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Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Questions and answers about Depression and Bipolar disorder, including symptoms of the illness, and how to help those who suffer from it.
2,793 Questions
Does Lithium cause sexual side effects?
No lamictal doesn't cause sexual side effects. It's probably your underlying condition of bipolar disorder or depression itself. It doesn't affect serotonin like the SSRI antidepressants which cause sexual disfunction instead it works through and independent mode of action acting as an antagonist at the NMDA receptor.
What is the manic phase of bipolar disorder?
Manic is a mood. When you are manic you feel elated, as if it is the best moment of your life - like a birthday, a circus, and Christmas rolled into one. You feel as if God is speaking directly to you; this is called religious ideation. You feel as if you have super-powers.
The downside to this is that when you feel like this, you are also not in your right mind. People suffering from mania do things like take off all their clothes and run down the middle of the street, or jump off a building thinking they can fly, or drive their car so fast that they lose control and crash. People who are manic often have psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations where they hear someone talking to them, or where they believe odd things such as that they are Jesus or Mohammad.
Manic people often show risky behavior such as spending all their money, engaging in unsafe sex, driving too fast, or taking drugs.
Mania is not a pleasant feeling. It seems as if you should be glad to feel that happy, but being out of control is scary. Not understanding what is happening to you, and not being able to stop what you are doing is scary also.
Does Omega-3 cause depression?
Omega-3 is one of the fatty acids found in flax seed oil. It is wonderful for your health as we need all of the fatty acids everyday. You might try all the fatty acids as found in a supplement Omega 3-6-9 and would give you flax, fish and borage oil all working together instead of just flax as your body needs all 3. Congrats on quitting smoking, that's the BEST thing you can do for your health.
What are the consequences of a failed suicide attempt?
it really depends on where you live, but then genral idea of what will/would of happened is she would of been taken to hospital treated with palvelax (paracetamol antidote) depending on how long it had been in her system or had her tummy pumped or cracoal drink to make her throw up, after that she would of seen the deliberate self harm team and from there either sectioned, which means she is detained under the mental health act until they feel she is fit enough to be discharged, or discharged right bk into the comunity ususally with some support from a mental health agency and also her parents will of been told to keep an eue on her and to not leave pills lieing around!
Is bipolar medicine an antidepressent?
There are a variety of drugs that have been found effective in cases of bipolar disorder. Consult with a physician for help in determining which would be best for you.
You should know that it sometimes takes several weeks for psychoactive drugs to have an effect. Be patient and don't give up on yourself.
Why does percocet help so much with my depression?
I have been taking different antidepressants for 9 years. I was given Pecocet for chronic back pain and all my depession and anxiety has disappeared! Yes-it works for me.
Harriet MCombs
How do you become emotionally numb?
The most common cause is childhood abuse. Some powerful psych drugs can have emotional damping as a side effect.
Does citalopram give a false positive drug test?
No, citalopram is a SSRI medicine. There is nothing addictive in it which could trigger a false positive test. If you truly feel that your drug test was in error, you can request a hair test, which will show drug use for longer than a urine test, and should prove the point for you.
How do you slit your wrist painlessly?
First of all, please don't. It's not worth it. Also, to answer the question, yes. For a couple of minutes it doesn't, but after that, there's a painful, stinging sensation. Again, please don't hurt yourself.
it will hurt ^ they are right, but to keep it clean make sure to put alcohol on it every other 2 days.
How do I know if I have depression?
Symptoms of Depression:
* Persistent sad, anxious or �empty� mood
* Sleeping too much or too little, middle of the night or early morning waking
* Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
* Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as chronic pain or digestive disorders)
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
* Fatigue or loss of energy
* Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
* Thoughts of suicide or death
Check yourself out at the website below:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.HTML
If you think you have depression, a sincere good luck goes out to you. its not easy, but its something you have to get through by yourself. You will need to realise life is worth it.
-- Further --
Contrary to the above answer
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT ALONE!!!
Medical help is available, both counselling and pharmaceutical.
Speak to a professional, or a depression help-line.
What percentage of adults suffer from mood disorders?
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Is depression a chronic disease?
There are different types of depression and many different causes. Some people experience transient, short term, depression as a reaction to an adverse life-event, or due to life-circumstances. When these circumstances change or as time passes, then this type of depression passes naturally. Some people experience more persistant depression due to early-life (childhood) experiences or due to a life-trauma or an upsetting event in their life, or due to ongoing life-circumstances. Triggers for depression can include such things as personal relationships, unhappy work situations or childhood events. Once these events or situations are addressed and worked through (possibly with the help of a therapist) then a person can overcome their depression and move forwards in their life. Often anti-depressants are used to facilitate this journey. Some people experience very persistant depression and find that they need to take anti-depressants continuously, over a long period of time, or indefinately, because there are brain-chemical imbalances that can't be easily corrected. Anti-depressants and psychological therapies can help people who continue to experience depression.
What are the major signs or symptoms of depression?
sypmtons of depression is different for everyone but sometime you have some thing in common. you would feel very unlike yourself you would feel tried distracted uncofortable and very sad. its best when you feel like that to express your feeling never hind them it usually make things worse. show and tell your family and your trusted friends. maybe see a councilar at your school they love to help kids.
sorry if i missed spelled i hope that helped
What is the difference between anxiety and depression?
Depression is a consistent sadness that persists for an extended periods of time. Anxiety can happen with specific triggers such as work or social situations. The two are not mutually exclusive, but one, or both can persist at the same time.
How do you fight depression without medication?
There are a number of things that are suggested by various sources to at least help with battling depression. However each person has his or her own experiences in life such as an event, a memory or a dream that may have triggered the onset of depression. If a person is under the care of a professional, being prescribed medication, each person may react differently to various medications that are prescribed. Then, of course, there can be other illnesses that may further complicate the fight against depression.
In several studies, regular exercise or even physical activity has been shown to help with the symptoms of depression. Eating a well balanced diet such as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, meditation, and even cutting out excessive alcohol consumption can help the good fight. Having someone to have open conversations to speak with about how you feel and whatever may have triggered the beginning of the symptoms may be of some help as well. If possible, maintain a regular sleep regimen.
Something else that has been suggested by a couple of sources is St. Johns Wart. It is a supplement that supposedly elevates a persons mood, although little data can be found to substantiate this. It seems to function as an MAO inhibitor of a type which is similar to the newer ones without the dietary restrictions of the older ones. You can also try increasing your B-complex, temporarily increasing your saturated fat intake, and taking SAMe if it is available where you live and you can afford it.
You can also fight depression through identifying and removing its causes from your life that you're currently unaware of. For example, if your parents are currently imposing their views upon you, forcing you to live the life they want - you will gradually become depressed. Therefore, to fight depression without medication you have to remove such causes and possibly people from your life. If you have causes that you cannot remove, then you would have to find a way to make peace with them and accept them. Sometimes journaling and writing about such things may help. Often, depression is anger that is turned inward. So if you can find a way to turn it outward without complicating life for yourself such as in writing, sports, arts, or whatever, then than may provide some relief.
All in all depression in all it's forms including, of course, clinical depression can be absolutely debilitating. Depression left untreated can run it's course for some time.
A number of things can intensify people suffering from this and the physical pains, energy draining, emotional ride that depression can be, can bring people to some very dark times for themselves and to the brink of giving up. Feeling like there is no cure, no end in site. What is said here is from researching a number of websites for the purpose of trying to help those at least temporarily as there maybe people that feel ashamed or have financial constraints that they may feel limit there ability to seek out professional help. Professional help which in some cases may not yield immediate help is recorded in a large number of cases to help individuals over various periods of time.
Answer 2: I suffer from depression and I had to finally take medication. My doctor said remove any toxic relationships from your life, get interested in a hobby or go back to the ones I was interested in and do not watch the late night news. Surround yourself with good people in your life, work on building self confidence and seeing your self worth. Get plenty of sleep, good nutrition, get outdoors at least 15 min each day hot or cold, we need the sun, exercise by taking long walks or running, biking etc. Exercise releases endorphines which are the body's feel good hormones. Awake magazine 1/8/04 says " even when family members feel that the situation is serious, it may be difficult to convince the sufferer that he or she needs medical attention. Or if you are the one who is ailing, you may not be inclined to get help. Says Dr Mark S Gold: "May e you believe what you think when you're depressed that you're no good, so what's the useof going for help whrn there is no hope for somebody like you anyway. Maybe you'd like to see someone about it but you think that being depressed is something to be ashamed of and that's it's all your fault. Maybe you don't know what you're really feeling is depression. There are some things you can do to cope with the sadness and the blues you may feel, but those who suffer from depression, medical attention is crucial." All of us may feel sad, sometimes, even have the blues, but depression is different. Suppose the depressive moods are preventing you from functionally normally either at work, at school, or in social situations. In such a case it may be wise to consult a pofessional who is qualified to diagnose and treat depressive disorders.
What is the difference between teen depression and adult depression?
Children and adolescents are more likely to be irritable
Depression in teens leads to more loss of impulse control and suicidal thoughts. Adults are more likely to be withdrawn and lose intrest in work.
I linked you to a website i made. It has a section on depression. check it out.
Are any of the anti depressants narcotics?
Antidepressants are not narcotics. Legally a "narcotic" is either an opioid like heroin or morphine or it is cocaine/crack. Medically the term "narcotic" only refers to opioid analgesics. Most doctors and scientists do not like using the word narcotic because most people do not understand exactly what a narcotic is. An antidepressant is not a narcotic nor is it a drug of abuse. Antidepressants are not controlled substances and drug seeking behaviour has not been scene in people taking antidepressants.
It can be argued that amphetamines in particular might be considered narcotics as they are occasionally used in people with severe refractory depression. However technically amphetamines are not narcotics.
Can the birth control pill cause depression?
Get off the birth control pill! It is known to cause breast cancer, clotting and in some cases strokes. That little pill is simply not worth it. Talk to your doctor if you are sexually active as there are other options you could be using.
YES!! I used to take Ortho Evra and I was a nut case. I was depressed and emotional all the time. My sister can't take anything so far or she is real emotinal. I started taking the shot and I think that because it has no estrogen it is better for me. Hormones make your body act in different ways and some forms of birth control have hormones that others don't. I would keep trying until you found the right one for you, you don't have to feel as bad as some will make you feel.
Yes and no. Some can increase anxiety and depression, and some don't. I started birth control to help with my depression and anxiety, and it works very well. It varies from person to person. Talk to your doctor to find a birth control that would work best for you. I had to try a few different kinds of pills until I got one that helped reduce depression and anxiety.
I would ask ablout a low hormon birth control pill,they are usually used in pre menapausal women .I was having a lot of trouble with my bc pills making my anxiety worse and then my Dr. put me on I forget the name but it helped.
What does serotonin do for depression?
Serotonin is a brain chemical which we all have in our brains. It has 3 actions in the brain: 1. It gives us self-confidence, a feeling of safety and security.
2. It causes us to feel sleepy.
3. It increases our appetites. The part of the brain where it does each of these 3 things is a different part of the brain from the part where the other 2 things occur. Thus, for example, increasing serotonin in the part of the brain where self-confidence is will increase your self-confidence, but not your sleepiness. Unfortunately, we have no medications to increase only the serotonin in one part of the brain. This explains why medications to increase serotonin in the brain can also cause increased appetite and sleepiness. Medications which increase serotonin in the brain (SSRI's such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline and SNRI's such as venlafaxine and duloxetine) give us more self-confidence, and a feeling of safety and security. By the way, serotonin also exists in our gastrointestinal tracts. In this location, it stimulates digestion. This is why such medications can cause gastrointestinal upset. But they can also help constipation.
How do you get your doctors to communicate to each other?
As with any situation in which you are trying to get people to cooperate with you, it is best to approach everyone involved with kindness, openness, and the willingness to help move the process along in any way that you can. Most doctors have many patients, and aren't afforded the time to spend getting to know each one as in depth as they would like. Being prepared to talk to and work with the individuals at the reception desk, having phone numbers and addresses ready, and relaying to your doctor specifically what you wish could be communicated may help you to get your doctor's office to cooperate.
What are some questions that a mental health physician would ask?
Mental health professional will ask details like age, gender and also whether you are left handed or right handed. Professional will ask questions to find if you are well oriented in time, place and person. Details of the onset, duration and progress of your complaints will be asked. Questions will be asked to your care giver too, to corroborate what you have said. It is important to know that information you provide is kept confidential.
What is a condition resulting from a depressed state of many vital body fuctions and could be fatal?
shock <--novanet
<gasp> shocking..!! lol
What happens if you take bipolar medicine but are not bipolar?
That depends on the medication you're taking. "Bipolar medicine" implies a mood stabilizer, like Lithium, Depakote® or another anti-seizure medication, or one of the atypical antipsychotics, like Seroquel®, rather than antidepressants. None of these medications is used exclusively in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
If you don't have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety or a sleeping disorder, you will probably experience at least some side-effects of the medication without receiving much benefit. You may or may not feel less aggressive, overall; you may or may not experience cognitive (thinking) difficulties; you may or may not experience weight gain; you may or may not feel sedated or sluggish. There are a host of other, more transient, side-effects that vary by medication.
Sudden discontinuation of a mood stabilizer by someone who's really bipolar can lead to a relapse in symptoms, potential for reduce efficacy (effectiveness) when restarted, and possibly a long recovery period.
If you've been diagnosed bipolar, but simply disbelieve the diagnosis, be aware that this type of denial is very common. If you're questioning your doctor's assessment, please discuss your concerns directly with him or her.
How can you remove depression and negative thoughts?
The only effective treatment for severe depression is therapy that includes medical treatment if needed. For minor depression, try exercise, eating well and a multivitamin (with meal) once a day. Try to get sufficient sleep, but don't overdo it. Eight hours a night is plenty. Then get out of bed, eat a decent breakfast -- not coffee and a donut -- and go for a walk. Avoid alcohol and all mood-altering drugs, unless prescribed by a psychiatrist. That includes antidepressants prescribed by your family doctor. She is not qualified to treat depression unless she is a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
If exercise, rest and diet do not help, you should see a physician, as depression commonly gets greater over time if untreated.
What makes people good or bad?
Their actions, intensions, thoughts, feelings, how they treat people, their morals and standards and what they say.
