Manic depression: life without harmony

How the manic depression is diagnosed. What causes bipolar disorder. Phases of manico-depressive disorder. An important role of supporting close in the treatment of the patient

Active discussion of the problem of depression in society helps not only to accept the problem, but also constantly look for way out, how to heal or prevent it. Meanwhile, about the present mental illness – manic depression – a wide range of people know relatively little.

Clinical picture of manic depressive syndrome

Second Official Name – Bipolar Disorder. The disease, or syndrome, is that in the behavior and objective state of the human body, two opposite phases are observed – manic (affective) and depressive.

The phases alternate with the so-called the right course, but there may be a regular offensive of only one of them, most often – depressive. Between the phases, there may be or no interval of a normal state, calm days, remission. In severe cases, no enlightenment occurs, the person is subject to sharp and deep drops from one stage to another.

Naturally, this disease affects not only the physical and mental health of the patient, but also his personal, family life, social status, work. With constant observation of the doctor and the diagnosis, the patient can get a disabled group.

Symptoms of maniacal depression in the affective phase will be strong assessment, irritability, mania, fears, panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, sometimes hallucinations, nonsense.

It is a phase of increased arousal, both motor and psychological. A person can be aggressive, rude, loudly talk, behave hard, non-permanently, take any actions in connection with the plot of his mania or hallucinations.

The aggravation of the depressive phase gives a deep decline of strength, painful weakness, manifestation of background diseases (neurological, cardiological). A frequent symptom of the depressive phase is considered an depressed mood, thoughts of death, despair, suicidal inclinations, there are episodes of memory loss and stupor.

Separately taken, these states and so hard to transfer, and their shift, especially frequently, very quickly depletes the internal reserves of the soul and body. Without an appropriate examination, treatment and care, a person falls into a vicious circle, not only suffering from symptoms, but also rapidly losing strength.

Which of the phases is worse, of course, it is impossible to say: in each of them, a person is unusually vulnerable, can harm himself and others, put material damage, cause trouble and even accidents. During the exacerbation period, the patient is not able to fully realize the consequences of its actions, since his assessment of reality is inadequate.

Patients with maniaricular-depressive psychosis are not constantly in their own world, but in many respects lose the ability to act normally and make decisions, needs to continuously protect and care relatives. 

Why arises manic depression

Psychiatry refers this state to mental illness, the etiology of which is not entirely clear. Differential diagnosis allows you to highlight symptoms, adjacent diseases and adjust the patient’s condition, but the true causes are still unable to figure out.

Presumably, it includes a violation of metabolism, water-salt and amino acid. That is, modern medicine is inclined to see in the disease Chemical nature. At the same time, due to the disease, there are a number of control studies that indirectly proving that stressful situations and heavy living conditions may cause it. 

The result of the work of doctors in this direction will be the following list of causes of the disease:

• genetic predisposition;
• Endocrine disorders;
• Postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis;
• sleep disorders;
• circadian disorders (organism biorhythms, depending on the change of day and night);
• Strategies, stress. 

Some of the items, as, for example, strong stress or postpartum problems with the psyche, are considered not so much true causes as a launcher mechanism of the disease. 

Is it possible to cure a manic depression

Forecast for patients having periods when the syndrome does not appear, favorable. Disease can be monitored, minimizing the manifestation of the most acute symptoms of both phases, maintain the behavior and physical health of the patient at a satisfactory level. Some can even keep a lifestyle that can be considered almost normal – to stay in relative harmony with you and the world, have a family, work, hobbies, public responsibilities, etc.

In constant treatment and supervision (often under hospital hospital), heavy patients need, enlightenment between the phases that do not occur at all, or if in addition to the syndrome there are other serious diseases that interfere with working, self-service and socialize.

Treatment is prescribed only by qualified doctors, and if you encountered such a difficult test as a manic depression, then the main forces you must send to the search for the best of the most accessible institutions and specialists.

There is no special medicine from manic depression, so the quality of assistance and the success of treatment almost entirely depends on the tactics of receptions, the removal of symptoms and side effects of drugs.

Antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, neuroleptics, anxiolytics are applied – all the necessary makes no sense. Anyway, it is impossible to choose the drug and dosage on the instructions for an ordinary person, the responsibility for the result is too large, a certificate of experienced psychiatrist is required.

One of the main factors that help stabilize the patient – the conditions for its daily life. Permanent recreation and activity, adherence to adherence of drugs, protection against provoking situations and stress.

The organization of all this fully falls on loved ones, often even one assistant will be small, as care and cohabitation with a person suffering from such a disease is a grueling, grave work, often without the possibility to rest and distract. For the treatment of a relative, it is better to take the whole family, then the chances to help him scatter from the disease rises at times.