I keep thinking that there must be some mad connection between my Bipolar Disorder and the fact that the only sports team I consider worthy of my mania has just set a North American record for futility.

My Pittsburgh Pirates have not had a winning season in 17 years. Not since the blasted 1992 Atlanta wretched Braves came from two runs down in the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the National League Playoffs – to keep the Pirates out of the World Series – has my team had a season in which it won more than it lost. 1992?! George W. Bush’s father was President and the Pirates left-fielder was a skinny kid named Barry Bonds. Have you seen Barry lately? Skinny was a long time ago.

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If you have bipolar disorder, you will probably need medication. You may need it for the rest of your life. That can be hard to accept. Some people see medication as a crutch or a weakness; instead they want to get better on their own.

But you have to remember that bipolar disorder is a real medical illness. It’s not something you can cure with willpower. Taking bipolar disorder medication is just like taking medication for high blood pressure or heart disease.Medication can be like a pair of glasses. Bipolar disorder distorts your view of things; medication may allow you to see clearly again.

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About one in fifteen Americans suffer today from some form of bipolar disorder. These individuals may only suffer from some of the bipolar symptoms while others are on the way to full blown bipolar depression. Two different types of bipolar disorders exist.

The type one and type two disorders are the most common. People dealing with type one bipolar disorder often experience random psychotic episodes and mood swings. The type two disorder deals with the more severe bipolar symptoms. At one time, it was thought that teens were the age group that most often has to deal with bipolar disorder but many younger and older individuals have been diagnosed with bipolar symptoms over the last few years.

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Bipolar as a term is being used so broadly that it is beginning to lose some of its meaning. It is, I think, often used as a default diagnosisespecially in children and adolescents. We dont know whats going on so we call it bipolar if there is mood instability, meltdowns, rages, or if the symptoms respond to a medication that is used to treat bipolar category symptoms.

So, the first clinical issue is what exactly is being treated? Diagnoses tend to be reductionistic. In other words, they are used as categorical labels instead of being recognized as a somewhat limited tool for communication between clinicians. They also tend to separate patients out into us and them. I am bipolar becomes an identity rather than a description of certain behaviors/emotions that are only part of a much greater whole that we call a person. It reminds me of Alcoholics Anonymous where someone stands up and says, Hi, Im Chuck. Im an alcoholic. Now I know that this is necessary, but I always want to ask, So, what does that mean? because viewing behavior in the whole context of the persons life helps me understand who someone is much more.

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Some say that Bipolar mania is caused from a B-12 deficiency. If that be the case would B-12 sublingual correct that problem. As are B-12 injections so much more potent than B-12 sublingual?

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding bipolar disorder and bipolar treatment that sufferers can expect to receive. One of the reasons for this is too many people feel equipped to talk about people who are bipolar without actually fully understanding the types of bipolar treatment that are available. In fact talk to most people and ask them to name a bipolar treatment and it is likely that they will reply with a one word answer such as “Prozac”. Whilst Prozac can and is used to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder this drug is just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to bipolar treatment as there is much more out there from medication to alternative therapies.
When someone is diagnosed as being bipolar it is easy to think that a simple pill each day will rid them of their symptoms and life will return to normal in a few days. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case and this is why it takes some time for some individuals to get the correct bipolar treatment which will work well for them.
As previously mentioned Prozac can work well as a form of bipolar treatment, it works by encouraging the production of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a natural chemical which when produced lifts the mood and this helps as a form of bipolar treatment as it can stabilise the mood of a sufferer. This type of medication (and others) is in the group of SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) which are often prescribed to combat the symptoms and feelings that bipolar disorder produces. Another group of medication that is also used as a bipolar treatment are tricyclic medications which work along the same lines as SSRIs. Lithium can also be used as a bipolar treatment as this too works as a mood stabiliser and this is one of the most well known and ‘popular’ treatments for bipolar disorder.
Cogitative behavioural therapy can be extremely useful as an additional bipolar treatment and many psychiatrists recommend it to people suffering from bipolar disorder. CBT works so well because it helps those with a bipolar diagnosis to recognise the ‘triggers’ that tend to signal the start of a bipolar high or low. Once these triggers are recognised a person who is bipolar is then able to put into practice some of the self help methods and techniques which have been shown to them in CBT sessions.
Some people also advocate a change in diet as a secondary bipolar treatment, as many believe that a healthy diet that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for those with bipolar disorder. Complementary therapy’s such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture can also be used as these can play a large and important role in the emotional wellbeing of a person and can also help to lift the mood. Exercise can also help as a bipolar treatment as exercise releases endorphins, the body’s own ‘feel good’ chemicals and these can boost the mood significantly.

Ok, so my knowledge on medicine or psychology for that matter is limited and the fact that i im 15 adds to that.However i need to know.

What is the duration of lithium treatment?
Is it Lifelong?