If you’re living with chronic pain and are hoping to cut back on medications, you may want to consider interferential electrical stimulation. The noninvasive treatment uses electrical impulses to reduce pain.
Nearly 3% of adults in the United States live with bipolar disorder, a condition marked by significant highs and lows in your moods, energy, thinking, and behaviors. And while its symptoms can be debilitating, proper treatment can minimize them, allowing you to lead a full and gratifying life.
If you suspect that a loved one may have bipolar disorder, our team of qualified experts at Arundel Medical Group, Inc. in Glen Burnie, Maryland, can help. Read on to learn more about this disorder, including signs to watch for in a loved one.
All types of bipolar disorder can bring extreme shifts in your thinking, moods, and behavior, but they differ in specifics.
If you have bipolar I disorder, your manic “up” periods are severe enough to require medical care and last at least a week. Often, extreme low periods happen intermittently, lasting at least two weeks as well.
With bipolar II, you experience similar ups and downs, but they aren’t as extreme as bipolar I.
Cyclothymia, another type, causes similar symptoms, but they’re less extreme when compared to both bipolar I and II.
In some cases, bipolar symptoms don’t fit the criteria for any of these three types. Known as type IV, this form involves extremes that occur only after taking particular medications.
Bipolar V is a form that involves only major depression in someone with a family history of bipolar disorder.
If you suspect that a loved one may be showing signs of bipolar disorder, making sure they get the care they need is essential.
Your loved one may not recognize their symptoms, particularly during symptom flare-ups, when denial is common. Express your concerns gently and honestly — guiding with compassion versus judgment — and offer to help them by scheduling an appointment at our office.
If they resist the idea that bipolar disorder may be at play, suggest a general medical checkup. It would also help to contact our team in advance of the appointment, letting us know about your concerns.
If your loved one is then diagnosed with bipolar disorder, their treatment will likely include a combination of medication and psychotherapy. You can continue to support them through this journey by praising the efforts they’re making, offering to drive them to appointments, and just being there to listen with the goal of understanding.
To learn more about bipolar disorder or get your loved one the care they need, call our office or request an appointment on our website.
You Might Also Enjoy...
If you’re living with chronic pain and are hoping to cut back on medications, you may want to consider interferential electrical stimulation. The noninvasive treatment uses electrical impulses to reduce pain.
Sleep apnea causes a lot more than snoring. But is sleep apnea dangerous? By interfering with normal breathing, sleep apnea can fuel serious health problems, some of which are life-threatening.
Blood pressure isn’t something to ignore. Getting essential blood pressure tests can lead to enhanced health and may even help save your life. Understanding when to schedule such tests is an important first step in taking control of your health.
The skin is resilient and tends to heal well after a cut with appropriate care. While very cuts usually heal on their own, deep cuts often require medical treatment. Read on to learn more about your treatment options for deep cuts.
Weight loss isn’t easy, but it’s especially difficult when you have a medical condition that makes controlling your even weight harder. Once you know what’s fueling your increased weight, you can get on the path toward improvements.
If you’re bothered by ongoing or recurrent back pain, it’s possible that your lifestyle is to blame. Certain lifestyle habits can also make existing back pain even worse. Read on to learn more about the correlations between lifestyle and back pain.