The Broken Cycle

Bywena

The world of the mentally ill through the eyes of compassion and understanding

 

Medications for Bipolar Disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder cycle between mood extremes extreme depression and mania.  There are no means of curing bipolar disorder, but various medications have been developed to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Medication is used to minimize mood swings, the severity of symptoms and help patients maintain a normal mood. Lithium, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics are often prescribed; antidepressants should not be used, as they can cause a rapid mood shift from depression to mania.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer and the first approved medication for bipolar disorder. Lithium treats the symptoms of mania, but it can also manage depression symptoms. Most of the side effects of lithium are stomach distress, such as diarrhea, stomach pain and increased urination. Other side effects include weight gain, drowsiness, tremor, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and excessive thirst.

Anticonvulsants, like valproic acid, lamotrigine, topiratol and carbamazepine, are used as mood stabilizers; these medications are used when lithium is not effective or cannot be tolerated. Side effects from these medications include drowsiness, tremors, weight gain, diarrhea, dizziness and nausea. Lamotrigine may also cause skin rashes one which can be fatal.

Antipsychotics are another type of medication option for bipolar disorder, such as olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone and clozapine including others. Antipsychotics have side effects similar to other bipolar disorder medications, which are drowsiness and weight gain.  Constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, and sexual dysfunction may also occur.  Many of these side effects are temporary, once the body adjusts to the medication they will go away.

Antipsychotics used to treat bipolar disorder, such as olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine, may cause unusual or rapid heartbeats.

For a time one of the most commonly prescribed medication for bipolar treatment was an antipsychotic called quetiapine.  Quetiapine, as with other antipsychotics, works by altering brain chemicals. Besides the treatment of bipolar disorder, it is used for schizophrenia and major depression,

Topiramate was the second most commonly prescribed medication for bipolar disorder. It can act as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy as well as a mood stabilizer for bipolar patients. Like other mood stabilizers, topiramate helps balance or minimize the highs and lows.

Lamotrigine is the third most often prescribed medication for bipolar treatment. It is similar to topiramate as both mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant medication. The medication lengthens the periods of cycles between depression and mania, and is used as a maintenance drug. Lamotrigine is more effective in the less serious, bipolar disorder II disorder.

The antipsychotic risperidone is highly used for bipolar disorder however; risperidone should not be prescribed for elderly dementia patients because of high mortality rates.

Divalproex sodium was available in both the immediate and extended release and was the third most popular prescription for bipolar treatment.

Medications prescribed for bipolar disorder patients also include the antipsychotics olanzapine and ziprasidone, and the antidepressant paroxetine.

These medications re fairly new and the information on the effectiveness on bipolar disorder are still not understood on how they work on the brain.  The common side effects are still being discovered and they vary from person to person.  Any concerns, if you are on one of these medications should be addressed to your doctor.  Blood tests are necessary for some of them to lessen the risk of toxicity.  Most of these medications have been proven to be beneficial for bipolar patients even with the risks of side effects. 

What is Stress

Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. This can be a problem, if stress is a response to emotional onset and there is no outlet for extra energy and strength.

There many different things that can cause stress physical such as fear of something dangerous to emotional such as worry over life’s difficulties Identifying what may be causing you stress is the first step in learning how to deal with your stress.

Internal Stress is when you worry about things that you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all. This is internal stress and it is one type of stress that you need to understand and manage. This kind of stress often happens when put ourselves in situations we know will cause us stress. Some people lead a hurried, tense, lifestyle that results in being under stress.

Environmental Stress is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, and pressure from work or family. Identifying these environmental stresses and learning to avoid them or deal with them will help lower your stress level.

Fatigue and overwork, this form of stress builds up over a long time and can be detrimental to your body. It can be caused by working too much at your job, school, or home. It can also be caused by not managing your lifestyle to include rest and relaxation. This can be one of the most difficult kinds of stress to avoid because many people feel this is out of their control.

Stress can affect both your body and your mind. People under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, and unable to concentrate or think clearly.

Long-term stressful situations can produce a lasting, low-level stress which has a negative effect on people. The nervous system senses continued pressure and may remain slightly activated and continue to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period. This can wear out the body's reserves, causing a person to feel feeling overwhelmed and drained, it weaken the body's immune system, and cause other physical problems.

Recognizing when you are feeling stressed is an important step in learning ways to cope with it. Early warning signs of stress include tension in your shoulders and neck, or headaches and chronic insomnia.

To reduce stress you must change the way you deal with your stress. One way is to avoid the event or thing that leads to your stress. A second way is to change how you react to stress.

Stress is in our daily lives and can lead to all sorts of complications physically and mentally.  A regime of healthy living, avoiding triggers and learning a more constructive way to cope with stress in your daily life can avoid serious consequences.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a debilitating disorder in which the Agoraphobics are not necessarily afraid of open spaces; they are afraid of having panicking, wherever these fearful feelings may occur. Many may happen at home, in church, or in crowded supermarkets.

Agoraphobia is a condition which develops when a person begins to avoid spaces or situations associated with anxiety. Phobic situations may be driving, shopping, crowded places, traveling, standing in line, being alone, meetings and social gatherings.

Agoraphobia occurs when an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have occurred before. Once the panic attacks have started, these episodes are an ongoing stress, even when other more obvious pressures have diminished. This generally leads to increased panic attacks and, for some people, an increase in the situations or events which can produce the feelings. Others experience fearful feelings continuously, more an overall feeling of discomfort instead of panic.

A person may fear having anxiety attacks or embarrassing themselves in certain situations. Many people remain in a painful state of anxious worry because of these fears. Some become restricted or housebound while others function normally but with great difficulty.

Agoraphobia is a severe anxiety condition and a phobia, as well as avoidant behavior.

Agoraphobia usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Females, low-income populations, and individuals who are widowed, separated, or divorced are at increased risk of developing agoraphobia.

Having a history of panic attacks is a risk factor for developing agoraphobia, agoraphobic individuals are at increased risk for developing panic attacks also. Other anxiety disorders that tend to co occur with agoraphobia can be social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

When the signs and symptoms of anxiety are not easily, quickly, and clearly relieved and are so severe that you believe medication may be needed; and the symptoms are interfering with your personal, social, or professional life a doctor should be consulted.

When the signs and symptoms of anxiety have been present for a prolonged period and appear to be stable or the symptoms are severe and come on suddenly, they may indicate serious medical illness.

Social Anxiety Disorder

 Social anxiety is the fear of situations where a person must interact with other people. The person has a fear of being judged and and the opinions of other people.

People with social anxiety are seen by others as being shy, quiet, aloof, inhibited, unfriendly, nervous, and disinterested.  

People who have social anxiety are prevented from being able to do the things they want to do; because of the anxiety that inhibits them from participating in social settings. 

Social anxiety is a treatable condition and can be overcome.

 People with social anxiety usually experience considerable distress when faced with certain triggers for example: being introduced to other people ; being  criticized; being the center of attention ;  being observed while doing something; meeting people in authority. They feel insecure and out of place in social situations; they are embarrassed easily; and fail to meet other people in the eyes.

The feelings that accompany social anxiety include anxiety, intense fear, nervousness, unconscious negative thinking, racing heart, excessive sweating, dry mouth, trembling, and muscle twitches. A constant, intense anxiety is the most common occurrence.

High rates of alcoholism and other substance abuse, family difficulties and problems, lack of personal relationships, and difficulty in obtaining and continuing with employment are among the everyday problems experienced by many people with social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety is many times mixed up with panic disorder. People with social anxiety  do not experience panic attacks, in which the prominent fear is of having a medical problem . A person suffering from social anxiety does have insight. People with social anxiety realize that it is anxiety and fear that they are experiencing.

Social anxiety is a treatable condition and can be overcome.

 Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety has been extremely effective. With therapy there    is success in changing the thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behavior.  The use of cognitive therapy with a behavioral therapy group also shows accomplishment in alleviating the distress of the disorder.  A combination of both therapies relieves the anxiety symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder.

Medication for social anxiety is useful for many people with social anxiety disorder.  The use of anti anxiety drugs and some antidepressants in conjunction with therapy has proven to be beneficial.   

The prognosis for this disorder is extremely good. Therapy is not difficult and person continuing commitment to getting better can ensure recovery. Social anxiety treatment that includes behavioral therapy group enables members to work on their fears in the group and later in real-life situations.

A History of Hearing Voices

Written history of the Western world dates back almost 3,000 years. And for almost all of that time hearing voices was valued by society.

During the Trojan War the Gods spoke to warriors caused them to quarrel, incited the battle, encouraged them to do combat and planned the battle strategies.

Shrines were throughout the country where oracles spoke to voices for guidance and religious insight. Socrates heard voices that guided him through daily life.

Christianity and the start of a monotheism shows the incidences of hearing voices as an acceptance of humility and a test of faith. In the beginning  of the Bible Gods voice was first heard in Genesis and let there be light from that point on  it is written in the bible that God spoke to prophets and as in Abraham; leave your home and build a great nation. Abraham heard Gods voice telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac then prevents him from committing the act. The voice of god led Moses through the desert and hands to him the law of Israel. Moses on the mountain heard the word of God through the burning bush; auditory and visual hallucinations.

God spoke to the holy prophets Isaiah to Malachi and compels them to carry messages from God through their country.

A prophet is an individual who has been contacted by the Divine to speak for them to humanity, delivering knowledge of the deity to other people. Prophets have existed in many cultures through out history; including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Ancient Greece, and others.

Jesus Christ is the word of god in Christian teachings Saint Augustine and saint Thomas Aquinas heard voices the divine voice runs through Christian history.

At some point the voices stopped speaking around the 18^th century the cultures changed their way of thinking about voices.  No longer was it considered acceptable or a valuable gift.  The changes in the viewpoint of prophets and hearing voices took on a meaning of lunacy and the prophets were driven from society or confined to church walls.  Are the voices an indication of a mental illness? Perhaps at times there can come from a human the word of a Divinity with the power to change our world with insight and a belief in something that is beyond our own capabilities.  Hallucinations; voices; prophecy.

Music Therapy and Mental Disorders

Music therapy has been used in both adults and children with psychiatric disorders. It has been used to adjust certain behaviors that appear in various mental disorders. It has been shown that it can reduce agitation in patients with dementia.  Music therapy has been used in patients with Parkinson's disease to improve motor skills and emotional problems. Music therapy has been proven to be effective in alleviating grief and in easing the pains of depression

Music therapy can help a person to recover faster when it is applied to the people, who are mentally ill, have difficulties with their studies, and with the chronically ill. Different types of music can be used for different diagnoses and serve this purpose.

Music therapies can be combined with other arts, such as painting, poetry, dancing using it for relaxation exercises. Music therapy helps members of a group to better understand each other.  For individual therapy, music can be chosen according to the person’s state and attitude towards music.  The abilities of the mentally ill persons can be improved and developed. Each person’s feelings and will make it easier for them to reveal and provide them better perspectives of life.

 Music therapy is often considered to be of great help to the members of a support group and prevent severe consequences of some disorders and repeated treatment has been found to make a patient less dependent on medicine and diminishes the possibility of suicide attempts.

The type of music for example low key, relaxing music seems to be likely to lower your stress levels and prove to be beneficial.  Music may be useful as a means of relaxation or group discussion motivation. Music therapy is used for extensive healing even intensive care patients. Music therapy is used to reduce stress and anxiety and helps the patient to learn stress management.

Music can help regain confidence in one’s life, as well as improve their self esteem levels. It can give a person peace of mind. The use of music for those with anxiety and stress shows a reduction and positive changes in both mood and emotional state.  Music has a soothing effect on its patients and helps them to reach in their inner-self. The benefits of music therapy include that of reduced stress, anxiety, and pain. The style of music that the person finds appealing is important in music therapy as well; not only the tone but lyrics matters a lot in healing a person.

Listening to positive lyrics can result in relaxing your mind and thinking positively but listening to negative lyrics can have opposite effect. It allows you to listen to your emotions and understand what you are feeling. Slow music is said to cause a soothing effect while the opposite happens if you listen to fast music.

Music plays an enormous role in the lives of human beings. Combining music therapy into regular therapy programs for psychiatric disorders can help speed recovery and also help make therapy a more positive experience. Music therapy is a valuable and becoming a more used asset in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy