depression side of bipolar disorder. In Lesson 5 we take a closer look at the symptoms that, whether mild, moderate or severe, can affect every aspect of your daily life.<br /><br /> Depression is more than an emotional low. It also can have physical effects, change the way you think and behave, and alter the way you view yourself and others. And for most people with bipolar disorder, depression is more common than mania or hypomania. Whether you have bipolar and are seeking more information, or you need to educate yourself to help and understand someone you know, this lesson is critical to increase your knowledge.<p> Understand: <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/bipolar-for-beginners/a/bipolar-depression-in-depth.htm">Lesson 5: Bipolar Depression in Depth</a></b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm">Bipolar for Beginners Lesson 5 - In-Depth Info on Bipolar Depression</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, March 5th, 2012 at 13:41:23.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm&zItl=Bipolar for Beginners Lesson 5 - In-Depth Info on Bipolar Depression">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/03/05/bipolar-for-beginners-lesson-5-in-depth-info-on-bipolar-depression.htm 2012-03-05T13:41:23Z Introducing Bipolar Depression - For Beginners http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/O/G/lesson4.png" alt="Lesson 4" align="right" height="110" width="100" />Maybe you need to learn about bipolar depression to understand and support a friend or loved one who has bipolar disorder. Maybe you're diagnosed but need to understand your depressive symptoms better. Either way, Lesson 4 of Bipolar for Beginners will introduce you to the basic information, causes and common symptoms.<br /><br /> After that, you'll get a look at a concept that is growing in popularity among the psychiatric community - that bipolar and unipolar depression are not the same. The lesson rounds out with important terms to know and two writers' expressions of their own bipolar depression.<p> There will be more to come. Bipolar depression is a complicated subject, so the forthcoming Lesson 5 will go even deeper into the symptoms.<p> Start Learning: <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/bipolar-for-beginners/a/introducing-bipolar-depression.htm">Introducing Bipolar Depression</a></b>.<p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm">Introducing Bipolar Depression - For Beginners</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 at 05:49:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm&zItl=Introducing Bipolar Depression - For Beginners">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/21/introducing-bipolar-depression-for-beginners.htm 2012-02-21T05:49:00Z Mania and Hypomania - For Beginners http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/N/G/lesson3.jpg" align="right" alt="Lesson 3" width="100" height="110" />Lesson 3 of Bipolar for Beginners is about mania and hypomania. If you don't experience either of these mood states, you don't have bipolar disorder. Here's an overview of the symptoms, a look at several of the important and common symptoms in depth, and examples of ways the symptoms may appear to the patient or to others.<br /><br /> In addition, this lesson also gives you a close-up look at how four people experience mania, which is particularly valuable for people who don't have bipolar disorder but want to understand what someone else is going through.<p> People with bipolar have the opportunity to share your own manic or hypomanic symptoms in two different ways.<p> Increase your knowledge: <b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/od/bipolar-for-beginners/a/mania-hypomania.htm">Learn About Mania and Hypomania</a>.</b><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm">Mania and Hypomania - For Beginners</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 15:39:40.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm&zItl=Mania and Hypomania - For Beginners">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/20/mania-and-hypomania-for-beginners.htm 2012-02-20T15:39:40Z Jail for Mental Illness in Chicago http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/bipolar/1/0/R/G/jail-cell.png" alt="And you land in jail..." height="170" width="161" align="right" hspace="6" vspace="2" />The city of Chicago plans to shut down six of its 12 mental health centers by the end of April, says Bridget O'Shea, writing in The New York Times. The city calls the plan "consolidation" and says those who need help will still get it, but people who deal with the problems every day say a situation that is very bad is bound to get worse.<br /><br /> One of those decrying the closings is Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. O'Shea quotes Dart as saying the system "is so screwed up that I've become the largest mental health provider in the state of Illinois." It's estimated that 18% of the 11,000 inmates generally housed in the jail have <em>serious</em> mental illnesses. Sheriff Dart said the cost to house these prisoners is 2-3 times greater because more resources are needed to deal with them.<p> "[C]ity data provided to aldermen showed that the cuts could cause a patient increase of up to 71 percent at some clinics, with no additional staff," writes O'Shea. The police department's program to refer released prisoners to mental health facilities can't do much good if the waiting lists are too long. Prisoners receive only two weeks' worth of medication upon release.<p> "And then there's the humane side of it," Sheriff Dart said. "Not treating people with mental illness is bad enough, but treating them like criminals? Please, what have we become?"<p> What, indeed? I can't imagine what life is like for those people. I mean - I had to get high-risk health insurance through my state's pool when I lost my previous coverage last year. (My prior insurance company wanted $3,900 a month to give me an individual policy.) And I'm <i>fortunate</i> that I can afford the high-risk premium (barely). What is someone with schizophrenia, living in deep poverty or on the streets, going to do?<p> In Chicago, the answer appears to be that he will wind up in jail - again and again.<p> <small><b>Source:</b> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/health/in-chicago-mental-health-patients-have-no-place-to-go.html?_r=1&partner=EXCITE&ei=5043">Psychiatric Patients With No Place to Go but Jail</a></small><p align=center>. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /><em>Learn more or join the conversation!</em> <br /><sub><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">NEWSLETTER</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://forums.about.com/ab-bipolar/start/?lgnF=y">FORUM</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/mbiopage.htm">BIO</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Bipolar-Disorder/164925816929489">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://twitter.com/bipolar_disord">TWITTER</a></sub> <br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm">Jail for Mental Illness in Chicago</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/">About.com Bipolar Disorder</a> on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 19:24:52.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://bipolar.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm&zItl=Jail for Mental Illness in Chicago">Email this</a></p> http://bipolar.about.com/b/2012/02/19/jail-for-mental-illness-in-chicago.htm 2012-02-19T19:24:52Z