Curious about acupuncture, omega-3s, NAC, massage, homeopathy, or hypnosis for bipolar disorder? I dug into trials—good, bad, and ugly. Discover which alternative treatments show real evidence (hint: only a few) and which can waste money or delay lifesaving care. Read the data-driven verdict before you spend a dime.
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Should doctors be allowed to medicate people with mental illness without their consent? This controversial topic sparks debate, but in emergency situations, what are the real options? Explore the ethical and practical considerations of psychiatric treatment without consent and why it might be necessary for patient safety.
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Anosognosia, a clinical lack of insight, affects up to 50% of people with bipolar disorder, leaving them unable to recognize their illness. This symptom can devastate not only those with bipolar disorder but also their loved ones. Discover why this happens, how it impacts treatment, and what you can do to help someone who doesn’t believe they’re unwell.
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Looking for a more affordable alternative to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression? Discover how dextromethorphan/bupropion offers new hope. This article breaks down the differences between ketamine and dextromethorphan, their effectiveness, and how these antidepressants work. If you’ve struggled with depression treatments or face challenges accessing expensive therapies like ketamine, this guide might offer the answers you’ve been searching for. Dive in to learn more about this innovative approach.
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Magic mushrooms (psilocybin) are being looked at as a treatment for bipolar disorder. And good news came out this week about using psilocybin in the treatment of bipolar type II depression. Specifically, the results in a very small clinical sample were extremely promising. That said, there are things you need to know before you run out and buy magic mushrooms from your local drug dealer. Here’s what we know about magic mushrooms working for bipolar disorder.
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Because of the black box warnings (also known as boxed warnings) on antidepressants, many people think that antidepressants cause suicidal thinking, suicidal behavior, and suicide. The black box warning on antidepressants is, after all, the strongest warning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can place on a medication. However, the black box warning on antidepressants was authored almost 20 years ago, and we have learned a lot and have synthesized a lot of data since then. Does this more recent data indicate that antidepressants increase suicidality or cause suicides, and what can we learn from this new information? Should we be scared of the risk of suicidality with antidepressants? (TL;DR here.)
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If you’re hooked on the show Yellowjackets, like me, then you’ll know that in season two, episode two, Yellowjackets showed an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) scene (I believe it may be called “electroshock” in the show). In the scene, one character, Lottie, is forced onto a bed, an injection is given in her arm, a bite block is placed in her mouth, and she is shocked by electrodes on either side of her head. She violently convulses, clearly in nightmarish pain. Let’s talk about how the Yellowjackets‘ depiction of ECT is inaccurate and harms the mentally ill.
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Garden variety bipolar disorder consists of moods that typically last weeks to months if not treated. People with bipolar experience a mood and settle in for a long ride. However, people with rapid cycling bipolar disorder experience moods that typically only last weeks. People with ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder have moods that only last days to weeks and people who have ultradian bipolar disorder may have moods that last from hours to days.
[It worth noting that when severe moods last only for a few hours this may be considered a mixed mood episode rather than a cycler, per se.]
So, if your mood cycles quickly and spontaneously, how do you live with it?
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Today’s article is another in the series on inpatient treatment facilities. These questions have been answered by the staff at Timberline Knolls – the Bipolar Burble blog’s new sponsor. These questions were submitted by readers and cover bipolar treatments, length of stay, mental illness life skills, and use of discipline.
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