Healthy Living with

BIPOLAR DISORDER
 Healthy Living with
Bipolar Disorder
I. ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER
a. What is Bipolar Disorder............................................................................ 17
b. Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder.................................... 19
c. Treatment Modalities................................................................................ 31
d. Suicide and Bipolar Disorder.................................................................... 39
e. The Risks of Substance Use for those with Bipolar Disorder.................. 43
f. Pregnancy & Bipolar Disorder................................................................... 57
g. Stigma & Mental Illness............................................................................. 63
h. Aging........................................................................................................... 75

II. HEALTHY LIVING

a. Healthy Family Life and Relationships...................................................... 91
b. Supportive Nutrition................................................................................ 101
c. Natural Treatments.................................................................................. 117
d. Mental Illness and Families of Faith....................................................... 141
e. Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace......................................................... 151
f. Going to College with Bipolar Disorder................................................ 161
g. Social Interaction...................................................................................... 173
h. Travel Smart.............................................................................................. 183
i. The Caregiver........................................................................................... 195

III. RESOURCES
a. Medication Chart..................................................................................... 203
b. Mood Chart.............................................................................................. 204
c. Medication Side Effect Check List......................................................... 205
d. Exercise Journal....................................................................................... 206
e. Food Log.................................................................................................. 207
f. Doctor Contact Sheet.............................................................................. 208
g. Questions for Doctor............................................................................... 209
 B
­ ook Dedication
This book is dedicated to everyone touched by bipolar disorder. Whether you, or
someone you care about, have bipolar disorder, your strength and courage is an
inspiration to us all. We dedicate this book to you and wish you the best of health.
A special thanks to the children who inspired us to found this organization, Chris,
Court, Lauren and Sam.

The information compiled in this book is meant to provide useful information on the topic of Bipolar
Disorder. This book is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical
condition. For proper diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem you must consult your own
physician. The publisher and authors are not responsible for any harmful physical or mental health
consequences resulting from the misinterpretation or misapplication of the information or advice
contained in this book. References provided are for informational purposes only and do not
constitute an endorsement by any of the contributors to the book or by the International Bipolar
Foundation of any websites or other sources.
2
 Acknowledgments
The International Bipolar Foundation was founded in 2007 by four mothers with
children affected with bipolar disorder. Their desire to ensure a better future
for their children and others affected by this illness resulted in an organization
dedicated to improving understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder through
research.
In this manual, we are so fortunate to receive the support and input from many
experts in the field of bipolar disorder, practitioners, and those who have been
touched firsthand by the illness. They came together with the common goal of
presenting a book that would help anyone who has a connection to this disease.
Their desire to make a better future for them and others with the disease never
waned. The International Bipolar Foundation came into being through their tireless
work, vision and dedication.
We sincerely wish to thank our scientific advisory, honorary and advisory boards
that have continued to support the foundation.
Lastly, a resounding thank you to all who support the International Bipolar
Foundation by providing encouragement, guidance, and love to those affected
by this disease.
To your health,

The Founding Board

Lynn Hart-Muto Karen Sheffres Muffy Walker Lisa Selbst Weinreb

3
Founded by four parents with children affected with bipolar disorder, the International
Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization whose mission is to improve
understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder through research; to promote care and
support resources for individuals and caregivers; and to erase stigma through education.
services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
www.ibpf.org
We are proud to offer these programs and services free of charge to our global community:

Research
• Research Partner Program: Research Partner Program offers donors the opportunity
to personally select and sponsor scientists based on specific research aims, their
affiliated institutions, or a combination thereof.

Care & Support

• Outreach & Referral: If you need a referral or feedback on a provider, we will send
you the comments from our supporters
• Ambassador Program: Ambassadors surpass barriers of stigma, help others with
bipolar disorder (or other mental illnesses), and further the mission of educating the
public and erasing stigma
• International Bloggers
• Awards: HOPE Award is given to an individual or organization whose public efforts
improve care, support and access to mental health treatment &/or champions to
erase the stigma of mental illness and instills hope in families, communities and
the nation. IMAGINE Award is given to a person who has bipolar disorder who
sees beyond the illness and can imagine a future free of barriers, stigma, and
discrimination. The recipient empowers others by sharing their story instilling hope
and inspiration.

Education

• Healthy Living with Bipolar • Webinars

Disorder book • Quarterly lectures
• Girl Scouts of the United States • Say it Forward anti-stigma
Mental Health Awareness patch campaign
• My Support e-newsletter • FaceBook, Twitter, ShareCare
• High school essay contest • Educational videos and brochures
• Speakers’ Bureau • Conferences

4
 How To Use This Manual
This book was created to assist anyone touched by bipolar disorder. It is written by
a variety of authors with lived or expert experiences. The chapters contain helpful
information on a variety of topics that arise in everyday life, as well as resources
for dealing with specific issues facing those affected by this illness. Although the
book is written for an American audience, most of the material is transferable to
other countries and cultures. This book has also been translated into a variety of
languages and has country-specific chapters addressing how bipolar is treated
medically and culturally in that country.

It is our goal to provide new perspectives and helpful guides to healthy living, while
recognizing the stigma and challenges of bipolar disorder.

The binder format allows you to continue to add any additional information so that
this may become your ultimate reference book. Periodic updates will be posted at
www.ibpf.org which you can download and print for free.

For additional resources please visit our website at www.ibpf.org or email us at

[email protected].

If you are in a crisis please call Suicide Hotlines: National Hopeline Network:
(800) 784-2433 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 Suicide
hotline, 24/7 free and confidential. National Youth Crisis Helpline: (800) 442-
4673 International Suicide Information: www.befrienders.org

5
 The Authors

Ashley Aleem, B.A.

Ashley Aleem, B.A. graduated from San Diego State University in 2008
with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While an undergraduate student
she volunteered as a peer advocate at San Diego Center for Children
where she worked alongside severely emotionally disturbed youth. She also worked
with San Diego County Independent Living as a residential supervisor to former foster
females and as a case manager and daily living skills educator to transitioning and former
foster youth within the community. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical
Mental Health Counseling at the University of San Diego. In July 2010, Ashley presented
a proposal on a screening process for psychopathic violent offenders at the American
Mental Health Counseling Association’s national conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
Since its inception in January of 2010, Ashley has been working with Exodus Central
Connections, the treatment sector of the San Diego Behavioral Health Court Calendar,
where she provide case management and rehabilitative services to severely mentally ill
individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

Dr. Jennifer Bahr

Dr. Jennifer Bahr, ND is a licensed naturopathic doctor practicing in San
Diego, CA. She specializes in the treatment of mental health conditions
with expertise in mood disorders and child/adolescent mental and
behavioral health. Her unique perspective and training allows her to blend conventional
and natural medicine to provide a truly individualized and integrative approach to whole
body health.
Dr. Bahr also teaches endocrinology as well as diet and nutrition for mental health and
addictions at Bastyr University California. She lectures extensively to the public on all
topics related to mental health.
Dr. Bahr received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of
Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physiology
and Neurobiology from the University of Maryland. She is the Vice President and Legislative
Committee Chair for the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, a member of the
House of Delegates for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and a
member of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
6
 The Authors

Colin Depp
Colin A. Depp, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of
Psychiatry at the School of Medicine of the University of California, San
Diego (UCSD). He is a Staff Psychologist in the VA San Diego providing
clinical services, training, and research functions in the ASPIRE Center, a residential
treatment program for homeless returning Veterans. Dr. Depp is also the Deputy Director
of the Education and Training Division of UC San Diego’s Clinical and Translational
Research Institute and he is a faculty member at UCSD’s Sam and Rose Stein Institute
for Research on Aging. Dr. Depp received his bachelor’s degree from the University of
Michigan and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Louisville. He
then completed a pre-doctoral internship at the Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration and
a National Research Service Award post-doctoral fellowship in the Division of Geriatric
Psychiatry at UCSD.

Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP

Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP, is Director of Counseling and Psychological
Services at the University of Virginia and a Clinical Assistant Professor in
the University’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiological Sciences.
He is a licensed psychologist, a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology through the American
Board of Professional Psychology and an editorial board member of the Journal of College
Student Psychotherapy. Dr. Federman writes a blog for Psychology Today called Bipolar
You and is also co-author of the 2010 book – Facing Bipolar: The Young Adults Guide
to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder (New Harbinger Publications). His 2011 journal article
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in the University Population (Journal of College Student
Psychotherapy) was selected for the American College Health Foundation’s, Stephen
Weiss Writing Prize.

7
 The Authors

Karen Freeman, MS, RD, CSSD

Karen Freeman is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in
Sports Dietetics, and has been applying her nutritional expertise in
academic, clinical and private practice settings for the past thirty years.
She specializes in weight management, eating disorders and sports nutrition for all age
groups. In addition to her full time private practice, she is the Sports Dietitian for the San
Diego Chargers football team. She has also worked with the San Diego Padres, San Diego
Spirit women’s soccer team, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Rangers hockey team, as well
as high school, college and Olympic athletes.

Karen is a Clinical Instructor at the University of California, San Diego, Department of

Family and Preventative Medicine where she teaches Sports Nutrition to medical students,
and Sports Medicine Fellows.

Karen received her undergraduate degree in Dietetics at Buffalo State University College,
New York, and a Masters degree in Nutrition and Public Health, with an emphasis in
Exercise Physiology from Columbia University. Her Masters research at the University of
California in San Francisco included the study of child and adolescent obesity.

Rob Friedman, M.D.

Rob Friedman, M.D. is Board Certified in Child and Adolescent, as well
as Adult Psychiatry. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with Distinction
in Psychology from Duke University, Dr. Friedman received his medical
degree from The New York State Program at the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv,
Israel, in 1985. He completed his Residency in General Psychiatry at Long Island Jewish/
Hillside Medical Center in Great Neck, New York, followed by the completion of a
fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the UCSD Medical Center in 1990. Since
then, Dr. Friedman has been in private practice in San Diego. He is a founding partner,
President and CEO of PsyCare, Inc., a behavioral healthcare provider group with seven
offices throughout San Diego. Dr Friedman is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, providing clinical supervision to
training child and adolescent psychiatrists. Dr. Friedman is a member of the American
Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists.

8
 The Authors

Ellen Frudakis
Ellen Frudakis was born in Northern California and raised in the foothills
of Nevada County California. In 2004 she co-founded Impact Young
Adults (IYA), a nonprofit organization that provides social activities and
leadership development for young adults with mental illness. Since that time she has held
the role of Copresident, helping to build the organization along with its next round of
young leaders. A previous member of the Consumer Advisory Board, Ellen now serves
on the Executive Board of the International Bipolar Foundation. Ellen is also the recipient
of the International Bipolar Foundation’s prestigious Imagine award Ellen received
her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 2005,
graduating with honors and earning the Student Humanics award for representing the very
principles of this degree program. She is currently in graduate school, working towards a
Master of Arts Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San
Diego.

Reverand Susan Gregg-Schroeder

Reverand Susan Gregg-Schroeder of California founded Mental Health
Ministries in 2001 to provide media and print educational resources
to help erase the stigma of mental illness in our faith communities.
Susan’s DVD set, Mental Illness and Families of Faith: How Congregations Can Respond,
offers eight shows on a variety of mental health issues. There is also a downloadable
resource/study guide and other print resources available in English and Spanish at www.
MentalHealthMinistries.net.

Susan’s shares her personal journey with clinical depression in her book, In the Shadow
of God’s Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression. Susan works with several national
groups including serving on the Advisory Committee for NAMI FaithNet, the American
Association of Pastoral Counselors and the Board of Directors for Pathways to Promise.

9
 The Authors

A. Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Horvath is California licensed and a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology
through the American Board of Professional Psychology and is the
founder and president of Practical Recovery, a self-empowering addiction
treatment system in San Diego. He is past president of the American Psychological
Association’s Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50), the world’s largest organization
of addiction psychologists. He is the author of Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A
Workbook for Overcoming Addictions (listed by the Association for Behavioral and
Cognitive Therapies as a “Self-Help Book of Merit”). He is currently the President of Smart
Recovery, an non-profit, science-base, self empowering addiction support group. In 1985
he founded Practical Recovery, which offers a self-empowering alternative to 12-step and
disease-oriented addiction treatment.

Christi Huff
Christi Huff was diagnosed with Bipolar II in 2005 after experiencing
eating disorders and struggling with anorexia, bulimia and depression in
college. Christi has worked on understanding her own illness and how to
manage it by turning to social media sites for more information and support. In addition
to holding a fulltime job as a paralegal, she is a partner and author of the website Ask A
Bipolar and is a monthly blogger for International Bipolar Foundation. Her goal is to use
her writing and support to help others. Christi wants others to know they are not alone
and hopes her work can help break the stigmas.

10
 The Authors

Dr. Felice Jacka

Associate Professor Felice Jacka is a Principal Research Fellow at Deakin
University. She is recognised as a leading expert worldwide regarding
the association between diet quality and the common mental disorders,
depression and anxiety, in children, adolescents and adults. She is president of both the
International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR) and the new Australian
Alliance for the Prevention of Mental Disorders (APMD).

Tom Jensen, M.D.

Dr. Jensen is a psychiatrist in private practice in San Diego. He specializes
in general and neuropsychiatry treating children, adolescents and adults,
but is especially esteemed for his work with patients with bipolar disorder.
Dr. Jensen is the Medical Director for International Bipolar Foundation.

Tom Jensen graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCSD with a Bachelor of Arts in
Chemistry. After obtaining his degree in Medicine from UCLA, Jensen did his residency
at UCSD followed by a Child Psychiatry fellowship at Stanford University.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jensen has been a department chair, written several
medical articles, been interviewed by news and radio, spoken to over 100 different
organizations, been President of the San Diego Chapter of the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, held positions as both assistant and associate professor
and has received several awards including the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Distinguished Fellow and a Special Presidential Commendation from the APA.

11
 The Authors

Kimberly Knox
Multidisciplinary inventor and of note, a patient with Bipolar I.

Ms. Knox was educated around the world, completing her Bachelors
degree in Philosophy of Art and Science at the Union Institute and University. Her
patented inventions include US6476069, “Compositions for creating embolic agents and
uses thereof” (11 patents), and (US61757086 pat. Pending) Moodwatch, among other
notable contributions in chemistry, biofluid mechanics and biomechanical engineering,
including awards and publications.

Her work in fine art and fine jewelry include bronze, fiberglas and fiberglas reinforced
plasters, glass, gold, platinum and precious stones with a permanent installation in the
collection of The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. The integration-in fact a
fusion-of science and art seem to almost compliment this complex mental condition.

Wendy McNeill
Wendy McNeill is a Los Angeles native who moved to San Diego to attend
the University of California, San Diego, where she graduated with a B.A.
in literature/writing in 1995. Ever since, her professional and personal
pursuits have been as an educator, writer, and mental health advocate. She currently is a
tutor at San Diego Mesa College’s Writing Center, where she has worked with students
one-on-one for over ten years. Prior to her work at the college, Ms. McNeill was a recruiter
and assistant to the clinic manager at the medical research study, the Women’s Health
Initiative at UCSD. Later, she worked in marketing for Prudential. In the non-profit world,
Ms. McNeill served as the Editor-In-Chief of The Advocate, the NAMI (National Alliance on
Mental Illness) newsletter, for four years. Ms. McNeill continued to serve NAMI as a Peer
Mentor, an In Our Own Voice public speaker, and as a trainer for PERT, the Psychiatric
Emergency Response Team with the SDPD. In addition, Ms. McNeill served on the NAMI
Board for four years and is currently on the Board of MHA (Mental Health America.) Ms.
McNeill continues to advocate for people with mental illness in her blog, Wendy’s Whirl’d.
She has been published in Our Stories: Things We Knew Now We Wish We Knew Then
and bp magazine.

12
 The Authors

Thomas Meeks, M.D.

Dr. Meeks is a board-certified psychiatrist with added qualifications in
geriatric psychiatry. He worked for 7 years in the University of California,
San Diego (UCSD) Department of Psychiatry in the Senior Behavioral
Health clinic. He is now a staff psychiatrist in the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr.
Meeks graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and then did his clinical training
at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and at UCSD.

Anja Stevens
Anja Stevens is a psychiatrist from the Netherlands. She is a member
of the Board of the Dutch Foundation for Bipolar Disorders, chapter of
ISBD, and a member of the Board of the Dutch Knowledge Centre for
Psychiatry and Pregnancy. Her interests are bipolar disorder in general and, in particular,
bipolar disorder and pregnancy. Her current research focuses on the influence of sleep
disturbance in the perinatal period on postpartum psychopathology. She wrote, together
with Fleur Schreurs, a book on postpartum psychosis and translated, together with Bart
Geerling, Sharon Bracken’s book ‘Eli, the bipolar bear’ to Dutch.

13
 The Authors

J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., M.D.

Dr. Thomson is a board certified staff psychiatrist at Counseling and
Psychological Services at the University of Virginia Student Health
Services as well as a private practitioner in Charlottesville, Virginia. His
work with Paul Andrews on an evolutionary view of depression was featured in the New
York Times Magazine in 2010. He is the co-author of the 2010 book – Facing Bipolar: The
Young Adults Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder (New Harbinger Publications) as
well as the author of Why We Believe In Gods: A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith
(Pitchstone Publishing, 2011).

Muffy Walker, MSN, MBA

Muffy Walker was born and raised outside of Philadelphia, PA. She
currently resides in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband John C. Reed and
their three sons. In 1983, Walker graduated with a Master’s of Science in
Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked in the mental health
field for over 18 years until she moved to California when she obtained her MBA with
a focus in marketing from the University of California-Irvine. Walker has owned several
companies both for and not for profit and is the founder and President of International
Bipolar Foundation (IBPF). After learning that her youngest son had Bipolar Disorder,
Walker joined other mental health boards and ultimately started IBPF. She has served
on a plethora of boards including Children’s Hospital, Kids Korps USA, NeighborHelp,
ChildHelp USA, and has dedicated the past 10 years of her life championing the education
of the public about mental illness. Walker’s interests include travel, tap dancing, community
theatre, and Thai cooking.

14
 The Authors

Lisa Weinreb, J.D.

Lisa Weinreb is a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County and has
been a prosecutor for 19 years. Ms. Weinreb is an adjunct Professor at
California Western School of Law where she teaches Trial Practice, White
Collar Crime, Culture and the Criminal Justice System and Advanced Criminal Prosecution.
She has also been an instructor for the California District Attorneys Association, the
National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the National District Attorneys Association. Ms.
Weinreb received her Bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her
Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law.

She is a co-founder and the Vice President for the International Bipolar Foundation.

15
 What is Bipolar Disorder?
By Lisa Selbst Weinreb, J.D.

Bipolar disorder, formerly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain illness

that causes unusual fluctuations in a person’s mood. These fluctuations are very
different from the normal mood changes most people experience. Those with
bipolar disorder commonly have very severe mood changes that can impact
all aspects of their lives, including work, relationships, school, and
may involve substance abuse and suicide attempts. However,
bipolar disorder is treatable, and most people diagnosed
with bipolar disorder lead healthy, active and very
successful lives.
There are
There are 27 million people worldwide who have 27 million people
bipolar disorder, according to National Institute of worldwide
Mental Health. (NIMH) The numbers are actually higher
since statistics for children are not yet included. Bipolar who have
disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early bipolar disorder
adulthood, with many people experiencing their first
symptoms in childhood. Bipolar disorder is often either
not recognized or is misdiagnosed, resulting in unnecessary
suffering for years before being properly diagnosed and treated.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness that must be addressed and treated throughout
a person’s life, just like any other chronic disease, such as diabetes and heart
disease.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

According to NIMH, “people with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense
emotional states that occur in distinct periods called “mood episodes.” NIMH
describes a mood episode as an overly joyful or overly excited state or manic
episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode.
Sometimes, a mood episode includes symptoms of both mania and depression
resulting in a mixed state. People with bipolar disorder also may be explosive and
irritable during a mood episode.

Mood Changes
Symptoms of mania or a manic Symptoms of depression or a
episode include: depressive episode include:
• A long period of feeling • A long period of feeling
“high” or an overly worried or empty
happy mood • Loss of interest in activities
• Extremely irritable mood once enjoyed
or agitation

16
 Behavioral Changes
Symptoms of mania or a manic Symptoms of depression or a
episode include: depressive episode include:
• Easily distracted • Feeling tired or “slowed
• Rapid speech, racing down”
thoughts • Having problems
• Increasing goal-directed concentrating,
activities, such as taking remembering, and making
on new projects decisions
• Decreased need for • Being restless or irritable
sleep • Change in eating, sleeping
• Having an unrealistic or other habits
belief in one’s abilities • Thinking of death or
• Behaving impulsively suicide, or attempting
and engaging in high suicide*
risk behaviors such as
spending sprees or
impulsive sexual activity

National Institute of Mental health, www.nimh.nih.gov

* Thoughts of suicide can occur in manic, depressive and mixed state episodes

17
 Children and Adolescents with
Bipolar Disorder
By Rob Friedman, M.D.

If you are a parent and have suspected or been told that your child may be suffering
from bipolar disorder, no doubt, you are somewhere in the process of trying to
understand what that means for you, your child and the rest of your family, now and
in the future. Not every child with a mood swing or tantrum however, has bipolar
disorder.

The entire topic of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is a confusing

one, even within the medical community. It is understandable then, that as a
parent, you may be confused as well. Skepticism and disbelief
are common initial reactions, sometimes with good reason.
On the other hand, it is important for parents to not allow
their own confusion and fears to interfere with finding the With proper
proper help for one’s child. With so much information guidance and proper
readily accessible from the reliable resources referred treatment, you
to elsewhere in this guide, a little self-education can
will be providing
go a long way in helping your child and family. In this
chapter, we will examine why there is so much confusion your child with the best
about bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, help chance of living a happy,
clarify some of the issues surrounding this confusion, and healthy, fulfilling, and
attempt to provide some guidance for you and your family. successful life
With the correct information, you will be prepared to seek
and obtain the most appropriate intervention and treatment for
your child and family. With proper guidance and proper treatment,
you will be providing your child with the best chance of living a happy, healthy,
fulfilling, and successful life.

Bipolar Disorder is a Brain Disorder

It is very difficult for us to think of the brain in the way we think about any other
organ in our body, like the heart, skin, pancreas or lungs. When one of these
organs malfunctions as the result of illness, there is no negative stigma attached
to it. If someone suffers from high blood pressure, friends and relatives do not
suggest that he or she simply lower one’s blood pressure by using his or her mind.
If one suffers from skin cancer, no one expects that he or she make the cancer go
away by willpower. If someone suffers from diabetes, we don’t suggest that the
person just use their brain to get their pancreas to regulate the levels of sugar in
their blood. If someone has pneumonia, no one expects that he or she use their
mind to fight off the virus or bacteria causing the pneumonia. Of course, there are
things we can do to help the situation. For high blood pressure, we can decrease
our salt intake. For diabetes, one can modify one’s diet, exercise and sugar intake.
When one’s body needs to fight cancer or an infection, one needs to rest, so the
body can use its resources for healing.

18
When one suffers from an illness of the brain, instead of resulting in measurable
changes in blood pressure or blood sugar, it often results in less easy to measure
changes in one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Just like in the examples above,
these alterations in one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors, are often beyond one’s
control. We are raised however, to believe that we have the power and ability to
exercise control over our own thoughts,
feelings and behaviors. When we don’t,
we are held accountable and there are
consequences. This is reasonable in the
absence of a brain illness. When there is
an illness of the brain however, there are
chemical, cellular and structural changes
caused by the illness that, up until very
recently, have been difficult to observe
and measure. Since these changes are
difficult to observe and measure, people
have traditionally had a difficult time
believing such changes were real. The
belief that we should be able to control
our thoughts, feelings and behaviors,
coupled with the lack of evidence
that anything was physically altered in
the brains of people with disordered
thoughts, feelings and behaviors,
resulted in the bias and stigma that
people with a brain or mental illness
should somehow be able to have control
over the abnormal thoughts feelings
and behaviors from which they suffer. This stigma becomes fueled by our own
fears of not being able to control our own thoughts, feelings or behaviors while
failing to make the distinction between a normally functioning brain, and a brain
suffering from an illness.

During the last two decades, however, with advances in technology and the
development of sophisticated brain imaging techniques, the changes in the
brains of people who suffer from mental illnesses are more able to be observed,
measured and studied. While such scientific techniques are used in researching
brain illnesses, in most cases, these techniques are not yet available for examining
the brains of individuals for the purposes of assessing, diagnosing and treating
individual people who suffer from some form of mental, or brain illness.

After years of research, although we still probably know relatively little about the
functioning of the brain, there are some things we have learned about illnesses
of the brain, such as bipolar disorder. We know that in bipolar disorder, there
are often underlying genetic determinants found in the DNA inherited from
one’s ancestors that modulate the production and release of chemicals within
and between our brain cells, which have an impact upon how the brain works.
Depending upon which areas of the brain are affected, changes in one’s thoughts,

19
feelings and behaviors can be the result. While there are likely many other chemicals
involved, some of these chemicals are called “neurotransmitters.” Some of the
commonly known neurotransmitters include Serotonin, Dopamine, Acetylcholine
and Norepinephrine. Whether caused completely by genetics, or by an interaction
between something in the environment and our genetically inherited DNA, the
result can be structural and chemical changes in the brain that can change the way
we think, feel and behave. When these altered thoughts, feeling and behaviors are
recognized as abnormal, they are called “symptoms.” When there is a collection
of symptoms that have a negative impact on one’s successful functioning, we call
it an illness, a disease or a disorder. In the past, before we had a way to link these
symptoms of impaired thoughts, feelings and behavior to the physical structure of
the brain, we attributed them to the “mind” and understood them to be a result
of a “mental disorder.” It would seem that much of the confusion and stigma
surrounding these illnesses could be resolved if we began to understand these
illnesses for what they are: illnesses of the brain, or Brain Disorders.

Genetics and the Environment

Bipolar disorder is understood as a genetically determined
disorder of the brain that results in an alteration in one’s
thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are not readily
controlled by an individual’s will or desire to control There is a
them. According to the American Academy of Child four to six times
and Adolescent Psychiatry, identical twin studies have increased risk of a
demonstrated that if one twin has bipolar disorder, child developing bipolar
there is a seventy percent chance that the other twin disorder if that child
will develop it as well. There is a four to six times
increased risk of a child developing bipolar disorder if
has a parent or
that child has a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder. sibling with bipolar
Even though a child may be at a four to six times disorder
increased risk of developing bipolar disorder when their
parent or sibling has bipolar disorder when compared to the
general population, most children whose parents or sibling have
bipolar disorder will not develop bipolar disorder. Proper nutrition, exercise, an
adequate amount of sleep, avoiding overly stressful life situations, the absence
of trauma, and avoiding substances that can be toxic to the brain such as drugs
of abuse and alcohol, may possibly prevent, help delay the onset or minimize the
impact of bipolar disorder in some genetically vulnerable people.

It is difficult to argue against the idea that people are responsible and accountable
for their behavior. However, if we can understand that the child or adolescent
whose behaviors are the result of, or at least influenced by an illness affecting
his or her brain, through no fault of his or her own, it can help parents, siblings,
teachers, friends and clinicians maintain a posture of empathy and compassion,
while minimizing the tendencies toward frustration, anger and rejection. These
negative emotions may ultimately become a part of the environmental stresses
negatively impacting a child or adolescent with bipolar disorder, thereby possibly
contributing to a less positive outcome for them and the family. In order to

20
 successfully maintain such posture,
much patience and self-control is
required, highlighting the need for self
care and supportive resources. It is
important to understand that reaching
such a level of equanimity may not
always be possible to achieve and
maintain, but it is helpful to recognize
this as an idealistic goal to strive toward
while parenting and interacting with
children and adolescents with bipolar
disorder.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

As is true for medical conditions of any kind, an understanding of that condition,
how to treat it, and what to expect in the future begins with a proper diagnosis.
This is where most of the confusion regarding bipolar disorder in children and
adolescents begins. Thirty years ago, bipolar disorder in children and adolescents
was a rarity. In the past ten years, there has been a fortyfold increase in the diagnosis
of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, with one percent, or approximately
one million children and adolescents in the United States currently diagnosed with
bipolar disorder. (Bipolar Disorders: A Guide to Helping Children and Adolescents
by Mitzi Walt) There is some controversy as to whether these statistics reflect
better recognition of a disorder that has always been there, an actual increase in
incidence of the disorder, an over inclusiveness with regard to what we define as
bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, or some combination of these three
factors.

Nevertheless, it is very difficult for a parent to hear, and accept that their child’s
mood or behavior may be the result of a serious psychiatric condition. As parents,
we want our children to be “normal,” and we struggle with accepting the news that
our child’s behavior may fall outside of the range of what is considered “normal,”
regardless of whatever the diagnosis may be. Suddenly, our hopes, dreams and
wishes for our child are being threatened. Making matters worse, as is true for
much of the world of medical science and research, the more we learn, the more
we realize how much we don’t know. It is important that one’s child be assessed
by a qualified, up to date clinician whom you feel comfortable with and have
confidence in.

In the past, bipolar disorder was called “Manic Depression” or “Manic Depressive
Disorder.” These terms are synonymous, but today, we refer to the condition
as “bipolar disorder.” Bipolar disorder is suspected when there are symptoms
suggestive of a “manic episode” or “mania.” as well as “depressive episodes,”
or “depression.” These episodes can be mild, moderate or severe. When very
severe, the depressive or manic episodes may be accompanied by misperceptions
of reality, or “psychotic symptoms,” such as delusional beliefs or hallucinations.
One of the problems with recognizing and diagnosing bipolar disorder is that for

21
some period of time, a person appears to be manic, while at other times, that same
person may appear to be depressed for a period of time, and at other times, that
same person may have a normal, or “euthymic” mood for a period of time. This
pattern is called Bipolar Disorder, Type I. If the manic episode is on the mild side,
sometimes it is referred to as “hypomanic” as it may not have quite reached the
diagnostic threshold of a full blown “manic” episode. Instead of being diagnosed
with Bipolar Type I Disorder, one may therefore be diagnosed with Bipolar Type
II Disorder. When there are mild depressive episodes alternating with hypomanic
episodes, this is sometimes called “Cyclothymia.” When someone has symptoms
suggestive of a bipolar disorder, but the symptoms do not fit any of the above
subtypes, it may be categorized as Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
(NOS).

Adding further to the confusion, sometimes these mood shifts can last for weeks or
months, but at other times, these mood shifts can occur with a greater frequency,
and are referred to as “rapid cycling”
bipolar disorder. When the mood
shifts happen very frequently, such
as several times per day for several
days in a row, it is called “ultra rapid
cycling” bipolar disorder. If that
isn’t confusing enough sometimes,
people can have both manic and
depressive mood states overlapping
and present at the same time. This is
called a “mixed” episode of bipolar
disorder.

To shed some light on this

confusion, it appears that there is
a developmental trajectory of the
symptoms of bipolar disorder from
childhood to adulthood. In early
childhood, it is more common to
have mixed states and ultra-rapidly
cycling symptoms. As children with
bipolar disorder become a little older, the pattern is likely to shift to a rapid cycling
pattern. As age increases toward late childhood and early adolescence, there is
likely to be some separation of the mixed states toward the more classic manic
and depressive episodic pattern of hypomanic or manic episodes alternating with
normal mood and depressive episodes, the pattern which continues to be more
common in adulthood.

22
Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms of both manic and depressive episodes.

The symptoms of mania or manic episodes include:

• an elevated, expansive, overly joyful, overly silly or irritable mood
• a decreased need for sleep
• racing thoughts
• rapid speech
• inflated self-esteem or “grandiosity”
• excessive involvement in pleasurable but risky activities
• increased physical or mental activity and energy
• an increase in sexual ideation or interest
• a decrease in the ability to concentrate and stay focused.

The symptoms of depression or a depressive episode include:

• frequent sadness, tearfulness, crying or persistent irritability
• a decrease in interest in activities that used to be interesting, or an inability
to enjoy those activities
• a sense of boredom, feelings of hopelessness, feeling worthless or feeling
inappropriately guilty
• decreased energy
• social isolation and withdrawal from others
• feeling sensitive to perceived or real rejection or failure
• low self esteem, anger, or hostility
• trouble concentrating
• poor school performance
• changes in eating habits with an increase or decrease in weight
• changes in sleeping habits, with an increase or decrease in sleep duration,
headaches, stomachaches or other physical complaints
• thoughts of death and/or suicide.

In order to accurately diagnose bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, one

must take all of the above information into account and put it into the context of
the degree, duration and frequency of symptoms. It is important to differentiate
whether or not the moods and behaviors being reported or experienced fall within
the normal range of a child’s behaviors or cross the threshold into the realm of
abnormality. Medical conditions, supplement or medication side effects that could
mimic the symptoms of bipolar disorder must be considered. Other mood or
psychiatric disorders as well as illicit drug and alcohol use may also have symptoms
that can be confused with, or co-occur with the symptoms of bipolar disorder in
children and adolescents.

Many of the symptoms of ADHD, another disorder common in childhood,

for example, overlap with the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and
adolescents. Impulsivity, hyperactivity and distractibility, the hallmark symptoms of
ADHD, are a subset of the symptoms found in bipolar disorder. Irritability, as well as
oppositional and defiant behaviors, is commonly present in children with ADHD as
well as bipolar disorder. It is helpful to recognize that mood elevation, grandiosity,

23
a decreased need for sleep and an increase in sexual interest or behavior, are
features strongly suggestive of bipolar disorder, as they are not generally part of the
presentation of ADHD. Another clue is that the symptoms of ADHD are generally
always present, while the symptoms of inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity and
impulsivity, when present in Bipolar Disorder tend to fluctuate as the episodes of
mania and depression fluctuate. However, since eighty five percent of children
and adolescents with bipolar disorder are likely to also suffer from ADHD, this
distinction is not always helpful.

Another dilemma that causes confusion

in diagnosis involves drug and
alcohol use, especially in adolescents.
Sometimes the effects of drugs and
alcohol can mimic the symptoms of
the manic or depressive episodes of
bipolar disorder. Other times, when a
teenager is in the midst of a manic or
depressive episode, they may be more
likely to experiment with or use drugs
or alcohol, adding yet another layer to
the difficulty in accurately diagnosing
bipolar disorder in adolescents as well as young adults. One thing is very clear.
The use of any illicit drugs and alcohol in the presence of bipolar disorder must
be completely prohibited. Not only do they complicate the diagnostic picture,
but their use is like adding “fuel to the fire” of a brain already impaired by a
severe illness, and will undoubtedly worsen the symptoms and outcome of the
illness. Anxiety Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Autism
Spectrum Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and ADHD are some of the
other common psychiatric conditions that can present with symptoms that may be
confused with, or co-occur with bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

A thorough and complete diagnostic assessment, including a physical examination,

blood tests, drug screens, a thorough medical history, supplement and medication
history, a thorough psychosocial and behavioral history of functioning at home,
school and the community throughout the lifecycle, with special attention paid to
fluctuations in moods, behaviors, feelings, performance, sleep, appetite, energy
and activity level across the lifespan, are essential parts of arriving at a proper
and accurate diagnosis. Interviewing the child, as well as his or her parents, with
collateral input from teachers, friends and other relatives are also likely to prove
helpful.

Finally, if the above diagnostic challenges are not enough, the diagnosis of
bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is not without further controversy.
As mentioned above, in the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in
the diagnosis of childhood onset bipolar disorder. While some parents resist the
identification of bipolar disorder in their children, other parents may seek such a
diagnosis as a means of explaining their child’s behavior, when the issues may have
more to do with behavior problems and parenting issues as opposed to bipolar

24
 disorder. Still, other children may be diagnosed with bipolar disorder because
of the presence of severe tantrums and outbursts along with other disruptive
behaviors that warrant intervention, but there is no other diagnostic category that
is a better fit in categorizing their symptoms. Researchers have recently begun
examining the subset of children who may be given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder,
but who lack clearly defined episodes of mania and depression. Perhaps some of
these children overlap with ultra-rapid and rapid cycling presentations of bipolar
disorder in children and adolescents, while others may present differently. There
are some children who present with persistent and continuous severe irritability
along with a low frustration tolerance, leading to frequent and severe emotional
outbursts that are no longer developmentally appropriate for their age, and
may be accompanied by additional symptoms of sadness, anxiety, distractibility,
racing thoughts, insomnia and agitation. These children may be on a different
developmental trajectory than children with classic bipolar disorder. They may be
at risk for developing Depressive and Anxiety Disorders and not bipolar disorder
when they reach adulthood. A new diagnostic entity called Disruptive Mood
Dysregulation Disorder to identify and describe these children may be forthcoming.
Regardless of the label, the children who manifest these symptoms, as well as
their parents, siblings and others around them suffer greatly,
and the impairments from which these children suffer are
serious. A better understanding of these children, as well
If it turns out
as effective interventions and treatments to improve the
symptoms from which they suffer are clearly needed. that your child is
correctly diagnosed
To summarize, not everyone who has “mood swings” with bipolar disorder,
suffers from bipolar disorder. Although challenging, it is very important
a thorough assessment performed by a qualified and that your child be
competent clinician can help clarify the issues related
treated effectively and
to the mood swings, and facilitate
the establishment of the correct appropriately
diagnosis or diagnoses, which
There are very will lead to recommendations
effective treatments for appropriate interventions and
available that may treatment. If it turns out that your child is correctly
improve or control the
diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is very important
symptoms of bipolar
that your child be treated effectively and appropriately.
disorder and allow your
Untreated or incompletely treated bipolar disorder
child every opportunity to
can lead to terrible consequences. There are very
lead a full, productive
effective treatments available that may improve or
and successful
life control the symptoms of bipolar disorder and allow
your child every opportunity to lead a full, productive and
successful life.

Course and Outcome of Children and Adolescents with Bipolar

Disorder
New and ongoing research about bipolar disorder in children and adolescents
is taking place and new information is being learned all the time. As of 2005,
studies suggest that 40% to 100% of children and adolescents who suffer from
25
a manic episode will usually recover from that episode within one to two years.
However, according to the Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, of those who do not recover, up to 60-70% will experience a recurrence
of an episode within 10-12 months (Journal of the American Academy of Child
& Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 44, Issue 9, Pages 846-871). In addition, many
of these young people will experience
frequent fluctuations in their moods,
most often with depressed or mixed
episodes, on an ongoing basis, aside
from the recurrent episodes. The factors
associated with a worse outcome over
time for these children and adolescents
include an early age of onset, a long
duration of the illness, mixed episodes,
rapid cycling, the presence of psychotic
symptoms, a lack of treatment, and poor
compliance with medication treatment.
About 20- 25 % of children and
adolescents with Bipolar Disorder NOS and Bipolar Type II are likely to progress to
the Bipolar Type I Disorder in adulthood. Between episodes, many of these young
people experience what are called “subsyndromal” symptoms of bipolar disorder,
or mood and behavioral symptoms that are beyond what would be considered
normal, but not severe enough to reach the level of a full blown episode. For
children and adolescents, 30% of the time, full blown mood shifts between mania
and depression will likely occur one time or less per year, while 50% of the time,
the mood shifts will likely occur more than five times per year. Almost 40% of the
time, the mood shifts between depression and mania will occur more than 10 times
per year, and in 24%, they will occur more than twenty times per year (“Four-Year
Longitudinal Course of Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders:
The Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth (COBY) Study, American Journal of
Psychiatry, Volume 166, Pages 795-804).

Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is best understood as characterized by

shifting episodes between mania and depression, while between these episodes,
symptoms of depression, mixed symptoms of depression and
mania, as well as rapidly changing moods are common.
The challenge for parents and clinicians is to be able to
differentiate what may be a normally moody child from
a child who has symptoms of a disorder that warrants As each year
treatment. Although not easy, this is an important of untreated bipolar
task, as each year of untreated bipolar disorder disorder in children
in children and adolescents goes by, effective and adolescents
treatments becomes more difficult, and full recovery
from symptoms becomes more difficult to achieve.
goes by, effective
Left untreated, many children with bipolar disorder treatments becomes
grow up to become adults with bipolar disorder. more difficult
Left untreated, this brain illness can lead to serious
impairments in school functioning, work functioning,

26
interpersonal relationships, one’s physical health and lifespan, as well as wreak
havoc upon families, other loved ones and friends. It is not surprising that many
people with bipolar disorder end up in jail. Bipolar disorder can result in premature
death due to high risk behaviors, including the use of drugs and alcohol, as well as
accidents, suicide, and the medical complications of poor physical health. One out
of four people with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide, sometimes resulting in
debilitating injuries, while one out of ten people with bipolar disorder will succeed
in committing suicide.

Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder

Various forms of psychotherapy, or “talk” therapy, to include the child or adolescent
and his or her parents and other members of the family are valuable and important.
It is important that everyone in the family become educated about bipolar disorder
and be kept up to date with current understanding and new findings, as research
is ongoing in many countries throughout the world. Counseling and guidance
for parents and siblings is essential. One must keep in mind that although it may
appear that the child is in control of his or her behavior, much of his or her behavior
is a manifestation of an illness of the brain, over which the child may have little or no
control. The child may already blame him or herself for difficult and disappointing
behavior. To experience the anger, frustration, disappointment and rejection of
those people that the child is closest to and relies on for emotional and physical
safety and security, may contribute negatively to the outcome of an already
challenging course of life. While it is reasonable to expect family members to
experience many of these feelings, working together as a family, with the guidance
of skilled professional counselors or therapists, can help modulate those feelings
and facilitate their expression in a positive and helpful manner.

Although not something parents like to hear and often experience some
resistance to, prescribed medications are the mainstay of treatment for stabilizing
the moods in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. There are several
medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment
of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. They include lithium, and the
second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel, and Zyprexa.
However, it is important to keep in mind that many medications used to treat
childhood illnesses, including childhood cancers, may be FDA approved for use
in adults, but not for use in children. Often times, we extrapolate the use of these
medications from adults to children and adolescents. There are several other
medications that have been or are used to treat bipolar disorder in children and
adolescents with varying degrees of success. They include the anticonvulsants
Depakote, Tegretol, Trileptal, Topamax, Neurontin and Lamictal, as well as other
SGAs’, such as Geodon and Clozaril. Many of these medications are used alone or
in combination, depending upon each individual’s unique circumstances.

The use of antidepressant medications, such as the SSRIs’, including Prozac, Paxil,
Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro, while often helpful in treating depressive symptoms
in children and adolescents, pose serious risks when used in attempting to treat
depressive symptoms in the context of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

27
Activation, disinhibition, the triggering of a manic episode and the worsening of
mood symptoms are not uncommon results. If these medications are to be used,
caution and careful monitoring are required (see section on medication treatment).

Since it is not unusual for bipolar disorder to be present along with other psychiatric
disorders most commonly ADHD or Anxiety Disorders sometimes, combinations of
medications to treat more than one disorder is indicated. Treatment can be very
challenging, as the symptoms of one disorder may worsen when trying to treat the
symptoms of a co-occurring disorder with medication.

Each medication or combination of medications has its pros and cons, upsides
and downsides, risks and benefits. Different medications or combinations of
medications may be warranted in different circumstances at different times. Each
medication may have an unwanted effect on some other area of the brain or other
parts of the body than intended, with the potential for causing unwanted side
effects. These side effects can range from short-term temporary annoyances,
to long-term and permanent problems. However, just because there is a risk of
developing a certain side effect, does not mean that one will develop that side
effect. One must also keep in mind that there are serious potential risks in not using
medications to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Becoming educated about
these medications and discussing the various treatment options and alternatives
with a child and adolescent psychiatrist in whom you have trust and confidence
are the first steps. If medications are prescribed, participating in regular medical
follow up visits with the child and adolescent psychiatrist in order to monitor the
symptoms and treatment response, as well as for the potential of unwanted side
effects is essential in ensuring that your child receives every opportunity to obtain
the best treatment available.

Knowledge is Power
Although it may not be obvious, children and adolescents with
unstable moods as the result of bipolar disorder are often
frightened about how out of control they feel. Although Children and
challenging, it is important for parents to do all that adolescents with
they can to stay in the role of the adult. Staying calm
in the face of upsetting situations and reacting to
unstable moods as
your child’s out of control behavior in a thoughtful the result of bipolar
and rational way that models being “in control” is disorder are often
not always easy. However, such a stance can have frightened about
a significant impact on increasing the chances of how out of control
a positive outcome for your child and your family.
Your child needs you and is relying on you to make the they feel
right choices and decisions while shepherding your child
through childhood and into adulthood. Learn as much as you
can from the reliable resources available, and make the best decisions you can for
the health, safety and future of your child.

28
References:
Hamrin, V. and DeSanto Iennaco, Psychopharmacology of Pediatric Bipolar
Disorder, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics;10 (7): 1053-1088 (2010).
Pavuluri, Mani N., Birmaher, Boris, Naylor, Michael W., Pediatric Bipolar Disorder:
A Review of the Past 10 Years, Journal of the American Academy of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 44, Issue 9, Pages 846-871, September,
2005.
Birmaher, Boris, MD, Axelson, David, MD, Goldstein, Benjamin, MD, Strober,
Micael, Ph.D., et. al, Four-Year Longitudinal Course of Childhood and
Adolescents with Bipolar Spectrum Disorders: The Course and Outcome of
Bipolar Youth (COBY) Study, American Journal of Psychiatry, 166: 795-804
(2009).
Kowatch, MD, PhD, Monroe, CNS, Erin, Delgado,MD, Sergio, Not All Mood
Swings Are Bipolar Disorder, Current Psychiatry, Vol. 10, No. 2, February,
2011.
www.nimh.nih.gov
www.aacap.org

29
 Treatment Modalities
By Thomas S. Jensen, M.D.

Medications form the cornerstone for building a comprehensive and effective

treatment plan for individuals with bipolar disorder. While medications alone
are not sufficient treatment, it is difficult for the other elements of treatment to
work effectively if the patient is struggling regularly with rapid
mood swings, manias, depressions, mixed states, or severe
anxiety.
Medications form
This chapter discusses the main components in a
treatment plan, including medications, therapies the cornerstone for
and lifestyle choices. Major side effects and risks building a
are discussed, however, it is impossible in a chapter comprehensive and
of this nature to list every side effect for every effective treatment
medication. The focus is on the more common ones
plan for individuals
and the more serious ones. As a general rule, any
of the medications discussed here can cause nausea, with bipolar
vomiting, headache, allergic reactions, sleepiness, or disorder
sleeplessness.
With respect to the interactions of each of these medications,
it is not possible to go into all interactions in this chapter. It is advised that consumers
and family members use a “drug interaction” computer program any time a new
medication is added, whether it is another psychiatric medication, an over the
counter medication, or an antibiotic. There are many such programs online, such
as www.drugs. Always discuss all medicines, prescribed and over the counter, with
your doctor and pharmacist.

MOOD STABILIZERS
Within this category there are the Mood Stabilizers and the Anti-Psychotic (or
Atypical) Mood Stabilizers, the later having different characteristics, advantages,
and disadvantages from the more traditional Mood Stabilizers. In routine practice,
monotherapy or using only one, is often not effective for acute and/or maintenance
therapy. Therefore, most patients are given a combination of therapies.
YY Mood Stabilizers: drugs for mood disorders include both lithium and a
group of drugs developed to treat epilepsy called anticonvulsants.

Commonly used mood stabilizers:

• Lithium (http://ibpf.org/lithium-still-cornerstone-long-term-treatment-
bipolar-disorder)

Anticonvulsants (brand/generic):
• Depakote (Epival)
• Depakene (Valproic Acid)
• Keppra (Levetirecetam)

30
 • Klonopin (Clonazepam)
• Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
• Neurontin (Gabapentin)
• Tegretol (Carbamazepine)
• Topomax (Topiramate)
• Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)
• Zonegran (Zonisamide)

YY Anti-Psychotic or Atypical Mood Stabilizers: drugs for acute mania or

mixed states, particularly severe forms of these states that threaten safety
or place the patient in the hospital or at risk of hospitalization. Their
advantages include that they can be rapidly introduced, rapidly adjusted,
and often can, at the cost of some annoying side effects, bring the acute
mania or agitation of a mixed state under control in 24 to 72 hours. For those
who experience hallucinations, paranoia, delusions (false beliefs that things
are happening that in fact, are not happening), or other symptoms of the
inability to distinguish that which is real from that which is not (the definition
of psychosis), the antipsychotic mood stabilizers are the best agents for
addressing these psychotic symptoms.

Commonly used Atypical Anti-psychotic mood stabilizers:

• Abilify (Aripiprazole)
• Clozaril (Clozapine)
• Fanapt (Iloperidone)
• Geodon (Ziprasidone)
• Invega (Paliperidone)
• Latuda (Lurasidone)
• Risperdal (Risperidone)
• Saphris (Asenapine)
• Seroquel (Quetiapine)
• Zyprexa (Olanzipine)
31
Side effects and risks of anti-psychotic mood stabilizers:
Some members of this class have a strong tendency to promote weight
gain. At times this weight gain is marked and can lead to obesity and even
Type II Diabetes.
Many of the medications in this class are highly sedating, which can be an
advantage in that we can put the acutely manic patient to sleep and break
the mania with them. This is a disadvantage in that daytime sedation can
occur and this is not desirable.
Another disadvantage is that, in contrast to the more traditional mood
stabilizers, there is no evidence that the antipsychotic mood stabilizers
lengthen the time between cycles, and therefore likely do not improve the
long-term course of the illness.
Extrapyramidal Side Effects (EPS). Extrapyramidal refers to the brain
anatomy where these drugs work to cause this side effect (outside =
extra; pyramids= a specific tract/area of the brain involved in regulating
movement and muscle tone). The side effect is characterized by entirely
reversible muscle stiffness. To the extent that it affects facial muscles, one
can have the inexpressive or “masked” facial appearance that we associate
with Parkinson’s disease. To the extent that it involves the neck, one can
get a reaction that leaves the neck stuck and turned off to one side until
the side effect is addressed or the medication wears off. Sometimes, more
often in children, it can involve the muscles that move the eyes and the
eyes can appear to have rolled up in the head (oculogyric crisis) and this is
sometimes mistaken for a seizure. This side effect is usually easily reversed
by medications that have drying or “anticholinergic” effect and your doctor
should discuss what to do if you have this side effect at the time that an
antipsychotic is prescribed.
Akathisia is much more subtle and often not properly recognized side effect.
Akathisia can be defined as a sense of restlessness: it can be physical and
characterized by inability to sit still, constant fidgeting, or pacing. It can
also be mental and characterized by marked mental restlessness, agitation,
extreme discomfort, and rage outbursts. To the extent that it expresses
itself primarily as mental restlessness, it is often mistaken for worsening
mania or for a mixed state. One must carefully interview the patient to
distinguish these two conditions, and even then it can sometimes be hard
to tell. Sometimes if we can’t tell, we will use a medication that usually
reverses akathisia as a test dose. The reason we need to tell is that the
response to worsening hypomania or mixed states is usually an increase
in the antipsychotic dose, which is the wrong approach to do if the patient
is having akathisia. Medications typically used to treat akathisia include
the anticholinergic drugs mentioned above under EPS, and also antianxiety
drugs called benzodiazepines. Additionally, drugs that stimulate dopamine
can be used for this, but these dopamine stimulating (dopaminergic) drugs
are used for chronic akathisia, not for the sudden onset of akathisia.

32
 Tardive Dyskinesia or “TD.” TD is a serious disorder in which involuntary
movements can develop, most commonly involving the mouth, lips, or
tongue, but can occur elsewhere in the body. It often begins with wiggling
movements of the tongue, giving the appearance of a “bag of worms”
when the patient sticks their tongue out. Lip smacking is also a common
manifestation, and the movements can spread to other areas of the face and
involve the neck, shoulders, and other areas of the body. It is important that
the prescribing physician monitor for this side effect when these medications
are used, particularly on a long-term basis.
A very rare but very serious side effect is called Neuroleptic Malignant
Syndrome, or NMS. NMS is a life threatening medical emergency. It is
characterized by a rising body temperature to the point of being dangerous
(it can climb above 104 degrees Fahrenheit). The muscles at the same time
become very stiff, which probably generates some of the heat leading
to the high temperature, though most of this heat is likely caused by the
temperature regulating mechanism in the brain not working well. The
prolonged muscle contractions can lead to popping of muscle cells which
then release proteins called muscle enzymes into the blood. In sufficient
quantities, these enzymes can more or less clog up the filtering elements of
the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. The patient often becomes confused,
and the blood pressure can begin to vary widely. This syndrome requires
immediate treatment at the nearest hospital emergency room.

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS:
Antidepressant refers to several families of drugs, which, as the name implies, are
designed to combat depression. This family includes Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRI), Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI), Serotonin-
Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI), Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake
Inhibitor (NDRI), Tricyclic (TCA), and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI).
The use of traditional antidepressants to treat bipolar depression is considered
experimental, and none are FDA-approved for that purpose. There is no research
to show that they have any greater benefit than taking a mood stabilizer (such
as lithium or Depakote) alone. Many of the existing studies of their efficacy have
focused mainly on people with unipolar rather than bipolar disorder.
Using antidepressant medication alone to treat a depressive episode is not
recommended. The drugs may flip a person, particularly a person with bipolar
I disorder, into a manic or hypomanic episode. Hypomania is a more subdued
version of mania. Using antidepressants alone also may lead to or worsen rapid
cycling in some bipolar patients. In rapid cycling, a person has 4 or more distinct
episodes of mania/hypomania or depression over a 1-year period. And while
they may “recover” more quickly from depression, they may be more prone to
experience a relapse or the next phase of illness sooner and more often than
people without rapid cycling.
Nevertheless, there are many different types of antidepressants used to treat
depression in people with bipolar disorder. With antidepressants, it typically takes
33
three to four weeks for people to respond to treatment. Sometimes a doctor will
try several different medicines before finding one that works for a patient. These
medications include SSRIs such as Zoloft or Prozac, SNRIs such as Effexor, and
novel antidepressants such as Wellbutrin. (WebMD)
Note: The FDA has determined that antidepressant medications can increase the
risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression
and other psychiatric disorders. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them
with your health care provider.
Commonly used anti-depressants:
• Anafranil (TCA: Clomipramine hydrochloride)
• Celexa (SSRI: Citalopram Hydrochloride)
• Cymbalta (SNRI: Duloxetine
• Effexor (SNRI: Venlafaxine)
• Lexapro (SSRI: Escitalopram Oxalate)
• Luvox (SSRI: Fluvoxamine Maleate)
• Paxil (SSRI: Paroxetine Hydrochloride)
• Prozac (SSRI: Fluoxetine Hydrochloride)
• Desyrel (SARI: Trazodone)
• Wellbutrin (NDRI: Bupropion)
• Zoloft (SSRI: Sertraline Hydrochloride)
“Natural” approaches
NATURAL APPROACHES: have also been
Two “natural” approaches have also been demonstrated in studies
demonstrated in studies as useful for bipolar as useful for bipolar
depression. depression
YY High dose omega-3 fatty acids in the form
of fish oil. The original studies done in the 1990s
looked at doses in the 3 to 6 grams a day range (3,000
to 6,000 mg a day). There are two important things to
note when buying fish oil. The better ones are “enteric coated,” meaning
they don’t release the oil until it has already passed through the stomach.
This can minimize unpleasant tastes if one burps after taking it. Some
preparations, which tend to be expensive, are bottled in an oxygen-free
environment so that the fish oil does not “oxidize.” This type of fish oil does
not smell or taste like fish and can often be comfortably ingested as a liquid.
YY Inositol: Inositol is sometimes referred to as “vitamin B8” and is sort of an
unofficial B vitamin. It is also structurally similar to glucose. Inositol is present
in large quantities in the membranes of nerve cells and is also involved in
the functioning of serotonin neurons. Serotonin neurons are well known to
play a role in depression.

34
NON-MEDICATION APPROACHES:
There are non-medication but still biologic approaches to treating bipolar
depression.
YY Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). This involves using an electrical pulse,
while the patient is anesthetized, to induce a seizure. Typically a series of 6
to 12 sessions is used. Often this puts the depressed person into a mania,
and then additional mood stabilizers are used to treat the mania. (http://
ibpf.org/electroconvulsive-therapy)
YY Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TCMS or TMS) is a series of magnetic
pulses applied to precise brain areas. (http://ibpf.org/use-transcranial-
magnetic-stimulation-treatment-mood-disorders)
YY Deep Brain Stimulation: Microelectrodes are inserted into a very specific
nest of cells in the brain. Once the appropriate frequency and amplitude of
the electrical impulses are found, this seems to treat the depression.
YY Sleep deprivation, under medical supervision, can also help one get out
of a depressed state. The reason this should only be
done with a doctor prescribing it is that one can quickly
go from depressed to a mixed or manic state following
sleep deprivation.
YY Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): is a
psychotherapeutic approach that addresses
dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and
cognitive processes and contents through a number
of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures.
YY Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): is a therapy
designed to help people change patterns of behavior
that are not effective, such as self-harm, suicidal
thinking and substance abuse. This approach works
towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation
by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to
assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts,
feelings and behaviors that lead to the undesired behavior. (http://ibpf.org/
debra-meehl-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt)
YY Family Focused Therapy (FFT): is a therapy where all family members
are included, and consists of several stages, beginning with psychotherapy
about the symptoms and etiology of bipolar disorder and the need for
medication adherence. Families are taught to respond early to emergent
symptoms and provided with training about the best coping responses.
Light Therapy: Outside walks in the sunshine or the use of a full spectrum
artificial light called a phototherapy light can be helpful. It is important to use
the phototherapy light carefully and under the supervision of a psychiatrist,
as overexposure to light can trigger a mania or a mixed state.

35
YY Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT): is a compelling
adjunctive therapy for people with mood disorders, and it emphasizes
techniques to improve medication adherence, manage stressful life events,
and reduce disruptions in social rhythms. IPSRT teaches patients skills that
let them protect themselves against the development of future episodes.
YY Lifestyle Choices:
• It is very important not to repeatedly go on and off your medications,
as sometimes the drugs don’t work the second time around after being
discontinued. This is particularly important in a difficult to treat form of
the illness and if multiple medications were tried before you became
stable. You can lose your response and have few alternatives available,
all because the medication was stopped.
• Maintaining a sleep pattern of going to bed at the same time every night
and getting up at the same time every morning is important. (http://ibpf.
org/circadian-clocks-bipolar-disorder)
• Drugs of abuse are very destabilizing. This is true for all drugs of abuse,
including Cannabis. Of the two general categories of Cannabis, Cannabis
Sativa (the stimulating variety) is far worse than Indica (the sedating
variety) though Indica is well known to induce depression with chronic
use. Stimulant abuse including cocaine is very destabilizing as is the club
drug Ecstasy. Even alcohol can trigger depression. In general, if you have
bipolar disorder, it would be best to not use any substances.
• Adequate nutrition is very important (see chapter X) (http://ibpf.org/
advanced-nutrient-therapies-bipolar-disorders-dr-william-walsh)
• Regular aerobic exercise, preferably in the morning and outside to get
the sunlight in the winter, seem to help keep the biologic clock regulated
and the mood stable.
• Mindful Meditation & Yoga: (http://ibpf.org/mindful-meditation-bipolar-
disorder-can-it-help) (http://ibpf.org/yoga-and-mood-disorders) (http://
ibpf.org/meditation-medication-magic)
Bipolar disorder is an illness that can be treated effectively.
With optimal treatment and proper lifestyle choices,
most bipolar individuals can lead happy, healthy,
productive lives.
The key is to seek optimal treatment, comply with Bipolar disorder
recommendations, don’t stop your medications, is an illness that
and make healthy lifestyle choices.
can be treated
effectively

36
37
 Suicide and Bipolar Disorder
By Dr. Tom Jensen, M.D.

The purpose of this chapter is to describe what we know about suicide in bipolar
individuals, as well as to describe how one can go about minimizing the risk of
this terrible outcome. There are helpful tools to help prevent suicide in all three
of the interventions that we use to treat people with bipolar disorder, including
environmental, medication, and therapy interventions.

Twenty years ago, the generally published and truly horrifying statistic was that 20
to 25% of bipolar individuals ultimately died by suicide. However, there has been
a substantial reduction in the suicide death rate in individuals with bipolar disorder
with improved treatment. The 5% to 10% suicide rates that are now quoted seem
to reflect that treatment is having a substantial impact on reducing suicide in those
with bipolar disorder.

That said, one suicide is too many, and even a 5% rate is approximately 30 times
higher than in the general population. We need to get better at treating this
illness, and we need to apply what we know to reduce the risk further. There are
tools that we know help, and therefore the challenges now are to be sure these
tools are included in the treatment of each person with bipolar disorder. Of course
while using what we know, we must continue to fund research into this illness and
find better ways to treat or prevent it.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect formula that will predict who will make a suicide
attempt. However, there are some
common characteristics in those
who die by suicide. The first and one
of the most important of such risk
factors is a mother, father, sister, or
brother who has committed suicide.
This is the single greatest multiplier
of suicide risk. Those who commit
or attempt to commit suicide are
typically in a state of distorted
thinking in which the suicide victim
convinces themselves that they are
in so much pain that it isn’t worth
staying alive and that those around
them will be better off without them.

The second multiplier is substance abuse. A majority of suicide victims have drugs
or alcohol in their system at the time.

Another important multiplier is firearm possession. Suicide by firearm is extremely

common, especially in young people. Most self-inflicted gunshot suicide attempts
are not survived, or if they are, it is with severe brain damage. In fact, we know

38
that if we were given a large grant to reduce the number of suicide deaths in a
community, the most effective thing we could do would be to provide trigger locks
and gun safes.

Another multiplier is social isolation. This illness often manifests itself in

adolescence, the very time when one is developing social skills and patterns
of friendships. People who have been quite ill with early onset bipolar illness,
often become so dejected about themselves and/or do not develop social skills
needed for lasting adult friendships, so that they find themselves isolated. Even
family members sometimes burn out after facing repeated crises with their not yet
stabilized daughter, son, or spouse with bipolar disorder. Therefore, building a
community in which those affected by the illness can find support, understanding,
and associates whom they can engage in meaningful activities is an important goal
and treating people with this illness. One of the things we learned about this illness
over the past two decades is that half of the
people with bipolar disorder also have an
anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety, panic
disorder, phobias, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder). This anxiety also appears to be
a risk factor for suicide. Please review the
Medication Treatment chapter regarding
how to reduce anxiety through cognitive
therapy and medications, and take note
that some medications commonly used for
anxiety can cause mixed states.

Finally, inadequate mood stabilization and the presence of mixed states is a

multiplier. This is why, as described in the medication chapter, we need to stay
away from medicines that are known to induce mixed states (antidepressants and
steroids, to name the two most common), and have a plan for medication(s) that
allows detection of mixed states and aggressive treatment if they develop.

Perhaps one of the best suicide preventers is to help the person discover what it is
that they have to give to other people and the world, and to help them develop that
talent. Without believing one has something of value to contribute, it is extremely
difficult to address social isolation and poor self-esteem.

All of us would like to know of any warning signs that a suicide attempt is imminent.
The answer is sometimes there are, but sometimes the suicide occurs in a severe
mixed state that occurs suddenly, and friends may have no way of seeing it coming.
The warning signs that can tip one off are several, include talk of suicide or death,
or just references to death. The individual may “put their affairs in order” by giving
things away, updating a will, going through the garage full of stuff, and doing the
things that would make it easier on those they leave behind. Acquiring information
online about how to commit suicide or researching materials to help one commit
suicide are of course major red flags. Rehearsal, in the form of visiting the place
one plans to commit suicide, tying a rope, or dry firing a gun are all serious red
flags as well.

39
 What can one do to minimize the likelihood that they or a loved one with bipolar
disorder will commit suicide? In addition to securing firearms, treating or
preventing substance abuse, helping the person to build a support group, and
being especially vigilant with those who have lost a close relative to suicide, there
are additional interventions available.

It is so important that those with bipolar disorder seek treatment with psychiatrists
who are skilled at treating this illness. Sadly, it is not safe to assume that all
psychiatrists treat this illness well. In order to find a physician
where you reside, it may be helpful to go to the consumer
support groups or call them and ask “who is the best?”
The family can In this illness, where the mood can pivot on a dime, the
implement strategies psychiatrist needs to be responsive when you need to
speak with him or her.
to lessen social isolation
and help their bipolar loved There are also specific psychotherapy interventions
one to find one’s gift, and that can be performed by a therapist or psychiatrist.
applying it so as to gain a The therapy of bipolar illness should typically include
sense of usefulness and the following elements: patients, and if possible
worth family members, should learn how to recognize
depression, mania or hypomania, and mixed states. It
is best if a mood chart is used to spot seasonal and other
patterns. Also, charting the mood helps a person recognize
that it is the illness making them feel badly, not just the events in their daily life.
(See mood chart in the reference section) Once a person
knows how to identify specific mood states, they can then
receive cognitive behavioral therapy to learn skills to
deal with the feelings and distorted thoughts in each
mood state. The therapist can also work with the
Having a written plan
patient and their family to make the home safer.
In addition, the family can implement strategies to of what to do if you
lessen social isolation and help their bipolar loved or one’s loved one is
one to find one’s gift, and applying it so as to gain contemplating suicide
a sense of usefulness and worth. The therapist can can be helpful
also monitor and encourage medication compliance.
Since, noncompliance with medications is a common
dilemma with people with bipolar disorder, which in turn
can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Another intervention is to have trusted friends or relatives know about the illness
and become educated about it, so that they can observe and help the affected
person when they experience altered mood states. Spouses should be invited to
appointments with a psychiatrist or therapist.

40
Additionally, having a written plan of what to do if you or one’s loved one is
contemplating suicide can be helpful. The midst of the crisis is not the best time
to figure out who to call. Such a plan should probably include several elements:

1. Name and numbers of psychiatrist and therapist to call.

2. Phone numbers for suicide or mental health hotlines in your area.

3. A reminder that calling 911 is a safe thing to do if one is feeling suicidal and
is having trouble accessing the psychiatrist or therapist.

4. Name and directions of the chosen hospital or emergency room.

5. Insurance Information to take it with you if you need to go to the ER or the

hospital.

6. Written list of all medications.

7. A list of “reasons to live” and “why suicide

thoughts are distorted” to reference when one Bipolar disorder is
is thinking of suicide.
treatable, and new
Suicide is NOT the way to deal with this illness. Bipolar advances are made
disorder is treatable, and new advances are made every every year
year. In order to guard against a suicide attempt, there
are practical things that you and your support group can
do. Be your own advocate and make sure that the suicide
prevention ideas you have read about become a part of yours
or the ill person’s treatment. Also, though the person believes
that he/she will never get better, remember that we are developing new ways to
treat this illness everyday and most importantly, don’t give up.

If you are in a crisis please call Suicide Hotlines: National Hopeline Network:
(800) 784-2433 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 Suicide
hotline, 24/7 free and confidential. National Youth Crisis Helpline: (800) 442-
4673 International Suicide Information: www.befrienders.org

41
Throwing Water On A Grease Fire:
THE RISKS OF SUBSTANCE USE FOR THOSE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

By
Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP - University of Virginia
J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD - University of Virginia
Tom Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP - Practical Recovery, San Diego, CA

If you have bipolar disorder but you abstain from alcohol and other substances,
you may not need to read this chapter! Use of substances (including cannabis,
alcohol, cocaine, heroin, etc.) generally complicates the experience of bipolar
disorder. This chapter will explain why abstaining is the simplest and safest course
of action. However, we will also provide information about when you may consider
moderation as a potential option.

Two Case Examples:

FRANK
Frank is a twenty-six year old creative and intelligent young man who has struggled
with bipolar illness and substance abuse throughout his young adulthood. His
illness necessitated multiple withdrawals from college, but he persevered,
eventually gaining his bachelor’s degree in history. In the midst of a bad economy,
the only job that he found was as a waiter in a restaurant in his university town.
The young people who worked in the town’s restaurant business partied hard,
and it was not long before Frank had joined them. He would have been the first
to tell you the risks. Yet, like most of us, Frank wanted to socialize and his co-
workers were the peers available to him. Even after a long period of stability,
which he attributed to his abstinence from recreational drugs as well as regularly
taking a prescribed mood stabilizer and medicine to assist with sleep, he was
soon partying hard with co-workers after closing time. Little sleep and too much
alcohol and pot ignited the inevitable. He became convinced that he possessed
all of Thomas Jefferson’s wisdom and felt compelled to wander the university at
all hours channeling Jefferson to anyone who would listen, including the statues.
He thought he was fine, perhaps better than ever. Those who didn’t understand
him were the crazy ones.

GABRIELLE
Gabrielle’s mood instability initially emerged around age 12. Her moods were often
dark and stormy characterized by strong irritability and frequent acting out. By high
school, pot was a daily part of life. It softened the painfulness of her depressed
mood and also took the edge off of some of her irritability. She did reasonably
well with her high school grades, but chose to pass on going to college. Instead
she found she was able to support herself through retail clothing sales. At age 20
one of her co-workers gave her some Oxycontin. She was curious, tried it and liked
it a lot. The guy who supplied the Oxycontin to Gabrielle’s coworker soon had

42
Gabrielle converted to heroin. It worked, or at least so she thought. She no longer
worried about where she was going with her life. She only had to worry about how
she would come up with money for more heroine. After losing her job and winding
up on the street, her family intervened and Gabrielle was hospitalized for heroine
detox and substance dependency treatment. The intervention was partly effective
as she finally stopped opiates, but she continued with her intermittent use of pot.

Over the next four years Gabrielle continued to work in retail. Her mood had shifted
to a moderately depressed state with intermittent episodes of strong irritability. At
age 25 she chose to start school at a small liberal arts college near her home town.
She began fall semester with strong hopes of getting her life back on track, but
she quickly found she had little in common with most of the 18 and 19 year-olds
in her general education classes. She also became increasingly anxious about her
academic performance. After all, she was out of practice.

To ease her distress, she began smoking pot on a nightly basis. Increasingly,
she found when she was high, her worries were replaced by a sense of energetic
euphoria. Sleep also became less important as she was regularly awake until
4:00 or 5:00AM surfing the web, chatting online and drawn into whatever caught
her fancy. She found she no longer cared about her grades or even attending
class. This trajectory took her towards a final first semester grade point of 1.3 and
academic probation.

When this reality set in Gabrielle crashed hard. Her euphoric energy was replaced
by despair and emptiness. She spent most of her time in bed and lacked the
motivation to deal with even the smallest details of her life. She was eventually
hospitalized due to her worsening condition only this time her diagnosis was
bipolar disorder.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis

How might Frank or Gabrielle have had less painful outcomes? Let’s look at the role
substance use played for each, by conducting a cost-benefit analysis, beginning
with the benefits. For Frank the benefit of using alcohol and marijuana was simple.
He wanted to have a social life. Alcohol and marijuana allowed him to socialize with
the most easily available group of peers. For Gabrielle the benefit of marijuana
was that it reduced her anxieties about grades and social acceptance.

Although we cannot say for sure, the cost of substance use in each case example
appears to be instigating a manic episode. The cost analysis takes us to the specific
question, was the substance use worth it? We assume you’ll agree that in both
cases the benefits were not worth the costs.

We need to acknowledge that the goals each had (to fit in, to relax) are reasonable
goals, and worth pursuing. Our work with bipolar individuals suggests that
substance use is often related to one or more of the following factors: desires to 1)
calm elevated energy or agitation, 2) lessen depression, 3) deal with the boredom
of mid-range mood, and 4) instigate, increase or prolong the intensity of the “up”

43
feeling of hypomanic mood. There is nothing surprising or abnormal about wanting
to feel calm, up (or more up), not down and not bored.

The problem with using substances to pursue these goals is that if the substances
are effective (as they are for most) it is difficult to moderate their use, particularly
when the user has bipolar disorder. Furthermore, when used in excess substances
typically: 1) can work so well that some of our other capacities (e.g., to socialize, to
relax) become atrophied, 2) do not work as well over time and can even diminish
or take away what they first provided (e.g., using cocaine for “energy” ultimately
results in becoming exhausted, 3) increase the risk of various problems (e.g.,
accidents, infections, arrest, etc.) and 4) can precipitate bipolar illness (an initial
hypomanic/manic episode or subsequent relapses.)

Perhaps you are thinking: “I see the risks here. I won’t let that happen to me. I’ll be
careful.” To reiterate, the simplest way to “be careful” is to abstain from substance
use. However, it is up to you to decide how much “margin for error” you want to
have. Although there are some aspects of bipolar disorder that may be beyond
your control, abstinence is entirely within your control. Consider how you’d feel if
continued substance use were to result in a full manic episode requiring psychiatric
hospitalization while retrospectively knowing that abstinence may have prevented
the whole ordeal.

The remainder of this chapter will provide information that can help you to consider
the moderation vs. abstinence issue in more detail. We will also review the statistics
about substance use and bipolar disorder, what we know (and hypothesize) about
how substance use interacts with bipolar disorder and how moderation can be
accomplished.

The Relationship Between Substance Use and Bipolar Disorder

Many individuals misuse various substances. If the misuse is frequent enough,
substantial enough, and problematic enough, the individual is considered by
mental health professionals to have a substance use disorder. The less severe
version is called substance abuse. The more severe version is
called substance dependence. In this chapter when we
use the term substance misuse, it includes substance
use disorders (abuse and dependence). By substance Over the course of
misuse we mean any level of substance use that leads a lifetime, an individual
to problems in your life, even if the level of use is not with bipolar disorder has
high enough to merit a diagnosis. a 60% chance of having a
substance use disorder (abuse
Over the course of a lifetime, an individual with
or dependence), and a 50%
bipolar disorder has a 60% chance of having a
chance of having an alcohol
substance use disorder (abuse or dependence), and a
use disorder
50% chance of having an alcohol use disorder (Tolivar,
B.K., 2010). Stated another way, six out of ten bipolar
individuals experience substance misuse that is severe
enough to merit a diagnosis. Most of this group has an alcohol

44
use disorder, with the others having other substance use disorders involving
marijuana, opiates, stimulants, etc.

Although a substance use disorder is associated with substantial problems in

anyone, the problems are even worse if you have bipolar disorder. If you have
bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder, you are more likely to have:
• poor adherence with treatment
• more frequent and severe depressed, manic, or hypomanic episodes
• longer episodes
• more mixed state episodes and rapid cycling (which are hardest to treat)
• more sleep impairment
• more aggression and impulsivity
• more frequent suicide attempts
• more suicidal thoughts and feelings
• more anxiety (generalized anxiety, panic or PTSD)
• greater likelihood of infections (e.g., Hepatitis C)
• greater complications from medical conditions (especially Hepatitis C)
• more hospitalizations
Although sorting out cause and effect in bipolar disorder can be difficult, from a
clinical perspective it appears clear that if substance misuse diminishes or stops,
the risks of these problems also diminish. To illustrate some of the life problems
associated with combining substance misuse and bipolar disorder in more detail,
let us consider the issues of Hepatitis C and jail time. But before you become
overly concerned, we also don’t want you to assume that Hepatitis and jail are the
fate of most with bipolar disorder. We really see these kinds of consequences with
the more severe combinations of bipolar illness and substance abuse. However,
the issues themselves are nonetheless illustrative as we stay with a cost/benefit
model.

Hepatitis C
While many of the complications of having a substance use disorder along with
bipolar disorder may not be surprising, some recent findings about the relationship
between bipolar disorder, substance use and Hepatitis C may not yet be well known.
Bipolar individuals with substance use disorders can be seven times more likely to
have Hepatitis C than patients with no mental illness (Himelhoch, S., McCarthy, J.F.,
Ganoczy, D., Medoff, D., Kilbourne, A., Goldberg, R., Dixon L., Blow F.C.,2009). In
one study nearly one third of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a
substance use disorder tested positive for Hepatitis C. This infection rate was five
times higher than the rate for either diagnosis alone (Matthew, A.M., Huckans,
M.S., Blackwell A.D., Hauser P., 2008). These high infection rates may be the result
of injection drug use and risky sexual behavior while intoxicated and/or manic.

Having Hepatitis C makes treating bipolar disorder more difficult. The most
common substance misuse problem with bipolar patients is alcohol, and patients
45
with Hepatitis C who are heavy alcohol users are more likely to have liver disease.
They can have hepatic fibrosis, accelerated liver disease progression, and higher
rates of sclerosis and hepatocellular carcinoma than Hepatitis C patients who avoid
alcohol which is to say their liver is weakened (Bhattacharya, R. and Shuhart, M.,
2003). But the medications used to treat bipolar disorder or alcohol dependence
may have adverse affects on the liver. For example, valproic acid (Depakote) can
improve drinking outcomes in alcohol dependent patients with bipolar disorder,
but it is connected with higher (and therefore unhealthy) levels of liver enzymes in
patients with Hepatitis C infection compared to those without it. Thus, the health
of the liver needs to be continually monitored and liver problems may require
adjusting bipolar medication dosages to sub-optimum levels.

Substance abuse and bipolar disorder also complicate Hepatitis C treatment.

Interferon Alpha, the most effective treatment for Hepatitis C, is associated
with psychiatric symptoms that are observed in bipolar patients. These include
depression, mania, psychosis, and suicidal thinking (Onyike, C.U., Bonner, J.O.,
Lyketsos, C. G., Treisman, G.J., 2004). The emergence of psychiatric illness often
requires discontinuation of interferon treatment. Presence of alcohol abuse and
other substance abuse is a strong negative predictor of the likely success of the
interferon treatment of the Hepatitis C.

Jail Time
You can guess that individuals who misuse substances also end up in jail more
often. Jail time is even more common when substance misuse is combined with
bipolar disorder. In one sample of inmates with bipolar disorder three out of four
were diagnosed with substance abuse disorders compared with only one of five in
a group of hospitalized bipolar patients (Quanbeck, C.D., Stone, D.C., Scott, C.L.,
McDermott, L.L., Frye, M.A., 2004).

Women overall have lower rates of substance abuse disorders than men, and women
have much lower rates of incarceration than men. But the association of substance
use disorders with arrest is particularly high in women with bipolar disorder. In
the sample already cited, women with bipolar disorder who are incarcerated were
38 times more likely to have a substance abuse disorder than a group of non-
incarcerated bipolar women being treated in the community (McDermott, B.E.,
Quanbeck, C., Frye, M.A., 2007).

Bipolar disorder is overrepresented among individuals with repeat arrests and

incarcerations. In a study of over 79,000 inmates incarcerated in Texas in 2006 and
2007, bipolar individuals were 3.3 times more likely to have had more than four
previous incarcerations (Baillargeon, J., Binswanger, I.A., Penn, J.V., Williams, B.A,
Murray, O.J., 2009).

So if substance use causes so many problems for those with bipolar disorder, why
do they do it? The explanation is self-medication: because mood regulation is so
difficult at times, substances are used to accomplish this task. There is evidence
to suggest that substance use does occur in an effort to cope with some bipolar
symptoms, and that some relief may come of this effort, at least initially. Of course,
46
if the “medication” seems to be working, it is easy to assume that it will continue
working with continued use. Here’s where there’s risk to encounter substantial
problems.

Consistent with this hypothesis is the finding that individuals with mixed mood
and/or rapid cycling states are twice as likely as others with non-mixed, non rapid
cycling mood to misuse drugs and alcohol (Sublette, E.M., Carballo, J., Moreno,
C., Galfalvy, H.C., Brent, D.A., Birmaher, B., John Mann, J., Oquendo, M.A., 2009;
and Tolivar, B.K., 2010). The agitation and turmoil of mixed moods and rapid shifts
can be difficult and substances can be used to ease the roller coaster-like intensity
of these moods.

Contrary to the self-medication hypothesis, much substance use in bipolar disorder

appears to go in the opposite direction. When feeling down (and needing a boost)
individuals with bipolar disorder often turn to alcohol or other depressant drugs.
Unfortunately the choice to use alcohol for its immediate anti-depressant effects,
does not take into consideration the depressant effects that follow. Similarly, when
bipolar individuals are experiencing elevated mood (and needing to calm and
slow down), we find that they often turn to stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine,
caffeine, etc.). Rather than self-medicating the high, they appear to be attempting
to increase or prolong it.

Perhaps both substance use and bipolar disorder arise from a common underlying
factor or set of factors. We do know that sometimes the substance use disorder
comes first, appearing to promote the arrival of the bipolar disorder. It is as if the
consequences of substance use “stress the neurochemical system” and lead to the
onset of bipolar illness that might not have occurred in the absence of substance
use. The appearance of a manic psychosis after using hallucinogenic substances
is a prominent example of this possibility. However, in other cases substance use
disorders seem to develop secondary to bipolar disorder. They occur as a result
of the disorder. Substance use in manic states can easily become substance abuse
or dependence, because the individual is behaving impulsively and without using
good judgment or foresight. Quite literally, substance use impairs these capacities.

Perhaps substance use in anyone requires little explanation: we use substances

because we want to! Many individuals vividly describe their substance experiences
as fun, pleasurable, calming, exciting, exhilarating, “a chemical glimpse of
paradise” and so forth. Weighed against these pleasures are the potential costs.
Unfortunately, for individuals with bipolar disorder, these are higher than they are
for someone without bipolar disorder.

If You’re Bipolar, What Should You Do About All of This?

Your relationship with substances falls somewhere on this continuum:

Abstinence Moderate Use Abuse Dependence

47
For reasons which we will explain, we strongly recommend
abstinence as the simplest and safest course of action for
most with bipolar disorder.

However, substance use is very appealing and many We strongly

don’t want to give up this pleasure and the pleasures recommend abstinence
that can be associated with it. Therefore, many as the simplest and safest
individuals will want to attempt to balance the risks course of action for most
of misuse with the pleasures of use. Unfortunately,
with bipolar disorder
we find this is problematic for most during late
adolescence and early adulthood, which also happens
to be the window of time where we most often see the
onset of bipolar disorder.

Here’s Why:
First consider all the factors that are shaping development somewhere between
the mid-teens and the mid-twenties: progression to post-high school options (for
many this is college), exploration of independence apart from the family unit, initial
decisions about life direction (selecting a collegiate major), clarification of one’s
own values apart from those of one’s family’s, dealing with realities of competition
within the academic and early career contexts, exploration of sexual and love
relationships, developing early stages of economic self-sufficiency, etc. Obviously
this list only offers a taste and is not fully inclusive.

One of the stronger influences during this stage of development entails the need
to fit in and establish strong interpersonal connection. This is pivotal because
to be successful in gradually lessening ties to one’s family unit, new connections
are needed to move towards. This need to belong and be accepted by peers
is particularly important when we consider the prevalence of alcohol use within
the university population. From the 2010 American College Health Assessment
(American College Health Association, 2010) which draws from a nationally
randomized sample of slightly more than 30,000 college students, we see 60% of
students reported alcohol use at least once in the last month. Even more relevant
is that students perceived 94% used alcohol within the past month. In other
words, they overestimate the extent of alcohol use by their peers. Of this group
of drinkers, close to 30% or almost one out of every three, said that when they
socialized or “partied” they consumed five or more alcoholic drinks. We see that
college students perceive most of their peers use alcohol, and amongst those who
do drink, almost one third consume enough alcohol to become intoxicated when
drinking. Such is life in the late teens and early twenties.

You might perceive this data differently and say “Wait, what about the 40% who
report not using alcohol?” We agree, that’s a substantial figure. But much more
powerful, is the fact that students “perceive” that nine out of ten students do drink.
In other words, abstinence is not a perceived norm in the university population.
When we reflect upon the importance of fitting in, it makes sense that many students
will want to behave in a manner that’s consistent with what they perceive their peers
to be doing. Making alternative choices is far more difficult. For instance, going
48
to a fraternity party and adhering to a one or two drink limit is a hard choice when
most in attendance are having many more. And when a student’s peers are among
those who are not doing well with moderation, then group affiliation can become
a slippery slope towards a student’s own excessive drinking. By choosing to form
close connections with a group of peers who drink, the student greatly increases
his or her own substance use risks. Combine that with a genetic predisposition
towards bipolar disorder and you’ve got a recipe for the kinds of dual diagnoses
problems that we listed earlier in this chapter.

We generally find through our work with many bipolar teens and twentysomethings
that alcohol moderation is usually not a successful strategy. More accurately, it
is one with very low success rates. If failure at moderation meant that one would
simply need to stop drinking and refrain from future alcohol use, then the substance
use outcome would be unfortunate yet correctible. But given that we’re looking
at the precipitation of bipolar onset or potential exacerbation of already existing
symptoms, then we really are referring to non-reversible outcomes. This in and of
itself should be sobering!

Let’s shift a bit and consider the realities

of a 42 year old named Keith who has
lived with his bipolar disorder for the
last 20 years. Keith is married with
two children in their early teens. He is
employed as a mid-level administrator
in the health insurance industry. From
ages 20 through 24, he experienced a
fair amount of mood instability, largely
fueled by frequent and excessive alcohol
use as well as intermittent pot smoking.
After one hospitalization and two
subsequent medical withdrawals from
college Keith “got it” that substance
use was his nemesis. In fact, he found
that once he was able to stay away from
alcohol and pot, his instability became
less severe and more infrequent. As he
progressed with his sobriety he would
still occasionally dip into a moderate
depressive funk which created some
impairment. He would also go through periods of elevated mood where everything
was moving too fast for comfort. The difference at his stage of life was that
Keith was connected to a strong, healthy and enduring support system. His wife
understood the realities of his disorder as did his employer. He also had seen the
same psychiatrist over the last 10 years time and all involved through key roles in
his life were able to make necessary adjustments as needed. The impact of Keith’s
bipolar disorder wasn’t inconsequential, but at the same time it didn’t turn into a
major disability. It was an ongoing factor that he had learned to manage.

49
 Keith generally refrained from drinking but sometimes he and his wife had a glass
of wine with dinner. He liked the wine for its flavor and the way it enhanced his
meal. He rarely felt the desire for more than a glass or two. And on those isolated
occasions where he went beyond that limit, he usually paid for it by having difficulty
awakening in time to arrive at his office when his work day started. If Keith were
being honest, he would acknowledge that his occasional slips into too much alcohol
were never worth it. At these times he would feel fatigued, cranky and on edge
for much the following day. He hated it. And he also rarely found that there was
anything extraordinary about his alcohol-related experience from the night before.

You see, Keith was more connected to the life satisfaction that he found through
structure, stability and abstinence as opposed to the excitement he had found
through his previous college substance use. He was at point in his life where the
entire equation for satisfaction and stability was different. Keith realized that the
cost benefit analysis, which he finally understood, pointed toward minimal or no
alcohol use. It just wasn’t worth it anymore.

Keith’s story is not unusual as it pertains to the differences between young

adulthood and the mid-life years (or later). His story also bears directly on our
advice pertaining to alcohol use. That is, alcohol use during adolescence and early
adulthood for most bipolar disordered individuals is too risky. The importance of
maximizing mood stability during the early course of the disorder is critical.

Later in life, the risk of bipolar destabilization from moderate

alcohol use is much less due to the many other factors
that augment stability and have us less vulnerable to
the seduction of social conformity and excitement
seeking. There is one very important caveat here:
There are some who there are some who find they have no success with
find they have no moderation. It seems that every time they drink they
success with get drunk. Even just a little alcohol consumption
moderation stimulates cravings for more.
And once that train has left
the station it becomes
very difficult to get things
back on track without the
destructive consequences
of relapsing into excessive use. Where you fit on Instead, you’ll find
this continuum is something you will each need to that abstinence is
discover. And again, if you’re at an earlier point your best friend
in the lifecycle, then the very process of discovery
is also fraught with danger. Instead, you’ll find that
abstinence is your best friend.

Thus far, most of our discussion has organized around

alcohol use. This is purposeful. When we broaden the focus to
include the wider range of popular drugs (stimulants, opiates and hallucinogens)
then we are back to the slippery slope and our advice is that of strong caution. But

50
we also don’t want to excessively generalize with excessive rigidity. Let’s parse the
issues with more specificity.

Stimulants
Stimulants represent is a broad category of drugs spanning the range from an
innocuous cup of coffee to smoking crack or injecting meth into one’s veins. The
effects are not unlike the continuum of symptoms from very mild hypomania to full
manic psychosis. But even at the mild end of the continuum, caution is in order.
There are some with bipolar disorder who don’t do well with even mild chemical
stimulation. They have a very low threshold for hypomanic activation. Caffeine or
energy drinks, even in low quantities can be a powerful catalyst for these individuals.
For others, a morning cup of coffee or two, or a mid-day energy drink is no big
deal. Apart from the very mild feeling of activation, a small degree of chemical
stimulation is just that. The task of the bipolar individual is to figure out where he
or she is on this continuum. Do one or two cups of coffee represent a light lift or are
they more like lighting a fuse? If the conclusion is that very moderate use of light
stimulants is benign, it’s important to remain mindful of their danger, especially
in today’s youth culture where caffeine and/or energy drinks are the chemical
supports which facilitate academic all-nighters or even the experience of “raging”
until the early morning hours. Eight or ten cups of coffee in a
day or five red bull drinks at night are not innocuous and
the outcome can be much more than bargained for.

Precisely because caffeine or herbal stimulants are

Anything with mind,
perceived as benign, their risk of overuse is strong.
Anything with mind, mood and energy altering mood and energy
qualities is potentially dangerous. When you apply altering qualities is
this to the stronger substances like cocaine, crack or potentially
methamphetamine then the conclusion is clear. They dangerous
are addictive, they are powerful substances and they
are dangerous. Moderate, safe use with these potent
drugs is highly unlikely for most, let alone the person with
bipolar disorder.

And what about the use of psychostimulants used for treatment of Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Their use is complicated for the bipolar individual
and must be closely monitored by a prescribed psychiatrist. The psychostimulants
can have the same potential to evoke elevated mood symptoms as do the other
stimulant substances. If they can be avoided, then there’s generally a better
chance for achieving bipolar mood stability. On the other hand, strong untreated
ADHD symptoms can wreak havoc on the task of bipolar treatment and sometimes
taking a prescribed psychostimulant (such as Adderall, Ritalin, etc.) may become
necessary. Suffice to say that the choices of when to use psychostimulants in order
to manage ADHD symptoms and co-occurring bipolar disorder is the purview of
psychiatrists who are knowledgeable about the interface of these two conditions.
The bipolar individual who uses these drugs as a study aid or to sustain energy
when the drugs are not specifically prescribed is again engaging in risky behavior.

51
Opiates
A similar risk-related rationale applies to pain medications. They act upon the
central nervous system to numb pain, including psychic pain. They are addictive,
both physiologically and psychologically while also having a depressant effect
upon mood. A few days use of opiates (Percocet, Vicodin, etc.) following a surgical
procedure is fully appropriate. But for the bipolar individual, using opiates to
numb the pain of depression, replace it with brief euphoria or to calm an agitated
state only opens the door towards deeper depression and increasing dependency
on the medication. As pointed out earlier it also erodes the capacity to manage
psychic pain. Given that developing tolerance for recurring depression is crucial
learning for those with bipolar disorder, it only makes sense that recurrent opiate
use is counterproductive towards this end.

Hallucinogens
The hallucinogens are a broad class of drugs such as LSD, ecstasy, mescaline
psilocybin, etc. They are nearly all produced and sold on the black market (illegally)
except for substances which are used in strictly controlled research conditions.
Because these drugs are not pharmaceutical quality, you never truly know what
you’re getting. And even if there was reliable information about the drug’s chemical
composition, each individual’s reactions to hallucinogenic drugs is unique. Five
people can take the same substance and have five widely different experiences.
When one has a bad experience with a hallucinogen, the “badness” can be acute
enough as to cause psychosis. As you’ve learned through other chapters there is a
risk for psychotic episodes with bipolar illness. We know that the more severe the
bipolar illness, especially the severity of manic episodes, the more likely there will
be episodes of psychosis with hallucinations and delusions (Goodwin and Jamison,
2007). It is obvious that the bipolar individual should refrain from drugs known to
induce hallucinatory highs and even psychoses. Essentially, the unpredictability
of hallucinogenic reactions and their positive correlation with manic psychosis is
strong enough to exclude these drugs from the realm of moderate use. The risks
for the bipolar individual far outweigh the rewards.

Cannabis (marijuana)
There are those that might argue that cannabis doesn’t belong within the group
of hallucinogens as it is not a powerful enough substance. But “not powerful
enough” really reflects how much is smoked. Besides, with today’s high-tech
growing processes the concentration of THC (tetrahydracannabinol), which is the
primary psychoactive substance in cannabis, is many times stronger than when the
drug first began to receive widespread social use in the late 1960’s.

The problem with cannabis is similar to what we see with alcohol or with the milder
stimulants. That is, it is perceived as fairly benign. In fact, there are some states
where its use is legal when medically prescribed and other states where possession
of small quantities represents a level of misdemeanor not much different than a
traffic ticket. It is this very perception of its benign characteristics that conveys the
most risk.

52
 Let’s imagine that someone with bipolar disorder gets high on cannabis a couple of
times a month and essentially doesn’t experience any negative consequence (or so
they think). And precisely because they seem to do well with infrequent use, they
find that their use gradually becomes doubled. Even then, the thought of getting
high about once weekly may still seem infrequent enough so as to carry relatively
low risk. But what we’ve seen in clinical practice as well as through research data
is that more frequent cannabis use is positively correlated with higher frequency of
both bipolar onset and relapse (Baethge, C., Hennen, J, Khalsa, H.K., Salvatore, P,
Mauricio, T. and Baldessarini, R.J., 2008). There are also those with bipolar disorder
where even occasional use of cannabis brings about rapid mood destabilization,
particularly within the elevated mood phases. This low threshold for instability can
also be quite variable from one person to the next, depending upon one’s overall
emotional/psychological stability. In fact getting high at one point in a year’s time
may have very different impact upon one’s psyche than getting high at a different
point in the same year. In other words, there are multiple variables at play in
relation to the outcome of cannabis use, none of which make it a very predictable
substance.

For the average, mentally healthy person who is not bipolar, the occasional use
of cannabis may be no big deal. But for the individual with bipolar disorder, the
picture is different. There are the risks that occasional use will become more
frequent as well as the risk that even occasional use may still have negative impact
upon mood stability. We’ve simply seen the same outcome again and again within
the bipolar population. When people with bipolar disorder get high on cannabis
they experience stronger mood variability than if they abstain. And once they get
a handle on abstinence, they generally experience more sustained psychological
well-being.

It may seem that the information you’re receiving within

this chapter begins to sound like a broken record. All
substance use carries risk. With some drugs the risks
With some drugs are more obvious, and for those living with bipolar
the risks are more disorder, the risk with almost all substance use is
obvious, and for those amplified. Perhaps our experience is similar to
living with bipolar ER physicians who speak out against motorcycle
use. What they see is the death, injury and
disorder, the risk with dismemberment caused by motorcycle accidents.
almost all substance Many of those riders thought “it will never happen to
use is amplified me.” We can only hope that all individuals with bipolar
disorder will understand the risks we are pointing to in
order to reduce their own risks of truly negative outcomes.

We’ll conclude with a real life story which demonstrates the many of the risk and
reward issues discussed throughout much of this chapter.

53
Beth’s Bipolar Disorder and Summer Camp:
A Corrective Combination
Beth, who was a 22-year-old, third-year college student, loved to party. So did
most of her peers. At one point in her treatment she was consistently reporting
that her prior weekend had included too much alcohol and too little sleep. Her
medication adherence had become lax and she was continuing to have frequent
episodes of hypomania and depression. She truly wondered if she would ever see
stability again. She also had growing concerns about her capacity to effectively
create a productive and satisfying future

One summer, Beth was hired as a camp counselor for a summer-long residential
camp in a remote mountainous area. She initially was concerned about the radical
change to her lifestyle; but to her surprise, she saw the longest period of stability
since the onset of her bipolar disorder five years earlier. Beth’s recipe for stability
was initially imposed by the requirements of her job. Lights out was at 10 P.M.
and the camp day began each morning at 6:30 A.M. There were also few options
for after-hours partying with her counseling peers as most were in their cabins
with campers. Without much effort, she had developed a stable sleep cycle and
consistent medication adherence while also refraining from any drug or alcohol
use. She found that by the end of the summer she felt better than she had in a long
time. She essentially arrived at the same outcome as did Keith though she saved
herself many years of struggle.

Now Beth says “the best treatment for bipolar disorder is camp life.” She has
endeavored to maintain the same camp-like structure since her summer in the
mountains, holding it as an internal ideal, rather than an externally imposed
limitation. Although her risk of future relapse may never be zero, she loves her
stable and enjoyable life. She discovered that abstinence and camp life were
synonymous with her continued health and stability.

References
American College Health Association (2010). National College Health Assessment
II, Fall 2010 Reference Group Data Report. http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/
ACHA-NCHA-II_ReferenceGroup_DataReport_Fall2010.pdf
Baethge, C., Hennen, J, Khalsa, H.K., Salvatore, P, Mauricio, T. and Baldessarini,
R.J. (2008): “Sequencing of substance use and affective morbidity in 166
first-episode bipolar I disorder patients.” Bipolar Disorders. 10:6. 738-741
Bhattacharya, R., Shuhart, M. (2003): “Hepatitis C and Alcohol.” Journal of Clinical
Gastroenterolog. 36: 242-253.
Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay Redfield Jamison. (2007): Manic Depressive Illness:
Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression. 2nd Edition. New York, New
York: Oxford University Press.

54
Matthew, A.M., Huckans, M.S., Blackwell, A.D., Hauser, P. (2008): “Hepatitis C
Testing and Infection Rates in Bipolar Patients With and Without Comorbid
Substance Abuse Disorders.” Bipolar Disorder 10: 266-270.
McDermott, B.E., Quanbeck, C., Frye, M.A. (2007): “Comorbid substance use
disorder in women with bipolar disorder associated with criminal arrest.”
Bipolar Disorders, 9: 536-540.
Baillargeon, J., Binswanger, I.A., Penn, J.V., Williams, B.A, Murray O.J. (2009):
“Psychiatric Disorders and Repeat Incarcerations: The Revolving Prison
Door.” American Journal of Psychiatry. 166: 103-109
Onyike, C.U., Bonner, J.O., Lyketsos, C. G., Treisman, G.J. (2004): “Mania During
Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin,”
American Journal of Psychiatry 161: 429-435.
Quanbeck, C.D., Stone, D.C., Scott, C.L., McDermott, L.L., Frye, M.A. (2004):
“Clinical and Legal Correlates of Inmates with Bipolar Disorder at Time of
Criminal Arrest.” Journal Clinical Psychiatry 65: 198-203.
Sublette, E.M., Carballo, J., Moreno C., Galfalvy H.C., Brent D.A., Birmaher B.,
John Mann J., Oquendo M.A. (2009): “Substance Use Disorders and Suicide
Attempts in Bipolar Subtypes.” Journal of Psychiatric Research 43: 230-238.
Tollivar, B.K. (2010): “Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse.” Current Psychiatry
9: 33-40.

55
 Pregnancy & Bipolar Disorder:
Taking Care of Both of You
By Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

Shortly after the birth of her first baby boy, a healthy boy, Janine began feeling
down. Her entire body felt heavy, and she wanted to crawl away and hide, but
when she did get the chance to lie down and pull the covers over her head, she
couldn’t get to sleep. Even when her baby was sleeping, or when her husband
or mother was playing with him in another part of the house, she found sleeping
almost impossible. She also worried constantly about her baby-that something
would happen to him-he’d stop breathing, or tip over his bassinet. She would cry
for no apparent reason several times a day, and eventually began to wonder if
her baby and family would be better off
without her.

Though she tried to hide her feelings,

both her husband and her mother
sensed that something was wrong. She
told them she was fine, but they insisted
she tell her doctor that she was crying,
worrying, unable to sleep and unhappy
most of the time. She worried that the
doctor would say she was a bad mother,
but she didn’t-he praised her for getting
help. He diagnosed her with postpartum
depression, and all together, Janine and
her doctor worked to develop the right
treatment plan for her. Eventually, she began to feel like herself again, and realized
how important it was that she be there-and healthy- for her son.

Janine is not alone. One of every ten new mothers experiences symptoms of
postpartum depression.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a treatable medical illness characterized by feelings
of sadness, indifference, exhaustion and anxiety following the birth of a baby.
Symptoms can appear immediately, or when your baby is a few months old.
Postpartum depression can affect any women, regardless of age, race or economic
background. It is not a character flaw or sign of personal weakness, and it does not
mean there is anything wrong with your ability to be a mother. The exact cause of
postpartum depression is not known, but certain chemical changes that take place
in your body during and after pregnancy may contribute to it.

It is more important to remember that postpartum depression is not your fault, it

does not mean you are a weak or inadequate person, and it could not have been
avoided by “snapping out of it” or “pulling your self up by your bootstraps.”

56
It can be hard to talk about feeling depressed after having a baby, because of
our society’s belief that this should be the “happiest time in your life.” If you are
suffering from postpartum depression, the time after you give birth feels anything
but joyful. You may feel as if you aren’t a good mother, or that the baby would be
better off without you. These feelings may make you feel ashamed or frightened,
and you may feel that you should hide them from your family and friends. However,
it is important that you can tell someone, whether it is your health care provider,
a family member, friend or clergy member, and that you seek help. You can feel
better, and getting treatment early is the best thing you can do for yourself, your
baby, and your family.

Postpartum depression is not just “the baby blues,” a mild feeling of sadness after
a baby is born that goes away on its own. If the “baby blues” don’t go away after 2
weeks, you could be suffering from postpartum depression, and should seek help.
You need not feel ashamed of having an illness-or of any treatment you may need
to feel better-any more than you would feel ashamed about having diabetes or
asthma and taking medication to stay healthy.

What are the Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?

• Feelings of sadness or “down-ness” that don’t go away
• Inability to sleep, even when the baby is sleeping
• Changes in appetite-eating much more or much less; significant weight
changes not related to pregnancy or birth
• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
• Inability to concentrate to make decisions
• Inability to enjoy things you used to; lack of interest in the baby; lack of
interest in friends or family
• Exhaustion; feeling “heavy”
• Uncontrollable crying
• Feeling of guilt or worthless
• Feeling of hopelessness or despair.
• Fear of being a bad mother, or that others will think you are
• Fear that harm will come to the baby
• Thoughts of harming the baby or harming yourself
• Thoughts of death or suicide

GET HELP RIGHT AWAY IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS

OF HARMING YOUR BABY OR YOURSELF.
Tell a medical professional, clergy member, loved one or friend immediately.

57
What Might Increase my Risk for Postpartum Depression?
Although postpartum depression can affect any woman who has recently given
birth, there are some factors that may increase your chance of having postpartum
depression, such as:
• A history of depression during or after previous pregnancies
• A history of depression or bipolar disorder at any time
• A history of depression, bipolar disorder or postpartum depression in
relatives
• Lack of support from family or friends
• Difficult life events happening around the time of your pregnancy or birth.
• Lack of stability in your marriage or relationship.
• Feeling unsure about your pregnancy.

If you are reading this before the birth of your baby and you’re concerned about the
possibility of developing postpartum depression, talk to your health care provider
before your baby is due. Symptoms of postpartum depression may also begin to
appear during pregnancy, discuss them with your doctor.

How do I Talk to my Doctor/Health Care Provider about

Postpartum Depression?
It’s important to have a trusting relationship with your doctor or health care
provider and feel confident in his or her skill, knowledge and interest in helping
you. You should never feel intimidated by your doctor or feel as if you’re wasting
his or her time. It’s also important to share all the information your health care
provider needs to help you. Tell him or her about your medical history, all of your
symptoms, and any medications or “natural” remedies you are using.

A skilled and interested doctor should address all of your concerns, but you may
have additional questions. Don’t leave the doctor’s office until all of your questions
are answered. Take notes if things seem complicated. If you have a lot of questions,
write them down before your appointment and bring them with you. Discuss your
most complicated or difficult issues first. You may want to ask for extra time with
the doctor when you schedule your appointment.

If you are having trouble communicating with your health care provider or if you
feel your needs are not being met, it is all right to look for another doctor who will
be better able to help you.

What are my Treatment Options?

MEDICATION
Some mothers decide with their doctors that medication is the best choice of
treating their postpartum depression. Some medications may pass into breast milk,
but others are less likely to do so, and your doctor should have the information to
help you decide which medication is best for both you and your baby, If you have
to stop breastfeeding, it doesn’t mean you aren’t a good mother; it means you are
taking care of yourself in order to be the best possible mother.

58
Some medications may have side effects, such as dry mouth, light-headedness,
sexual dysfunction or weight gain. Sometimes side effects go away on their
own; other times it helps to change medication. Don’t become discouraged if
you experience side effects-discuss them with your doctor and find out what
other options you have. There are many different medications available to treat
depression. All of them work, they just don’t work the same on everyone. If one
medication causes side effects or does not relieve your depression, another may
work well and have fewer side effects. Don’t give up. Never stop taking your
medications or change your dosage without first discussing it with your doctor.
Check with your doctor before using herbal, natural or over-the-counter remedies,
because sometimes they can interfere with prescribed medication.

PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” can also be an important part of treatment.
Sometimes it can work alone; other times, symptoms of depression must be reduced
through another method of treatment such as medication before psychotherapy
can be effective. A good therapist can help you cope with the feelings you are
having and modify patterns in your life that may contribute to your depression.
Choose a therapist with whom you feel safe and whose judgment you trust. You
might choose to visit a psychologist, social worker, or counselor.

How Might this Illness Affect my Family?

Husband or partners and families can be affected by postpartum depression,
too. It is equally important for men to seek treatment if they have symptoms that
interfere with their day-to-day lives. Sometimes therapy involving both partners or
the whole family can be helpful.

Other children may be affected too. It may be a good idea for one parent to spend
more time with other children and talk to them about what is happening in a way
that they can understand. You can explain depression as “not feeling good” or
“feeling sad because of chemical changes in your brain,” and explain that you are
getting treatment to help you feel better. It may be necessary to reassure children
that your illness is not their fault. You might want to ask your doctor or therapist
to sit down with the whole family and talk about your depression, it’s treatment,
how it affects them and what they can do. If any of your children have symptoms
of depression that interfere with their daily activities, school or friendships, talk to
your pediatrician about it.

What can Families do to Help?

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need during this time. If family or friends ask
how they can help, consider giving them small things to do such as:
• Household chores
• Helping take care of the new baby or other children
• Spending quiet time with you
• Educating themselves about your illness
• Talk to your children about your illness
• Watching for symptoms of depression

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What is Postpartum Psychosis?
Postpartum psychosis is far less common than postpartum depression, and it is
characterized by delusions (thoughts that are not true or logical, such as believing
you are receiving messages through the television) or hallucinations (seeing or
hearing things that aren’t actually there). It is extremely important to get help
immediately in cases of postpartum psychosis. Remember, it is a physical illness.
Postpartum psychosis is not something you can control by yourself,
but it is something you can treat with proper medical help.
Avoiding treatment because you are ashamed or afraid
may have tragic consequences.
A woman with
What if I was Already Diagnosed and depression or bipolar
Treated for Depression or Bipolar disorder can be an
Disorder Before I Became Pregnant? excellent mother-as
A woman with depression or bipolar disorder can be
good a mother as a
an excellent mother-as good a mother as a woman
without one of these illnesses. But a woman with a woman without one of
prior history of depression or bipolar disorder is at an these illnesses
increased risk to develop postpartum depression (1 in
4 develop postpartum depression) compared to a woman
with no prior history (1 in 10 develop postpartum depression).
Be the best mother you can by staying aware of your own moods, working with your
doctor to monitor your illness, planning appropriate treatment during pregnancy,
sticking with the treatment plan you are given and making sure you have a support
network in place before the baby is born. Your support network may include a
support group you attend, your family and friend, health care providers or other
new moms.

Prepare written plans with the help of your family about what should be done
if you should develop postpartum depression (or psychosis). These plans should
include the names and phone numbers of your health care providers, names of
medications which have worked for you in the past, medication allergies, insurance
information, and a list of people who are willing to take care of your baby and other
children if you are unable too.

How do Support Groups Help?

Support groups can help you stick with treatment plans, provide a forum for mutual
acceptance and self-discovery, help rediscover strengths, humor and sense of
community, and give you the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of others
who have “been there.”

60
What are Some Things I Can Do to Stay Healthy?
• Keep appointments with all your health care providers and
stick with your prescribed treatment plan.
• Learn all you can about postpartum depression
and its treatment.
• Keep track of your moods, things that cause With the right
you stress, and your response to treatment treatment and support,
in a journal. This may help you spot future
episode earlier.
you can feel like yourself
• Share your thoughts and feelings with others. again and be free to
• Set realistic expectations for yourself. Work enjoy life and your
on accepting yourself as you are. new baby
• Don’t skip meals, even if your appetite and
energy are low. Eat a variety of foods to get the
nutrients you need. Talk to your doctor about taking
vitamin supplements.
• Look for opportunities to be physically active. Even walking or climbing
stairs can help improve your mood and health.
• Develop stress reduction techniques, or ask your doctor about or therapist
to recommend some.

With the right treatment and support, you can feel like yourself again and be free
to enjoy life and your new baby.

Reproduced with permission of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
brochure. Brochures are available at www.dbsalliance.org or by calling 1800-826-
3632.

61
 Stigma & Mental Illness
By Muffy Walker MSN., MBA

Webster’s Dictionary defines stigma as “any mark of infamy or disgrace; sign of

moral blemish; stain or reproach caused by dishonorable conduct; reproachful
characterization.”

The first known use of the word stigma occurred in 1593, with its origin from Latin
stigmat-, stigma mark, brand, or from the Greek, from stizein to tattoo.

I know that my sister loves me. I know that my friends love me. But
they still judge me and the stigma of being mentally ill still affects
the way they perceive me, hence.. the way they treat me. As a single
36 year-old man, I notice that many people meet women through
their friends and family. My sister and brother n’ law know plenty
of women that I would get along wonderfully with. I know they love
me, but there are never any introductions because of the stigma that
sticks, even to those closest to me. And that makes me sad. Bret W.

Stigmatizing others has been around for centuries. Criminals, slaves, or traitors had
a tattoo mark that was cut or burned into their skin in order to visibly identify them
as blemished or morally polluted persons. These individuals were to be avoided or
shunned, particularly in public places (1). Separating and judging groups by color,
religion, sexual orientation, medical conditions (i.e. leprosy), and mental ability
functions to establish a “us’ versus “them”. Discrimination, rejection, intolerance,
inequity and exclusion all result from being stigmatized.

Erving Goffman defined stigma is an attribute, behavior, or reputation which

is socially discrediting in a particular way: it causes an individual to be mentally
classified by others in an undesirable, rejected stereotype rather than in an
accepted, normal one.

Those with mental illnesses are unfortunately a target for stigma.

Mental illnesses range from a rate of 26.4% in the U.S. to
8.2% in Italy. Combine other groups who are stigmatized
against, and we practically have a world of people hating
one group or another.
Four of the 10 leading
This chapter focuses on the stigma placed on those causes of disability
with mental illnesses, the myths involved, how to worldwide are mental
combat the phenomenon, and where to get help if you
do encounter it.
disorders

Four of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide are

mental disorders.

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According to the 2005 National Comorbidity Survey Replication study,
approximately 1 in 3 Americans experience a mental health disorder in any given
year. This translates to over 75 million individuals. Nearly half of Americans will
experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. It is likely that
you or someone that you know has or will experience a psychological problem.

The direct cost of mental health services, which includes spending for treatment
and rehabilitation, is approximately $69 billion in the United States. Indirect costs,
which refer to lost productivity at the workplace, school, and home, are estimated
at $78.6 billion. (2)

The stigma associated with mental illness adds to the public health burden of
mental
illness itself. In general terms, stigma is the status loss and discrimination triggered
by negative stereotypes about people labeled as having mental illness (3).

Mental disorder can strike anyone! It knows no age limits, economic status, race,
creed or color.

Medical science has made incredible progress

over the last century in helping us understand,
curing and eliminating the causes of many
diseases including mental disorders. However,
while doctors continue to solve some of the
mysteries of the brain, many of its functions
remain a puzzle. Even at the leading research
centers, no one fully understands how the
brain works or why it malfunctions. However,
researchers have determined that many mental
disorders are probably
the result of chemical imbalances in the brain. These
imbalances may be inherited, or may develop because
of excessive stress or substance abuse.
It is sometimes
It is sometimes easy to forget that our brain, like all
of our other organs, is vulnerable to disease. People
easy to forget that our
with mental disorders often exhibit many types of brain, like all of our other
behaviors such as extreme sadness and irritability, organs, is vulnerable
and in more severe cases, they may also suffer to disease
from hallucinations and total withdrawal. Instead of
receiving compassion and acceptance, people with
mental disorders may experience hostility, discrimination,
and stigma. (4)

When I was twelve I invited my friend to come over for

a play date. His father said no, they were going to his
Grandmother’s. A few minutes later another boy invited
him to play. The father said yes, and off they went. Court R.
63
The effects of stigma are especially painful and damaging to one’s self-esteem. It
leaves people with mental illnesses feeling like outcasts from society. Whether the
perceived stigma is real or not, it is the subjective interpretation that affects the
person’s feelings of belonging.

I am a young girl in Tehran, because I am sick my family

thinks I’ll be lucky if an old man agrees to marry me. (15)

Why do we, as a society, stigmatize our friends, family, and other members of
our community? Perhaps it is due to a lack of education, mis-education, false
information, ignorance, or a need to feel superior. The media must also claim
responsibility for perpetuating the misconceptions about mental illness. Television
and news print tend to focus on those who commit violent crimes rather than those
with mental illnesses who contribute to our society. These infrequently committed
crimes are sensationalized on talk shows, on the cover of popular magazines, and
in headline news.

Mental illness plays no part in the majority of violent crimes

committed in our society. The assumption that any and every mental
illness carries with it an almost certain potential for violence has been
proven wrong in many studies.

Current research shows that people with major mental illness are 2.5
times more likely to be the victims of violence than other members
of society. This most often occurs when such factors as poverty,
transient lifestyle and substance use are present. Any of these factors
make a person with mental illness more vulnerable to assault and the
possibility of becoming violent in response. (5)

Like most groups who are stigmatized against, there are many myths surrounding
mental illness. According to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia
and Depression (NARSAD) here are the top 10.

Myths:
Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease
and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just “crazy.”
Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate
medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and
biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be
treated effectively.

Yes, they discriminate against us; They don’t count on us; Our society in Iran has
no capacity for us; I mean there is no cultural under- standing in our society; They
ridicule, insult and harm us; I wish they could understand that psychiatric patients
are like other patients, like patients with cancer or cardiac disease and that they
can live their lives. (15)

64
Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually
dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a
brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population.
Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more
often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.

Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.

Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other
risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental
illnesses have a physical cause.

Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and
people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard
enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from
changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or
psychotherapy often help people to recover.

Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control
it.
Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with Dissociative Identity
Disorder (previously called multiple personality disorder). Actually,
schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to
think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with
schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to
hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these
individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.

Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.

Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in
older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances
and lethargy. Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it
is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the
problem and seek professional help.

Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not
affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a
part of growing up.
Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In
the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental
disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20
percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated,
these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should
be taken very seriously.

65
 Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a
psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or
is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem
does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional
help.

Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People
with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or “bad”.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain
chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a “bad” person.

Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as “shock

treatment,” is painful and barbaric.
Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from
severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments
such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients
who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not
feel anything.

“These misconceptions can do irreparable harm to people with legitimate illnesses

who should and can be treated,” said Herbert Pardes, M.D., President of NARSAD’s
Scientific Council.

Despite the alarming number of people affected with a mental illness, statistics
show that only one-third of these individuals seek treatment. According to Dr.
Thomas Insel of the NIMH, psychiatry is the only part of medicine — where there
is actually greater stigma for receiving treatment for these illnesses than for having
them.

While there are many reasons for the discrepancies in

help-seeking behavior, stigma can prevent people from
receiving the help that they need. Individuals with a
mental health disorder may feel similarly ostracized
and feel embarrassed about having a psychological or
emotional problem. (6)

This barrier to seeking help can have a ripple effect.

Some individuals may attempt to handle their “issue”
through drugs or alcohol, both of which only exacerbate
the illness by increasing the feelings of sadness and despondency. Left untreated,
the illness only gets worse causing more isolation, emotional pain, and distress. In
some cases, suicide may seem to be the only option.

The stigma impedes recovery by eroding individuals’ social status, social network,
and self-esteem, all of which contribute to poor outcomes, including unemployment,
isolation, delayed treatment-seeking, treatment-refractory symptoms, prolonged
course, and avoidable hospitalizations. (7)

66
The downward spiraling behavior impacts everyone. The family member, friend
or boss who is not privy to the person’s illness, may misinterpret behaviors, once
again wrongly judging them.

In 1994, I was studying neuropharmacology at the Wake Forest University School of

Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. One day a laboratory technician took me aside to
complain about his mother who was “manic-depressive”. I said, “ Well, I’m manic-
depressive maybe I can help”. So we talked. A few days later, my advisor, “Dr. C”
called me into his office. He told me that he would not let me complete my PhD
in his lab and that he would give me a terminal Masters degree because “People
with bipolar disorder do not succeed in science”. Not only was this the beginning
of the end of my scientific career, but it precipitated a cascade of miserable events.
Sheryl S.

Challenging stigma
Stigma, although powerful, does not have to be inevitable. Countries around the
world are joining forces to combat stigma and its harmful effects. Anti-stigma
campaigns, legislation, public education, mobilizing communities in anti-stigma
efforts, and personal commitments to end stigma are all underway. Changing
the belief systems of those who inflict stigma is only one aspect to producing
change, the second of which is to challenge the internalized negative beliefs of
the stigmatized.

Most anti-stigma campaigns focus on educating the public, increasing community

awareness about the myths of mental illness, and promoting treatment and services.
Campaigns obviously vary according to funds available, access to technology, and
demographic-specific needs. In many cases, celebrity spokespeople are used to
help deliver the message. Here are some examples:

• The You KNOW Me Alaska anti-stigma campaign uses of a popular Alaskan

Iditarod musher as a spokesperson for television ads, trading cards,
newspapers, posters, and radio. www.mhtrust.org

• “On June 11, 2009 Wayne Cho completed a 8207 km cross-Canada run to
raise awareness for anxiety and depression. These debilitating illnesses
affect a great number of people and can cause great physical/mental/
emotional harm to not only the affected individuals, but also to those closest
to them. Wayne Cho has battled an anxiety disorder for many years and
knows all-too-well the stigma to which people suffering from mental illness
are subjected. His journey to achieve his dreams, the people that he has met
along the way, and the millions more people that are affected by mental
illness worldwide have inspired Wayne to challenge the stigma surrounding
these disorders.”

• Actress Glenn Close has a campaign called BringChange2Mind with a PSA

directed by Ron Howard: http://www.bringchange2mind.org/

67
 • Fidgety Fairy Tales—The Mental Health Musical is an original 40-minute
musical produced by the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental
Health (MACMH) www.macmh.org

• In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique informational outreach program,

developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), that offers
insight into the recovery that is possible for people with severe mental
illnesses. The program aims to meet the need for consumer-run education
initiatives, to set a standard for quality education about mental illness
from those who have been there, to offer genuine work opportunities for
consumers, to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters,
and to focus on recovery and the message of hope. www.nami.org

• The Iris the Dragon book series was developed in 2000 by Gayle Grass
in Ontario, Canada. It was created to help reduce the negative attitudes
that are associated with mental illness and to generate understanding and
awareness of mental health problems in children. www.iristhedragon.com

• Developed in Andalusia, Spain, in September 2007, 1 de cada 4 (1 in 4 in

English) is a campaign to increase public awareness of mental illnesses in
order to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with
mental illness. www.1decada4.com

• SANE StigmaWatch, an initiative of the national mental health charity, SANE

Australia, monitors the Australian media to ensure accurate and respectful
representation of mental illnesses. It does this through monitoring,
correcting, and logging media misrepresentation of mental illnesses. www.
sane.org

• Mind (National Association for Mental Health) provides information on a

national level for England and Wales. Their activities promote the values
of autonomy, equality, knowledge, and participation in the community
for all people, especially those with mental illnesses. The group actively
campaigns to improve the policy and attitudes of governing bodies in the
United Kingdom, and has developed highly successful local-level initiatives
for consumers of mental health. http://www.mind.org.uk

MASS MEDIA “Mass media is, far and away, the public’s primary source of information about
mental illnesses.”---Survey of public attitudes, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

68
Why should we be concerned?

Mass media are those sources that reach vast audiences on a daily basis and include
television, film, radio, newspapers, advertising, and the Internet:
– the average American watches 4 hours of TV each day
– 1.36 billion movie tickets were sold in 2008
– 1.71 million DVDs were rented and over one billion sold in 2007
– the average Internet user spends 61 hours/month on the Internet (February
2009) (8)

Mass Media Tend to Inaccurately Show People with Mental Illness as Violent &
Dangerous

• “Dangerousness is the most common theme of newspaper stories related

to mental illnesses.“(9)
• One study of prime time television programming found that people
depicted with mental illnesses were 10 times more likely to be shown as a
violent criminal than non-mentally disordered television characters. (10)

Not only does the media depict criminals as being mentally ill, they further expound
on the stigma by showing the mentally ill as unlikely to recover. Use of cartoons,
advertisements, and films ridicule the mentally ill and make light of their issues.

Journalists in all forms of media play an increasingly important role in shaping

public understanding and debate about health care issues. The Rosalynn Carter
Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism program, created in 1996, is part of a
national effort to reduce negative attitudes and discrimination associated with
mental illnesses. The fellowship program aims to increase accurate reporting
on mental health issues; help journalists produce high-quality work that reflects
an understanding of mental health issues through exposure to well-established
resources in the field; and develop a cadre of better-informed print and electronic
journalists. (11)

Unfortunately, a joint study by Indiana University and Columbia University

researchers found no change in prejudice and discrimination toward people with
serious mental illness or substance abuse problems despite a greater embrace by
the public of neurobiological explanations for these illnesses. (12)

69
Recent research has found that:
– 48.6 percent of the public are unwilling to work closely on a job with someone
with depression

When a new colleague was hired at my office, I felt certain that he

must struggle with depression. It was months before he confided
in me that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I kept this
information strictly confidential. Later, due to complications with his
health and medication, my colleague exhibited behavior at work that
made others uncomfortable. He sought medical support and gave
me permission to share his diagnosis with our colleagues, hoping
that they would be understanding. Their responses horrified me:
“He’s just using this diagnosis as a way to keep his job!”, and “I just
don’t think he should work here. That’s what disability payments are
for...”

While I don’t struggle with bipolar disorder myself, I do have a history

of depression and anxiety. I told our Board of Directors that I was
deeply offended by these remarks and that the staff needed training
in sensitivity around mental health issues. I received no response.

Although this experience tarnished our feelings for the company

and its employees, the silver lining is that we are happily planning
to spend the rest of our lives together. So there was a reason why
he came into my life and ended up going through such a dark time
at our place of employment --- he had to meet me. Thankfully, his
health is much better now. Caroline W.

- The percentage of people associating mental illness with violence has doubled
since 1956. (13)

“Prejudice and discrimination in the U.S. aren’t moving,” said IU sociologist Bernice
Pescosolido, a leading researcher in this area. “In fact, in some cases, it may be
increasing. It’s time to stand back and rethink our approach.”

“Often mental health advocates end up singing to the choir,” Pescosolido said.
“We need to involve groups in each community to talk about these issues which
affect nearly every family in America in some way. This is in everyone’s interest.”

The research article suggests that stigma reduction efforts focus on the person
rather than on the disease, and emphasize the abilities and competencies of
people with mental health problems. Pescosolido says well-established civic
groups -- groups normally not involved with mental health issues -- could be very
effective in making people aware of the need for inclusion and the importance of
increasing the dignity and rights of citizenship for persons with
mental illnesses. (14)

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Combatting Stigma:
So, what can we do to combat stigma? SAMHSA has a “4-P’s” approach: Praise,
Protest, Personal Contact & Partnership. Here are some specific do’s and don’t’s:

1. In a recent survey by the American Psychiatric Association, 79% percent of

those surveyed believed that seeking and receiving support from family and
friends reduced feelings of stigma.
2. Share your experience with mental disorder. Your story can convey to others
that having a mental disorder is nothing to be embarrassed about.
3. Help people with mental disorder reenter society. Support their efforts to
obtain housing and jobs.
4. Watch the language you use:
• don’t use generic labels:“retarded”, “our mentally ill”
• don’t use psychiatric diagnoses as metaphors: “schizophrenic situation”
• don’t use offensive words: “psycho”, “loony”, “crazy”, “wacko”, “slow”,
“crackpot”
• don’t refer to a person as a diagnosis: “he’s bipolar”, instead say, “he
has bipolar disorder”
5. Document stigma in the media whenever possible
6. The media also offers our best hope for eradicating stigma because of
its power to educate and influence public opinion, so remember to thank
journalists when they get it right.
7. Send letters, make phone calls, or e-mail the offending parties
8. Ask your local, regional, and national leaders to take a stand
9. Support efforts to actively expose stigma in the media
10. Educate yourself - the elimination of stigma begins with you
11. Volunteer, join the IBPF anti-stigma campaign in October every year named
“Say It Forward”. Check our website in September for details.

References
(1): (Healthline Network Inc., 2007)
(2): About.com
(3): Link & Phelan, 2001
(4): MHA Colorado
(5): Canadaian MH Assoc Ontario
(6): Lacondria Simmons: http://www.med.upenn.edu/psychotherapy/Stigma.html
(7): Link, Mirotznik, & Cullen, 1991; Link, Struening, Neese-Todd, Asmussen, &
Phelan, 2001; Perlick et al., 2001; Sirey et al., 2001; Struening et al., 2001
(8): Bryant, J. & Thompson, S. (2002). Fundamentals of Media Effects. McGraw-
Hill. Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M., & Signorelli, N. (1980). The
“Mainstreaming” of America. Journal of Communication, (30), 10-29.

71
(9): Wahl, O., Wood, A., & Richards, R. (2002). Newspaper coverage of mental
illness: Is it changing? Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 6, 9-31.
(10): Don Diefenbach (2007). Journal of Community Psychology, Vol. 35, 181-
195.
(11): www.samhsa.org
(12): Pescosolido, B.A., J.K. Martin, J.S. Long, T.R. Medina, J. Phelan, B.G. Link.
2010. “‘A Disease Like Any Other?’ A Decade of Change in Public Reactions
to Schizophrenia, Depression and Alcohol Dependence.” American Journal
of Psychiatry 167(11):1321-1330.
(13): Link, B.G., Phelan, J.C., Bresnahan, M., Stueve, A. & Pescosolido. B.A. (1999).
Public conceptions of mental illness. American Journal of Public Health, Vol.
89, 1328-1333.
(14): Pescosolido, B.A., J.K. Martin, J.S. Long, T.R. Medina, J. Phelan, B.G. Link.
2010. “‘A Disease Like Any Other?’ A Decade of Change in Public Reactions
to Schizophrenia, Depression and Alcohol Dependence.” American Journal
of Psychiatry 167(11):1321-1330.
(15) GHANEAN, H., NOJOMI, M., JACOBSSON, L.. Internalized stigma of mental
illness in Tehran, Iran. Stigma Research and Action, North America, 1, Feb.
2011.

HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH!

72
 Bipolar Disorder And Aging
By Thomas W. Meeks, M.D.; Colin A. Depp, Ph.D.

How common is bipolar disorder in later life?

Bipolar disorder is uncommon in later life according to studies of community
prevalence, such as the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) Survey (Regier et
al., 1993). The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder in the ECA was 0.4% among
persons aged 45 to 64 and 0.1% among persons older than age 65 (compared
to 1.4% among persons aged 18-44). Other community surveys indicate the
prevalence of bipolar disorder among persons older than age 60 ranges between
0.1% and 0.5% (Hirschfeld, 2003; Unutzer et al., 1998). Although these data
suggest that bipolar disorder is less common among older than younger age
groups, these studies should be interpreted with caution as these studies did not
typically include people in assisted living situations. It is also notable that within
mental health settings, bipolar disorder is a relatively common diagnosis among
samples of older adults, accounting for between 8 and 10% of all diagnoses
(Depp & Jeste, 2004). The reported rates may also be lower in older adults in part
because bipolar disorder is associated with increased rates of suicide and chronic
medical conditions, both of which decrease the number of persons with bipolar
disorder who live on into their later years. Of course, many people may wonder,
“What exactly is an older adult?” Medical literature typically defines the term
“geriatric” or “elderly” as age 65 and above. There is really no biological reason
to choose this age over, say, 60 or 70, but this has been a convention derived from
the national standards for retirement age. People on an individual level obviously
age at different rates; some healthy 70 year-olds may have better functioning
bodies and minds than some 40 year-olds in ill health.

What happens to people with bipolar disorder as they age?

When compared to research on other psychiatric disorders, such as later-life
depression or schizophrenia, there is little known about the course of bipolar
disorder in older adults (Charney et al., 2003). The majority of data on later-life
bipolar disorder has come from hospitalized people and anecdotal data (Depp &
Jeste, 2004). Early observations were that the long term course of bipolar disorder
involves a reduction in symptoms and improvement in functioning, which, in some
ways, is what separated bipolar disorder from early conceptions of schizophrenia
(Kraepelin, 1921). Other observations provide stark contrast, with the ‘kindling’
theory proposing that inter-episode recovery periods tend to shorten with age,
consistent with the idea that bipolar disorder follows a progressively declining
course (Post et al., 1986). Kindling implies that each mood episode actually
changes the brain in a way that makes future episodes happen sooner and more
severely—a “snowball effect” of sorts. Unfortunately, there is little data to confirm
either supposition about the long-term course of bipolar disorder.

However, what is known is that most older people who have bipolar disorder have
lived with the illness for many years, as the mean age of onset is between age
20 and 25. These individuals would be referred to as “early-onset.” The cut-off

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between “early-onset” and “late-onset” is often age 50, but varies from study
to study (Depp & Jeste, 2004). It is more common that “late-onset” individuals
experience neurological illnesses, such as a stroke or progressive dementias.
In fact, having a first depressive or manic episode after age 50 is certainly the
exception rather than the rule. If someone first shows signs consistent with bipolar
disorder after age 50, there should be a thorough work-up, including a CT or MRI
of the brain, to ensure that the symptoms are not due to a medical/neurological
disorder or due to substances (illicit drugs, alcohol, or prescribed medications). In
general, there are probably more similarities than differences between early- and
late-onset patients, but some difference are worth noting. For instance, late-onset
patients more often attain functional milestones such as employment and marriage
prior to the illness starting and are less likely to have first-degree relatives with
bipolar disorder. It should be noted that some seemingly “late-onset” cases may
actually be instances of years of misdiagnosed or undiagnosed bipolar disorder,
or instances in which the first manic or hypomanic episode occurs more than a
decade after the first episode of major depression. Ageist bias may also prevent
proper screening for certain symptoms of mania such as impulsive sexual activity
and other risk-taking behaviors. Comparing younger and older persons with
bipolar disorder, older people may experience less severe symptoms of mania,
as identified in a study of people hospitalized for mania (Young & Falk, 1989).
According to a large survey, community-dwelling older adults report experiencing
more depression- and mania-free days (Calabrese et al., 2003).

What other health problems do older adults with bipolar

disorder face?
On balance, older adults experience a much greater degree of medical burden.
Most notably, the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease is several times higher
in older adults with bipolar disorder compared to older adults without psychiatric
illnesses (Kilbourne et al., 2004). Risk factors for co-occurring medical disorders
include poor health habits (e.g., smoking and physical inactivity), diminished access
to medical care, and side effects of medications such as atypical antipsychotics.
On a more positive note, older adults with bipolar disorder are less likely to have
met criteria for substance use disorders within their lifetimes; prevalence for any
substance use disorder among younger adults with bipolar disorder is about 60%,
whereas among older adults estimates range from 20 to 30% (Cassidy et al., 2001).
This is notable because co-occurring substance use disorders add greatly to the
disability associated with bipolar disorder.

With the current epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease, the public is becoming

increasingly aware of the importance of cognitive disorders among older adults.
As a point of clarification, many people confuse the terms “dementia” and
“Alzheimer’s disease.” Dementia (which may be renamed neurocognitive disorder
in the upcoming DSM-5) is the broader term that describes any progressive,
irreversible dysfunction in memory, language, decision-making, and other cognitive
skills that impairs someone’s life functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific (and
the most common) type of dementia whose cause is not fully understood but
appears to be related to certain genetic and environmental factors that cause

75
excessive brain deposits of a protein called beta-amyloid. Cognitive impairments
are more prevalent in older adults with bipolar disorder compared to younger
adults. In one study, it was estimated that about 50% of persons older than age
60 with bipolar disorder display clinically significant cognitive impairment, even
when not depressed or manic (Gildengers et al., 2004). It is unclear at this point
if cognitive impairments worsen at a more rapid rate than that expected from
the normal course of aging, with data mixed as to whether this may be the case
(Gildengers et al., 2009; Schouws et al., 2012).

What is clear is that whenever there is concern about changes in an older

person’s memory/cognition, further evaluation, often by a neurologist or geriatric
psychiatrist, is recommended rather than accepting such changes as part of normal
aging or as part of the normal course of bipolar disorder. It is also important
to keep in mind that declining cognition could destabilize an otherwise stable
course of bipolar illness. Problems with memory or planning can impair ability
to adhere to treatment recommendations, and changes in mood, sleep, and
behavioral control are common in dementia. Medical comorbidity and cognitive
impairments frequently become important factors in the care of older people with
bipolar disorder and often necessitates coordination with primary care providers
and family members.

What else could it be? Bipolar imposters

Older adults on average take more prescription medications than younger adults,
which creates increased potential for medication-induced mood symptoms as well
as medication interactions. Medications that can cause symptoms which mimic
bipolar mania include antidepressants, steroids such as prednisone, thyroid
supplements, and medications for Parkinson’s
disease. It should be noted that some people who
do go on the develop true bipolar disorder have
their first manic or hypomanic episode while taking
an antidepressant but then have further episodes
independent of any medication. Prednisone, a
steroid used to treat disorders associated with
inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema,
and lupus, may cause manic, depressive, or
psychotic symptoms, especially when prescribed in high doses. Despite the
decreased rates compared to younger adults, a substantial number of older adults
also suffer from substance use disorders such as alcoholism and prescription drug
abuse. Substances of abuse can cause symptoms that mimic bipolar disorder,
but cause-and-effect is not always clear. Many persons with true bipolar disorder
also battle substance abuse and may continue to have bipolar symptoms even
if they recover from their addiction (see section on substance abuse and bipolar
disorder).

Several medical (especially neurological) conditions can cause a cluster of symptoms

that mimic bipolar disorder. These include strokes, overactive thyroid, brain tumors,
multiple sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia. Stroke (damage to the brain
caused by lack of blood flow, usually due to a clot or hemorrhage) is an interesting
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example of a medical illness that can cause mood difficulties. Depression after
strokes is fairly common, with about 1 out of 3 persons experiencing significant
depression symptoms after a stroke. A stroke may obviously cause significant life
stress if it results in a new disability, such as impaired ability to walk or speak, but
strokes can cause mood symptoms not only for this reason, but also because they
may directly impact the brain in regions responsible for mood regulation. While
the effects of strokes on speech/language or movement are more obvious, the
damage to emotional control from a stroke is often more subtle, and thus people
may not link changes in their mood to having suffered a stroke.

While less common than depression, symptoms that resemble mania (e.g., elevated
mood, impulsivity, rapid speech, decreased sleep, and irritability) may also occur
in up to 1-2% of persons who suffer a stroke. Mania caused by a stroke appears to
be more common if the stroke occurs in the right side of the brain (which in turn
usually affects the left side of the body) and may be more common if the affected
person has a family history of bipolar disorder, suggesting an underlying genetic
susceptibility. Strokes should be considered as a potential cause of late-onset
mania, especially if someone has notable stroke risk factors such as diabetes or
high blood pressure (Santos et al., 2011). On the flip side, however, older adults
with early-onset, long-standing bipolar disorder are actually at increased risk for
cardiovascular disease and stroke because of elevated rates of diabetes, high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity in bipolar disorder. This is to say,
the cause and effect can go both ways: strokes can cause mood symptoms similar
to bipolar disorder, but bipolar disorder (and some of its medication treatments)
is associated with increased risk for strokes.

How does treatment differ for older adults?

There are few systematic studies of interventions for bipolar disorder specifically
among older adults. This lack of treatment research is even more notable for
older adults age 75 and above. As occurs with many mental health disorders,
treatment recommendations for older adults with bipolar disorder are largely
extrapolated from studies conducted among young and middle-aged adults. Yet,
as life expectancy in general and more specifically in bipolar disorder increases,
the number of persons with bipolar disorder in late-life will grow significantly.
Studies that evaluate treatment options in bipolar disorder among this burgeoning
geriatric population will therefore become even more paramount in importance.

Lithium
Medications remain the cornerstone of treatment for bipolar disorder in older
adults. Lithium, arguably the most tried and true mood stabilizer, poses unique
challenges for use in the geriatric population. Older adults have important
changes in how they absorb, distribute, and eliminate medications in the body.
A fairly common age-related change is a decrease in the efficiency of eliminating
medications from the body, a function usually performed by the liver and/or
kidney. Lithium is not processed in the liver but rather is primarily eliminated via
the kidney. The kidneys predictably have a decline in functioning with aging, even
in the absence of any specific disease affecting them. Additionally, treatment with

77
lithium for decades into late life can at times accelerate age-related declines in
kidney function, due to the damaging effects of long-term lithium use on the
kidney in a subgroup of individuals. Several medical conditions that become
more common with aging, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, may also
impair kidney function. Medications used to treat hypertension, such as certain
diuretics (“water pills”) and “ACE inhibitors” (e.g. lisinopril), may interfere with the
kidney’s elimination of lithium, causing an elevated lithium level. Other common
medications that can raise lithium levels are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
(NSAIDs) used for pain relief—the most commonly used are ibuprofen (Motrin,
Advil) and naproxen (Alleve).

These phenomena in the kidney often cause a lithium dose that yields a safe and
effective lithium blood level in younger adults to yield an elevated, intolerable or
even toxic lithium level among older adults. Troublesome side effects that may
occur even at therapeutic lithium levels in older adults include cognitive complaints,
tremor, worsening urinary frequency or incontinence, impaired balance, lowered
thyroid functioning, and weight gain. Symptoms of lithium toxicity include poor
muscle coordination, confusion, and pronounced tremors—this is a medical
emergency that is managed usually in the hospital by discontinuing lithium
and hydrating the affected person with IV fluids, but occasionally may require
temporary dialysis to remove excess lithium from the body. In fact, even at a
“normal” blood level, the bodily systems of older adults (including the brain) are
generally more sensitive to the effects of lithium. This may be in part related
to age-associated changes in the integrity of the “blood-brain barrier,” which
regulates what compounds in the general blood stream are allowed access to the
blood that nourishes the brain. These phenomena have led geriatric psychiatrists
to prescribe lower doses of lithium as well as to shift the target lithium blood
level from 0.8-1.2 down to 0.5-0.8 mEq/L for most older adults. In addition to
usual laboratory monitoring, older adults treated with lithium should have an EKG
(electrocardiogram) checked as lithium can affect electrical conduction in the heart.

Despite these challenges, lithium may be very helpful for some older adults with
bipolar disorder, including those who have preferentially responded to lithium over
other mood stabilizers as younger adults and those with more “classic” bipolar
disorder (euphoric mania without mixed depressive-manic episodes or rapid
cycling). In a large recent government-sponsored study on bipolar treatments
entitled STEP-BD (Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar
Disorder), when adults aged 60 and above were compared to younger adults,
lithium use was less frequent but not uncommon (30% of geriatric cases vs. 38% of
younger adult cases), and the average dose was about 1/3 lower for older adults.
Interestingly, older adults were twice as likely to recover compared to younger
adults when treated with lithium (D’Souza et al., 2011).

Lithium is also the only medication shown to have definite protective effects
against suicide in bipolar disorder. Because completed suicides are a major mental
health concern in older adults, especially older Caucasian males, lithium deserves
consideration for older adults with bipolar disorder and prominent suicide risk

78
factors. Additionally, there are some theoretical benefits of lithium for older adults,
who are more susceptible to diseases of brain degeneration, such as Alzheimer’s
disease. Lithium is being studied for its “neuro-protective” properties, that is,
molecular actions that may prevent nerve cell death. This is still experimental at
this stage, however, and high lithium levels actually impair thinking and memory,
especially among older adults. On the whole, with all other factors being equal,
ease of use favors other mood stabilizers over lithium as first-line agents among
older adults with bipolar disorder. However, all other factors are often not equal,
and lithium may be very beneficial for a substantial portion of older adults, such as
those who have responded well to lithium earlier in life, those with classic euphoric
mania, those at high risk for suicide, and those without prominent medical issues
that affect kidney function.

Valproic acid
Valproic acid (or its related slow-release formulation, divalproex [Depakote]),
originally approved to treat seizures, has become a common alternative to lithium
as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. Valproic acid may be more effective than
lithium for certain variants of bipolar disorder, such as rapid cycling or mixed
manic-depressive episodes. There is some suggestion that it may also be more
effective than lithium in bipolar disorder associated with an underlying neurological
abnormality or substance abuse. Overall, efficacy and tolerability have made
valproic acid a common first line mood stabilizer in late-life bipolar disorder.
Some special consideration should be given when prescribing valproic acid to
older adults, however. With increasing age, levels of the blood protein albumin
tend to decline. This is relevant because valproic acid binds to albumin; when
there is less albumin available or when other drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin)
and aspirin “push” valproic acid off of albumin, this leaves more free levels of
valproic acid in the blood. The free (i.e. not protein-bound) form of the drug is the
one that exerts both beneficial and adverse effects. Routine labs to check for blood
levels of valproic acid do not account for a possible shift to a higher proportion of
free drug that may occur with aging or complex medication regimens. This may
lead to situations in which older adults benefit from a relatively low total valproic
acid blood level or in which side effects emerge at a seemingly low valproic acid
level. Checking a more specialized lab, the free valproic acid level, in these cases
could help older patients and doctors to aim for a more precise valproic acid dose.
Therapeutic effects are often seen for older adults at total valproic acid levels of
65-90 mcg/ml or 6-22 mcg/mL of free valproic acid.

Some common side effects of valproic acid include nausea, sedation, tremor,
weight gain, and thinning hair. Other uncommon but serious adverse effects
include liver toxicity, pancreatitis, and low blood platelets (which can lead to poor
blood clotting). Some evidence suggests liver and pancreas side effects are less
common with increasing age. An infrequent and often unappreciated cause of
confusion in older adults taking valproic acid is a side effect of increased urea (a
“waste product” that may affect brain function when it accumulates). Urea levels
can also be measured with a special laboratory test.

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Other anticonvulsants
Other anti-seizure medications that were discovered to have mood stabilizing
properties include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and lamotrigine (Lamictal).
Carbamazepine, like valproic acid, may be useful for bipolar syndromes more
often resistant to lithium, such as those with rapid cycling or associated underlying
neurological disorders. Carbamazepine tends to be somewhat harder for older
adults to tolerate than valproic acid, largely because of neurological side effects
such as tremor, dizziness, incoordination, double vision, and cognitive impairment.
Carbamazepine can lower blood levels of many medications, so drug interactions
are important to consider when using it among older adults. Other side effects
that occur in all ages but may be even more problematic in older adults are
lowered blood sodium levels, rashes, altered electrical conduction in the heart,
and suppression of the bone marrow’s production of blood cells. Lowered sodium
levels can cause confusion, lethargy, seizures and even coma, and may be more
common when carbamazepine is given to older adults taking SSRI antidepressants
or diuretics.

Lamotrigine has been an important addition in the treatment of bipolar disorder

because of its relative strength in preventing depressive episodes, without the
apparent risk of inducing mania or rapid cycling observed with conventional
antidepressants. Lamotrigine appears to have good tolerability for most older
adults. For instance, cognitive side effects appear less likely in comparison to many
other anti-seizure medications. Rash, as in all age groups, is the most important
side effect to monitor. Medication interactions with other anti-seizure medications
are important to keep in mind as well. For instance, valproic acid increases blood
levels of lamotrigine, while carbamazepine decreases lamotrigine levels.

Antipsychotics
As the name implies, antipsychotic medications have traditionally been developed
for treatment of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. However, psychosis is
often evident in severe manic and depressive episodes, and antipsychotics have a
long history of use in bipolar disorder. Research has also shown that antipsychotics
may act as long-term mood stabilizers, anti-manic agents, and antidepressants
in bipolar disorder even without psychotic symptoms. Most research in bipolar
disorder has examined the newer, so-called “atypical” antipsychotics, although
the older, “typical” drugs, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and haloperidol
(Haldol), have been used for decades, especially in the treatment of manic
agitation.

Recent years have seen increasing debate over how much better (if at all) atypical
antipsychotics are than older, typical versions. Both types have relative pros and
cons in older adults. Typical antipsychotics tend to cause more neurological
side effects, such as tremors and stiffness resembling Parkinson’s disease as
well as writhing or jerking movements called tardive dyskinesia. Older adults are
more susceptible than younger adults to both Parkinson-like effects and tardive
dyskinesia when prescribed antipsychotics. Another antipsychotic side effect more
common with typical agents is elevation of the hormone prolactin. Increased

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prolactin blocks the effects of the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone,
which are already on the decline in older adults. This could worsen bone loss and
osteoporosis as well as sexual functioning, two issues often problematic for older
adults. Certain typical antipsychotics strongly block a brain chemical messenger
called acetylcholine. Decreasing the functioning of acetylcholine is particularly
troublesome in older adults because this may worsen certain symptoms already
common in aging, such as memory impairment, trouble urinating, blurry vision,
and constipation.

“Atypical” antipsychotics have traditionally been defined by their decreased

likelihood of causing neurological side effects in comparison with typical
antipsychotics. While this is true, enthusiasm for the use of atypical antipsychotics
has declined somewhat as another set of side effects has emerged with the atypical
drugs, namely adverse effects on body metabolism. Drug-induced changes in
metabolism with atypical antipsychotics include elevated blood sugar, elevated
lipids/cholesterol, and weight gain. Older adults already have increased rates of
diabetes and high cholesterol, so these drugs should be used with caution in
this population. Nevertheless, some evidence suggests effects on weight and
lipids/cholesterol may not be as common in older adults as in younger adults, and
atypical drugs vary in how likely they are to cause metabolic side effects (Mathys
et al., 2009). An important advantage of atypical antipsychotics over typical agents
is the better library of evidence supporting their acute and long-term benefits
in bipolar disorder. This is particularly true for bipolar depression, for which
quetiapine (Seroquel) and olanzapine in combination with fluoxetine (Symbyax)
are the only medications of any class FDA-approved for the acute treatment of
bipolar depression.

Special mention of another apparent age-related side effect of antipsychotics bears

mentioning here. All antipsychotics (typical and atypical) have warnings about
increasing the risk of death and stroke in older persons with dementia. The rates
of death and/or stroke increased by 1-2% in the initial 12 weeks of treatment with
an antipsychotic in studies looking at whether these drugs improved behavioral
and psychological symptoms associated with dementia, such as aggression and
agitation. While most older adults with bipolar disorder do not have dementia, this
could be an emerging clinical problem as persons
successfully treated with antipsychotics for bipolar
disorder grow older. Additionally, it is not clear
whether the risk of stroke and death is specific
to the diagnosis of dementia or is a broader
risk associated with antipsychotic treatment
among older adults, independent of diagnosis.
Antipsychotic use requires a careful individualized
assessment of risks and benefits of the medications
by physicians and patients. The potential benefits of antipsychotics for bipolar
disorder are, on the whole, considerably better established than for dementia-
associated behavior changes. Other potential risks of antipsychotics of particular
relevance to older adults include impaired balance, falls, drops in blood pressure
upon rising, and electrical abnormalities in the heart.

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Antidepressants
The use of antidepressants in bipolar disorder is generally controversial, regardless
of age, because of risks of medication-induced mania or rapid mood cycling.
Nonetheless, antidepressants are often prescribed to older adults with bipolar
disorder for either the acute or maintenance treatment of bipolar depression. Their
use is probably most reasonable in the following situations: acute depression not
responding to adequate mood stabilizer treatment, absence of rapid cycling or
mixed depressive-manic symptoms, and/or bipolar illness historically characterized
by prominent depression and relatively brief periods of mania or hypomania. As
previously mentioned, lamotrigine and atypical antipsychotics are probably better
alternatives for maintenance and acute treatment of depression, respectively, if
side effects do not prohibit their use. One bright note about antidepressant use
in older adults is that, in contrast to reports of more suicidal thinking/behavior in a
small portion of persons under age 25 taking antidepressants, these medications
on average actually decrease suicidal tendencies in adults age 65 or older.

When using antidepressants for older adults with bipolar disorder, selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) are reasonable
first choices. Among the SSRIs, sertraline (Zoloft) and escitalopram (Lexapro) are
good options for older adults because they have relatively few interactions with
other medications used for common health conditions. Citalopram (Celexa) also
has few medication interactions, but recent data suggest it may predispose older
adults to electrical conduction problems in the heart at doses over 20 mg per
day. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil) can be helpful in some cases but
are not common initial choices for older adults; they both can interfere with the
liver’s metabolism of certain other medications, and paroxetine is somewhat anti-
cholinergic, which can impair memory functions. Common initial side effects of
SSRI’s include nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, headache, and sexual
dysfunction (inability to reach orgasm, for instance). Most of these side effects
are mild-to-moderate and dissipate over time. A notable exception is sexual
dysfunction, which is often a more persistent side effect. Ageism should not
make affected persons or their treatment providers insensitive to the possible
impact of sexual side effects on older adults. Less often, SSRIs may be associated
with lowered sodium levels, accelerated loss of bone mass, and gastrointestinal
bleeding in older adults.

Bupropion has a potentially lower propensity to cause mania than other

antidepressants, does not cause weight gain, may help fatigue, and does not
have sexual side effects, but tremors, anxiety, insomnia, and agitation can be
limiting side effects. Bupropion (especially short-acting formulations) should be
used very cautiously in persons susceptible to seizures. Other antidepressants
include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as venlafaxine (Effexor),
desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and duloxetine (Cymbalta). These may be helpful for
persons with chronic pain co-occurring with bipolar disorder, although blood
pressure should be monitored for elevation on venlafaxine in particular. Mirtazapine
(Remeron) is a unique antidepressant that boosts serotonin and norepinephrine
levels in an indirect way. Notable common side effects include weight gain and
sedation, which can be used to a person’s benefit if loss of appetite and insomnia
82
are problematic symptoms of depression. Mirtazapine also does not appear to
cause sexual side effects and may actually help with nausea/stomach upset. Older
medications such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs) are seldom used among older adults with bipolar disorder.
TCAs may be more likely to induce mania than other antidepressants, and they
are difficult for older adults to tolerate. Possible side effects of TCAs include
constipation, dry mouth, sedation, difficulty urinating, heart arrhythmias, and
memory impairment. MAOIs have multiple medication interactions and dietary
restrictions, which, if violated, can cause very high blood pressure, stroke, and
even death. However, when other treatments fail, they sometimes can be helpful
for bipolar depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Few topics in modern medicine incite more controversy and divisive opinions than
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A comprehensive review of ECT is beyond the
scope of this text. Unfortunately, media dramatization, unfounded stereotypes,
and certain organizations have led many people with severe, chronic, difficult-to-
treat mood disorders to refuse ECT before getting medically reliable information
on its risks and benefits. ECT is primarily used in the treatment of medication-
resistant or very severe depression (including bipolar depression), but it is also
effective in treating mania. ECT has a long history of mostly well-intentioned
but admittedly occasionally inappropriate use in psychiatry. Any past abuses,
however rare, are condemnable but should not prevent suffering patients from
an accurate appraisal of whether ECT might be a viable treatment alternative for
them. Modern medical procedures and technology have streamlined ECT to make
it quite tolerable (more so than medications for some people), and most states
have very strict legal guidelines about safe and ethical use of ECT.

Media portrayals of ECT have usually painted a picture of it as a punishment for

“bad behavior” and/or as a painful, traumatic experience in which patients thrash
about or scream in agony. I have personally never known anyone (a patient’s family
member or a medical trainee) witness ECT for the first time that was not entirely
underwhelmed when they saw it first-hand. The actual electrical stimulus applied
to the brain lasts on the order of seconds and the induced seizure on the order
of 1-2 minutes. For decades, patients receiving ECT in the US have been under
anesthesia and thus unaware when the actual procedure is being done. It is not
punitive and patients typically have no recall of the procedure or of the minutes-to-
hours surrounding the procedure. Additionally, there is no thrashing about—that,
in fact, did occur with early ECT, but modern methods have long used a muscle
blocker which prevents the therapeutic seizure activity that happens in the brain
from causing any jerking movements in the body. The most invasive aspect of ECT
is typically a short-term IV line to administer the anesthetic and muscle blocker.
ECT has been used safely and effectively among older adults with a wide variety of
medical illnesses. In fact, some evidence suggests older adults with melancholic or
psychotic depression may be among the most robust responders. ECT, however,
is not without possible side effects. Rates of death are very low, but not zero.
Risk of death appears similar to that for other minor procedures requiring general

83
anesthesia and is roughly comparable to the risk of death during childbirth. Medical
problems which may complicate the use of ECT and increase the risk for adverse
outcomes include unstable heart disease and a brain mass/tumor. Probably the
most concerning possible side effect for most people is cognitive impairment,
specifically memory loss. This is particularly relevant for older adults, who are more
prone to memory impairments. Patients commonly report trouble remembering
some events in the weeks to months before and after ECT, although this usually
resolves. In fact, many people have improvements on tests of cognition with ECT
because the mood disorder itself was already severely impairing their memory
and concentration. Certain techniques during the ECT procedure can help spare
memory and this can be inquired about prior to the treatment.

ECT typically is given 3 times a week, for an average of 8-12 total treatments. Some
people are maintained on medications during ECT, although anticonvulsants such
as valproic acid and lamotrigine can interfere with the ability to induce a seizure,
and lithium may lead to more confusion immediately after ECT is given. Medication
regimens thus have to be individualized for each person. Almost always, however,
some mood stabilizing medication is continued, started, or re-initiated once ECT
is done, as ECT does not “cure” bipolar disorder. Its effects may be pretty long-
lasting, and many people only need one course of treatment in their lifetime. Others
may have recurrent bouts of mania or depression that respond better to another
course of ECT than to medications. Less frequently, persons with bipolar disorder
may have chronic symptoms that are unresponsive or inadequately responsive to
any treatment other than ECT. In such cases, after finishing a round of successful
ECT, future treatments can be gradually spaced apart to one treatment every few
weeks to months in what is called “maintenance ECT,” meaning ECT for these
persons is used not only to treat severe acute mood episodes, but is also used less
frequently over the long-term as the primary treatment method.

What is the role of psychotherapy in late-life bipolar disorder?

Psychotherapy as an adjunctive treatment is increasingly seen as a viable method
of improving patients’ chances of remaining euthymic and improving overall
functioning (Scott & Colom, 2005). There are now several evidence-based models
of psychotherapy that have empirical support, including cognitive-behavioral
therapy, psychoeducation, family focused therapy, and interpersonal and social
rhythm therapy. None of these treatments have been adapted specifically for
older adults, but older adults with other psychiatric illnesses often do respond
well to psychotherapy when a few modifications are made. Adaptations for older
adults may include holding briefer sessions, providing written review of session
content to increase retention, and involving supportive persons in therapy (Arean
et al., 2003). Another important target for psychosocial treatment in later life
bipolar disorder is medication adherence. Although older adults are more likely
to be adherent to medications than their younger counterparts, older adults are
more likely to endorse unintentional non-adherence (e.g. forgetting, misplacing
medications). As such, interventions such as Medication Adherence Skills Training
(MAST-BD) focus on compensation for cognitive impairments that may interfere
with regular medication taking, such as reminders, pill boxes and pairing activities
with medications.
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Because older adults with bipolar disorder often have diverse needs, spanning
financial, transportation, medical, and social realms, an important clinical task is
to broker engagement with social service agencies serving seniors. Knowledge
of community services is thus necessary. Given that social isolation is among
the most potent predictors of recurring depression among older adults, mutual
support organizations can be an incredible resource for people with bipolar
disorder. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (www.dbsalliance.org)
and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (www.nami.org) are the largest such
organizations, with thousands of chapters operating across the United States.
Unfortunately, for reasons that are unknown, older adults typically underutilize
mutual support groups.

Conclusions
More and more persons with bipolar disorder are enjoying the increases in
longevity that the general population has already experienced for many years.
Nonetheless, aging with bipolar disorder presents some unique challenges,
such as increased rates of some medical disorders, cognitive impairments, and
frequent need for adaptation of medication and psychosocial treatments. Later-
life bipolar disorder has been markedly understudied, and much remains to be
learned. Important areas of research include changes in the course of the illness,
differences in symptom presentation, the effectiveness of treatments developed
for younger adult populations, and the interaction between bipolar disorder
and cognitive disorders. There are important positive aspects of aging that are
relevant to bipolar disorder, such as better treatment adherence, age-associated
improvements in emotional regulation, and, according to many cultures, increasing
wisdom. Along those lines, perhaps it is best to conclude this discussion about
the effects of aging on bipolar disorder with the thoughts of someone who has
experienced it first-hand.

An Interview with David a 69 year old man

with bipolar disorder
David was born in Massachusetts in 1943. He first started experiencing symptoms
of bipolar disorder in his early 20s. The illness was recognized by an internist
whose mother had the illness. David was first hospitalized at age 24, but states
“While watching other patients playing volleyball while under meds I vowed not to
return.” Some of his life time achievements include obtaining an M.B.A. degree
and starting five small businesses. David remarked that he was fired from many
jobs, but at the same time kept climbing the “corporate ladder”. He has been
married for 40 years, and, of his wife, he says “She must be a saint to put up with
the heartaches and headaches caused by my BD.”

Q. What has changed about bipolar disorder since it first started for you?
The illness does not change. My experience of it has changed by learning the
nuances of it as the illness cycle keeps repeating.
It is chronic and learning my triggers took time. I still am not as proficient as I need
to be to fend off severe mood changes. However, I have learned to somewhat
lessen them.
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Q. What it is like to manage BD in the context of the other good and bad parts
about older adulthood:
As long as I am busy I can mostly keep depression away or, at least, minimized.
Among these activities I have learned to keep healthy by trying to help other
people. This counters my feeling like a “victim / loser” which is part of my
downward spiraling depressive pattern.
Managing BD is paramount so I can remain calm and logically face the challenges
of getting older. I can become depressed when focusing on my failed prostate
cancer operation and my failing kidneys whose demise started with taking Lithium
for 13 years before I educated myself on the hazard of taking it. Of course, when
I started with Lithium, it was the “only game in town”.

Q. Reflecting on your experience with bipolar disorder, what “wisdom” can

you share?
Assemble a team you can trust if you can afford it- Med management (Psychiatrist)
and Psychologist. Meds may take time to work as your body is a laboratory. 100
years from now the treatment we receive will be considered barbaric.
While you are well create an agreement with someone who sees you often that
they will make you aware when your behavior deviates from your own “normal (not
necessarily society’s standards)”. This is a concept of gaining feedback through
your “mirror”.
Realize that you can’t throw a baseball 100 miles/ hour but you could not do that
when you were 20. That is, the “good old days” are over - if they ever did exist.
Don’t isolate. A group such as DBSA allows you to see that you are not alone on
the path you are on. Listen to member stories. Somehow a group has wisdom that
you may not find on your own.
If you believe that people will stigmatize you if they know you have BD - So, what
else is new? - Try telling someone. When I do so I have been surprised by the
number of people who say they have someone they know with the illness.
We are not weak. It takes more strength to live with BD than the average person
comprehends.
Try to stay in the moment. Learn to take a deep breath. Don’t panic! A little humor
helps.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Take a walk or whatever
gets you out of listening to the tape that keeps replaying in your brain.
You can’t drive forward while looking through a rearview mirror.

A special acknowledgment to David Z. who volunteered his time so that his

personal experience might benefit others.

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Ayalon, L., Arean, P., & Alvidrez, J. (2005). Adherence to antidepressant medications
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neuroanatomy of bipolar affective disorder: A critical review. Bipolar Disord,
3(3), 106-150; discussion 151-103.
Calabrese, J. R., Hirschfeld, R. M., Reed, M., Davies, M. A., Frye, M. A., Keck, P.
E., et al. (2003). Impact of bipolar disorder on a u.S. Community sample. J
Clin Psychiatry, 64(4), 425-432.
Cassidy, F., Ahearn, E. P., & Carroll, B. J. (2001). Substance abuse in bipolar
disorder. Bipolar Disord, 3(4), 181-188.
Charney, D., Reynolds, C., Lewsi, L., Lebowitz, B., Sunderland, T., Alexopouls,
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treatment of bipolar disorder in late-life. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 13, 488-92.
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(2004). Cognitive functioning in late-life bipolar disorder. American Journal
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Kilbourne, A. M., Cornelius, J. R., Han, X., Pincus, H. A., Shad, M., Salloum, I., et
al. (2004). Burden of general medical conditions among individuals with
bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord, 6(5), 368-373.
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 Healthy Family Life
and Relationships
By Ashley Aleem

We human beings are naturally social creatures.

Interacting and connecting with others is a vital part of
our wellbeing, and neglecting our relationships can
in turn be detrimental to our mental health. Those Building and
who are already inclined to emotional reactivity maintaining supportive
and behavioral complications have a heightened
sensitivity to relational distress and are more
relationships is a
vulnerable to negative situations. It is important to critical part to our
be attuned to the health of our relationships with overall well
family, spouses, and friends, in order to improve our
mental health and maintain stability.

The Importance of Supportive Relationships

Building and maintaining supportive relationships is a critical part to our overall
wellbeing. Connecting and relating to others brings a sense of purpose, meaning,
and belonging. Isolation is often a symptom of mental health disorders, particularly
depression. With bipolar disorder, it is not unusual for one to isolate and withdraw
when depressed. As such, it is vital to work to maintain our relationships throughout
our ups and downs to prevent complete detachment in our most critical times of
need.

When we have strong and healthy relationships with friends, family members, and
significant others, we are given an opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive
companionship. These relations allow us an outlet to share our fears and
aspirations, to enjoy positive and uplifting activities, and to be comforted and
consoled when we are struggling. A healthy relationship allows us the opportunity
to call on someone for support and assistance when we need it most. The love and
support fostered through healthy relationships can in itself be a tool for recovery
from mental health symptoms. It is natural and healthy to turn to others as a means
to cope.

Moreover, social interaction can help improve our overall mood and outlook.
Engaging in recreational activities or social conversation with others can contribute
positive emotions and fend off negative ones. Positive relationships bring us
enjoyment in life, and life satisfaction can help ease symptoms of mental health
disorders, including bipolar disorder.

Improving the Bonds Within Your Family

When we are struggling with our mental health, our relationships often suffer. The
ones we are closest to, such as spouses, children, parents, and siblings, are pushed
away. We become detached, and this often drives us further into an unhealthy state.

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When stress and anxiety increase, we lash out, isolate, or shut down. This only
fuels the stress and instigates anger and resentment in our loved ones. Instead,
reaching out and connecting with those nearest to us will help fight the stress and
strengthen our bonds. Supporting our loved ones when they are struggling and
allowing them to be there for us will improve the bonds within the entire family.

The best time to practice these skills is not while in the midst of a manic or
depressive episode. Rather, it is important that you take steps to strengthen your
bond before a stressor hits. Regularly engage in mutually enjoyable activities. Go
on outings together, initiate uplifting conversation,
and exhibit support for one another’s goals and
accomplishments. Maintaining a connection during
stable times will help you be strong and prepared for
the harder times to come.

If you have already injured the bond between you

and a family member, you must make the conscious
decision whether or not to repair it. Is this relationship
worth saving? Was it a healthy relationship to begin
with? Will it bring something positive to your life if you restore it? If so, consider
reconciling and moving forward. This will require you to acknowledge your
own weaknesses, as well as others’. It will require you to make a choice as to
which behaviors you will no longer engage in to prevent another injury upon the
relationship. Expect this to be difficult. If the relationship is important to you, it
will be worth the effort. It might be helpful to engage in therapy to assist you in
preparing for this reconciliation process.

If you are serious about maintaining and strengthening the bonds with your family
members, and even developing new relationships, you should pay particular
attention to two things: educating your loved ones about bipolar disorder, and
remaining cognizant of your personal impact on your loved ones. Without this
mutual understanding, the future of your relationships will be jeopardized.

Education About Bipolar Disorder

Perhaps the most important aspect to strengthening a relationship after mental
health symptoms have caused harm, is education about bipolar disorder. Of
course, you must seek out information about bipolar disorder for yourself, but you
must also ensure that your loved ones are educated on your condition as well. The
more they know about your struggles, the better equipped they will be to assist
you when you are in need. In addition, the less inclined they will be to react poorly
to stressors about your own behaviors and reactions.

Strongly consider educating your spouse about your mental health diagnosis.
Although it is natural for a couple to have periods of decreased communication
and intimacy, it is more likely that these periods will be exacerbated by the
symptoms of bipolar disorder. Engaging your significant other in a discussion
about your diagnosis may assist in alleviating the negative effects it may have on

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the relationship. Providing literature on bipolar disorder will be beneficial, although
explaining your experience in your own words might be most powerful. If possible,
and if your spouse is willing, consider inviting him/her into a therapy session so he/
she may gather information from a mental health professional. Ongoing couples
counseling can also assist in resolving concerns and increasing the bonds between
spouses.

Consider requesting that your family members accompany you in a session with a
mental health professional to learn about bipolar disorder. Of course, you will first
want to recruit your therapist’s approval and support for this collaborative meeting.
Let your therapist assist you in preparing for this process and debriefing reactions
afterwards, as it might be a difficult situation. This psycho educational process
will provide your family members with greater understanding of your struggle. A
foundational understanding of your diagnosis will help family members accept the
past behaviors which might have harmed the family dynamic. It will also provide
them with tools to comprehend and respond to your mental health symptoms as
they arise.

For the younger children in your family, engaging in this process might not be
beneficial and may even be detrimental. Again, discuss with your therapist which
members of the family should be present for the discussion around your diagnosis.
However, all members of the family must be made aware of the matter so that they
will be better prepared to handle potential stressors and to provide support to you
as needed. There are many books available for young and old alike to help with
the education.

Be mindful that it is natural for children to have great difficulty understanding the
reason behind your behavior when you are experiencing symptoms. When you
are of sound mind, engage in a calm and compassionate discussion with your
children. Explain that your past behaviors are not an indication of a lack of love.
Show them that you are there for them as a parent now. Your actions today will help
counter those of the past. Remember to tailor your conversation to your children’s
developmental age. If they are able to comprehend more abstract concepts,
consider engaging them, along with your spouse and other adult members of
your family, in education about bipolar disorder. It might be particularly beneficial
to also engage them in family therapy, to help process emotions and reactions and
improve the overall household dynamic.

Your Impact on Others

When we are in the midst of our mental health disorders, we are often ignorant of
our impact on others. Our perception of ourselves is skewed, and our beliefs and
behaviors are often irrational. We say and do things we would not normally do.
We do not understand why others do not see or think as we do. It baffles us that
others do not agree with us unconditionally. Then, when we are well, we are often
overcome with feelings of regret, guilt, and resentment. And we cannot understand
why they cannot forgive us. Why can’t they just be there for us, support us, love us?

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We may have acted in a way, which was harmful to them. Just as we were troubled
by our minds, so were they, by our actions. As we became fearful, angry, and
confused, so did they. We cannot combat our mental health symptoms overnight.
Nor can they forgive and forget so easily. We ask them to understand, to be
patient, to give it time. We must do them the same return favor. Relationships are
reciprocal.

Be mindful of the fact that our actions do impact others. We push and pull especially
those nearest to us, our spouses, children, and best friends, and it is only human
for them to react. As you work to improve your wellbeing and fend off symptoms,
remain conscientious of how your actions are perceived by others. Consider seeking
assistance from a mental health professional to assist in increasing mindfulness of
your actions and reactions.

Developing Healthy Friendship

It is important that we surround ourselves with positive,
supportive, and encouraging people in our day-to-day
lives. Why would we choose to engage with someone
who is negative, condescending, or hostile? Instead,
It is important that we
aim to engage with those you personally feel have
something to offer you. surround ourselves with
positive, supportive, and
One effective way to meet new friends is to involve encouraging people in
yourself in social groups and activities you enjoy. our day-to-day lives
Joining a recreational club, taking a class, or even
meeting a coworker for coffee can be a means to
developing a new friendship. Centering relationships
around common interests, such as hobbies or common
vocations, can be a great way to foster sturdy relationships. Avoid
activities and areas which are likely to induce stress or anxiety, and instead, seek
out those which bring pleasure. If you feel your new friend is instigating stress
or anxiety, remove yourself from the relationship. Remember to establish a new
friendship on the foundations of open communication and mutual respect to foster
a supportive friendship with healthy boundaries. (See section on Social Interaction)

Selecting a Romantic Partner

When entering into a romantic relationship, the most important thing to remember
is that both parties are equally responsible for making it work. First and foremost,
a successful romantic relationship is founded upon mutual respect, meaning that
both individuals should show positive regard and consideration for one another.
When with your partner, are your personal needs neglected? Do you feel your
privacy is being invaded? Do you feel shut down or closed off by your partner?
Have your rights to independence and choice been revoked? Has your partner
ever intentionally hurt you, physically or emotionally? Do you feel controlled? If
you answered yes to any of these statements, it is likely that your partner is not
providing you with the respect that every person deserves. Now take a look at

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yourself: are you infringing on your partner’s personal rights or needs? Are you
disregarding their feelings or requests? If you do not show respect for your partner,
you cannot expect to receive any in return. You cannot expect this relationship to
stand the test of time.

Another crucial part to establishing a healthy and supportive relationship is mutual

interest and reciprocity. Both parties must be invested in the relationship in order
for it to last. Typically, a successful relationship will develop steadily, moving from
curious interest to true affection to honest commitment. When both parties move
through these stages at or around the same pace, a reciprocal level of investment
is being sustained. So when selecting a partner, if you notice the other is not as
engaged in your well-being, interests, or feelings as much as you are in theirs, or
vice versa, then this relationship may not work. If you feel that as the relationship
develops the other maintains equal (or close to equal) investment in you, then the
relationship is sustaining mutuality and a long-term relationship is likely.

Once mutual respect and equal investment have been established, you can begin
to consider other factors which you personally value. Consider your hobbies and
interests in addition to the virtues you prize and your plans for the future. Do you
want a family? Do you value education? Are you outgoing and loud or quiet and
reserved? Outdoorsy or a homebody? Now consider your partner; do your interests
and values line up? If all these aspects of a successful relationship are present in
yours, then you must now approach what might be the hardest part.

As an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder, it is important that you

receive support and advocacy from those closest to you, especially your romantic
partner. Explain to your partner the nature of your bipolar disorder and what it
entails for you personally. Educate your partner on the importance of following a
medication regimen and seeing a mental health professional on a regular basis so
that they can support you in following through with these tasks. You might want to
discuss your personal struggles, such as what a manic or depressive episode looks
like for you, so that they can know what to expect and how to help during these
times. Based on your comfort level with disclosure, it might be helpful to break up
this discussion into several smaller conversations. Utilize your therapist or counselor
to assist you in the process by discussing your plans beforehand and debriefing the

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experience afterwards. Throughout this important discussion with
your new romantic partner, gauge his/her response for signs
of understanding, compassion, and support. If you do not
feel like this person respects you or regards you less
for having this diagnosis, then he/she might not be
worth your time. If they call you names, degrade you The key is to expecting
for your struggles, or discourage your efforts toward
self-care, it might be best for you to withdraw from
and accepting the bad
the relationship. Again, refer to your outside support times as well as the
system for assistance if you need it. If, however, good
while having this discussion, you feel your partner is
engaged and interested, that he/she is willing to learn
about bipolar disorder and to support and comfort you
in your struggles, then congratulations. You have found a
romantic partner with the foundational makings for a long-term
relationship.

Maintaining the Relationship

In any relationship, ups and downs are bound to ensue. There is a natural ebb and
flow, which manifests in any sustained interaction, whether romantic or platonic.
The key is to expecting and accepting the bad times as well as the good. However,
if you’re not careful, you could get stuck in the downswing. It takes time and energy
to keep the relationship going strong. So how do you overcome the struggles? By
following the critical steps below.

Staying Involved
Initially in the relationship, you search for common ground through mutual interests
and values, and you establish respect and reciprocity. As the relationship develops,
you must maintain involvement with your partner so that the relationship continues
to grow and interest is sustained. Take time to schedule shared activities that you
both enjoy. Consider a variety of activities, to include daytime and evening outings.
Think about your mutual hobbies. If you’re both active, consider joining a sports
league together. If you’re entertainment buffs, set regular movie or concert nights.
Also, make it a point to express interest in your partner’s daily routine. Ask about
his/her day at work and share your experiences. Expressing genuine interest in the
other person is an effective way to sustain involvement in the overall relationship.

Expressing Emotions and Keeping Open Communication

Everyone experiences a range of emotions on a continuous basis. Some days
you’re feeling much more positive than others, and some days you will feel
down and upset. In a healthy relationship, you should be permitted to discuss
your concern as well as your excitement. If you have established mutual respect,
you should be able to easily vent about frustrations without feeling shut down or
ignored. It is particularly important to voice emotional reactions around the status
of the relationship. Verbalize your doubts and annoyances in a respectful manner,
with the intention of reaching a resolution. Also, do not neglect to articulate your
satisfaction with the positive experiences you share. Sharing positive and negative

95
emotions equally will help you express your respect and appreciation for your
partner, as well as allow you to discuss upsetting matters more effectively. For
example, if you express excitement about the gift your partner gave you, it will
be easier to voice your hurt around not being acknowledged for the gift you gave
him/her.

Remember, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. You are more likely to experience
emotional shifts than the average person. As a person diagnosed with a mood
disorder, you know the importance of attending to stressors and frustrations in order
to prevent triggering a manic or depressive episode. An effective preventative step
is to discuss your emotions regularly with those within your support system, which
of course includes your romantic partner. Remember, your partner cares about you
and has already established a willingness to
support you. Do not be afraid to process your
emotions and thoughts before they become
overwhelming.

Communicating your concerns as they arise,

particularly those related directly to the
relationship, will prevent these concerns from
growing into a full-blown conflict. You might
think that stifling the issue will result in its
disappearance, but this is a misconception.
The problem will fester within you, and not
only will the relationship be at risk, but so will
your mental health. Again, ignoring stressors
is an easy way to trigger your mental health
symptoms. This will only add fuel to the fire,
and your relationship will likely be jeopardized. Voicing your concerns along with
your satisfaction is a way to express continued respect for your partner and the
relationship itself. It is a sign of sustained investment in the relationship, and it
shows continued involvement with the other. Remember, you can always recruit
your outside support system for guidance and assistance. However, your romantic
partner is most likely your strongest support, so do your best to use this support
on a continuous basis.

Resolving Conflicts
When emotions are stifled and matters of concern are ignored, the issue is likely
to swell inside you and eventually explode. When this happens, the best thing to
do is confront the conflict directly. Open the lines of communication with genuine
concern and understanding. Listen to your partner’s opinions and consider them as
best you can. Respond as calmly as possible. Articulate your concern and present
a possible solution. For example, if you feel your partner doesn’t spend enough
time with you, first listen to his/her reasoning. Maybe he/she feels overwhelmed
at work, so he/she doesn’t arrive home until late at night and then simply wants to
go home and sleep. Really listen to their perspective. Consider their experience
wholeheartedly. Then respond with a proposed solution. Maybe you could plan
an outing on a weekend night when he/she feels rested and can give you the
96
attention you desire. Or maybe you can offer to just listen to your partner vent
about their frustrations at work in an effort to soothe his/her anxieties. Request
your partner’s input after providing a suggestion. This might be a back-and-forth
process before a solution is achieved, but it will be well worth it if you wish to
maintain the relationship. When experiencing a bumpy road with your mood, you
may suggest discussions at a later date when you are better equipped to handle it.

Remember, every relationship is bound to have ups and downs, and conflicts are an
inevitable part of this process. Expect and accept them for who they are. Consider
how important this relationship is to you, then take action to resolve the conflict
so that you may maintain this connection. Always express your continued respect
for your partner. Verbalize your interest in his/her point of view, then share your
own perspective with the knowledge that this person does care about you as well.

Preserving Individuality
An often-overlooked aspect to maintaining a healthy romantic relationship is the
importance of preserving your individuality. Although you are one of two people
in the relationship, you are first and foremost an individual with your own thoughts,
values, needs, and interests. Although you respect your partner and are considerate
of feelings and demands, you must not neglect your own wants and needs. Healthy
relationships are reciprocal. As such, your individual requests should be met with
the same respect and consideration you provide to your partner. If this is ever
not the case, return to opening the lines of communication and expressing your
emotions.

One very effective way of preserving individuality is by establishing boundaries

early on. Although you and your partner have shared interests, which you engage
in mutually, so as to strengthen and maintain the relationship, you should also have
interests independent of your partner. It is very likely that you and your partner will
naturally have some differing hobbies and pastimes. Embrace these. It is okay to
spend time with your own friends without your partner always present. It is okay
to attend a cooking class while your partner is at a computer class. It is okay to
make time for just yourself and no one else. In fact, it is necessary that you do
this. Maintaining interests and activities separate from your partner sustains a
sense of self and autonomy, which in turn will benefit the overall
relationship.

More importantly, as someone with bipolar disorder,

it is important that you tend to your own self-care
to prevent an increase in mental health symptoms, it is important that
including manic and depressive episodes. Make you tend to your own
time to attend to your personal needs on a regular self-care to prevent an
basis. This includes maintaining your physical health, increase in mental health
which has a direct impact on your mental well being.
Exercise several times a week. Take time to rest and
symptoms
unwind after work. Watch your favorite movie, go on
a walk, or treat yourself to a massage. Of course, it is
completely acceptable to do these activities independently
97
of your partner, as this maintains your individual identity.

Always keep in mind that if you do not take care of yourself, which includes setting
boundaries, keeping hobbies separate from your partner’s, engaging in self-care
activities, and embracing your autonomy, you will be ill-equipped to maintain
a healthy and supportive romantic relationship. Just as when a relationship is
unhealthy and jeopardizes your mental wellbeing, if you are not a healthy individual,
the relationship cannot be healthy either.

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 Supportive Nutrition
By Karen Freeman, MS, RD, CSSD

Making healthy food choices may seem to be a simple task, but when faced with
bipolar disorder, making those proper nutritional choices can be more challenging.
Numerous variables such as mood swings and medication treatment, place even
greater importance on understanding and implementing supportive nutrition and
lifestyle choices.

Often times when faced with challenging feelings and emotions, a natural
response might be to eat in an attempt to quell those emotions. Unstable moods
such as with bipolar disorder, can make diet and healthy eating behavior even
more challenging. However, there are several nutrition recommendations and
guidelines that when followed, can assist us in maintaining nutritional health. The
most important guideline is to eat on a regular schedule to provide continuous
fuel to our bodies.

Timing of Meals is to be on a Regular Schedule

Our bodies tend to get hungry approximately every 4 hours. Knowing the timing of
when we need to eat helps us differentiate true hunger cues from other cues such
as emotions, triggering us to eat when we do not need to.

Becoming overly hungry affects mood states. Some signs and symptoms of low
blood sugar, include irritability, feelings of impatience and/or anxiety, headaches,
lethargy or hyperactive, dizziness, compromised ability to focus or concentrate,
subtle uneven walking gait and mind racing. If you have not taken in enough food
and several hours have passed between the last meal, you are setting yourself up
for over eating. Therefore, eating every four hours will diminish the chances of
overeating and help to maintain a stable mood.

In general, carbohydrates, take an hour to digest.

Carbohydrate foods include whole grains, fruits,
vegetables, beans and lentils. Less processed carbs
are higher in fiber, and are absorbed in the intestinal Eating every four
tract more slowly, so that hunger returns more slowly. hours will diminish the
chances of overeating
Carbohydrates are the primary and necessary fuels and help to maintaina
used for brain function and for rapid muscle firing.
Glucose is the digested byproduct or breakdown stable mood
of carbohydrate metabolism. Carbohydrates are
more rapidly absorbed than the other macronutrients,
protein and fats. So, if we eat a light meal of primarily
carbohydrates, such as toast and a fruit or cereal and milk, the
digestive process will only take approximately 1 hour, making it likely that we will
be hungry again within 1 – 2 hours. Therefore, it is important to eat well balanced

100
meals consisting of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to ward off hunger for 3-4
hours.

The sample meal below of a typical breakfast indicates the food, nutrient source,
and the general number of hours the food might take to digest. This meal, with the
combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat nutrients, would take approximately
3 – 4 hours to digest.

FOOD NUTRIENT TYPE # OF HRS TO DIGEST

2 slices of toast carbohydrate 1

--------------- --------------- ---------------
1 egg with a sprinkle of protein & fat 2
cheese (feta) ~ 1oz.
--------------- --------------- ---------------
1 - 2 oranges protein & fat 2
--------------- --------------- ---------------
1 cup of decaf coffee carbohydrate 1

The Role of Protein and Carbohydrates

on Meal Planning & Timing:
As noted above, protein foods, those coming from meats, poultry, fish, eggs,
and dairy products, take approximately 2 hours to digest. Fat is a natural
accompaniment in all protein foods, and therefore, eating protein with fat allows
satiety to last approximately 3 hours. Additional fat may further enhance flavor,
satiety and fullness.

Other variables contributing to the satiety and timing include the quantity and
the fat content of the meal as well as the exercise and activity factors. While
meals containing excess quantities of protein, carbohydrate and fat, especially
fried foods, can keep hunger at bay for 5 hours or more, it is also an indicator that
the nutrient and calorie density of the meal was in excess of our calorie need and
can result in unwanted weight gain.

Of course emotional factors may affect feelings of

hunger, such as feeling less hungry during manic Emotional factors
phases and more hungry during depressed mood may affect feelings of
states. While it is imperative to honor and listen
to our body’s needs and hunger cues, it is equally hunger, such as feeling
imperative to control those urges when it is not less hungry during manic
necessary to eat. Ideally, the balance of our hunger phases and more hungry
cues correspond with our true nutritional needs. during depressed
When this balance is out of sync, the importance of
mood states
eating every 4 hours is imperative and will help keep
our blood sugars, moods, mind and energy levels stable.

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How Much Protein and Carbohydrates Do We Need?
After I graduated college with a BS degree in Dietetics, I was sure I was an expert
in giving the answer to this question. For years, I told patients of the importance
of having protein at every meal, or we would risk not replenishing lean body mass
(muscle mass) or worse yet, not be able to repair and replenish the cells turnover.
I was wrong. I later learned that the amino acid (what proteins are made up of)
pool in our bodies and we can hold amino acid combinations for up to 3 days. As
long as we get the 8 essential amino acids from a variety of food sources, we’ll be
fine. Even if we are vegetarians and never eat protein from an animal source, our
remarkable bodies are able to repair and replenish daily muscle and cellular needs
for protein.

Vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, and lentils, all grow from the ground and
are therefore mostly carbohydrates. They all contain protein as well, from 2-8
grams per _ cup cooked serving. An example of the protein power of combined
vegetables can be taken from ethnic meals where food combining is a mainstay of
the daily intake. Mexican cuisine routinely consists of rice and bean dishes. If rice
(white, brown or mixed) is mixed with beans (i.e.: red, black, kidney, pinto) each
incomplete in its protein content, the combined result is a complete “8” of all the
essential amino acids.

For the specific detail and calculations on how to assess our personal protein and
carbohydrate needs, the Recommended Daily Intakes (RDI’s) is 0.8 grams of protein
per kilogram of body weight.

The protein recommendation for an active person ranges from 1.2 – 2.0 grams per
kilogram of body weight and the protein need per day for a non-active person is
4-6 oz. for woman, 7-10 oz. for men.

An example of how to calculate the protein need for a 130 pound active person
is as follows:
1. To get weight in kilograms (kg.), divide weight in pounds by 2.2.
130/2.2 = 60 kgs.
2. To calculate the recommended grams of protein, multiply weight in kilograms
by 1.5 which is the mid range of the higher protein recommendation:
60 kg x 1.5 gms protein = 90 gms. of protein.
3. To estimate how many ounces or protein 90 grams is equivalent to, simply
move the decimal point over one place to = 9.0oz. of protein.

8 oz. of protein per day is equivalent to 1 serving of broiled fish from your favorite
restaurant, 3 oz of protein looks like a deck of cards, and 1oz. serving example is
1 cheese stick size.

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Carbohydrates, as indicated earlier, are used as the primary source of energy
for our muscles and brain function. Carbohydrate depletion is second to fluid
depletion and is the primary reason for fatigue. To calculate carbohydrate need,
we need to look at our exercise and energy expenditure:

Sedentary life style, minimum movement each day

= 1 - 2 g/kg of ideal body weight

Light activity, housework, leisure walking,

activity for everyday living
= 2 - 3 g/kg of ideal body weight

30 – 60 minutes of regular exercise each day

= 3 - 4 g /kg of ideal body weight

1 hour of exercise/ day

=5 g /kg of ideal body weight

2 hours of exercise/day
= 8 g /kg of ideal body weight

3 + hours of exercise/day
= 10 g /kg of ideal body weight

Using the Food Selection Guidelines below, we can create a sample menu that will
provide the carbohydrate and protein needs for a 130 pound active individual who
is engaged in regular physical activity of 30 minutes each day.

Food Selection Guidelines

Choose most of what you eat from plant sources: fruits, vegetables, beans, whole
grain, unprocessed and unbleached carbohydrates foods.
Your goal should be 10 x _ cup servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Choose small portions of lean, high protein foods; fish, lean poultry and low or
non-fat milk and/or yogurt.

Choose healthy oils such as; fish oils, olive oil, flax, nuts, nut butters, and avocado
instead of the unhealthy oils. And avoid fried foods, trans (hydrogenated oils) fatty
acids, and highly heated oils.

Drink plenty of water and calorie free beverages, flavored with natural foods such
as orange, cucumber, lemon, lime slices. Limit or avoid liquids containing calories.
For example, it is nutritionally preferable to eat 3-4 oranges instead of drinking the
_ cup of orange juice that requires 3-4 squeezed oranges.

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 1 SERVING
g. CHO/PRO WHAT’S A SERVING SIZE?
OF:

~ 80 - 100 calories
1 slice of bread; 1/2 cup cooked rice,
15/3 starch
pasta, cereal, beans, lentils, corn;
1/2 cup dry cereal

~90 – 120 calories

12/8 milk
1 cup, low or non-fat milk, yogurt

~ 60 – 80 calories
1/2 cup juice, canned fruit, grapes
15/0 fruit
cherries; 1 fruit, 1 cup berries,
melons; 3 dates, 2 figs, 2 T raisins.

~ 25 – 50 calories
5/2 vegetables
1 cup raw, _ cup cooked

~ 35 – 100
0/7 protein
1 oz. fish, chicken, meat, cheese,

~ 50 calories
6 almonds, cashews; 10 peanuts;
2 pecans, walnuts; 1 T seeds; *1 t. butter,
0/0 fat
margarine, mayonnaise, oil;
1/8 avocado; *1 T cream cheese;
*2 T half & half; 8 olives; *1 T coconut milk.

* saturated fat

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Sample Menu for:
130 lb. female, light exercise at 30 minutes/day
carbohydrate needs are 3-4 gm/kg body weight = 180 – 240 gms and
protein need are 1.2 – 1.5 gm/kg = 7 – 9 oz protein (=72 – 90 gms)

9 AM
1/2 cup lite cranberry juice
8 oz. hot chocolate (nonfat milk, 2 tsp coco)
1 egg
1 oz. cheese
1 slice toast
1 nectarine

10 AM
1 slice squaw toast
1 T almond butter

12:30 PM
1 banana
1 cup cottage cheese

3 PM
2 T raisins
1/2 cup bran flakes
3/4 cup Shredded Wheat or Cheerios
2 T wheat germ
1 cup nonfat milk

5:30 PM
1 tortilla
1 cup pinto beans
1/2 cup rice
1 oz cheese
1 cup green beans
salsa

8:30 PM
8 oz. nonfat milk and 3 cookies

TOTAL:
Protein 96g 21%
Carbohydrates 266g 59%
Fat 40g 20%

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How Much Fat & What Kind of Fat Do We Need?
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association
Volume 111, Issue 5 , May 2011 reviewed “The Great Fat Debate: A Closer Look
at the Controversy.” While the consensus is inconclusive as to the ideal fatty acid
content of a healthy diet, the following are some agreed upon aspects of fat intake:

• Calorie balance is important to maintain a healthy, normal body weight, as

well as eating more healthful fats from food groups recommended by the
2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
• The ratio of total fat intake is not as important as type of fats.
• Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial and should be included in the diet at
least twice weekly.
• Trans fats are unhealthy and should be kept to a minimum in the diet
because they decrease HDL cholesterol and increase total cholesterol (19).

More specifically, we might achieve these agreed upon recommendations by limiting

our total fat intake by minimizing saturated fats which are fats found in and from
meats and poultry, lard and avoid trans fats such as fried food and hydrogenated
oils. Instead, we should intake “healthy” fats such as monounsaturated fats such as
nuts, natural nut butters, seeds, avocado, tofu and olives as well as Omega-3 fatty
acids which are found in fish, flax seeds, walnuts, and canola oil.

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Some practical ways to incorporate “healthy” fats in our diet include the following:
• add 10 – 20 nuts to low-fat yogurt, or as a “dressing” addition to salads,
while drizzling the actual oil and vinegar dressing (vs.) pouring.
• drizzle vs. pour all fats.
• add _ - _ of an avocado to enhance flavors of salads and/or sandwiches.
• include natural nut butter sandwiches as a meal option.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements and Other Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 fatty acids) contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are essential fatty acids and are
Omega-3 fat found in cold water fish. EPA and DHA play a very important role
in the function of our bodies and are vital nutrients necessary to maintain healthy
functions of our body, one of which is the brain. The old wife’s tale of drinking cod
liver oil to enhance health, decrease inflammation, prevent disease and optimize
brain function, is now shown to be based in good science, since it is in fact high in
n-3 fatty acid.

The USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 4 oz of fish, twice
per week, which would provide 250 mg/day of n-3 fatty acids. Research on the
mental health benefits of n-3 fatty acid supplementation have been done with
intakes at 5 – 15, 000+ mgs/day. This large quantity is unlikely to be consistently
consumed in a healthy whole food diet without additional supplementation.
Therefore, adding a n-3 fatty acid supplement in the amount of 1 – 2 grams of EPA
plus DHA, has been shown to help a significant percentage of patients suffering
from bipolar disorder with persistent signs of irritability, by reducing the irritability
component of the mood state. (Sagduyu, 2005). However, as with all supplements,
it is always advisable to discuss the health benefits and safety concerns with your
medical doctor.

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The chart below, from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, provides a good
estimation of the n-3 fatty acid content of fish:

ESTIMATED EPA AND DHA AND MERCURY CONTENT IN 4 OUNCES OF

SELECTED SEAFOOD VARIETIES

Common seafood varieties Epa + dha mg/4 oz Mercury mcg/4 oz

Salmon: Atlantic Chinook, Coho* 1,200 - 2,400 2

Anchovies, Herring and Shad 2,300 - 2,400 5 - 10
Mackarel: Atlantic and Pacific
1,350 - 2,100 8 - 13
(not King)
Tuna: Blue fin, and Albacore 1,700 54 - 58
Sardines: Atlantic and Pacific 1,100 - 1,600 2
Oysters: Pacific 1,550 2
Trout: Freshwater 1,000 - 1,100 11
Tuna: White (Albacore) canned 1,000 40
Mussels 900 NA
Salmon: Pink and Sockeye 700 - 900 2
Squid 750 11
Pollock: Atlantic and Walleye 600 6
Crab: Blue, King, Snow, Queen and
200 - 550 9
Dungeoness
Tuna: Skipjack and Yellowfin 150 - 350 31 - 49
Flounder, Plaise, and Sole (Flatfish) 350 7
Clams 200 - 300 0
Tuna: Light canned 150 - 300 13
Catfish 100 - 250 7
Cod: Atlantic and Pacific 200 14
Scallops: Bay and Sea 200 8
Haddock and Hake 200 2-5
Lobsters: Northern, American 200 47
Crayfish 200 5
Tilapia 150 2
Shrimp 100 0
Seafood varieties that should not be consumed by women
who are pregnant of breastfeeding
Shark 1,250 151
Tilefish: Gulf of Mexico 1,000 219
Swordfish 1,000 147
Mackarel: King 450 110

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Exercise
Exercise is a very important component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In
addition to the obvious health benefits of a regular exercise routine, exercise
increases endorphins in the brain thereby boosting a person’s mood. Utilize the
exercise chart in this book to begin a regular exercise routine and check with your
treating doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Drink Water
Our bodies are made up of 61.8% water by weight.
It is therefore important to drink at least eight 8 oz.
glasses of water each day. Many times our body It is important to
tricks us into thinking we are hungry when in fact we drink at least eight
are simply thirsty. Drink up and in turn, you will eat 8oz glasses of water
less. each day
And Other Supplements?
Should we be taking a multivitamin and mineral
supplement and if so, which one and how much? Since
researchers can define and understand the role of only
approximately 20% of the substances in our food supply, it is difficult to actually
know what we are “supplementing.” Yes, we know that we need many essential
vitamins and minerals, much of which we receive in a food based healthy diet, but
there are phytochemicals, antioxidants and countless numbers of other substances
in a wholesome foods diet, of which we cannot replicate in a supplement form. If
we can embrace the idea that a supplement is in fact a supplement, not a substitute
for a healthy diet, then taking a 100% of the RDA vitamin and mineral supplement
might be good insurance.

For those who don’t like to swallow pills, gummy bear multivitamin and mineral
supplements are soft, chewable and have a touch of sweetness and therefore more
motivating to take. Similarly, calcium chews, (they taste like caramel candy) contain
vitamin D & vitamin K to enhance the absorption of calcium.

Supplement takers tend to be more health conscious and eat more whole foods
and as a result, need supplements less. In general, large brand name supplement
companies are more likely to have the nutrients in the bottle that is stated on the
label. There is no mandatory government testing or controlled way to ensure
product efficacy. Some supplement companies do voluntarily have independent
testing done on their products to receive a seal of authenticity from independent
laboratories such as “USP,” United States Pharmacopeia , “a non–governmental,
official public standards–setting authority for prescription and over–the–counter
medicines and other healthcare products manufactured or sold in the United
States.”

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and has been shown to enhance our
body’s natural immunity. Those of us with limited exposure to natural sunlight

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year round, due to where we live and/or the kind of work we do, are at higher risk
of obtaining adequate vitamin D. Supplements at doses up to 1,000 IU have been
shown to be safe. In addition, taking a 20-minute walk during the lunch hour is a
great way to increase activity while getting a natural dose of vitamin D. Being out
and about in natural daylight has also been shown to enhance one’s mood.

There are some nutrient-drug interactions that may increase the need for added
vitamin and mineral supplements. The additional nutrient need is easily met with
a 100% RDA multivitamin and mineral supplement. Psychotropic medications may
have side effects of dry mouth, constipation, or increased appetite. Some may
need to be taken with food or milk and may alter glucose and fat metabolism.
(Pronsky 2004). Some medications should not be taken with certain foods or
drinks. Some examples are as follows:
• Geodon: avoid grapefruit juice with oral form; is to be taken with food.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel); use caution with grapefruit juice.
• Risperdal may increase vitamin D metabolism and may require greater
vitamin D intake.
• Phenothiazines may increase need for riboflavin, may decrease absorption
of vitamin B-12.

For a complete list, contact your treating physician to determine what foods you
should or should not consume with your prescribed medication.

Alcohol
Alcohol is to be avoided! It is a depressant, causes instability to the brain
chemistry and may trigger depressive and manic episodes. In addition, alcohol is
contraindicated with the following medication:
• First-generation antipsychotics: Haldol, Navane, Moban, Loxatane
• Phenothiazines: Chlorpromazine, Thorazine, Prolixin, Trilafon
• Atypical and second-generation antipsychotics: Abilify, Seroquel,
Olanzapine, Geodon, Risperdal

Caffeine
Caffeine mildly stimulates parts of the body and brain. It increases heart rate
and blood pressure and is never recommended for individuals with bipolar
disorder. It interferes with sleep by leading to disturbing sleeping patterns and
causes irritability, anxiety, nervousness, upset stomach, headaches and difficulty
concentrating. It takes 3-4 hours for caffeine to be eliminated from the body.

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Therefore, to cut back and eliminate caffeine consumption, do so gradually and
try using some of these tips:
1. Mix half regular with half decaffeinated coffee or tea.
2. Drink decaffeinated coffee or tea.
3. To decaffeinate tea, steep tea bag in boiling water for 30 seconds. Discard
the tea water and reuse the decaffeinated tea bag.
4 A one-minute steep can contain just half the caffeine of a three-minute
brew.
5. Drink more water. Keep your favorite water container with you.
6. Also check the label of your over-the-counter medication. Some contain as
much caffeine as one or two cups of coffee in just one dose.

Is my diet related to my mental health?

Felice Jacka, M.D.
The idea that what you eat may actually impact on your mental health symptoms
is a relatively new one. While there were some older studies that looked at factors
such as protein or various supplements in mood disorders, these were often not
particularly scientifically sound. More importantly, nobody eats just individual
nutrients (such as folate)! We eat diets that have many, many vitamins, minerals,
macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and other compounds and they all
work synergistically together. So there is little point in examining single nutrients
or food components when we want to understand the relationships between diet
and health.
When we eat food, nutrients combine in a multitude of ways that have complex
effects on the body and brain. Because of this, it was recognised that researchers
needed to take the whole diet of people into account when looking at the
relationships between food and mental health. This particularly field of research
really began to gain traction in 2009 and has since generated many, many studies
investigating the important question, ‘is my diet related to my mental health?”
So what do we know now that we didn’t know before 2009? The studies that have
examined the relationship between diet and mental health in many different
countries and age groups have come to very similar conclusions.
Firstly, it is very clear that the ‘quality’ of our diets is related to whether or not we
have a clinical depressive or anxiety disorder, and is also related to our level of
symptoms. So we know that people, on average, who have diets higher in ‘nutrient-
dense’ foods (these are foods such as vegetables, fruits, good quality meats and
fish, wholegrains, and legumes) are less likely to have a mood or anxiety disorder
(including bipolar disorder). Similarly (although not the same thing), people who
eat a lot of ‘junk’ foods, containing poor quality carbohydrates – that is, lots of
sugar and white flour – and saturated and/or trans fats are also more likely to have
a mental disorder. This seems to be the case in adults, adolescents, and even
in very young children. These studies have shown the same thing from countries

111
around the world: China, Japan, Australia, the UK, the USA, Norway, Spain and
many European countries.
But what explains the relationships that we see? We know that people with mental
disorders eat differently to those who are not affected. People with depressive
symptoms or those who are more anxious, seem to be particularly attracted to
sweet fatty foods. Why is this? And does this explain the associations that we see
between food and mood?
These are very important questions. The answer to the first question – why are
people with depressive or anxiety symptoms attracted to sweet and fatty foods
– is quite straightforward. Simply speaking, these foods actually make us feel less
stressed and anxious when we eat them! Many studies done using rats tell us that
sugar and fats actually calm down the stress response. Unfortunately, a bit like
smoking and drinking alcohol, the long-term effects of eating these sorts of foods
appear to be the opposite of the short-term effects. In the long-term, these foods
seem to actually increase the risk for these symptoms. The other thing to consider
with these foods is that they are highly addictive. When rats are allowed to eat
‘junk’ foods as much as they want, then have the foods removed, they display all
the signs of withdrawals. At the same time, scientists can see changes in the rats’
brains that are associated with the ‘reward’ systems – the parts of the brain that are
activated in response to drugs of addiction!
The answer to the second question, whether or not the tendency for people with
mood and anxiety disorders and symptoms to have poorer diets explained by the
calming effects of unhealthy foods, the answer is ‘partly’. However, the many studies
that have sought to tease apart cause and effect find that this only explains part of
the relationship. Even after taking this fact into account, there is still evidence that
unhealthy diets increases the risk for mood and anxiety disorders, while healthier
diets are protective. So what else could explain these associations?
While it is true that people from poorer backgrounds or with less education are
more likely to have poor diets, and also more likely to have a mood or anxiety
disorder, this fact doesn’t seem to explain the relationships that we see. The fact
that people who eat well are also more likely to do more exercise, or less likely to
smoke, doesn’t explain the relationships either. So how do these relationships
work? How does food exert an influence on mental health?
Well, a lot of work (again, mostly in animals) tells us that unhealthy foods, high in fat
and sugar, have a very potent and detrimental impact on our brains, our immune
systems, out stress-response systems and our health – both mental and physical.
These interactions are complex but, simply put, such foods can shrink parts of the
brain that are seen to be important in psychiatric illness – the hippocampus; they
increase the activation of our immune systems, which we know is a key factor in
mood disorders in particular; they increase oxidative stress (antioxidants in healthy
foods do the opposite); and they activate the stress response system over the long
term. Each of these are key factors in mood and anxiety disorders.
So, is it possible to improve your bipolar illness by improving your diet? Well,
the answer is that we don’t know for sure yet. The first study to assess whether

112
improving diet results in improvements in symptoms of major depression is
currently underway and we won’t know the answer to this important question for
another year or so. However, a few recent studies have shed some light on whether
or not improving diet can result in reducing the risk for depression.
In the first big study, conducted in Europe and involving thousands of people with
risk factors for heart disease (with elevated blood pressure, overweight, diabetes
and/or other risk factors), participants were put into three groups. The first group
– the control group - were told to adhere to a ‘low fat’ diet. The other two groups
were encouraged and supported to switch to a form of a Mediterranean diet. There
is a lot of evidence to suggest that the Mediterranean diet is a particularly healthy
way of eating. It promotes high intakes and a wide range of vegetables and fruits,
as well encouraging the consumption of fish, legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans),
nuts and wholegrains. One of these groups was also told to use extra olive oil
and the other group was encouraged to have a big handful of raw nuts (almonds,
walnuts, hazelnuts) every day.
The people participating in this big study were then followed to see whether one
group had fewer cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks). The answer was
clear – those in either of the two Mediterranean diet groups had a lower risk for
such events compared to those in the low-fat diet group. What they also found was
that following this diet, particularly if the participant already had diabetes, seemed
to prevent new cases of depression occurring! This was particularly evident in the
group told to eat extra nuts every day. Nuts are very high in antioxidants and this
may have been an important factor in the protective effect.
Similarly, another recent study in older adults sought to prevent people with
symptoms of depression going onto develop a clinical depressive disorder. One
group of participants received a form of psychotherapy, while the other group
received detailed dietary counselling. The study leaders did not anticipate that
dietary improvement would result in any improvements in mental health; they’d
chosen a dietary intervention because they didn’t know that diet was relevant to
mental health! Needless to say, they were very surprised and pleased to find that
both interventions – psychotherapy AND dietary improvement – were very helpful
in preventing the occurrence of a clinical mood disorder.
The final piece of evidence that is of relevance to those suffering from bipolar
disorder is the studies showing some improvements in symptoms from the
consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil). There are several such trials now and,
although the results aren’t always consistent, there does seem to be evidence that
fish oil can be helpful for people with bipolar disorder.
Taken together, the evidence from around the world showing that diet quality
is related to the risk for mood and anxiety disorders, the extensive work done in
animals to show a noxious impact on the brain, immune system and stress response
system of unhealthy foods, and the new studies showing prevention of depressive
illness using dietary improvement and the treatment of symptoms using fish oils, all
suggest that diet is important and relevant to symptoms of mental illness. As such,
improving one’s diet and making all attempts to continue a healthy diet, may be
particularly helpful and important for people with bipolar disorders.
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Summary
• Assess what you “like” to eat and work with a balance to honor your
preferences. Sometimes choosing food you think you “should” eat
can be less healthy.
• Human bodies get hungry approximately every 4 hours. If you feel
hungry and it has been almost four hours since your last meal, you
are probably hungry and it is time to eat.
• Eat to satisfy your appetite. Appetite normally and naturally varies so
it is normal to feel hungrier on some days and less hungry on others.
• Deprivation is a setup for overeating. Include your favorite food and
enjoy social obligations and appointments. Getting overly hungry
hurts. Avoid it when possible and nurture yourself.
• Limit total fat intake and allow for small amounts of healthy fats such
as Monounsaturated fats: nuts, natural nut butters, seeds, avocado,
tofu and olives as well as Omega-3 fatty acids: fish, flax seeds, walnuts
and canola oil.
• Minimize Saturated Fats which are fats in and from meats, poultry
and lard. Avoid trans-fats such as fried food, hydrogenated oils
and sweets.
• Maintain a healthy protein intake and eat what you need per day: 4-6
oz. for woman and 7-10 oz. for men.
• Carbohydrate intake must be adequate to maintain energy and
exercise needs. Fruits & Vegetables (10+/day); Lentils, beans,
potatoes, rice, whole grains (4+/day.)
• Increase fiber intake to 35+ grams per day.
• Include low fat dairy products, such as nonfat milk and yogurt, for
bone health and to help maintain normal weight.
• Drink Water! Often we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. Limit
or avoid liquid calories and caffeine containing beverages. Water is
the #1 nutrient.
• Move about more and/or start an exercise program.
• Think before you drink alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic and can cause
dehydration, is a depressant, slows respiratory rate and is caloric. It
is contraindicated with bipolar disorders.

Lastly, The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, published by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.
dietaryguidelines.gov), as well as ChooseMyPlate.gov, are excellent resources to
assist you in developing and maintaining proper health and nutrition.

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115
 Natural Treatments
By Dr. Jennifer Bahr

Over 100 years ago Thomas Edison was quoted as saying “The doctor of the future
will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame,
in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Long before that, Hippocrates,
the father of modern medicine said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be
thy food.” Both of these are coming to fruition as people are seeking out natural
alternatives for almost everything these days, especially our foods and medicines.
As a naturopathic doctor, I am thrilled to see this trend and hope that it continues.
Many chronic diseases are the result of a poor diet and lifestyle, or can be managed
well with natural therapies. Mood disorders are no different. I do, however, have
some reservations about how the word “natural” can be misleading and assumed
to be healthy and safe. But before we get into the meat of specific treatments and
their safety (or non-safety) for various aspects of mood disorders, I want to discuss
some important relevant background information anyone using natural therapies
should keep in mind.

To start off, I may have just used a term you may be unfamiliar with – naturopathic
doctor. If you are like many people, including myself before I went to naturopathic
medical school, you have probably never even heard of this type of doctor.
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained in 4 year, graduate-level residential
naturopathic medical schools after completing 4 years of undergraduate education.
We are taught the same biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology,
biochemistry, pathology and even pharmacology
as your MD or DO. In many cases we are actually
taught by an MD. Where our training differs is the
focus of treatment. We follow a therapeutic order
and philosophic principles, which I will describe
next as they are relevant to this chapter, that
guide the use of natural therapies to stimulate
the body to heal. The types of treatments NDs
learn are clinical nutrition, botanical medicine,
homeopathy, hydrotherapy, mind-body medicine,
environmental medicine, naturopathic manipulative therapy, and in some schools,
acupuncture and bio/neurofeedback. All NDs are trained as primary care doctors,
but some will choose to focus on a particular body system or area of concern, such
as mental health. Those of us who do have a specific area of expertise will still
treat the whole person with naturopathic methods, not just the disease itself. This
is especially important in mental health, where there are often physical concerns
that are highly related to the mental health concerns.

The Naturopathic Approach

At the foundation of naturopathic medicine are six principles and a therapeutic
order that guides treatment. I have found that in choosing the best natural methods
to use, even at home, these principles should always be followed. For that reason I
feel it is pertinent to discuss them first.
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Primum non nocere: First do no harm
As I mentioned above, just because it is natural, does not mean it is safe. Ephedra
is a great example of this. Once widely sold in diet supplements, it ended up being
over-used or even abused, and contributed to the early death of young athletes
or those trying to lose weight. Before you begin any type of diet, lifestyle change,
supplement or medication regimen, first ask yourself if it will do any harm. Keep in
mind though that sometimes in mental health leaving a condition untreated causes
more harm than using a medication with unpleasant side effects.

Vis medicatrix naturae: The healing power of nature

With naturopathic medicine, the focus is on the healing power of nature, including
the healing power within our bodies. We have an amazing, innate capacity to heal,
especially when given the right tools to do so. Natural treatments should focus on
this healing power more so than on brute force.

Tolle Causam: Identify and treat the cause

When possible, the cause of the illness should be sought out and identified.
In mood disorders, things such as dietary insufficiencies of both macro and
micronutrients, hormone imbalances, and lifestyle can be the cause of symptoms,
or make symptoms more challenging.

Tolle Totum: Treat the whole person

Treating the whole person is especially vital in mental health challenges. The brain
and the body are not disconnected and shouldn’t be treated as if they are. What
affects one, affects the other. Unfortunately, in the modern era of overspecialization
in our doctors this principle of interconnectivity can be lost.

Docere: Doctor as Teacher

Doctors are informed guides to help you make decisions about your health. Using
diagnostic tools and extensive medical knowledge they can empower you to set
health priorities and goals, and then mentor you as you navigate your way toward
health.

Prevenere: Prevention is the best medicine

When possible, it is always better to prevent illness before it starts. This principle
focuses primarily on lifestyle choices that establish the conditions for health.

The last point is a perfect segue into the therapeutic order, because it is the first
step that is vital to all treatments. Like the principles of naturopathic medicine, the
therapeutic order can be used to help you make the best decisions for your health.
As we go through naturopathic approaches to mood disorders and their common
co-occurring conditions we will be using the therapeutic order as a guideline. Some
therapies or methods can be broadly applied to most chronic conditions. Where
this is true it will be noted. Some therapies discussed can be used with relative
safety in mood disorders, others will be discussed as natural medicines that should
be avoided with certain diagnoses. Regardless of these notations about broad use
and levels of safety, any changes you make to your diet or natural supplements
should be discussed with your doctor(s).
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THERAPEUTIC ORDER
1. Establish conditions for health. This is the area we will focus heavily on as it
is relevant to all conditions, mental health or otherwise. Ensuring this step is in
order will make other treatments, natural or conventional, work more effectively
and in some cases may reduce the need for some drugs. In order to establish
the conditions for health we will focus on aspects of lifestyle such as sleep,
exercise, mindfulness, social relationships and diet.
2. Stimulate and support the self-healing process. To accomplish this, NDs
will use therapies that have been around for centuries to amplify signals to the
body and brain that establish natural rhythms
or biochemical processes, or to stimulate the Naturopathic Therapeutic Order
body to heal itself. These therapies may include
1. Establish conditions for health
homeopathy, hydrotherapy or light/dark
2. Stimulate and support self-healing
therapy. process
3. Correct areas of imbalance. With this step 3. Correct areas of imbalance
we aim to ensure that the mind and body are 4. Pathology-centered natural care
integrated, hormones (especially thyroid in
5. Pharmacology intervention
mood disorders) are being produced and
utilized optimally, and biochemical pathways are 6. Surgery
functioning optimally. Temporary high doses
of nutrient cofactors (vital nutrients needed to produce energy, hormones,
and neurotransmitters), hormone supplementation, neuro/biofeedback and
meditation can be helpful in this stage.
4. Apply pathology-centered natural care. Pathology-centered natural care
aims to suppress symptoms of an illness. Very high doses of vitamins (the
orthomolecular approach), botanical or herbal medicine, and specific nutrient
supplementation in the case of a known deficiency are common approaches for
mental health conditions. These methods are rarely healing, and as such, would
need to be used long term and monitored regularly unless the first 3 areas
above are addressed. The approaches used in this step will almost universally
have cross-reactions, the same action as, or interferences with conventional
drugs. They may also cause complications in your condition even if used alone.
None of these types of natural treatments should be used without the help of
your doctor.
5. Apply pharmacologic intervention. Naturopathic medicine is not funda-
mentally opposed to the use of conventional drugs. Sometimes the use of
pharmacology is necessary and saves lives. Until the work of eliminating the
stigma associated with mental illness makes it easier to seek treatment early,
this will unfortunately be where most people will start their journey to recovery
and will have to work backwards or through several stages at once. The more
we are able to talk about mental health challenges, and the safer it feels, the
more we can focus on early warning signs and less intensive interventions at the
beginning of treatment. Until then, you or your loved one will likely start with a
conventional drug. This does not mean you can only use pharmaceuticals or will
have to be on them for the rest of your life.

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6. Recommend surgery or major procedures. Surgeries for mental illness are
thankfully a thing of the past, but major procedures such as electroconvulsive
therapy are not. Much like the conventional model, this would only be
recommended as an absolute last resort and would be referred to a specialist
to conduct it.

Working with a Doctor

I am sure you are eager to read about the therapies you can use at home, but
while I still have your attention I want to make sure I emphasize the important
role your doctors play, even with the use of natural medicines. Nothing I can give
you in this chapter is as specific and individualized to you as a healing treatment
should be. Without a detailed history, a keen understanding of your or your loved
one’s unique experience of depression, anxiety or mania, or diagnostic work ups
for nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, or underlying physical ailments
manifesting with mood dysregulation, none of these treatments will be as effective.
And as I have already and will continue to emphasize, not all natural treatments are
safe to use without medical guidance.
The most important thing you can do to take control of your health and moods is
to be honest and open about them. Be honest with yourself about what you eat,
how you live, your mood triggers, your sleep, etc. There are many valuable tools
at the end of this book you can use to help with this. There are also smart phone
apps you can download to help track these things. You should also be honest
with your doctor about your treatment goals, dietary supplements you are taking,
and discontinuation of any medications. All of your doctors have your health and
best interests at heart, but they can’t help you as well if they are only working with
part of the information. And finally, make sure your doctors talk to each other so
that they can come up with the best treatment plan, and not use anything that will
negate the therapeutic effect of something else you are taking.
If you are hoping to try to use natural treatments to reduce or eliminate the need
for medication there are several types of healthcare providers you can work with. I
am writing this chapter from a naturopathic perspective because that is how I was
trained. There are also MDs (medical doctors) or DOs (osteopathic doctors) that
have received additional training in homeopathy, functional medicine, or integrative
medicine that will utilize similar approaches to treatment. Some acupuncturists
work with mental health conditions, however they often use a combination of herbs
and needling based on principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Please note that
not all states protect the title of “naturopath” to those who can be legally licensed
to provide care to patients. There are some online schools that provide courses
in naturopathy, herbal medicine, nutrition or homeopathy, but their graduates are
not eligible to be licensed, which means they are not regulated or held to any
standards of safety. If you have questions about how to determine if someone
you are considering working with is a licensed doctor visit your state or national
medical/osteopathic society or naturopathic association.

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Establish Conditions for Health
Treatments do not always have to be something that you put into your body,
they can be related to how you live your life, and sometimes what you don’t put
into your body. Lifestyle treatments can be related to sleep, diet, exercise, social
relationships, mindfulness, and the patterns/routines of daily life. These can and
should be broadly applied regardless of your diagnosis (including those who have
a physical health diagnosis, or even no diagnosis at all).

Sleep
Regardless of your health concern, sleep is vital. Health news reports are littered
with evidence that our current lifestyle is reducing our ability to get this much-
needed aspect of general health. We are constantly bombarded with artificial lights
that negatively impact our natural biological clock. Top that with poor food choices
that impact our blood sugar and therefore energy regulation, and relatively high
levels of stress in our go-go lifestyles, and you have a recipe for poor sleep.
Researchers have yet to identify exactly why we need to sleep, but studies in sleep
deprivation give us some insight into the effects of not getting enough zzz’s. One
small study conducted a simple 24 hour sleep deprivation in adults with no major
health concerns and found that stress hormones were increased while cognitive
function and memory were decreased1. Other studies have shown that even
fragmented sleep for a single night affects some hormone production and can
contribute to increased eating with lower feelings of fullness the following day2. To
make a long story short, we need to sleep to maintain a healthy body and brain.
Disordered sleep, whether insomnia or hypersomnia (too much sleep) is very
common among those with mood disorders. Good sleep hygiene practices can
be helpful in establishing an environment that is more conducive to sleep. This
includes establishing a nightly routine to signal your brain that it is time to prepare
for sleep. An ideal nightly routine would include turning lights down, turning off
all screens, and engaging in calm, quiet activities such as reading. It also includes
setting a daily routine in which you wake up at the same time, even on weekends,
and don’t nap. Caffeine should be avoided after 2pm, but keep in mind that the
effects of caffeine can linger as long as 12 hours depending on how quickly your
body processes it. Finally, use your bed only for sleep and sex. This means that
if you have difficulty falling asleep you should get up and do something else,
preferably boring and without a lot of light, and return when you feel sleepy again.
For those of you who are attached to your smart phone or tablet and use them
exclusively for reading, it would be wise to invest in a library card or older model
e-reader without the backlit screen. Trying to read to induce sleep on a backlit
screen is counterproductive.
More information on specific, non-lifestyle related treatments for disordered
sleeping will be given in later sections.

Diet
The same hectic, non-stop lifestyle that can interfere with sleep also often interferes
with diet. Our diet is where we obtain all of the vital nutrients and cofactors that are
responsible for the normal production of energy, hormones, and neurotransmitters.

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We are always looking for the magic bullet or the specific diet that will solve
our problems. Should you eat high carb and low fat? What about high protein?
Vegetarian? Vegan? Gluten free? Dairy free? There is the Paleo diet, the Atkins
diet, the South Beach Diet, The Zone, the Ketogenic diet, the Blood Type Diet,
the Feingold diet, and on and on and on. You have probably tried one or more of
these diets at some point. The problem is that all of our bodies are different and
will respond differently based on our metabolism and nutritional needs.
Dietary focus should be on having a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and with a
healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats (very important for
brain function). The chapter on nutrition goes into great detail about how to
accomplish this, so I will not duplicate the effort here. Instead, I will focus on the
five most common dietary missteps that are associated with a large majority of
chronic diseases.
1. Sugar. We all love sugar, it is encoded in our DNA. But sugary foods are
often high in calories and low in nutrients. Sugar is also associated with
inflammation throughout the body and the brain, and this inflammation is
correlated to many chronic conditions. Reducing or eliminating sugar from
your diet is an excellent first step toward establishing conditions for health.
Keep in mind, alcohol and refined grains such as white bread and pastries
count as sugar even if they don’t taste sweet to you right now. Eliminate
sugar for a month and then see how sweet they really are!
2. Artificial sweeteners. These are just as problematic as sugar. The research
is inconclusive about how these chemicals affect our brains, but there is
strong evidence regarding how they affect our appetite and weight. If you
think about it, it makes sense that consumption of diet sodas would lead to
increased caloric consumption overall because you usually drink soda with
junk food. In fact, the San Antonio Heart Study examined this correlation
and found that those who consumed artificially sweetened beverages had
a significant increase in risk and rates of obesity, even when they started
at normal weights3. While obesity is not a direct contributor to mood
disorders, it is a common co-occurring condition and a frequent side effect
of anti-depressants and mood stabilizers.
3. Highly processed foods. Just like sugar, we all love fatty, greasy foods.
Hi fat foods served our ancestors well to store fat in preparation for times
of scarcity, so we inherited the taste for them. In our current environment
of abundance, this taste doesn’t serve us as well, and leads to the
overconsumption of readily available junk food. These foods are very high
in calories and unhealthy fats (mostly trans fats that make cell membranes
less fluid), and very low in nutrients. Eating “junk food” every once in awhile
is fine, but eating it regularly leads to obesity, inflammation, insufficient
nutrient status, mood changes, digestive problems, and migraines just to
name a few. Anyone with a chronic condition can probably attest that when
they eat junk food, their chronic symptoms get worse. I always suggest that
my patients shop on the outside edges of grocery stores. This is where
you will find fruits, veggies, proteins and grains that are in their original,

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 non-processed form. The more foods you can eat that are recognizable in
nature, the better.
4. Eating foods we are sensitive to. Not everyone has a food sensitivity
(sometimes called food allergies), but a lot of us do. Eating foods that we
are sensitive to can be related to a whole host of things, including mood
disruption, difficulty concentrating, skin conditions, headaches, digestive
complaints. Do these sound familiar? Probably, because they keep being
mentioned as things that can be associated with inflammation, which eating
foods you are sensitive to can cause. The most effective and accurate way
to uncover food allergies is by elimination and challenge. What this means
is that you would eliminate all foods that have been identified to cause
sensitivity or allergies in the general population, and then after a period of
1-2 weeks, reintroduce the foods one at a time. This is a very slow and tedious
process, but it can be worthwhile if you have reactions after eating foods,
but can’t identify which specific foods they are. The most common food
sensitivities are wheat/gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, nightshade vegetables
(like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers), citrus fruits, garlic, and yeast. There
are some blood tests that can be run to check for IgE (immediate response)
and IgG (delayed response) allergies to food, however their accuracy is
somewhat debated. Despite that, people often find improvement in their
health when they remove foods that are found using one of these tests.
5. Pesticides on foods. Organophosphate pesticides are present on all
conventionally grown produce. These chemicals have been found to be
associated with adverse neurodevelopment (including behavioral issues)
and cognitive issues. They are also associated with insulin resistance, which
is a concern if you are taking medications that are also associated with
insulin resistance, such as the neuroleptic drugs. Some symptoms associated
with a high body burden of these pesticides in otherwise healthy people
are poor cognition, poor attention, short-term memory loss, depression,
fatigue, numbness, balance or coordination issues, thyroid dysfunction,
and disruption in sexual interest4. Do any of those overlap with a mood
disorder? You bet. Consumption of pesticides have not yet been shown to
be associated with the onset of a mood disorder, but why risk worsening of
your symptoms by adding something to your body that on its own causes
the symptoms you have? Of course, eating only organic foods can be cost
prohibitive, so I suggest that my patients use the guides published by
the Environmental Working Group each year. These guides give the dirty
dozen, which are the most likely to retain pesticides that you will ingest,
and the clean 15, the least likely to do so. In general, the thicker or tougher
the skin is, the less likely it will be to affect you. If you throw away a peel, it
is probably safe to buy conventionally grown and save some money. Just
remember to wash the skin before you cut through it.

Exercise
It has been said that exercise is the most effective but least used antidepressant and
anti-anxiety treatment. In general, to live a healthy lifestyle you should aim to get
at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (where your heart rate gets between
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65-85% of the maximum predicted heart rate) and 15-20 minutes of resistance or
strength training exercise at least 3 days a week. To calculate your target heart
rate, subtract your age from 220 and then multiply by .65 for the low end, and .85
for the high end. For a 35-year-old person you would have the following equation:
220 – 35= 185 (predicted max HR)
185 x .65 = 120.25 (low end of cardio training HR)
158 x .85 = 157.25 (high end cardio training HR)

Based on the calculation a 35-year-old person would aim to keep their heart rate
between 120 and 160 beats per minute for at least 30 minutes. Strength training
can be done using body weight for resistance, stress bands, or weights. This is
recommended for most health conditions, but you should always check with your
doctor before beginning a new exercise program. Some conditions may have
specific limitations.
Some studies have shown a correlation between depression and periods of lower
exercise frequency and mania with higher frequency of exercise, however this
does not mean more exercise causes the mania. In my practice, it has been my
observation that regular, and specifically morning exercise, is effective for helping
to maintain mood stability. Part of that is likely related to consistent timing of daily
routines and improved sleep with regular intense exercise.
If you are drawn to more intense forms of exercise, keep in mind that more does
not always mean better. Your body needs time to recuperate. Going far beyond
your limits can cause increased inflammation rather than decreasing it, and can be
counter productive as it could lead to injury that will disrupt your exercise routine
entirely.
If you are new to exercise, start slowly and choose something that is fun for you
so you are more likely to stick with it. The goal in exercise with bipolar disorder is
routine and consistency, so starting with an intense program you are unlikely to
maintain more than a few weeks will be less effective than a moderate program
you can stick with and build on as your fitness improves. Yoga is an activity that has
been demonstrated to improve attention and decrease self-report of feelings of
depression and anxiety5. Yoga can vary in intensity from recuperative (very gentle)
to the more intense versions at higher temperatures. Find what works best for you.
Finally, exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym! You can find active hobbies that
count as exercise, such as wood working, gardening, or hiking. In fact, the benefits
of exercise can be enhanced by being outdoors. Time in nature has been shown
to reduce cortisol levels (highly associated with stress), improve an overall sense of
wellbeing, and even reduce symptoms of ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY
DISORDER, even without exercising.

Social Relationships
Social interaction is covered in more detail in a later chapter, so it will not be
covered in detail here. I do want to point out briefly that healthy relationships
are vital to overall health and treatment outcomes. Medications, diet, or herbs
cannot give you less anxiety if you work in an incredibly stressful environment
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with an abusive boss. It may help reduce your anxiety by blunting it, but it will
not remove it. Additionally, a recent study showed that treatment adherence to
mood stabilizers is improved where the patient has strong social support as well as
strong beliefs that their health outcomes could be influenced by others6. Although
this study has not been done regarding natural therapies, I have found the same
to be true in my practice and in that of my colleagues throughout the US. The
bottom line for those with a mood disorder is to surround yourself with healthy
relationships and people who are living how you want to live. For those who love
someone with a mood disorder, support them in their choice of healthcare and
they will be more likely to stick with it, leading to better outcomes.

Daily Routines
Throughout this book, the need for consistent routines is emphasized. In many
ways bipolar disorder is really a disorder of circadian rhythms. The natural sleep/
wake cycle is altered. By maintaining consistent routines primarily through sleep/
wake times, night time routines, regular healthy meals, and morning exercise
as described above we can help to maintain a more effective circadian rhythm.
Consistent routines amplify and reinforce the cycle that we wish to maintain.

Mindfulness
Entire books can and have been written on mindfulness. Mindfulness is an
effective tool to ensure that all of the aspects of lifestyle enumerated above can be
accomplished. It can help to establish and maintain your nightly routine by giving
you the skills to slow down. It can help you manage your sugar, alcohol or junk
food cravings by helping you to identify the feelings that you may be having that
trigger cravings. It can help you to become more aware of your feelings related
to triggers and slow your reactions to them. This can in turn help to improve your
relationships. Exercise itself can be incorporated into mindfulness, and mindfulness
can help you maintain your motivation for exercise. Some professional athletes or
entrepreneurs have even attributed their mindfulness practice to their success in
sports or business because of the focus and concentration it gives them.
Meditation and mindfulness are almost always thought of as one and the same. This
often conjures up images of people sitting still for 30 minutes trying not to think or
feel anything. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Mindfulness is actually a keen
awareness of the things that you are experiencing without judgment. Mindfulness
is experiencing the details of life in an intentional way without distraction. Trying
mindful eating is often an effective first exercise. To do this you would begin by
eating without distractions of TV, conversation, music, or anything. You would
engage all of your senses as you slowly take a bite. What does your food look like?
Feel like? Smell like? What are the sounds it makes as you chew? What are the
nuances of its flavor? Can you pick out individual spices? Where do you feel the
food inside your mouth? How does it feel as you swallow? Mindful eating slows the
process down, brings greater awareness to our appetite and emotions, and often
leads to less overeating and more enjoyment of healthier foods.
For those interested in even greater exploration of mindfulness there are programs
that you can take. One in particular was developed by John Kabat Zinn and others

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for the purposes of helping with pain in a hospital setting. The 8-week Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course is now offered to communities and hospitals
throughout the US. I recently found a free online version that can be done in your
home, however you will miss out on some of the group dynamic and interaction so
it may be best to undertake the online version with a friend. There are also books
that you can read to help guide you through various types of meditations that you
might find helpful to cope with more challenging moments. One of my favorites is
The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Christopher K. Germer.

Stimulate and Support the Self-Healing Process

The body has an amazing ability to heal itself, as does the mind. Doubt the truth in
that? Next time you have a cold or a cut, watch and see what your body does even
if you don’t do anything. Sometimes all we need to do is establish the conditions
for health to alleviate our symptoms. In mood disorders, that is not often the
case. Instead, our systems need some support or extra stimulus to heal. The three
methods I have found to be the most effective in mood disorders are hydrotherapy,
homeopathy, and light/dark therapy.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is what it sounds like – the therapeutic use of water – however it is
so much more. In fact, some of my teachers argued that it is a bit of a misnomer
and should really be called thermotherapy, or heat therapy. After all, therapeutic
treatments using water are really focused on the transfer of heat through the
deliberate application of cold or hot water. This can be done using steam rooms,
cold plunge baths, ice, or wet towels (the most accessible and most common
method).
Some of you may be familiar with the more sordid history of psychiatry where
“hydrotherapy” was used as a method of scaring willful or psychotic patients into
submission. In these cases a doctor would simulate drowning or cause extreme
discomfort. I bring this up only to reassure you that this is NOT the type of
hydrotherapy I am discussing.
I see modern day hydrotherapy as it is used by naturopathic doctors to be a
therapy that is amplifying our body’s natural processes. The systematic application
of hot and cold cloths helps to increase nutrient delivery and waste removal from
tissues, reducing inflammation, improving circulation and the immune system,
and generally helps to alleviate stress. The way that hydrotherapy amplifies these
things is by creating what I liken to a pump throughout your circulatory system. The
heat causes dilation of the blood vessels and brings more blood to the surface by
dilating those closer to the surface and constricting those deeper down. Alternating
with cold then does the opposite, constricting the surface vessels and dilating
the deeper vessels, thus shunting the blood that was just drawn to the surface
back down to the internal organs. Blood and lymph work to deliver nutrients and
remove wastes, and this pumping action helps to amplify that.
Hydrotherapy is something that you can do at home and is usually more effective in
the early stages of any condition. It can be helpful in the early stages of depression,

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anxiety, or mild mania as a method to have purposeful relaxation. It can also be
very helpful with pain and other chronic conditions. Despite this, hydrotherapy is
not broadly applicable. The methods used can be either stimulating or relaxing to
the system. In general, the longer you apply the hot or cold, the more relaxing it
is, and the shorter, the more stimulating. Additionally, the greater the temperature
difference (never to the point that you would scald someone) of the water or
applications to your body temperature, the more stimulating it would be. Finally,
you would not want to apply heat for a long time to an already inflamed area.
Hydrotherapy can be done with the full body or localized to a specific area of pain
or trauma. For mood disorders in early stages I find what is called constitutional
hydrotherapy to be helpful, although I would not use it as a stand alone treatment.
To do constitutional hydrotherapy it takes about an hour, requires a decent amount
of equipment, and someone to perform it. It is best done in an office setting. For
a simpler version you can easily do at home you can perform alternating hot and
cold showers. For an average 10-minute shower you would begin with 3 minutes
of hot water followed by 30 seconds of cold and repeat two more times. The hot
water should be hotter than an average shower but not so hot that it will scald the
skin. Similarly, the cold water should be as cold as you can stand it without being
painful. Alternating hot and cold showers should always end on cold, even in the
winter. You will be surprised how quickly you warm up when ending on cold, and
how much longer you retain the warmth than with regular showers. Most people
report that they feel more energized when they end their showers with a cold blast
as well.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses small doses of single substances
found in nature to stimulate the body to heal. It is based on a centuries old
principle of like cures like that was first posited by Hippocrates, the father of
modern medicine. The exact mechanism in which homeopathy stimulates healing
is unknown, however the current research suggests that nanoparticles7 of the
original substance are created during the process followed to make a homeopathic
preparation.
For homeopathic treatment to be effective for serious conditions a skilled
practitioner and diagnostician needs to be involved. Homeopathic remedies are
prescribed based on the unique, characteristic symptoms that each individual
experiences with their illness. Everyone reading this has or knows someone with a
mood disorder. If you were all to share your stories there would certainly be some
common themes. This is what leads to your medical diagnosis. But I am certain
you would notice some subtle, and some not to subtle differences in how you
experience episodes of mania or depression. Some people find it more pleasant
with increased social engagement and more effective work. Some find it irritating
with increased anger and agitation. Others find it scary with auditory or visual
hallucinations or incredibly risky behaviors. Some are driven to think of or even
attempt suicide because of their symptoms, while others never reach that point,
even if their symptoms are as severe. Similarly, you will also not all have the same
physical symptoms associated with the condition. Some may get migraines every

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time they get depressed or manic. Some may get specific aches and pains. Others
may have digestive complaints. Being able to gather all of this information, sort
through the things that place you or your loved one in a diagnostic category, and
then sorting out the aspects that are unique and specific to you is the job of a
homeopathic practitioner.
The reason this is so important is that these unique symptoms are what guide the
selection of a remedy to help you heal as a whole person. There are over 3,000
homeopathic remedies to select from, and each has specific indications based off
of individual presentation. It is the most individualized medicine that I have seen
thus far. For that reason, it would be impossible to give examples of homeopathic
remedies to use for mood disorders. Any given remedy listed would only work if
your depression, anxiety, or mania symptoms were exactly those that the remedy
is indicated for.
This complex and often poorly understood form of medicine can be incredibly
powerful when done well. There is evidence that it is in no way inferior to the use
of Fluoxetine (Prozac)8 and that it is more effective than stimulant medications for
attentional issues9. In my practice, I have seen a well-prescribed remedy be so
effective that a suicidal patient had a significant reduction in her suicidal thinking
and behavior before she was even seen in the emergency room, so much so that
she was sent home immediately after her evaluation with no concerns for her safety.
For a more detailed example of how homeopathy is used and the types of results
that can be possible, see the case example at the end of this chapter.

Light/Dark Therapy
As described the section on establishing conditions for health, bipolar disorder is
in many ways a disorder of circadian rhythm. When maintaining consistent daily
routines isn’t enough to keep moods stable, sometimes we need to amplify the
sleep and wake cues. This is where light and dark therapy comes in.
Our circadian rhythm is primarily dictated by hormones that fluctuate throughout
the day including cortisol and melatonin. Hormone regulation is affected by many
things, including what we eat. This will be discussed more in a later section. The
production of melatonin requires a complex mechanism involving light input from
the eye to an area of the brain called the hypothalamus and more specifically, the
suprachiasmatic nucleus. When we use light and dark therapy we are amplifying
these signals that would occur in nature if we didn’t use artificial lighting. This is
also why some people will notice an improvement in their sleep patterns after
having gone camping for a week that will last well past their return to their usual
daily life. When we camp we reduce our artificial light exposure that is coming
directly into our eyes and are often able to sleep earlier as the sun sets. This really
only applies to more rustic camping, not to RV camping.
Note that this subsection is called light/dark therapy. Often people will think to use
light therapy when they are depressed because of news stories they have read or
because it worked for a friend. They go online, find a place to order a light with the
more therapeutic wavelengths (typically blue), and then sit in front of it for however
long they can muster, all without direct supervision from a medical professional.
This can be dangerous to do if you have or are susceptible to bipolar disorder.
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People who have this condition can sometimes have a mania triggered if light
therapy is used alone without the accompanying dark therapy. Basically they are
amplifying only half of the signal to the brain.
To more safely and completely amplify signals for our circadian rhythm, we need
to block the same light wavelengths at night that the morning light provides in
abundance. The easiest way to accomplish this is by wearing sunglasses that
block blue wavelengths for an hour or two before bed, even indoors. I have found
patients with bipolar disorder who have clear evidence of a delayed sleep phase
demonstrated with 24 hour salivary cortisol testing do quite well normalizing their
sleep patterns when this method is adhered to strictly and monitored.

Correct Areas of Imbalance

Sometimes setting the stage for optimal health and working with the body’s innate
ability to heal still falls short. Sometimes this is due to medications that are being
used to treat the condition. Other times it is because of the length of time that the
body has been exposed to less than optimal conditions. In these cases, we need
to use more overt methods to bring the body back into balance.

Hormones and Mood Disorders

The most important hormone to discuss as it relates to mood disorders is thyroid.
What we typically call thyroid hormone is actually made up of several different
hormones. The most common hormones that we monitor are thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Symptoms of a low
functioning thyroid include depression, weight gain, constipation, lethargy/fatigue,
dry skin, and hair loss. Symptoms of a high (meaning too high) functioning thyroid
are agitation, anxiety, weight loss and restlessness. There are several things that
can contribute to a poorly functioning thyroid, including the use of lithium as a
mood stabilizer.
In my practice I have found that it is incredibly important to monitor thyroid
hormone levels in anyone who is experiencing mood instability. For some people,
appropriate thyroid hormone replacement alleviates their symptoms entirely. For
others, thyroid hormone is not needed, but nutritional cofactors to help with the
conversion to the more active form of the hormone can be beneficial. In general,
my experience has taught me that no matter what type of treatment used, natural
or conventional, nothing is as effective if the thyroid is not functioning optimally.
You must have a blood test to assess your thyroid function before undertaking any
treatment. To get the broadest possible understanding of function your doctor
will likely order TSH, T4 and T3. If you use hormonal contraceptives you should
have the free form of T4 and T3 assessed. Occasionally doctors will also order
reverse T3 to assess the conversion of active hormone to this relatively inactive
form. And finally, should there be any suspicion of autoimmune causes for thyroid
abnormalities, thyroid antibodies would be checked as well.

High Dose Nutrients

There are pro and con arguments for almost everything these days, and even
something as seemingly innocuous as multivitamins has not been spared. Some
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say that multivitamins are a waste of money and only give you “expensive urine.”
This may be true for some of us, but not for others.

Those of us with “clean” healthy diets that we have maintained for a long time
will often get most of the nutrients we need from our food if we are conscientious
about eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. If you are one of these people
and you have good energy, go to sleep and wake up easily, and have regular
healthy bowel function, you may not gain as much benefit from a multivitamin.
If you struggle more with any of these things, using a multivitamin may help to
ensure that you are getting not just adequate, but optimum levels of nutrients.
For those of us who have been eating poorly and have more systemic inflammation,
this may also be true but not why you think. More inflammation often leads to
reduced absorption of nutrients from your food. So even if you have cleaned up
your diet, your gut may take a significant amount of time to repair. In these cases,
even a multivitamin will not be enough to increase absorption. These cases may
indicate the short-term use of IV nutrient therapy. This allows us to bypass the
limitations of absorption and deliver the nutrients directly to the bloodstream
where they can then be delivered to the tissues to do their work.
Nutrients are used in our biochemical pathways that produce energy, hormones,
and neurotransmitters. Let’s look at the production of melatonin as an example.
As described earlier, melatonin requires light signals from the eye to specific
areas of the brain to regulate its production. But the precursors that melatonin is
made from must be present. Tryptophan is an amino acid found in many dietary
proteins. This amino acid undergoes a transformation through the use of enzymes,
vitamins and minerals to produce serotonin and eventually melatonin. Along this
process the enzymes require nutrients, called co-factors, in order to function. For
this process, the nutrients that are required include vitamins C, B1, B3, B5, B6, and
folate, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Some of these vitamins are needed
for what is called the “rate-limiting step” or the step in the process without which
everything slows down dramatically or stops. Without adequate nutrition we will
be less able to produce energy and other substances that help to regulate sleep
and mood. With optimum nutrition, we will produce them with more consistency.
There are better forms of some vitamins, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K)
should not be taken in high doses without talking to a doctor first. These vitamins
are stored in fat cells, so it is possible to over dose them. Consult with your doctor
about the best form and combination to take if you are considering vitamin therapy.

Neuro/Biofeedback
Neurofeedback utilizes computer programs to help you train your brain’s
activity. It focuses on alpha, beta, delta, gamma, and theta waves. Alpha waves
are associated with awake but relaxed states, beta with fully awake and alert,
gamma with processing and learning, delta with deep sleep, and theta with
extreme relaxation. Those with more anxiety tend to have a high ratio of beta
waves compared to alpha and theta whereas those with depression tend to be the
reverse. Neurofeedback has been shown to be effective for treating both of these
conditions as well as ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, dementia,
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and general concerns with focus. It has not been shown to be effective for mania
or bipolar disorder as a full condition.
Using neurofeedback, you are learning how to identify and create certain states
within your brain. This needs to be done using high tech equipment not readily
available for home use, with a skilled technician. Your training would be designed
based on results from a study called a qualitative electroencephalograph (QEEG).
Training typically involves a 20 – 30-minute session in which you have sensors
applied to your scalp with an electrolyte paste to allow for transmission of data.
These sensors are connected to a program that will allow you to watch a movie,
listen to music, or play a game based on keeping your brain waves within a certain
range. Maintaining your brainwaves within that range allows for smooth playback
while going outside of the target range causes pauses or skips. Training typically
requires at least 20 sessions that become more challenging as you improve your
control.
Biofeedback works similarly but with physical parameters. Typically with biofeedback
you are learning to identify and control emotional or physical responses based on
physical signs. These can include galvanic skin response which measures sweat on
your skin, temperature, pulse and breathing rates. This can be a great tool to help
bring awareness to your body and even bring you back to your body in emotionally
charged states. It can be helpful in mitigating triggers for anxiety and depression,
but again, is not as effective in mania.

Apply Pathology-Centered Natural Care

As described earlier, this type of care is meant exclusively to suppress symptoms.
Using treatments in this section should never be done without the guidance of a
doctor, even if you can buy them without a prescription. If you are working with
one doctor for natural treatments and another for prescription medications, you
absolutely need to make sure that both doctors know everything you are taking
as most of these things either need testing or have interactions with medications.
There are many types of natural treatments that can be used to suppress symptoms.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but an overview of the types of treatments
there are and how they should be used.

Specific Nutrient Supplementation

Taking single vitamins should only be done when there is a known deficiency. Lab
tests can be done to determine your specific needs. Some medications can have
side effects that cause nutrient deficiencies. For example, most oral contraceptives
cause a deficiency in B6, which can lead to symptoms of low energy, lack of focus,
and depression.
Vitamin D. We produce vitamin D through exposure of our skin to the sun.
It is important for structural integrity of our bones, functioning of our
immune system, and maintenance of our mood. Low vitamin D is
associated with depressed mood. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin,
so it should always be tested before you begin taking a supplement.
Vitamin B12. This vitamin is available almost exclusively from animal products
or nutritional yeast. Strict vegans will likely need to supplement
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 this vitamin. Deficiencies of B12 are highly correlated with mood
instability, including both mania and depression as well as mixed
states. It is absorbed exclusively in the terminal section of the small
intestine. Conditions such as Crohn’s disease that cause significant
inflammation of the small intestine will impair or destroy your ability
to absorb B12 from your food. B12 is best taken sublingually (meaning
you let it absorb under your tongue) or by intramuscular injection.
Oral doses are poorly absorbed10.
L-Tryptophan. This amino acid is sometimes given in supplement form to
aid in sleep and improve mood in depressed patients. Some people
who have bipolar disorder may benefit from tryptophan in both mania
and depression, however this is not always the case. As described
above, tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin. Giving more of the
precursor “feeds the pathway” so to speak, and will typically end with
an increase of serotonin. As discussed in the medication chapter, the
use of serotonin modulating drugs without the presence of a mood
stabilizer can cause mania or worsen the course of treatment. The
same is true with any natural substance that alters the amount of
serotonin in your system10.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Studies have been done that suggest high doses of
omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial in mood disorders. These are
typically found in highest concentration in fish oil, but is also present
in flax, hemp and chia seeds. There are several types of omega-
3’s, but eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been studied the most in
relation to mood disorders. EPA is anti-inflammatory and protective
for the nerves but can also be a blood thinner. The doses that were
found to be effective for mood control were very high, up to almost
10g for studies on bipolar disorder. This dose could amplify the blood
thinning effects of any anti-coagulant drugs and could be problematic
if you are undergoing any type of surgical procedure10.
Magnesium. Biochemically, magnesium has very similar effects in the body
to lithium. This has led some researchers to theorize that magnesium
supplementation could be an effective mood stabilizer. Magnesium is
the most common deficiency in the standard American diet, however
not everyone will have a deficiency, and doses used for mood stability
are typically higher than recommended daily allowance. Magnesium
is also sometimes used for anxiety and insomnia as it tends to have
a calming or sedative effect. High doses of magnesium may cause
diarrhea and intestinal cramping10.
Zinc. Some studies suggest a strong correlation of zinc deficiency with
eating disorders, anxiety and depression11. There is some work being
done to explore zinc supplementation to aid in treatment resistant
depression12.
Selenium. This mineral is a cofactor in the production of triiodothyronine or
T3, the more active form of the thyroid hormone. As you may recall,
lower thyroid activity is associated with depression. Supplementing

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 selenium during pregnancy has also been shown to be correlated
with lower rates of post-partum depression13.
SAMe. S-adenosylmethionine, better known as SAMe made the news over
a decade ago as it was purported for its natural antidepressant and
anti-anxiety effects. Claims were made that it was used instead of
SSRIs throughout England. These claims are not untrue, however
this supplement should be used in extreme caution or completely
avoided in bipolar disorder as it can cause hypomania.

Botanical Medicine
Botanical medicine, also called herbal medicine, is the use of plants medicinally.
This class of natural medicine is readily available without prescription but should
ALWAYS be considered a drug. Many drugs are actually made from the medicinally
active parts of plants. Botanical medicine works by introducing an active agent to
your body that is causing it to do something that it wouldn’t do on its own, just like
a pharmaceutical drug does. Plants often have interactions with pharmaceuticals.
These should always be discussed with a doctor before taking them. I almost
always avoid the use of botanical medicine in my patients with mood disorders and
find that when I address the first three steps in the therapeutic order, they aren’t
needed. I will not give doses for any herbs in this section because I want to ensure
you talk to a trained professional about this – that is how seriously I take their use.
The advantage of using plants over their pharmaceutical counterparts is that
many people find them to be gentler and with fewer side effects. Herbal extracts
of medicinal plants can be given as a single substance or combined for your
individual presentation. In using plants, you get additional benefits from them as
well, including other active constituents that work synergistically with the specific
action you are looking for, and some small additional nutrients from the plant as
well.
Plants are designated based on how they affect the body. The plants that are
most commonly used in mood disorders are classified as nervines, sedatives and
adaptogens. Nervines modulate the nervous system and are typically calming.
They can be useful in helping withdraw from recreational or prescription drugs.
An example of a gentle nervine is Avena sativa (milky oat seed). Sedatives are
commonly used in anxiety, hypomania, and insomnia. They are calming, and as
the name describes, mildly sedating. They can amplify the effects of medications
that are being used for the same purpose, such as benzodiazepines. Sedative
plants include Eshscholzia californica (California poppy) and Piper methysiticum
(Kava kava). Clinical report suggests that some of the stronger sedatives such as
Kava kava may be associated with causing severe depression in those with bipolar
disorder. Finally, adaptogens modulate the stress response systems. They typically
help reduce anxiety, increase focus and attention, and improve sleep. Examples
of this include Eleuterococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), Withania somnifera
(Ashwaghanda), and Rhodiola rosea (rose root). Adaptogens can be energizing
and should be used with extreme caution in bipolar disorder as they may cause
mania.

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I can’t leave this section without mentioning the most famous herbal medicine for
improved mood – Hypericum perfoliatum (St. John’s Wort). This herb is effective
for depression because it increases the serotonin levels in your system, just like
an SSRI does. The herb should never be used in someone with bipolar disorder
without the presence of a mood stabilizer. Just like taking an antidepressant alone,
taking this herb alone can cause hypomania or make your treatment outcomes
worse. It can also cause a very elevated level of serotonin that leads to toxicity,
called serotonin syndrome.

Orthomolecular medicine
This system of medicine developed by Linus Pauling incorporates the use of
very high doses of vitamins for treatment of mental illness. It is most famous for
the treatment of schizophrenia, but has also been used for mood disorders. It
commonly uses doses of niacin and vitamin C that can cause significant “flushing”
in which the skin becomes uncomfortably red and hot and stools become very
loose. Some people find great relief using this method, however they have to take
the vitamins long term. They typically find that the symptoms return as soon as they
discontinue the high doses.

Apply Pharmacologic Intervention

Sometimes, natural treatments are not enough to regain stability for someone who
has gone untreated for a significant period of time or who has very severe symptoms.
In these cases, pharmaceutical intervention is indicated and can be absolutely life
saving. Some people find that they have no side effects from the drugs and can
live happy, productive lives. It is not my practice as a naturopathic doctor to ever
dissuade these people from using their medications. My goal is to help people
find health and live happy, productive lives, and being on medications can be
the way for some people to find that. Others find the side effects of medications
less tolerable than the condition itself. For these people, natural medicines, and
especially the naturopathic approach, can be very effective at helping to heal
and maintain stability while slowly and safely reducing or eliminating the need for
pharmaceuticals.

Common Co-Occurring Conditions

One of the tenets of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person. This is
why if you see a naturopathic doctor who specializes in one area, they will still ask
about all of your symptoms. This is especially important in psychiatric conditions
where there are often multiple physical concerns as well. Unfortunately, the more
our medical system lends itself to expertise in body systems, the more divided our
treatment becomes. We end up seeing our psychiatrist, our gastroenterologist,
our endocrinologist, and our neurologist for things that could all be related.

Migraines
I read a statistic somewhere long ago that there is approximately a 50% coincidence
of migraine headaches and bipolar disorder. A study published over 30 years ago in
The Lancet showed that 93% of children with severe frequent migraines recovered
by identifying and removing food allergens14. I have seen this to be effective
time and again, including in my own health. And, as stated previously, removing
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food allergies can also be very effective for mood stability, focus and attention.
It also tends to clear up other aches and pains and skin conditions as well due to
decreased system-wide inflammation.
Homeopathy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and biofeedback can all be very effective
for treating migraines. All but hydrotherapy require a professional to work with
(after initial training biofeedback will not require appointments with a professional).
The most commonly used hydrotherapy treatment for migraines is to place the
feet in a hot bath and an ice pack on the head or neck for about 10 minutes at a
time.
The primary nutrient deficiency associated with migraines is magnesium. As you
may recall, magnesium can also be effective for mood stability and for constipation
as well. Magnesium deficiency may be a strong consideration if you experience
both migraines and a mood disorder.
Botanical medicines that are commonly used in natural migraine formulas are
Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) and Petasites hybridus (Butterbur). These plants
have both been studied and show moderate efficacy in the prophylactic treatment
of migraines. I have never found them to be effective for the treatment of an active
migraine.

Metabolic Syndrome
This all too common condition in the US is very prevalent in the mental health
population, made even worse by medications that contribute to it such as anti-
psychotics. Even without medications, there is a high rate of what is called reactive
hypoglycemia in people with mood disorders. In reactive hypoglycemia, blood
sugar drops very quickly after eating a meal, leading to fatigue, concentration
issues, irritability, and headaches. When we feel this way we are often prompted
by internal cues to seek out more food which leads to a consistent pattern of
overeating.
Metabolic syndrome is considered a precursor to diabetes and is made up of 5
risk factors. These are central/abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL (also
called the “good” cholesterol), high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar
(or being on medication for previously high blood sugar).
Metabolic syndrome is best managed with lifestyle changes such as sleep and
exercise and strict low carbohydrate diets that include healthy fats. Sometimes
initial supplementation of minerals and herbs can help to regulate blood sugar
while you are adapting to your new regimen. The most common and effective
supplements are chromium picolinate, cinnamon, and green tea. The first two help
to stabilize blood sugar and decrease insulin resistance. Green tea has been shown
to help increase metabolism and to reduce a blood sugar spike after meals.

Insomnia
Insomnia can be a significant challenge, especially in mood disorders. When lifestyle
and diet aren’t helpful enough, homeopathy, hydrotherapy or light/dark therapy
are often helpful. On occasion, the insomnia is bad enough to consider using a
temporary supplementation of melatonin an hour before bedtime. Adaptogenic
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herbs can be helpful in reestablishing good sleep patterns. Sedative or hypnotic
herbs such as those mentioned previously as well as Valerian root can be used
to induce sleep. All of these natural therapies should be discussed with a doctor
before using them as all can have interactions with or amplify the effects of your
prescription medications.

Substance Use Disorders

Alcohol and recreational drug use is a common coping mechanism for those
with mental health concerns. There is some debate as to whether the substances
cause the illness, or the illness causes the substance use. Regardless, if your goal
is to establish a healthy body and brain, reducing substance use is a vital part of
that. This can be very challenging though, because the substances are not only
addictive, they also often help to reduce the perceived severity of the mental or
emotional challenges.
The vast array of substances and what they do to the body make it impossible to
cover in depth in this chapter. Each causes specific nutrient depletions in the body
that will likely need to be replaced by IV nutrient delivery or very high doses of oral
vitamins. Hydrotherapy is effective for helping aid your body in the detoxification
process because it increases delivery of nutrients required for the process as well
as removal of wastes. High fiber diets also help to hasten the removal of detox
products from the body. Homeopathy can also be very effective for the symptoms
of withdrawal from drugs. Sometimes additional supplementation of herbs may
help reduce cravings or side effects of withdrawal such as insomnia or agitation.

Conclusion and Resources

Natural treatments can be very effective for managing and aiding in recovery
from mental health conditions. Before I end with a case example that exemplifies
the principles and process I have described above, I want to reemphasize the
importance of safety when seeking natural alternatives to medications. Remember
that many natural treatments behave as drugs would in your body. Working with
a medical professional is the best way to ensure that you are getting natural
treatments that are not only safe, but also likely to be effective and specific for you.
To find a qualified professional, visit your state or national professional association
websites for referrals. Naturopathic doctors, functional medicine doctors, and
integrative mental health doctors are great places to start. Many of these doctors
keep blogs on their websites that give helpful tips for managing your health.

A Case Example
In this case example the name, age, and other identifying information has been
changed for the privacy of the patient.
Emily was 21 when she was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had been
undergoing a very high level of stress in her senior year of college and was
preparing to take her LSAT to apply to law school. She had always experienced
ups and downs, but never sought out medical help because the ups helped her
study more and the downs were never something she couldn’t push through, until
then. The high level of stress and lack of sleep finally got the best of her and she

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couldn’t stop crying. She sought help from her MD and was accurately diagnosed
with bipolar disorder. Her doctor prescribed a mood stabilizer, and after a week
added an antidepressant. Her moods felt better and she finished college and was
accepted to law school. She continued to take her medication consistently because
she was worried about the stress of law school “getting to her” like it had before.
When Emily decided to pursue natural treatment it was because of the side effects
she was getting from the medication. She had no sex drive, felt “foggy headed”
and had gained over 50 pounds. She had started trying to eat better by following
a low fat diet and running daily, but the weight just wouldn’t come off. She was
also concerned about the long term ramifications of her medications, including
the effects it would have on a baby should she decide to become pregnant, and
was hoping to get off of the drugs if possible. Despite all of this she was open to
staying on her medications if that was best.
A full intake showed that she had signs of hypothyroidism including lethargy,
weight gain, constipation and dry skin. She also shared that she had debilitating
migraines up to four times a week. Lab testing showed that she did in fact have
hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome as well. A food allergy panel suggested
that she had sensitivities to coffee, dairy, wheat, and baker’s yeast.
Her treatment plan started aggressively as she had a high level of commitment and
enthusiasm. It began with an exercise prescription to reduce the amount of running
she was doing to 20-30 minutes 3 days a week and substitute weight training on
alternate days. Some studies suggest that long cardio sessions will actually reduce
thyroid hormone and therefore metabolism as well, whereas weight training does
the opposite. She found a positive impact on her weight and energy levels within
the first 2 weeks of the change in her exercise routine.
She was also started on a thyroid hormone replacement and a low carbohydrate
allergy elimination diet. This meant she avoided all of the common missteps in
diet described earlier in the chapter as well as all grains, most fruits, and her food
sensitivities. Emily’s diet felt restrictive at first while she adapted, but she soon
found that she felt much better eating primarily proteins and veggies. She was
even able to eat out with friends from time to time.
The final piece of the equation was the homeopathic remedy. Emily spent 4 hours
sharing all of her symptoms and medical history. The recap of the symptoms she
experienced confirmed her existing diagnosis of bipolar 2 disorder. At the time of
her initial intake she was feeling more depressed than hypomanic. She had recently
experienced the loss of a significant relationship and found that the only thing that
could keep her from having outbursts of tears was to stay very busy with work. Any
time she found herself unoccupied she would burst into “hysterics” and she would
have suicidal ideation that would last just a few minutes until she was able to make
herself work again. As long as she was working she was fine and had no thoughts
of death. When she would cry, having someone console her made her angry and
she would stiffen against any offered hugs. Her migraines would also get worse
during this time, and were described as feeling like a steel spike was being driven
through her skull right above her eye. These specific symptoms of her depression
and migraine were unique to her, meaning that not everyone with depression and
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migraines will feel them the same way, and indicated the homeopathic remedy
Ignatia amara. Emily had some traumatic experiences in her past as well, so she
was referred to a therapist for talk therapy.
Emily did well on that remedy for a few months, having to change the potency, or
preparation a few times. Eventually her symptoms changed and a different remedy
was indicated. She had several remedies and several ups and downs with her
aggressive diet and exercise plan over the subsequent 2 years. She noticed that as
she continued with homeopathic treatment she was able to eat more of the foods
she was sensitive to without triggering as many migraines or mood episodes. If she
went overboard and started having more severe or more frequent migraines, she
removed the foods she is sensitive to from her diet again and almost immediately
saw an improvement in her migraines and her moods.
After a few months of steady improvement with her natural treatment plan, we
worked with Emily’s psychiatrist to slowly reduce her medications. After about 1
year she was able to fully discontinue her prescription medications. She did have a
few episodes after discontinuing her medication, but by that time she had learned
what her triggers were, how to cope with the symptoms, and when to call for a
change in her homeopathic remedy. She was able to avoid hospitalization.
Now Emily tries to maintain her initial diet and exercise routine but doesn’t have
to be as strict with it. She will go back to the strict schedule every once in awhile
when she feels that she is starting to slip. She maintains a solid sleep routine and is
focusing more on mindfulness with her eating and emotional responses. She calls
every once in awhile when the skills she has learned for her lifestyle aren’t quite
enough and she needs a “tweak” in her homeopathic protocol. Overall, Emily
is feeling great with consistent energy, healthier weight, successful and fulfilling
work, and healthy relationships.

Works Cited:
1 – Joo, E.Y., Yoon, C.W., Koo, D.L., Kim, D., Hong, S.B. (2012). Adverse Effects of
24 Hours of Sleep Deprivation on Cognition and Stress Hormones. Journal
of Clinical Neurology. DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2012.8.2.146
2 – Gonnissen, H.K., Hursel, R., Rutters, F., Martens, E.A., Westerterp-Plantenga,
M.S. (2013). Effects of sleep fragmentation on appetite and related hormone
concentrations over 24 h in healthy men. British Journal of Nutrition. DOI:
10.1017/S0007114512001894
3 – Fowler, S.P., Williams, K., Resendez, R. G., Hunt, K.J., Hazuda, H.P. & Stern,
M. P. (2012) Fueling the Obesity Epidemic? Artificially Sweetened Beverage
Use and Long-term Weight Gain. Obesity: A Research Journal. DOI:
10.1038/oby.2008.284
4 – Pizzorno, Joe (March 2013). Assessment and Intervention of Persistent Organic
Pollutants and Glutathione Depletion. California Naturopathic Doctors
Association MM14: Environmental Medicine and Oncology in Primary
Practice. Lecture conducted in San Francisco, CA.
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5 – Woolery, A., Myers, H., Sternlieb, B., & Ztelzer, L. (2004) A Yoga Intervention for
Young Adults with Elevated Symptoms of Depression. Alternative Therapies
in Health and Medicine. DOI: 10(2):60-63.
6 – Chang, C.W., Sajatovic, M., & Tatsuoka, C. (2014). Correlates of attitudes
towards mood stabilizers in individuals with bipolar disorder. Bipolar
Disorders: An International Journal of Psychiatry and Neurosciences. DOI:
10.1111/bdi.12226
7 – Bell, I., Koithan, M. (2012). A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low
dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation, and time-dependent cross-
sensitization in a complex adaptive system.
8 – Adler, U.C., Paiva, N.M.P., Cesar, A.T., Adler, M.S., Molina, A., Padula A.E., Calil,
H.M. (2011). Homeopathic Individualized Q-Potencies versus Fluoxetine for
Moderate to Severe Depression: Double-Blind, Randomized Non-Inferiority
Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. DOI:
10.1093/ecam/nep114
9 – Frei, H., Everts, R., von Ammon, K., Kaufmann, F., Walther, D. (…), Thurneysen,
A. (2005). Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled
crossover trial. European Journal of Pediatrics.
10 – Gaby, Alan. (2011) Nutritional Medicine. Fritz Perlberg Publishing, Concord,
NH.
11 – Cope, E.C., Levenson C.W. (2010) Role of zinc in the development and
treatment of mood disorders. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and
metabolic care. DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e32833df61a.
12 – Dye, John (2010). Naturipathic Treatments for Mental Illness. Delivered at
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, AZ.
13 – Mokhber, N., Namjoo, M., Tara, F., Boskabadi, H., Rayman, M.P., Ghayour-
Mobarhan, M. , (…) Ferns, G. (2011). Effect of supplementation with
selenium on postpartum depression: a randomized double-blind placebo-
controlled trial. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. DOI:
10.3109/14767058.2010.482598
14 – Egger, J., Wilson, J., Carter, C.M., Turner, M.W., Soothill, J.F. (1983). Is
migraine food allergy? The Lancet. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-736(83)90866-8

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139
 Mental Illness and
Families of Faith
By Reverend Susan Gregg-Schroeder

Introduction
Secular society is finally talking more openly about mental illness but our religious
communities are mostly in the dark ages when it comes to understanding mental
disorders as treatable illnesses.

Based on the findings of the Surgeon General’s report on the magnitude of mental
illness in this country, we know that one in four families sitting in the pews have
a member dealing with mental illness. Yet the secrets of mental illness are kept,
people are not getting the help they need, and the families of persons living with
these brain disorders are not receiving the support they need. Many faith leaders
are also keeping silent about their own mental illnesses. I know this because I am
one of those persons.

My depression began in 1991. I was in my third year of ministry at a large urban

church. I was enjoying my career and the many opportunities it offered for serving
others. I liked being part of a large staff, and I had no doubt that I had made
the right decision to answer the call and leave my teaching career to become an
ordained minister.

Despite my experience in pastoral counseling, I did not recognize or understand

what was happening to me. In the fall of 1991, a series of events hit me like
waves, until I felt totally overwhelmed with despair. I had all the symptoms of major
depression. I felt disoriented and disconnected from my feelings and myself. I
couldn’t eat or sleep. Nothing brought me pleasure. I was simply going through
the motions. I couldn’t stand to be around others and isolated myself from
everyone. I felt so hopeless that I wanted to end my life and actually developed
an elaborate plan.

I was sent to a psychiatrist, who happened to be a member of my church. It was

one of the most humbling experiences of my life, as I was enveloped with guilt and
shame. He wanted to admit me to a psychiatric hospital that day. After several
days of denial on my part, and because my husband could not continue to stay
home from work to be with me, I was admitted to the hospital. Ironically, it was
the same hospital where I had conducted worship services when I was doing my
Clinical Pastoral Education.

Few people at church knew about my depression and hospitalization. For two
years I suffered in silence, hiding my condition from the church community for fear
of losing my job.

It was my senior pastor who stood by me, who believed in grace and who believed
in me. With his support, I finally decided to openly acknowledge my depression.

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I wrote an article for our church newsletter entitled, “The Burden of Silence.” My
senior pastor wrote an accompanying article about the ignorance associated with
mental illness. Our parish nurse set up an informational meeting on depression,
and we had a turn-away crowd of over 130 people. Seeing such a great need, a
depression support group was started, led by a professional counselor.
At the urging (and arm twisting) of a colleague, I was asked to speak at our Bishop’s
Convocation. The stories that my colleagues shared with me behind those closed
doors made me realize that I was being called to speak out about mental illness in
the church. I was especially concerned about my colleagues from various ethnic
groups, where there is fear that such a disclosure may bring shame to the family,
not to mention the effects such a disclosure could have on a person’s future in the
ministry.

I am one of the “wounded healers” described by Henri Nouwen, the author of

the book “The Wounded Healer: Ministery in Contemporary Society.” I have had
subsequent hospitalizations and a variety of DSMIV diagnoses, including Bipolar II
that has changed over the years. But you cannot put a label on the human spirit.
I know that I need to continue to have my medication monitored, maintain a good
support system and practice good self-care, as well as preventative care at those
times when I feel most vulnerable. I’ve learned coping skills and have developed
inner resources. I relate to the words of Louisa May Alcott who wrote, “I am not
afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

Background
According to Glen Milstein in an article published in
the Psychiatric Times in 2002, surveys show that 60%
of Americans seeking help with mental health issues 60% of Americans
go first to their faith leaders. This is twice as many as seeking help with mental
those who went first to a psychiatrist, psychologist
health issues go first to
or family physician. Unfortunately, the response
of clergy and congregations falls significantly short their faith leaders
of what parishioners expect of their faith leaders.
Individuals struggling with mental illness are significantly
less likely to receive the same level of pastoral care as
persons in the hospital with physical illnesses, persons who
are dying or those who have long-term illnesses. People often visit
others with physical illness, bring them meals and provide other helpful services.
Mental illness has been referred to as the modern day leprosy.

There are a number of reasons why these needs are not being met. Clergy do
not receive adequate education about mental illnesses in seminaries. Some faith
groups see mental illness as a moral or spiritual failure. Congregations are made
up of individuals who mirror the stigma we find in society as a whole. Even if
people are aware that someone is struggling with mental illness, they may not
know what to do or say.

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The needs of families coping with mental illness are documented in the book,
Families and Mental Illness: New Directions in Professional Practice (Marsh, New
York: Praeger. 1992.) The needs fall into eight categories:
• A comprehensive system of mental health care
• Support
• Information
• Coping skills
• Involvement in the treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery process
• Contact with other families impacted by mental illness
• Managing the process of family adaptation to illness
• Assistance in handling problems in society at large (e.g. ignorance, fear,
stigma)

Nearly every person has been touched in some way by mental illness. And yet
individuals and families continue to suffer in silence or stop coming to worship
because they are not receiving the support they so desperately need. They
become detached from their faith community and their spirituality, which can be
an important source of healing, wholeness and hope in times of personal darkness.

Our Spiritual Imperative to Care for Those Who Suffer

Hospitality is a core value of major religions: Muslim, Jewish and Christian. The
words hospital, hospice and host are derived from hospitality. In Christianity,
hospitality is literally extending our hand to another, touching another and getting
close enough to recognize our mutual vulnerability to things in this life.
Major religions share the conviction that we are called to care for those who suffer
in this world. Both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament contain many
stories of people being called to reach out to those in need. The great prophets
share a similar message that God asks us to be faithful, to love one another, to
reach out to those who are broken and to seek justice for all God’s people.

Treatment Options
For many persons who suffer from a mental illness, psychotherapy (also known as
“talk therapy”) allows the individuals to converse with a trained therapist to address
issues such as low self-esteem, difficult childhood experiences, environmental
trauma, losses of all kinds, relationship issues and the lack of any positive meaning
for one’s life. The most common forms of psychotherapy are cognitive therapy,
psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, group therapy and marriage and
family counseling. Pastoral counseling that addresses emotional issues while
respecting a person’s faith tradition adds an important dimension to treating the
whole person.

Studies are increasingly demonstrating the relationship between the physical,

mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of our lives. We know that support from
family members, friends and a person’s community of faith are a very important
part of a person’s treatment and recovery. People are more likely to comply with

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 their medication therapy or participate in psychotherapy if they can envision hope
for the future.

Because of a renewed interest in treating the whole person, more people are
seeking out mental health professionals who will incorporate their spirituality in
the treatment process. Professionals like those with the American Association
of Pastoral Counselors (www.aapc.org) receive training in both psychology and
theology. These counselors can add a spiritual perspective to the professional
counseling relationship by incorporating a person’s spirituality with sensitivity to
cross-cultural traditions. Mental health professionals who are sensitive to and
respectful of the spiritual dimension can “walk with” persons as they seek their
own path to personal growth and healing.

The religious community has much work to do to address the shame, guilt
and stigma associated with mental illness. Because of a lack of information or
theological beliefs, some religious groups do not understand mental illness as an
illness unlike any physical illness. Sometimes a person is encouraged to stop taking
medication and rely on prayer. Some continue to put blame on the family at a time
when the family members are most in need of support. This is especially true with
suicide. If the suicide is seen as a sin or an unfaithful act, the family has to deal with
their grief as well as the guilt, shame and isolation from their
community of faith at a time when the family most needs
the support of their community.
A person’s
spirituality or religious There are no good words to describe the utter
despair and hopelessness associated with severe
views can be of great mental illness. As more research is done on the
benefit in the treatment brain, new medications and new therapies are
and healing of many rapidly being developed to address the physical and
illnesses, including emotional stress associated with brain disorders. But,
unfortunately, there is a split in treating mental illness
mental illness using the medical model that makes little allowance for
addressing issues of spirituality. Yet a person’s spirituality
or religious views can be of great benefit in the treatment
and healing of many illnesses, including mental illness.

A Brief History of Beliefs and Treatment of Mental Illness

Mental illness goes back as far as recorded history and has been known by many
names over time. As with all faith traditions, beliefs about mental illness cover a
wide range of theologies from biblical literalists who view mental illness as a moral
or spiritual failure, to persons who understand mental illnesses as brain disorders
that did not have a name and were not understood by persons living 2000 years ago.
Most ancient societies regarded mental illness as a religious problem involving the
health of one’s soul. There were elements of magic and mysticism in the rituals
performed to cure persons with a mental illness.

With monotheism, as articulated by ancient Judaism, there was a shift in how mental
illness was understood. While still almost completely religious in nature, mental
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illness became a problem in the relationship between an individual and God- a
condition associated with the soul. The Hebrew and Christian scriptures are full of
stories and laments of persons suffering from so-called demon possession, visions
or hallucinations, depression and other forms of mental illness.

In the year 370, the Eastern Orthodox Church established the first hospital. Over
the next 1200 years, the church built hospitals throughout Europe to treat physical
illnesses. Many physicians were monks and priests. Nuns served as nurses. The
physical and spiritual care of patients went hand in hand.

Islam began to spread across Asia, Africa and southern Europe about a thousand
years later. Like Judaism, the Qur’an frequently talks about the spirit or the soul.
But there was not the conception that
mental illness was a punishment from God.
Those suffering from mental illness were
thought to be possessed by supernatural
spirits, but these jinn (genies) were not
seen as good or bad.

Since mental illness was not seen as

wrongdoing, Islamic scholars and
physicians in the 10th century were the first
to move toward a more scientific look at
the causes and symptoms of mental illness.
During this time a hospital was established
in Baghdad with a psychiatric ward.

Such treatment did not exist in Europe

during the late Middle Ages and the
Renaissance, because mental illness was
seen as witchcraft or demonic possession. Those found acting irrationally or
suffering hallucinations were thought to be possessed and were often tortured and
killed. Others were sent away on “ships of fools” and excluded from the community.
Persons with a mental illness endured horrific treatment like bloodletting and the
drilling of holes in the head to allow the “evil spirits” to escape.

With the age of Enlightenment in about 1750 and the introduction of the science
of psychology, attention was directed to the mind. Psychoanalysis looked at
such things as unhappy childhood experiences or other conflicts arising from the
unconscious mind. Followers of Freud viewed spirituality as superstition and the
church’s influence all but disappeared. The split with the church was complete.
Mental illness was no longer a spiritual issue associated with the health of a person’s
soul. It was a problem with the mind or one’s thinking.

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Insane asylums were opened and an era of so-called moral treatment began. From
1750 to about 1950, persons with a serious mental illness were put in an asylum or
other locked facility. Treatment in the early asylums was very poor, often secondary
to prisons. Some early forms of treatment included lobotomies and a primitive
form of electro convulsive therapy or ECT.

Some persons from pacifist faith traditions, like the Mennonites, did their alternative
service during World War II in hospitals that included mental hospitals. Appalled
at the deplorable conditions in the psychiatric hospitals, these faith groups were
among the first to bring compassionate care to these persons. Some of these
religious groups established psychiatric hospitals.

With the advent of anti-psychotic medications around 1950, the focus was on
symptom reduction. Another shift occurred that de-emphasized both the spirit
and the mind and put the focus on biological changes in brain chemistry. We have
moved from mental illness being understood as an illness of the soul or the spirit
to it being a condition of the mind to the medical model which we have today.

Differences Between Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality has become a popular and often misused
word in our time. Spirituality is different from organized
religion. Spirituality springs from a belief system. It
is what gives meaning to our lives, and it grows out
Spirituality is of life experiences rather than doctrine. Paul Tillich
a universal truth, talked about the divine as the “ground of our being.”
but a highly Spirituality is a universal truth, but a highly individual
journey.
individual journey
Religion, on the other hand, refers to the beliefs
and practices associated with organized groups such
as churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. It provides a
hierarchy for some faith groups and guidelines for finding
meaning. Today a new phenomenon is taking place. It is called
“interfaith spirituality.” It is an integrative approach because it focuses on the
common threads of all faiths such as love and mercy.

The search for meaning is a timeless pursuit. The question of why there is suffering
in this world and what God has to do with suffering is one of the focuses of the
spiritual journey. There are many biblical accounts of God’s people struggling with
intense emotional pain. Some of the most profound descriptions of emotional and
faith struggles are found in Job and in the psalms.

Psalm 88 portrays the experiences of a depressed person from an emotional

spiritual perspective. The words of the psalmist describe many of the symptoms of
depression; sadness, isolation, anger, abandonment, mistrust, spiritual emptiness
and hopelessness.

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You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.

Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me?

Mental illness affects all aspects of our life including our

spiritual well-being. It strikes at the very soul of our
being, making us feel cut off or separated from God’s
love and acceptance. It is like a thief in the night. It
steals a person’s sense of self worth, their hopes and Mental illness affects
dreams for the future and it feels like it will always be all aspects of our life
this way. Mental illness challenges our core beliefs including our spiritual
and values, and we often feel unworthy of God’s love
and acceptance. We feel alienated from God. We well-being
feel alone, helpless and hopeless in the dark despair
of our illness.

Today many are espousing a more holistic approach that

is being supported by scientific studies. This perspective gives
credence to modern biological discoveries and complements them with an
understanding of a person’s emotional and spiritual makeup. It is the mind/body/
spirit approach.

Integrating Spirituality into the Treatment Process

We still face the long-standing conflict between faith and science. The scientific
medical model looks for a cure. The emphasis is on finding answers and the relief
of symptoms. As we know, many times there is not a cure.

Healing is the peace that comes from knowing that God is working in our lives to
bring about the best possible outcome, which is healing mind, body and spirit.
This sense of peace and wholeness are gifts from a loving and compassionate God,
even as we learn to live with mental illness. The challenge we face today is not the
choice between faith and science. We need both.

For decades, professional training programs have discouraged discussion of

religion or spirituality with clients, as it was thought to foster delusions. Publicly-
funded programs must be careful not to promote specific religious traditions.
Incidents of discrimination or violence based on religious beliefs can create more
fear. There is a mistrust of those concepts and processes that are more difficult to
measure. But things are gradually changing as studies find that spirituality can be
an important part of the treatment and recovery process and spiritual assessment
tools are being developed for mental health professionals. We need to continue
to find ways to encourage collaboration and partnership that includes a myriad of
support systems.

The President’s New Freedom Report on Mental Healthcare in America (2003) states
that our current delivery system for mental health services is in shambles and only
a total “transformation” of the system will benefit consumers. From a theological
perspective, transformation refers to a spiritual process of growth and change.
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The commission for this report, which was made up of some of the most respected
mental health professionals in America, asks for more coordination of services and
providing treatment through community-based groups rather than institutions. It
also calls for assisting persons to reintegrate into being successful and productive
members of society through such means as job training and community support.
Our faith communities can be an integral part of this process.

The goal is recovery! Recovery is a process rather than a completed goal. Instead
of using our resources to focus on the results of mental illnesses, the New Freedom
Report encourages using resources for lifelong assessment and treatment.

Spiritual Care
If there is one word to describe the emotional pain of mental illness it would be
“disconnection.” People with a serious mental illness often lack insight into their
illness or experience confusion regarding their symptoms and treatment. Clergy
with pastoral skills can address the spiritual and religious dimensions of persons
dealing with different forms of life experiences.

Persons with a mental illness often struggle with issues like

the inability to experience God’s love and acceptance,
The rituals
the inability to accept oneself, the need to confess
one’s sins and know God’s forgiveness, the need to and sacraments
be reconciled with others and the lack of hope that of one’s faith
things will get better. Pastors, rabbis, imams, priests
tradition can be
and other faith leaders can offer wisdom and hope
from their faith tradition. In listening carefully to a of great comfort
person’s struggle, faith leaders can explore the cause during times of
of one’s separation from God, share the biblical stories
distress
of persons struggling with similar issues and share stories
of God’s forgiveness and acceptance.

The rituals and sacraments of one’s faith tradition can be of great comfort during
times of distress. Clergy can hear a person’s confession and offer the assurance of
forgiveness. Sacraments like communion and anointing in the Christian tradition
can help the person reunite with his or her faith community. Praying with the
person and the family also helps offer assurance that they are not alone in their
struggle and builds a relationship of trust and confidence.

Because faith leaders are respected by their congregations, they can model an
acceptance that will help diminish the stigma associated with mental illness. This is
easier if mental illness is treated like any other physical illness in sermon illustrations
and in small group educational settings. By including persons with mental illness in
pastoral prayers and liturgies, clergy are helping to educate the congregation that
mental illness is not caused by lack of faith or spiritual commitment.

Pastoral care needs to include visitation to persons and families struggling with
mental illness as with any other physical illness. Devotional material from a faith
tradition can be given to individuals in a counseling setting. Scripture and other
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resources from a faith tradition can bring comfort to persons in a psychiatric
hospital, group home or other setting.

The Ministry of Presence

Being in relationship with caring persons is an important part of the recovery
process. Henry Nouwen describes hospitality as “creating safe space” where each
person is treated with respect and dignity. It is walking beside the person to help
them discover their potential, worth and the promise of hope.

Suffering is terrifying and meaningless if isolated from the whole of people’s lives
and when suffering is excluded from the community. Those who are suffering do
not need to be judged. They need to be assured that someone cares and that
God loves them unconditionally. Integration rather than isolation is what restores
wholeness of mind, body and spirit.

The Journey Continues

Hope in the future was a gift that grew out of my relationship with my therapist,
who is also a pastoral counselor. The relationship began in the traditional way of
therapist and client. But over time it evolved into a relationship of trust, respect
and a mutual sharing of life experiences. We became companions in our respective
spiritual journeys. In sharing our stories, I was empowered to make responsible life
choices based on my inner wisdom.

In my deepest depression,
several people stepped in to
“rescue” me. I am fortunate
to have a loving husband who
wanted to help. I am fortunate
to have access to good medical
care. I am fortunate to have a
competent and compassionate
psychiatrist who has stayed with
me as my doctor since my first
hospital admission.

But the unconditional presence of the holy was revealed to me through my pastoral
counselor. While everyone else was trying to “fix” me in some way, my counselor
accepted me as I was. While others were looking for a cure, my friend offered
care. He was vulnerable enough to enter into my dark place without judgment.
He modeled for me an image of a God who surrounds us and holds us in a caring
presence. He modeled an unconditional acceptance that I had never felt. In my
feelings of worthlessness, he held on to a faith that I was loved as a child of God,
just as I was. He became a lifeline to hope.

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I now preach the importance of being in relationship with other people and with
our faith community as one of the gifts that allowed me to gradually emerge from
my deepest darkness and discover the most important gift of the shadow, the gift
of hope. Medications may stabilize symptoms. But it is relationship and love that
heal the soul.

I look back and I realize that I was not alone in my deepest darkness. I also realize
that I persevered, and with the help of others, I was able to choose life. I have
found hope in listening to and reading stories of healing and wholeness restored
in the lives of other people who have struggled with this illness.

After the drowning death of his brother, the great poet William Wordsworth wrote
these few words that hold so much truth. Wordsworth wrote, “A deep distress hath
humanized my soul.” The journey toward wholeness never ends. Knowing we can
trust that the fertile darkness will hold us until we are ready and able to glimpse the
first light of hope, leads us back again into the fullness of life.

Because of my experience with the church, I will continue to help congregations

find ways to be caring communities for persons living with a mental illness and their
families. For me the most painful part of my illness was the feeling of disconnection.
A supportive faith community would have helped me feel that I was connected
to something bigger than my own feelings of worthless and hopelessness. A
supportive faith community would have embraced my family. We would not have
had to suffer in silence. I pray that the time will come when families living with a
loved one with mental illness will be silent no more!

Spirit God, you know our needs

our wounds
our hurts
our fears
Even before we can form them
into words of prayers.

You are patient with us.

You are protective of us
You are present with us
until such time that we are able
to ask for what we need.
Thank you, Spirit God,
for your healing taking place within
before we are even aware
of how broken we have become.

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Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace
Do you or do you not tell your employer about your disease? That is a question
that many people with bipolar disorder ask themselves. Whether to disclose your
illness directly to your supervisor is a very personal question. Some people have
had very positive experiences while others have not.

If your illness is affecting your performance, it is realistic to assume that your

employer is noticing it. Having a frank discussion with your supervisor may ease
the concern they have about performance issues that may arise when you are
experiencing a manic or depressive episode.

If you ultimately chose to disclose your illness to them, you may want to explain
what bipolar disorder is, how it affects you and how it may affect your work. You
can always reassure your supervisor that you do not expect that
your illness will affect your performance and that you will be
able to fulfill all your work requirements.

The following are two people’s experiences with You have control
bipolar disorder in the workplace that may assist you over your life and your
in making the decision to disclose or not. Remember, illness. How you choose
you have control over your life and your illness. How to handle that in the
you chose to handle that in the workplace is your
choice.
workplace is your
choice.

A Day at the Office By Christi Huff

&

Bipolar in the Workplace By Wendy McNeill

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A DAY AT THE OFFICE
By Christi Huff

I’m racing out the door with my work bag slung over my shoulder, a glass of water
in one hand, and my handful of morning medications in the other. Anti-depressant?
Check. Mood stabilizer? Check. Adderall? Check. Anti-anxiety? Check. I gulp them
down with the water and race to the bus stop. It’s 7:45 am and I’m running late for
work. On the walk/half jog to the bus, I pull out my phone and check all my emails,
Facebook messages, Twitter alerts, and text messages.

Once on the bus, I try to catch up on a few minutes of “me time” and I pull out my
Kindle to check all the updates from Psych Central, Bipolar Beat, Mental Floss, and
anything else that has updated, just like the other twenty to thirty other commuters
on the bus are doing. I transfer to the subway and pull out a stack of medical
records that need to be reviewed for work. I begin reading and highlighting while
smashed like a sardine with the other fifty or so passengers who are all trying to get
to work as well. I get some of the work done, unload from the train with a handful
of people, and take the escalator up to the closest Starbucks. Minutes later, and
armed with my Starbucks, I have arrived at my building, swiped my ID badge in the
lobby, taken the two different elevators up to my floor and am now walking up to
the ID swipe pad to let me into the floor of my office.

I take a deep breath, swipe my ID, and with the click of the door, it signals it’s
time to check Mr. Bipolar Disorder at the door (or at least try to) before I walk in. I
walk through the door and pass the cubicles to my office. I turn on the computer
and take out the medical records I was reviewing on the train. I’ve been reviewing
these records for so long now, but I just can’t focus on them long enough while
in my office to get a decent amount done. I have to read things over a million
times because I get easily distracted and sometimes I experience a huge fall in my
mood and start crying for no reason. I try distracting myself with another task and
sometimes that helps, yet sometimes it “helps” to the point that I finish that project
and then start something else related to that project, the one without a deadline.
And I keep on going and going in a completely different direction, forgetting I
have other projects that do have a deadline, or have other uncompleted projects
I should work on instead of. It’s hypomania at its finest for me. So what is the end
result? It results in my taking home medical records to review there (or while in
transit) because they didn’t get done during the day as hoped, thus turning my
work day into a ten to twelve-hour day. This is how the typical workday goes for me.

Some days I am more focused than others, and get a million things done. Other days
it takes me almost an entire day to just read through a small stack of documents.
You see, as a paralegal, I have to log a certain number of billable hours within my
work day. All those ups and downs and distractions makes it difficult to get those
hours at times, so in order to not just get the required work done, but to make up
those required hours, I have to get the work done at home. You can imagine then
how that affects my life outside of work. My fiancée frequently has to do things
alone or not at all because I have to work. I miss out on events with my friends
and other social interactions because I am always working. Not having any time to
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socialize makes me feel secluded and feeds into my depression, making some of
the symptoms of bipolar disorder worsen. Being at home so much gives me even
more opportunity to start getting lost in my own thoughts while ruminating, which
can either send me into further depression or can start causing hypomania because
I begin to obsess over a project or new idea that launches a whole list of new ideas
that must be started immediately. Those ruminations distract me from getting my
work done at home, leading to a lot of frustration and the desire to just give up.

This whole cycle begins again tomorrow and then leads to spending the weekends
trying to make up for the work that didn’t get done during the week. Again, this leads
to more disappointment from my fiancée, and at times anger. There is frustration
on my part, anger at myself for not being able to focus, hopelessness because I
begin to fall behind, fear I am going to lose my job, and then the weekend goes by
with very little done again and ends with so much anxiety about going to work the
next morning, I make myself physically ill. As you can see, the work day is not easy,
however, projects DO get done, I don’t miss any calendared deadlines, I don’t miss
any meetings or appointments, and I haven’t caused any sort of negative impact
on any case I have been assigned (that I have been made aware of!). The attorneys
I have worked with have given me great reviews and are happy with my work. So,
if that’s the case, should I tell my employer and see if accommodations could be
made when I start feeling the effects of what I like to call “the Bipolar Coaster?”
Well, that is one question I get asked a lot. I don’t have an easy answer for it either.

While working for the employer (a law firm) I was with when I was hospitalized
several years ago (and was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder), I went back
to work for a few days and regretted ever returning. Everyone stared at me and
whispered when I walked past them in the halls. At first I thought I was imagining
those things, but then my secretary came into my office and informed me my
confidentiality had been breached and the information on some of the forms I
needed to complete for my leave of absence had been told to others within the
office. That information, in addition to other things being said as a result of that
breach, caused attorneys to not want to work with me and it wasn’t long before
I realized I could no longer continue working for them. I felt forced out because
the environment was so uncomfortable, and there was no way I could work there
again. Luckily, I had a backup plan and after my departure: I went to law school for
a year. Another law firm I worked for called me into their Human Resources office
because I was a few weeks behind on my time entry. I had been trying to catch up,
but it was overwhelming due to not just my own issues, but because I had been
switched to different departments, was covering for other paralegals on vacation,
my office had been moved and I was trying to process so much new information all
at once. I felt like I was in quicksand. Then, I was also told there was an issue with
me keeping my office door closed all the time. Having such a hard time focusing, I
keep the door closed to prevent distractions from those walking by and the other
conversations occurring outside my office, and because I have my ups and downs,
I don’t necessarily want the whole office to see me going from up and doing ok to
suddenly crying my eyes out. There was no policy about keeping my door open, so
I had no idea I was doing anything wrong. At that point, I felt I needed to explain
the necessary reasons for why I kept my door closed.

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After explaining that I have bipolar disorder and needed it closed because of
distractions and my ups and downs, I was told I was a HUGE liability to the company
and all these issues needed to be dealt with by my doctor. The person I spoke to
informed me there was nothing they could do, asked why I was telling them, and
how could they be sure I wouldn’t miss a deadline or something else that would
put their company at risk? I simply replied that none of those things have ever
been an issue because I take extra measures to ensure those things won’t happen,
and also pointed out that none of the attorneys I have worked for have ever had an
issue with anything like that or had ever given me a review that was poor. The end
of the discussion resulted in keeping the door to my office open and then meeting
with my doctor to get myself together. It wasn’t really helpful, but I at least still had
my job and my confidentiality.

Those are just two situations in which I have told my employer about my bipolar
disorder. There were plenty of instances where I didn’t disclose my illness to
employers, and no one even knew I had one. Even with the two employers I
mentioned above, many of the co-workers I worked hand in hand with for many
years had no idea I had bipolar disorder and had told me they would have never
guessed it in a million years. Would I tell other employers about having bipolar
disorder? So far, not telling them has worked for me because I have not had to
take any sort of extended period of time off due to my symptoms (aside from the
hospitalization). The response I received when I did divulge that information was
not helpful and just reinforced my previous and future decisions to not be as open.

Don’t I have rights under the American’s with Disabilities Act? Absolutely, but
unfortunately, I don’t think many employers are as informed about mental illness
and how the ADA applies to them. The Family Medical Leave Act also allows for
leave of absence or extended periods of time taken off (up to a certain number
of weeks per year) not only for events such pregnancy, but also for mental illness
if it impairs your ability to substantially perform your duties. Again, I don’t think
there has been enough education for employers about mental illness and how the
FMLA applies to those with mental illness either. Outside of the office, employers
are regular people too. They aren’t superhuman, powerful, or king and queenlike
figures that know all and only see the positives of everything. Stigmas and other
information learned outside the office can be taken into the office. That’s just how
the world works. I believe as advocates, we not only need to educate the public,
but make sure employers are educated with correct information as well.

What is supposed to be an eight hour workday, five days a week ends up being a
ten to twelve- hour day, seven days a week for me, triggering a lot of my symptoms,
which makes it harder to work, perpetuating the cycle to occur again and again. It
not only affects me, but those around me as well. Should I speak up? I could. Will
I? Probably not. Past attempts have not shown positive results and right now, I
don’t think I want to take that chance again.

Does this mean that nobody should tell their employer about their bipolar disorder?
Of course not. Every employer is different, just like every job is different. I believe
the decision to tell one’s employer should definitely be a decision based on their

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own relationship with their employer and their own comfort level. In the meantime,
targeting employers in our advocacy should become a priority so that this type of
a decision does not have to be made by individuals with bipolar
disorder, or any other mental illness, and we don’t have to
continue working around the clock battling the “Bipolar
Coaster” just to keep up.

Every employer is
different, just like every
job is different

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Bipolar in the Workplace
By Wendy McNeill

The word workplace conjures all kinds of images depending on who you are and
what you do. In fact, when thinking about the word workplace, “who we are” and
“what we do” become strangely intertwined. We say, “I am a teacher.” “I am an
engineer.” “I am a barista.” Alternatively, if we are not explicitly our jobs, we are
in a field, “I’m in retail,” or “I’m in sales.” In all cases, our workplace tells us and
the world where we fit in the scheme of things, determining our status, our wealth,
and to a certain extent, our identities.

Me? I’m as guilty of this labeling as anyone else. I’m a tutor, a tutor at San Diego
Mesa College. I’ve been a tutor for over ten years, working at Mesa for a couple
of years in my twenties and almost all of my thirties. I’m an anomaly. The tutoring
position is essentially a transient position, one occupied oftentimes by students.
Tutors come; tutors go. It is unheard of, unless you’ve heard of me, for someone
to stay in that position for such a long time. But I myself have bipolar disorder,
and since I can only make a low income since I am on disability, my tutoring job is
perfect. It affords me intellectual stimulation, social interaction, structure, and of
course, an extra bit of cash on top of what I receive from the government.

Without my job, I would flounder miserably in the quagmire of unemployment.

In fact, the times that I am on winter or summer break, I cringe in horror as the
wasteland of unproductive hours stretches before me. So, that is the downside of
my job.

The other downside is the job itself. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life as
a tutor. I want a real job. A real job with real hours and real benefits. A job that
stretches me, that uses more of my talents, not just a scant handful. Isn’t that the
dream of all under-employed people on disability? Unfortunately, some are too
smart to be satisfied with the situation, but too sick to change it.

Am I too sick to change it? Getting a real job means getting out of the disability
ghetto. It means leaving the security of the State and surviving on my own. Why is
this so hard to do? Why haven’t I done it before? No, I did not lose my bootstraps
somewhere. Getting that better job is hard because I have a disability, a severe
mental illness, with symptoms and impairments and obstacles and barriers and
stigma. These are perfectly valid reasons why I stay in a sub-standard job. At least
I can do my sub-standard job.

However, I believe in recovery, and I believe that remission from bipolar disorder
is possible. I believe that I have reached a stable enough plateau where I can start
taking some risks and pursuing some more education, in this case, a Masters in
Social Work degree from SDSU, so eventually I can serve in the community as a
social worker.

But it has been quite a journey up until this point. If I am to judge myself through
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“society’s” eyes, one might call it a journey filled with mediocrity and defeat, as
I have come not even close to having a “real career.” In the context of my life,
however, in the context of my struggles, what I see is a journey of determination,
grit, doggedness, and the pursuit of happiness in spite of a mental illness.

Against popular wisdom that says people with bipolar disorder are discriminated
against, what I primarily experienced in the workplace was compassion. My bosses
and coworkers over the years have shown me innumerable kindnesses, and I could
not be more grateful for the support that I’ve received.

No one plans to be bipolar. When I was in high school, I wanted to work for a
magazine. Then, in college, I majored in Literature/Writing at UCSD, a stepping
stone to my dream of publishing articles and seeing my name in print. As a freshman,
I applied for a job as the Editor-in-Chief of the Warren College newspaper and was
turned down, but Revelle College, the most prestigious and toughest college at
UCSD, needed an Editor-in-Chief for their newspaper, so they hired me. My job
was to start the next academic year.

This is the time when my life went south. The last day of my freshman year in
college, when I had just finished my Edgar Allen Poe final, I came home to an
apartment stripped of all my belongings. My mother and aunt were there along
with some church friends. My mother and aunt took me by my arms and took me
down the elevator. On the way down, they told me that my father had died the
day before. He had taken his own life.

From that moment, my life was never the same again. It was the pivotal moment,
the “trigger.”

When my sophomore year commenced, I started my new job at Revelle College,

working under the new Assistant Dean, Laura Mendez. My behavior was strange
from the get go. I was intensely hard working and fast but quick-tempered, and
disrespectful. I stopped eating and sleeping regularly and my weight plummeted.
The paper took on monumental significance for me and had to be perfect, and the
people working with me had to be perfect. Laura was disturbed by her new intern,
and she told me later that she confided in the Dean, “I don’t know if I can work with
Wendy. She’s so Type A!”

I may have seemed Type A; what I was was Bipolar I.

I had my first psychotic break right after finals. This experience landed me in the
hospital for two weeks, and I returned to the campus shocked and shaken, my tail
between my legs.

Laura took me under her wing. She had me meet her at the office, and then she
took me for a long walk around the campus. She told me about her neighbor’s
daughter, an eerily similar story. The young girl was going to college, but living
at home. She started talking faster, making all kinds of plans. Then she started
rearranging the furniture in the house (including the piano.) When she started

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swimming in the pool in the middle of the night, her parents knew that she needed
help. She was taken to the psychiatric ward and diagnosed bipolar. She was like
me, nineteen years old. Laura told me this story, and then she told me her plan. I
could keep my job if I agreed to see a counselor at psychological services. We also
agreed to cut my workload in half, so I would publish two papers a month instead
of one a week.

I continued working under Laura that year, although even with half the amount of
work, I struggled mightily to meet my deadlines. Most importantly, I learned that
employers can be sensitive and kind and do the right thing. It was an important
lesson to learn early, as things would get more difficult later
down the road.
It is important to
It is important to remember that the notion of success
is individual, and every person with bipolar disorder is remember that the
going to experience it differently. Although I do not notion of success is
work full time, that is not to say that someone with individual, and every
bipolar cannot. It certainly happens, depending person with bipolar
on the severity of the illness and how far along in
disorder is going to
recovery a person has come. But many do not. Many
find themselves in part time employment, sometimes experience it
underemployed. Sometimes chronically unemployed. differently

I think it’s interesting, as well, that because of the economic

downturn, non-traditional situations seem much more common.
Even unemployment is losing the powerful stigma it once had. In a sense, the
instability in today’s economy has challenged the notion of “you are what you
do.” Even though this notion is being challenged, our culture still places a huge
premium on employment as a way of socially ranking or valuing someone.

Jobs today are at a premium. Although I was very, very fortunate to work with
employers who were understanding of my situation, going forward, I have become
very circumspect about revealing to an employer that I have bipolar disorder, and
I would only do it if absolutely necessary. That way, the illness stays out of the
picture.

I have recently picked up another part time job - very part time - working for an
organization that provides supportive housing for women with mental illness. I’m
a Mental Health Specialist, which means that I am the staff member on duty at a
house with 15 women. I’m there to provide a set of eyes, and for the ladies, a set
of ears.

Now, my immediate supervisor, who I knew through the mental health community,
knows that I have bipolar disorder, but the President and Founder do not, and I
intend to keep it that way. I think I want to be in one organization where I am not
viewed as someone with a mental illness. Even in an environment that supports
people with mental illness, I think a supervisor’s attitude changes when she hears
about a mental illness. She may think, “Wow, she’s so normal for someone who

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has bipolar disorder!” I think even enlightened people, or people in the mental
health field, feel this way. I think the bias in our culture is so strong that even the
most well intentioned person can have this reaction. So in this one instance, I have
protected my anonymity, although I am “out” in every other area of my life.

Bipolar disorder is a serious disability, and symptoms can get in the way of job
performance. The best thing to do for a bipolar person is to try to maintain as
even keel of a lifestyle as possible and to manage the illness with every strategy at
one’s disposal. This means employing the regular cast of characters: eating right,
sleeping right, exercising, abstaining from substances, staying around positive
people, practicing cognitive therapy, being nice to oneself, among other things.
I also think it is imperative for recovery to have interaction with peers. A support
network of friends with the same disorder is, ironically, necessary to maintain sanity.

Ultimately, maintaining sanity is the goal for all people struggling to manage
bipolar disorder. If it means sacrificing the traditional view of success, then so be it.
Of course, productivity and meaningful use of time are paramount to recovery, but
that might not look like a traditional career for someone who has bipolar disorder.

Like me: I still “am” a tutor. This is a bittersweet admission. On the one hand, I
should be happy to have a dignified job that is relatively stress free that contributes
something positive to people. On the other hand, god only knows where I would
be if I didn’t have the illness. I could have been Something Else.

However, my job has served a specific purpose. I was right about working part time;
I haven’t been in the hospital for eight years. That’s after annual hospitalizations
for nearly ten years straight. I broke the cycle, and I credit my “cushy” job for
creating that statistic, in part.

Has my job fulfilled me, though, even as I plug away at a minimal wage? I try to
remember the words of my students, “Thank you, Wendy. You really helped me.
You helped me a lot.”

If ten people have that experience per day, four times a week…for however many
weeks a year…for ten years…and if I think of that in human terms, I’m humbled
and proud.

And dare I say it, a success.

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 Going to College
with Bipolar Disorder
By Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP

The Desire to Leave the Diagnosis Behind

The transition from high school to college is an exciting time. For many, it’s their
first extended time away from home; as well, the first big step towards adult identity
where one is less defined as the child of Mr. and Mrs. Parent. This is a time of
intense striving towards autonomy and individuality. It’s also a time of modifying
existing identifications based on new attachments and group affiliations.

These new beginnings also give rise to hope for new outcomes. It’s not uncommon
that a graduating high school senior will want to leave his or her mid-adolescent
difficulties behind while getting a fresh start in a new college environment.
Some of that intention is warranted: a newly declared academic major, choices
of new group memberships and even new love relationships may further serve
to anchor emotional attachments within one’s contemporary world; however, the
big disappointment here is that this same progression doesn’t apply to bipolar
disorder.

While it is true that college students will gradually settle in to their new college
student identity, it’s also true that students’ bipolar reality will accompany them
into their college environment. It’s not something they get to leave behind. A
fresh start with bipolar disorder really means revisiting one’s approach to treatment
and deciding what’s most appropriate for the next stage of development.

Considering the Best Choices for a College or University

It’s important to note that smaller institutions of higher education, particularly those
without large graduate programs, are often referred to as “colleges” whereas
larger institutions with much broader ranges of academic programs and graduate
schools are typically referred to as “universities.” Sometimes we see that these
different terms are even used interchangeably. For simplicity sake, the remainder
of this chapter will refer to the generic term “college.” It should also be noted
that whether referring to a college or a university setting, the advice pertaining to
higher education with bipolar disorder applies equally to both.

For the high school student who has already been diagnosed with bipolar disorder,
selecting the right college is no simple matter. The choice does not only hinge
upon the strength of the college’s reputation, its unique areas of study, or even
whether the school provides much needed scholarship money. Equally important,
if not more so, is finding an environment that will be optimal for maintaining
emotional and psychological stability.

Close to Home or a More Distant School?

When deciding near or far, we look to the student’s recent history of stability
as an indicator of the kind of support network that will be necessary at college.
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If relatively stable for the last year or two without hospitalizations or frequent
medication changes, then perhaps being close to home is not so important. With
a good track record of sustained stability, attending schools that are several hours
or even several states away from home should not arouse concern.

On the other hand, if management of bipolar symptoms has been difficult and
the student is struggling with instability while applying for college, then perhaps
a community college setting or a four-year school fairly close to home would be a
better choice. The real issue here is the extent to which one may need to rely upon
family support as part of his or her essential support network. If this is unclear,
there’s no reason why one couldn’t begin attending a community college and
then transition to school away from home once stability has been demonstrated.
Besides, transfer to a four-year school becomes easier when one has shown a year
or two of strong performance at the community college level. If bipolar symptoms
are in the mild to moderate range and have been well managed during the
preceding year or two, then there’s no reason why a college can’t be considered
that is some distance away from home. If, however, the choice is to fly far from
the nest then the next question becomes whether the college of choice has the
resources to provide adequate support.

Mental Health and Psychiatric Resources at Today’s Colleges

These days, most universities provide counseling and psychiatric services for
their enrolled students. More commonly, these services are provided within the
same department, usually named something like Counseling and Psychological
Services. At some universities counseling and mental health may actually be split
into different service units. There may be a university Counseling Center and a
separate unit such as Student Health, Mental Health Services where psychiatrically
oriented treatment is provided.

As each university has its own unique configuration of student services, it will be
important to investigate what is offered and where it will be found. For purposes
of this continued discussion, the generic phrase, “university counseling center,”
will be referred to as if it were a full-service
treatment setting.

For any student the choice of where to go to

college is crucial. For students with bipolar
disorder, it’s imperative to investigate
the scope of services available through a
college’s counseling center before making
any commitment to attend. If those resources
are minimal or without a clear psychiatric
component, then one should also make sure
good psychiatric services are accessible in
the nearby community.

This isn’t to say that mental health treatment

resources should be the primary criterion for
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college selection; but for bipolar students, it really should be high up on the list
of priorities. Clearly a bad choice would be to attend a college where access to
psychiatric services was limited, both at the college and in the local professional
community. Simply put, excellent treatment resources should always be readily
accessible for those with bipolar disorder.

One caution: Often university counseling centers are faced with higher student
demand for services than they are easily able to provide. Therefore, it is common
that university counseling centers primarily provide short-term counseling with
focus upon stabilization and community referral for long-term help, if needed.
Since bipolar disorder is typically an ongoing condition, students should not
be surprised if counseling center professionals want to refer them into the local
community for longer-term treatment. These practices will vary from one school
to the next, but if counseling center professionals talk about a referral, this must
not be taken as a rejection. It’s simply the reality of limited resources that many
counseling centers are facing today. There’s also an inherent benefit to a private
referral. Given the brief treatment focus of many university counseling centers, a
bipolar student may not be able to see the same provider over an extended period
of time. If one is fortunate to obtain a good psychiatrist and psychotherapist in
the local community, then this treatment team can be in place for the duration of
college enrollment. Continuity of treatment is a good thing.

Important Preparatory Steps Before Arriving at School

Once a college has been selected there are a few more steps the bipolar student
should take to assure a smooth transition. First, it is recommended that the
student contact the university’s counseling center either before arriving on campus
or shortly afterwards, and make an initial appointment to see a counselor, even if
things are going fine. In fact, if the chosen college is not too far from home, then
setting up a meeting during the summer months preceding fall enrollment is also
a viable option. By doing so, the student is able to establish a personal connection
with a mental health professional which will enable rapid access to help if needed
for future bouts of instability. It’s also far easier to accomplish this at the beginning
of the semester than two thirds of the way into the semester when counseling
centers have become quite busy responding to the high volume of other students
seeking help.

When transferring treatment the student should also sign a release allowing
his or her previous treating psychiatrist to forward copies of medical records
to the counseling center, new psychiatrist or community-based, mental-health
professional. With this information in hand, any new psychiatrist or psychotherapist
can easily review previous treatment history in order to best serve the student in
the new location.

Students should be aware that their medical records belong to them and they
have a right to receive copies at any time. During late adolescence and young
adulthood, when students are likely to be on the move, it’s actually recommended
that they maintain a notebook of their medical records so that they’re able to bring

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copies of records with them when transitioning to college, graduate school, a first
job, employment relocation, or whatever may come next.

Keeping Stress Manageable:

Not Taking on Too Much Too Quickly
Sometimes the array of offerings at the outset of college can be like a cornucopia
of new possibilities. Fascinating courses, social clubs and organizations, sports,
student government, new recreation options, music and drama … the list goes on.
Boredom will not likely be a part of the college experience.

While considering all these choices, strong feelings of anticipation and excitement
are perfectly normal. Why not just dive in and fully immerse yourself?
Simple - doing so activates a lot of intensity. And while
intensity can feel pleasurable, especially if accompanied
by mild to moderate hypomania, it is nonetheless
stressful. For students with bipolar disorder, the stress
of intense engagement is not necessarily their friend.
In fact, stress is often the most common trigger for Stress is often the
mood destabilization. most common trigger
for mood
First year bipolar students are strongly advised to destabilization
step back and select from the cornucopia with a
sense of moderation. So what does moderation look
like? Perhaps it’s signing up for 12 or 15 credits instead
of 16 or 18. Perhaps extracurricular activity choices
are delayed by one semester or at least not taken on with
multiple concurrent commitments. And when a road trip is impulsively
suggested by suitemates the second weekend of the semester … hopefully the
bipolar student will choose wisely to remain on campus and stay focused upon
building a stable foundation.

Keep in mind that starting college is an important juncture where many aspects of
change are occurring simultaneously. Saying no to some things at the outset of
school doesn’t mean they won’t remain available as future choices. Approaching
things gradually also does not equate with being left behind. For the bipolar
student, figuring out moderation is far preferable than taking on too much too
soon, becoming overwhelmed and having to bail out prematurely.

The Potential Pitfalls of University Life

If the symptoms of bipolar disorder did not emerge until sometime around age 35
or 40, the effective management of mild to moderate symptoms would be a much
easier undertaking. Consider the reality that by middle-age, important maturational
adjustments such as relying upon structured daily routines, employing good sleep
hygiene, significantly limiting drug and alcohol use and more generally refraining
from impulsive, risky behavior, are all choices that one has come to value in the
broader context of a stable lifestyle.

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Once these life skills have been achieved, many of the factors precipitating bipolar
destabilization are rendered far less potent. That is precisely why we often see an
improvement in mood and overall functioning as individuals with bipolar disorder
transition out of early adulthood and progress towards later lifecycle stages.

But the middle-age onset of bipolar symptoms is mostly fantasy. Reality is, for
many with bipolar disorder, their full symptom presentation generally emerges
somewhere between the mid-teens and the mid-twenties. And instead of much
needed balance, the accrual of structure, healthy routine and sobriety tend to
become delayed due to the behavioral norms of late adolescence.

For many who are starting a four-year college much of their previous life experience
has been defined by parental norms and rules. And while parental roles tend to
ease up as one becomes older, it is still the case that by the end of high school,
students are usually chomping at the bit to have a taste of freedom. At college,
they’re no longer being told what time to go to bed, what time they need to
be home or even what they can or cannot do when they are out and about.
Many of these life choices become their own and it absolutely makes sense that
college students want to relish this freedom and throw away limitations that may
feel “parental.” The natural consequences to this progression are that during
the college years, we usually see that 1) good sleep hygiene is discarded, 2)
experimentation with psychoactive substances is common and 3) strategies for
managing high work volume are far
from being stress free. The good
news is that for most of these late
teens and twenty-somethings, their
approaches to work and play will
undergo significant modification over
the next 10 to 15 years. But if you’re
bipolar and headed off to college, or
even if you encounter your disorder
while already attending school, you
don’t have that kind of time to make
necessary adjustments.

Why not? For the individual with

bipolar disorder, good stable sleep
can be as effective (if not more so)
than prescribed medicine. It’s often
the case that inadequate sleep and/or inconsistent sleep patterns are some of the
most common precipitates of bipolar mood destabilization. Similarly, research is
showing that frequent and excessive use of psychoactive substances is a potent
destabilizing influence for those with bipolar disorder (Baethge, C., Hennen, J,
Khalsa, H.K., Salvatore, P., Mauricio, T. and Baldessarini, R.J., 2008). On the other
hand, it’s also common that most college students with bipolar disorder report
that substance use is something they have struggled with. The third part of the
terrible triad is stress. Stress usually worsens psychiatric disorders. Stress makes
people feel worse even when they are free of any psychiatric diagnosis. For those

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with bipolar disorder the combination of high stress, substance use and poor sleep
habits is quite simply like introducing a lit match to gasoline. The outcome isn’t
good.

So it makes sense that the freedom and opportunities of college life present the
bipolar student with enormous challenges. The solution is simple: get good
sleep, stay away from substances and become masterful at handling the stresses
of college life. Ah, if only it were that simple! You see, there’s something else,
quite significant, that’s wedged between the pitfalls of college life and effective
solutions.

Accepting the Diagnosis:

The Most Difficult Challenge of the University Years
Most students with bipolar disorder don’t want it. That’s not to say they don’t
value their experience of mild hypomania where they feel energized, optimistic
and cognitively turned on. Think about it; there’s a lot of brilliant creation that has
occurred throughout history as a function of bipolar mood elevation. But the full
picture isn’t as desirable. Depression is depressing. Unpredictable mood creates
a roller coaster-like reality. And full mania usually wreaks havoc. Again, most
students don’t want it.

But isn’t that so for the many difficult and painful things in life? Imagine one
has been diagnosed with Type I Diabetes where daily blood level monitoring
and insulin shots are an integral part of maintaining healthy functioning. Diabetic
university students usually don’t welcome this
daily regimen; however, they generally comply
because the alternative is far too detrimental for
their well-being.

Similarly, when a student’s parent dies from

cancer during the student’s first year of college,
the event will usually take an enormous
emotional toll. No one is really prepared to
lose a parent at age 18 or 19. But the student’s
life doesn’t end because of parental loss.
The student usually endures a painful period
of bereavement. It’s also probable that the
student will successfully continue forward once
figuring out how to live with the new reality of having a deceased parent.

Whether we’re considering the loss of optimal physical health or the loss of a loved
one, we generally do find ways of adapting and moving forward, but not without
loss and adjustment. In many respects, this is what maturation is all about.

Late adolescence is a time of striving towards goals and ideals. Going to a

good school, finding a fulfilling major, connecting with a wonderful love partner,
developing options for gratifying and rewarding employment are dominant themes

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 for the late adolescent and young adult. As we progress through the lifecycle we
all have to accept some modifications of our hopes and dreams. An ideal life
exists in fairytales and movies. It doesn’t exist in our lived realities. For most, these
modifications of hopes and dreams typically occur somewhat later in life, when it
gradually becomes clear that adolescent fantasies and adult realities aren’t a close
match.

But the college student with bipolar disorder needs to adjust expectations at an
earlier age. The predominant lifestyle norms of university life won’t work for the
bipolar student. Indeed they’re a recipe for instability. In order to work with this,
the bipolar student needs to try to embrace his or her diagnosis;
not because it’s desirable, but because it’s real and to
some degree, unchangeable. Denial won’t make it go
away. Denial of the bipolar disorder will temporarily
allow students to do what they want. But when such
choices disregard aspects of bipolar stability then
The bipolar student there’s the inevitable price to pay for brief forays
needs to try to embrace into denial and temporary wish fulfillment.
his or her diagnosis
The necessary psychological adjustment for the
bipolar student entails letting go of their ideal self -
that person the student was striving to become - and
accepting the realities of living with the bipolar diagnosis.
This adjustment is a painful one and it usually isn’t achieved
quickly. Just as with the process of grief, it needs to be revisited
again and again in order to gradually be replaced with a deep sense of acceptance.
It actually is a process of grief: grieving the loss of that person that one wants to be.

So what does this look like in practice? Maybe it means working hard to find
others whose lifestyle revolves around recreational activities other than drinking
and partying. Maybe it means getting a physician’s letter documenting the need
for a single dormitory room in order to have more control over “lights out” time.
Maybe it even means getting some additional help or life coaching in order to
develop really good study habits and effectively distribute one’s academic load
over the duration of the semester. These are all important pragmatic approaches.

Beyond pragmatism, the real work underlying all of this entails the emotional
process of coming to terms with the diagnosis. This is also where some good
psychotherapy can be very helpful. Ultimately, once the reality of “being bipolar”
is comfortably integrated into ones identity, then the pragmatic pieces will fall into
place without a lot of difficulty.

Unfortunately, most students are not ready for this kind of acceptance during their
late teens. In fact, for some the reality of bipolar disorder is so not what they want,
that they intentionally try to reject the whole ball of wax. It’s not uncommon to
have some students say, “I’ll deal with this all once I’m out of college!” Well, yes,
they may have to. There’s also potential long range negative consequence to this
attitude.

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Recent neuroscience research is pointing to a phenomenon where the long range
prognosis for the course of one’s bipolar disorder is a reflection of the degree
of instability that occurs early on with the disorder. In other words, early mood
instability left untreated = long-term difficulty with continued instability, whereas
early instability that is successfully contained = better chances for longer-term
stability. This is referred to as the kindling effect (Post, 2007).

Think of a sprained ankle. Once an ankle is badly sprained it makes the ankle
more susceptible to future sprains. Each successive sprain lowers the threshold
for the kinds of physical stresses that will lead to subsequent sprains. The brain
is not all that different. Vulnerabilities towards bipolar instability, especially when
they are disregarded and simply allowed to occur, actually lower the threshold for
future episodes of instability. This means that the strategies of those who want to
wait until later years before they seriously deal with their disorder are significantly
flawed. Once the neural circuitry of the brain is primed for longer-term instability,
the individual doesn’t get to return to late adolescence for a redo.

So accepting one’s diagnosis and adjusting accordingly is a big deal! The intent
here is not to paint a picture of doom and gloom or to frighten one towards a
preventative position, but more to draw attention to what’s really at stake. When
students are in the midst of their college life it’s not easy to maintain a healthy
perspective on the bigger picture. For college students with bipolar disorder, this
very perspective may be essential to living a life that’s well-grounded in stability,
effective functioning and fulfillment.

The Appropriate Use of Academic Parachutes

An academic parachute refers to those supportive processes
that can be put in place to assist a student during times of
functional difficulty. When used appropriately, an effective An academic
parachute will also help a student land on his or her feet
while avoiding the reality of a more devastating crash
parachute refers to
landing. those supportive
processes that can be
One of the frustrating aspects of living with bipolar put in place to assist a
disorder is its unpredictability. Even with the right student during times
combination of medications and lifestyle modification
a student can find that the stresses of academics and of functional
college life can still turn things upside down. Given these difficulty
potentials it’s prudent for bipolar students to know what
kinds of parachutes are available to them.

Most universities have an office that serves students with physical, psychiatric
and learning disabilities. Typically this office is referred to as Disability Support
Services; though on some campuses it may have a different title. The Americans
with Disabilities Act requires that institutions of higher education provide assistance
and necessary accommodations to students with diagnosed disabilities. Clearly no
college student wants to consider themselves as having a “psychiatric disability,”
but there are times when bipolar symptoms can be just as disabling as any other
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condition. If a student was in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, there wouldn’t
be much question as to whether some special assistance would be needed for that
student. His or her classrooms would all need to be wheelchair accessible. If a
student’s arms were affected, it would also make sense that student receive copies
of comprehensive class notes. In other words, some accommodations would need
to be made to assist the student to participate equally in the educational process
along with other nondisabled students. Why should bipolar disorder be viewed
any differently?

Strong symptoms of depression and/or hypomania can absolutely impair work

productivity. The different medications used to help stabilize a student may
also have unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, impaired attention and
concentration or even the intensification of agitation. The process of trying to return
to stable mid-range mood after a period of depression or hypomania is not always
a simple one. Here’s where a good connection with a college’s Disability Support
Services, as well as one’s academic Dean, can make an important difference.

Through these services it is usually possible

for students with bipolar disorder to receive
accommodations such as: flexible class attendance
requirements, extended work submission deadlines
and receipt of class notes when a student is not able
to attend class. Usually, the main hurdle to receiving
this help is not the institutional system itself. More
often than not it is students’ reluctance to swallow
their pride and ask for help. Clearly this is an echo
of the kinds of issues raised in the discussion of
accepting one’s diagnosis.

A student’s academic dean can also be an effective

advocate when communicating with professors
around issues of disability-related performance
difficulties. A good example involves medically
excused late course drops. Most schools have an
initial period of time each semester where students can add or drop courses
without consequence. Occasionally a student may recognize that his or her
performance in a particular course is more negatively impacted than performance
in other courses; however, it’s not uncommon that for the bipolar student, course-
specific performance deficiencies may not become apparent until after the last
date to drop a course. In these instances, when accompanied by appropriate
medical documentation, academic deans can sometimes play an important role in
facilitating exceptions to standard course drop policies.

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Beyond the helpful advocacy roles provided by others, one of the best strategies
is for a student to meet with professors and share the realities of his or her bipolar
condition. It’s even more helpful when this is done proactively, early in the
semester, rather than waiting until the point where it feels like the semester is a lost
cause. In most instances university professors are more than willing to be flexible
and supportive of students as long as they perceive the student’s sincerity and all
claims are backed up by appropriate documentation.

There’s also the occasional outcome where the semester does become a lost cause.
A ten day hospitalization occurs and the student doesn’t return to effective stable
functioning until a month later. A hypomanic high derails a student’s productivity
for the entire first half of the semester. By the time things have smoothed out
the possibility of catching up with missed work is unrealistic. A student enters
college in late August and does quite well, but hits a wall of depression by mid-
November. The student’s energy, motivation and ability to concentrate are
all greatly diminished and the challenges of completing the semester are only
compounding the depressive symptoms. In instances such as these a full medical
withdrawal from enrollment can be a wise decision.

The official notation on one’s transcript is simply “Withdrawal,” or something quite

similar. There is nothing on an academic transcript which reads “Withdrawal Due
to Psychiatric Instability.” By taking this course of action a student is also able
to protect against strong negative impact of Ds and Fs upon their overall grade
point. Such can be especially important if long-range goals are to gain access
to a competitive graduate school or some other post-baccalaureate professional
program.

It’s not uncommon that when discussing these choices with students, their
response is something like, “but that will put me behind the rest of my class.”
Well, it may. But there’s always the potential of making up courses during summer
school or doing the kinds of two week intensive courses that some
universities offer just following winter break.

It’s also important to recognize that getting an

education isn’t a race to the finish line. Some will get
there ahead of others while some will take longer.
That’s life both in and out of college. There is no Getting an education
official established formula for success in higher isn’t a race to the
education. It’s also a given that by the time students
reach midlife, they’re not going to be looking back finish line
on their college years and thinking that things would
have been so much better if only they had graduated
one semester sooner!

Conclusion
We’ve often heard the phrase uttered by adults, “My college years were the best
years of my life!” Typically when such is expressed we’re seeing some degree of
retrospective distortion. No doubt, the college years do involve some wonderful
169
experiences. But if the truth be told, they are also years of high stress and high
complexity.

Even for those without any psychiatric diagnosis, the transition from late teens
to early adulthood is no walk in the park. For those transiting this phase of
development while also trying to manage their bipolar disorder, the experience
is more like a trek through the Himalayan peaks. There are amazing highs
and dangerous precipices. The journey requires good preparation, excellent
conditioning, extra gear and well developed skills. It’s also a time to connect with
the best guides you can obtain. There will be setbacks. There will even be times
when adverse conditions seem overwhelming. However, if the bipolar student
is able to successfully commit to the journey and accrue many new life skills in the
process, the experience will provide a strong foothold in the realm of emotional
stability. Once that position is well established, the student can continue forward
with a sense of resilience that will last a lifetime.

References
Post, R. 2007. Kindling and sensitization as models for affective episode recurrence,
cyclicity, and tolerance phenomena. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral
Reviews. 31:6. 858-873
Baethge, C., Hennen, J, Khalsa, H.K., Salvatore, P, Mauricio, T. and Baldessarini,
R.J. 2008. Sequencing of substance use and affective morbidity in 166 first-
episode bipolar I disorder patients. Bipolar Disorders. 10:6. 738-741
Activeminds.org, Active Minds is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers
students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others
and encourage help-seeking. We are chan ging the culture on campuses
and in the community by providing information, leadership opportunities
and advocacy training to the next generation.

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 Social Interaction
By Ellen Frudakis

Social interaction is a basic human need. Whether you have bipolar disorder or not,
everyone needs to have opportunities to socialize. Social interaction can be fun,
leading to friendships, and/or provide us with a deeper appreciation and sense of
who we are. I have bipolar disorder and have experienced this first hand. Social
interaction has brought me a feeling of belonging, friendship, laughter, and joy.
At times, it gave me an escape from the challenging aspects of
this illness and a belief in the possibility of recovery. I have
also seen this occur for many of the young people who
have joined Impact Young Adults (IYA), a nonprofit
organization that I co-founded that provides social
activities and leadership experiences for young adults
Social interaction can with mental illness.
come in many different
Social interaction can come in many different
forms forms. Whether you are having coffee with a friend,
attending a meeting, hanging out with family, or even
just talking on the phone, in all of these cases, you are
interacting with others. It doesn’t have to be a big event
or anything planned; it could be as spontaneous as going
for a walk with your neighbor.

In this chapter, I will focus on the needs and benefits of socialization for people with
bipolar disorder, acknowledge some of the challenges that make social interaction
difficult, and offer some tips that I have found helpful in my own journey towards
creating ongoing social relationships that enrich the quality of my life, as well as
the lives of many of the young adults in IYA.

If you are someone with bipolar disorder, my hope is that

you will find this chapter affirming and the tips useful.
If you are a friend or family member of, or treatment People need to have
provider for, someone with bipolar disorder, I hope
that reading this offers you the chance to see how access to positive
healthy socialization can contribute to one’s overall experiences and people
wellness. There is a huge need for social interaction in order to create a life
to be recognized as a primary part of living a balanced they can be proud of
life with bipolar disorder, just like a proper diet,
enough sleep, medication, and therapy. It is my belief
that people need to have access to positive experiences
and people in order to create a life they can be proud of.

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Realizing the Needs and Benefits of Social Interaction
Some of the many benefits of ongoing social interaction are:
• A feeling of acceptance
• The possibility for friendship
• An increase in self-esteem
• A chance to have fun
• Access to social support when needed

ACCEPTANCE I have been told by many young people with mental illness that
acceptance is a feeling that they long for. However, it is not just important to young
people; I think everyone wants to feel that they are accepted. I know that when I am
with other people who accept me for all that I am, including my bipolar disorder,
I am reminded that there is nothing wrong with me. I feel more comfortable in
my own skin. There are many people I know who feel like they have to censor
themselves when it comes to talking about their mental illness, particularly when
they aren’t yet ready to reveal the fact that they have one.

Joe is someone I know with bipolar disorder. He once told me that the hardest
question for him to answer from strangers and acquaintances is “How are you
doing?” Unless it is a friend or someone he feels is accepting of him, he has trouble
answering this question because he feels that most people will not want to hear
about it if he is having a bad day. Joe says that with people he knows, he is able
to be honest without worrying what they may think of him. This kind of acceptance
helps to relieve his anxiety and other
symptoms related to his disorder. Acceptance
from others makes it easier for him to accept
himself and the illness he manages.

FRIENDSHIP At a basic level, a friend can

offer a feeling of connection and belonging.
Janet, one of the members of IYA, says
that friendship also opens doors to new
experiences, exposing her to interests that
she wouldn’t have pursued on her own. Prior
to one of her friendships, for example, she
had not been interested in art. Then one of her friends introduced her to painting,
which has now become a huge part of who she is. She considers this interaction to
have altered her reality, bringing fresh energy and ideas into her daily life. Janet
tells me that human interaction is so important to all of us, especially those of us
with mental illness, because our number one way to cope when things are tough
is to retreat. Her experience with friends has helped her change this, and she says
that she no longer feels as alone as she had felt in the past.

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FUN This is also an important part of social interactions. Recently, another one
of the members of IYA, Scott, said that going on the IYA overnight trips make a
big difference in his life. Specifically, he enjoys getting to spend time with friends,
staying up late talking and making jokes. Scott expressed that one of the best
things about it was not just the fun he had at the time but that it improved his
mood for several days afterwards. He followed up this statement by saying that
it made him feel like he is more than his illness and that he belongs somewhere.

SOCIAL SUPPORT Sometimes social interactions can be

supportive, even if support wasn’t the primary goal. This
was the case for Christine, one of my friends with bipolar
disorder. In the last year she made friends with some It is empowering to
people by joining a hiking group so that she would have support outside of
have something fun to do on the weekends. She was the structure of a support
recently admitted to the hospital due to an increase group. Having a friend that
in the severity of her symptoms and a concern about is supportive can help you
her safety. When Christine’s new friends found out in your recovery process
about her being in the hospital, many of them came and can boost your self
to visit. I asked Christine how that made her feel. She esteem
said it helped her tremendously to talk about what
was going on for her and know that she was understood.
Christine went on to say that she had experienced this once
before on a previous hospital stay when a group of her friends got
together and signed a get-well card. She said it made a big difference because it
felt really supportive and ended up improving her mood. This in turn helped her in
her recovery. It is empowering to have support outside of the structure of a support
group. Having a friend that is supportive can help you in your recovery process and
can boost your self-esteem.

In my personal experience, as well as my experience leading a social activity

program for young adults with mental illness, the need is clear, and the benefits of
socialization are endless. Sometimes getting started is the most difficult part. Read
on to find ways to come to terms with the challenges that can keep you isolated.

Challenges In Socialization For People With Bipolar Disorder

Despite how simple it may seem to some, finding a way to create meaningful
connections can be difficult for those with bipolar disorder. This is particularly true
in the beginning stages of restoring a sense of balance in your life. Sometimes it
may feel like the cards are stacked against you. You may be managing difficult
symptoms or stress, your lifestyle may not bring you into contact with others you
can relate to, and there is a stigma associated with this illness. Further, low self-
esteem can take so much of your attention that trying to add anything else in your
life seems impossible. I will outline these challenges in the following section not to
discourage you, but in hopes of acknowledging what you may be going through.

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• SYMPTOMS There are many symptoms associated with bipolar disorder,
but there are two primary symptoms that can make social interaction difficult:
depression and mania.

Depression For me, like many other people, depression involves

feelings of insecurity and uncertainty about the future.
These feelings can be extremely overwhelming, and it
is easy to get caught in the revolving door of negative
thoughts. The longer I listen to the negative thoughts, the
harder it is to get out of the trap they put me in. Added to
this, one of depression’s “closest friends” is isolation, and
unfortunately this, along with the negative thoughts, make
it even more difficult to get out of the house and socialize.
Other symptoms of depression include: lack of energy and
motivation, dietary issues, and cognitive impairments like
poor concentration or inability to think clearly. If any of
this has stopped you in the past, a few of the ideas listed
in the How-to section at the end of the chapter may be
helpful. You can also try setting small goals for yourself
so that you won’t feel intimidated or overwhelmed. For
example, if you want to go to a support group, tell yourself
that you don’t have to stay the entire time. If you can only
stay five minutes, that is ok. The success is that you got out
of the house. The important thing to remember is to make
it as comfortable as you can for yourself as you work to try
something new.

Mania The affects of mania on relationships can appear different

depending on whom you talk to – the person with bipolar
disorder or the person without it. For example, when I was
manic I thought I was much more fun to be around. But to
others, possibly, my presence was a whirlwind of confusing
energy. Manic behaviors are easily misunderstood, often
leaving people wondering if they can trust your behavior,
and your relationships can become strained or even
dissolve. Additional symptoms that can make socializing
difficult are restlessness, irritability, paranoia, incoherent
speech, and grandiose thoughts. My experience with
these symptoms is that it is best to get them under control
by working with your treatment provider before taking on
anything more. During this period you might find support
groups or clubhouses will help. Once things have settled
down, you can try other ideas listed in the How-to section.

• LIFESTYLE When your ability to function gets handicapped by this disorder,

it can affect your lifestyle, making the usual meeting places for meeting
people less likely to occur in your life. Common ways of meeting new
people include work, school, or through other friends. As an individual

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 begins treatment or is managing symptoms, those outlets can become
inaccessible. I, like many others with this illness, have gone through periods
when I was unable to work or attend school.

If you do find yourself able to meet people, the next barrier is being able
to relate to them. They may have a job, a family, or attend a school, etc. If
you don’t share a common factor in these areas, you may not know what to
say or how to answer questions that may be directed at you. Before I found
my social network and before I was able to go back to school and work,
this was a big issue for me. I was very self-conscious about the fact that, in
my opinion, I wasn’t doing anything of value worth sharing. Like Joe, who I
mentioned earlier, I also had a fear of a common question which is, “What
do you do for a living?” Each time I found myself with people I didn’t know
I would get extremely nervous, expecting that one little question that put
me on the spot.

I found that by having a prepared response, I could feel comfortable

answering that question. For example, I could say “I’m taking some time off
work right now due to some health problems.” If the person probes further,
it is fine to tell them that you would rather not go into detail. Most people
will respect that.

• STIGMA With the exception of a few movies, television shows, and an

occasional personal interest story in the press, people with mental illness
are generally portrayed negatively in the media. For people with bipolar
disorder, or other mental illnesses, being portrayed in public as “dangerous,”
“irresponsible,” “unreliable,” or “odd” can make us feel like we have two
choices: either deny the existence of the illness or keep quiet. If we lack
positive role models, many times we lack the ability to accept the illness.
This, in turn, makes it much harder for those around you to accept it.

Unfortunately, unless they know someone or have personal experience,

the media is the primary source of education about mental illness for the
general public. So, if you have this illness, it makes sense that you would
worry about how others will perceive you. It is hard to put yourself out there
if you feel like you will be judged and misunderstood.

What I have found is that the more I accept my bipolar disorder, the more
others tend to. Also, knowing how to talk about it helps. If I need to explain
why I wasn’t able to be somewhere, I have referred to my illness as a “health
problem;” at school I refer to it as a “learning disability.” Ultimately, I look
forward to the day when bipolar disorder is viewed just like any other health
condition, but until then I feel content to use these alternatives. (See section
on Stigma)

• LOW SELF-ESTEEM It is very common for self-esteem to develop with the

onset of bipolar disorder. For me, losing the ability to trust my mind made

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 me feel like I was losing control of my life. Ultimately, I lost my sense of
self. Before the onset I could say to myself with confidence, “I am a good
student, I am a thoughtful friend, I am a talented artist.” But bipolar disorder
attacked and invalidated everything I thought I knew about myself and
turned my life upside down. It was hard to put myself out there when I didn’t
feel good about myself. The risk was too great. I could be misunderstood,
rejected, or worse… ridiculed. No one I know is up for that, whether they
have a diagnosis or not.

One thing that helps my friend Mary, when she is having trouble with self-
esteem, is to think about something she is good at. For example, when Mary
is healthy she can recognize that she has a lot of courage and persistence
when it comes to her career. When her symptoms flare up she can still see
this courage and persistence in how she works at her mental health. She can
see these qualities in herself despite her circumstances. The goal is to try
basing your self-esteem on who you are as opposed to what you do. Keep in
mind that this is something everyone has trouble with, so you are not alone.

• LIMITED BUDGET Many of the people I know with mental illness have a
lower level of income compared to others without the disorder. This may
be because they have had to go on disability due to the severity of their
symptoms, or if they are able to work, sometimes they cannot work full-
time. This limits the amount of money available to spend on fun activities.
For some, a trip to the movies is way over their budget. I have listed many
social options in the How-to section at the end of this chapter that are low
to no cost.

• STRESS Stress is like lighter fluid for the fire that is this illness. Stress puts
pressure on a system that is prone to ups and downs. That is why people
with bipolar disorder have to be careful during periods of high stress and
make sure they are getting the support they need, or limiting situations
that add to their stress. Sometimes this means that a social life has to take a
back seat to treatment, and that’s ok… it will be there when you are ready.
Hopefully, if you have already started to make friends, they will understand
if you aren’t available for the time being.

Knowing yourself and what coping skills work at different times can be
especially helpful when you are feeling stressed. There are many stress
management techniques out there – discuss these with your treatment
provider or go to the library or bookstore and look through any books
available on the subject.

These challenges and others may have stopped you in the past from having the
type of social life you desire. Hopefully, the next section will help you overcome
that with ideas on how to meet people and have fun.

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How To
So, how do you get started creating a new social life? Let’s say you are like I was
a few years ago before the creation of IYA, with no one to hang out with except
for the television… how do you step out of that? Below are some ideas that have
worked for me and others I know. You may have taken part in or had experience
with these at some point. I encourage you to get involved in the options that sound
interesting to you. Many of the avenues listed are free or involve minimal costs.

ONLINE RESOURCES
For some people, one of the easiest and least intimidating ways to put themselves
out there is to take advantage of what the Internet has to offer. If computers make
you anxious, please feel free to skip to the next section that discusses in-person
opportunities. If you don’t have your own computer, most libraries offer community
computers that you can use free of charge.

• Online Support Groups – Some online support groups are message boards
where people can “post” how they are feeling or ask a question that others
can respond to. Others are more like chat rooms, where people all log in at
the same time and are led by a facilitator. Some national organizations like
DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance, http://www.dbsalliance.org)
offer online support groups, like the chat room example.

• Meetup.com (http://www.meetup.com) – This is a website that lists groups

of people that get together with specific interests. There are groups for
everything! Just to name a few that I have seen: cooking, art, hiking,
spirituality, and even politics. If you name it, you can probably find it. These
groups are run by everyday people who started out looking for something
to do, just like you. If you don’t see one you like, start a new one!

• Facebook/LiveJournal – These are just two examples of many websites that

have online communities that you can join – some of which may announce in-
person events that you can find out about. This is one way you can connect
with the people who live in your area.

Make sure not to limit yourself to online friendships. Use the Internet as a starting
point and then ease yourself into something outside of your house. What you
experience online can never fully substitute for an in-person interaction.

IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES
If you are someone who feels uncomfortable making conversation with others, try
something where you start out as a viewer or inactive participant. Some examples
of this are listed below:

• Religious Institutions - If you believe in some form of higher power you

can attend a religious service. There are many different types of religious
institutions, from traditional Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, or Muslim
congregations to Unitarian Universalists or other diverse groups that gather
together. If this appeals to you, it can be a great way to get started.
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• Mental Health Related - If you are insecure about being around others
because you worry that they won’t understand your illness, or if you are still
experiencing symptoms that make it difficult to connect with others, try
reaching out to mental health communities first. This can be less intimidating.

o In-Person Support Groups - Whether the group is led by a therapist or

is a peer-support model, either can be good for you in multiple ways.
First, they get you out of the house and around others. Second, they give
you a chance to get support and understanding for what you are going
through from people who know about it firsthand. Generally, you are not
required to share, especially if it’s your first time. So, just sit back, listen,
and learn what it is all about. The following organizations are generally
peer-led and have locations and meetings all over the United States.
Check them out online to find more information.

• DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance):

http://www.dbsalliance.org

• NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness):

http://www.nami.org

• If you have a dependency issue, support groups like AA, NA, or

SMART Recovery (http://www.smartrecovery.org/) may also be good
options.

o National and International Mental Health Organization - Some have

been mentioned previously for their support groups but also offer other
types of education programs and community events for anyone facing
challenges related to mental illness. Call your local office to see if they
know of activities in your area.

• International Bipolar Foundation:

http://www.ibpf.org

• NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness):

http://www.nami.org

• RI (Recovery Innovations):
http://www.recoveryinnovations.org

o Mental Health Clubhouses - These are places where people with mental
illness can go during the day to find support and structure. Some have
support groups and social activities. Others offer job rehabilitation
programs and job placement. Many times lunch is available for a minimal
fee. The best thing about the one I attended was a support group for
young people. I was able to meet others my age going through similar
challenges.

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 o Impact Young Adults - This is a consumer-led social activity and
leadership experience program for young adults with mental illness in
San Diego, California. (http://www.impactyoungadults.org)

o Compeer Compeer provides one-to-one supportive friendships and

mentoring relationships with volunteers for adults and youth in mental
health recovery. It is not available in all areas, so check their website for
more information. (http://www.compeer.org)

• Parks and Recreation Clubs - Some communities have Parks and Recreation
departments that focus on providing fun activities in their area. Some even
offer specific programs just for people with disabilities.

• Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get connected in your community

and be involved with a cause you are interested in. For example, if you like
the beach you might try volunteering for a beach clean-up event. If you
love art, see if there are any local galleries that need volunteers to help
out. Sometimes you can find people or agencies that keep track of all the
organizations that need volunteers in your area. This can make it easier to
find something that interests you without having to ask around or contact
each organization individually.

• Neighbors - Not everyone knows their neighbors these days, but chances
are you have passed them as you come and go from your home or apartment.
Start off slowly by saying hi and asking how their day went. This may lead to
longer conversations here and there, and slowly you might find that you are
building a relationship with them. If you feel comfortable, ask them if they
would like to go to a movie or on a walk with you.

• Education/School
o Take a no cost / no credit course through your local Community College
District. This can take the pressure off if you are unable to make a
semester-long commitment but want to try something new.

o Take an arts or crafts class at a local art studio.

o Join a book club. If you are a book lover this is a great way to get involved
with others with similar interests.

o Join a writing group. I have a good friend who joined a writing group
with a few people she has met over the years. She loves to write, and
it gives her deadlines that help her accomplish what she might not get
done on her own.

• Politics - If you are interested in politics and want to be around others

like yourself, you can generally find a local group that organizes rallies or
supports political candidates running for office. This is a great way to build
skills and also meet people who share similar interests with you.

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 • Family - Spending time with members of your family can be a safe and less
intimidating way to socialize with people you already know. If this is not
a healthy option for you, do not feel bad. There are plenty of other ideas
listed here to choose from.

• Interaction with animals - If you are an animal lover, this can be a good way
to get yourself out there. Many local animal shelters look for people to help
out. This way, you can be around animals and other people who like them
as much as you.

I hope that some of these ideas will work for you, or at least inspire you to think
about what interests you. If you are not happy with your current social situation,
there is no time like the present to start changing it. As you move forward, just
remember that getting involved socially can take time. Making friends isn’t always
an easy thing to do, so give yourself credit for trying (many people without bipolar
disorder struggle with this as well). I wish I had been able to recognize the difficulty
and give myself credit when I was first diagnosed, as it would have saved me a
tremendous amount of grief. What I know now, after years of trying to create
positive social experiences, is that it’s completely acceptable if this feels difficult,
because it can be. But hang in there. It is worth it. I have seen people who lacked
any social activity come into IYA and become transformed by being around others
and having fun (in addition to being in treatment, of course). Their lives went from
activities relating to mental illness to activities while having mental illness.

As I stated in the beginning of this chapter, social interaction has brought me a

feeling of belonging, friendship, laughter, and joy. At times, it gave me an escape
from the challenging aspects of this illness and a belief in the possibility of living
a truly balanced life. More than anything else, it has brought me a new sense of
myself; one where I have been able to integrate the lifestyle changes that have
come with this illness into the rest of who I am. What I know now that I didn’t know
at the beginning of this journey with bipolar disorder, is that I am more than my
illness. I am a person with many interests and talents. Yes, I have bipolar disorder,
but it is just one of the many parts of me. Yes, I have to make sure to do what is
necessary to stay well, but I must also nurture and encourage other parts of myself
to grow.

When you are ready, I invite you to come join in the fun of social interaction.

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 How to Travel Smart
By Kim Knox

Choosing Calm over Chaos

Travel is a word that can invoke veiled images of far away lands, new sights,
smells, tastes and sounds; of stolen time rich with untold adventure… or at least
that’s how travel is often glamorously portrayed in the movies. Could it be your
travel experiences, and mine, have sometimes fallen short of the perfection of a
Hollywood tale?

The authors at Wikipedia note…

“... the word ‘travel’ comes from the Middle English word
travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive,
journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means
to work strenuously, toil).
In English we still occasionally use the words travail and
travails, which mean struggle.”

So where’s the fun in that? Even today, with all of the modern conveniences, travel
can still be rough. A 99-year-old woman in a wheelchair might get frisked during
a TSA inspection. The Transportation Security Administration alone can cause
undue travel stress.

And the uncertainties and challenges do not stop there. Regardless of your
experience with travel, it is a different thing entirely when you add on a layer of
anxiety-laced bipolar disorder.

My name is Kimberly Knox, a bipolar I patient and your tour guide on this
adventure called, ‘How to Travel Smart.‘ From my personal travel experience,
and the experience of other bipolar peers, it appears that the principle problems
stem from anxiety, fueled in addition by some degree of either depression, mania,
or worse still, rapid cycling.

But there’s good news. You can take some sensible, rather simple steps to create
the best possible travel scenario. And two words say it all: plan ahead.

Preparing to Travel
Best case scenario: You’ve had bipolar long enough to know the difference
between it and you, and you are on medication that controls it reasonably well.
If not, you’re still fit to travel; you’re just juggling a few more balls than someone
who has settled into some routine.

Make all of your travel arrangements as far in advance as possible, and in as

much detail as possible. This will simplify your trip and keep your mind uncluttered.
Print everything out. Make files. Be organized. And remember, travel agents are
not yet extinct! For a modest fee, you can team up with an expert to handle your
trip details. Book your flights open-ended so that you can make changes to your
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schedule as you need. And contact your insurance company to find out what
you are already covered for and what you may need to buy specifically for your
journey. The key here is to avoid the build up of stress, which can fuel anxiety and
exacerbate your illness.

Travel with a friend, or hire an escort. Preferred Travel Helpers is just one of many
organizations who provide expertly trained staff to accompany you throughout your
trip, with varying degrees of expertise to make your trip completely comfortable
and worry-free. Though I don’t have any personal experience, this firm is fully
insured, their website is informative and friendly. Rates vary depending upon your
needs. www.preferredtravelhelpers.com

Travel references: Information services such as TSA (Transportation Security

Administration) offer www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/what-know-you-go. Tips
for Traveling Abroad is another useful government publication: http://travel.
state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

Get yourself “in shape” for your trip. This important step includes all the things
that do a body good -- eating nutritious food, drinking plenty of fluids and getting
reasonable amounts of sleep and exercise. Your body and your mind react far
better when they are not being asked to perform at the edges of their limits all the
time. You’re safe—now is the time to gently push yourself.

For every bit of pushing or extending you do in your relaxed pre-trip state, the
more resilient you will feel on the road.

Talk to your doctor and your therapist well in advance of your trip. Share details
about the destination, your trip goals, any known challenges and your concerns.
For example, if you know you’re sensitive to altitude and you’re preparing for a
hike into the Andes, talk to your doctor about taking Diamox (Acetazolamide). If
you’re boarding a ship, perhaps you’ll need something to prevent motion sickness.
Is it advisable to take an aspirin on your long flight? Do you need something to
help you sleep? Perhaps ask about melatonin.

In addition, your doctor may prescribe a medication(s)1 you can take in the event
you need some extra help (a PRN, or ‘as needed’), and if not, don’t be shy: Ask.
There are many medications that can be helpful, and your doctor will know which
will work best with whatever you are already taking.

Your therapist will be able to arm you with coping strategies to help you deal with
challenging situations. The more your therapist knows you and your disorder, the
more helpful this kind of pre-planning and support will be.

Time differences and medication. The word from UCSD’s Michael McCarthy,
MD., PhD in psychiatry, and who has written extensively on the effects of travel
and illnesses, take your medications at the same time. 9:00 pm in America, 9:00

1 The term “medication” throughout may also mean “supplement”.

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pm in Europe. The therapeutic levels really won’t be affected, and that includes
lithium.

Check and double check that you pack your medications. Not in your suitcase
but in your carry-on bag. DO NOT CHECK THEM in case you need them during
the flight, experience any travel delays, or heaven forbid your luggage gets lost.

Pack enough for your entire trip... and a little more. If for any reason you have to
obtain more, call your doctor’s office and ask them to send the order to your local
pharmacy abroad. (In other countries, many prescriptions are actually sold over-
the-counter, so check that option too). But bottom-line, take what you’ll need,
plus a “cushion” of a few extra days of medication in case of an emergency.

Focus completely on whatever you are doing at the moment. This is a calming
practice called ‘mindfulness.’ It’s both broad and narrow; internal and external.
Try to appreciate every movement and component of each activity, even if it’s
brushing your teeth. Ritualize whatever you do—keep a schedule of even your
simplest activities-- and you will enjoy a sense of control. I believe that it is
quite impossible to have a panic or anxiety attack if you are completely in the
moment. In a nutshell, mindfulness and all its benefits can be accomplished if
you stay centered and uncluttered. (This is more than just a travel tip!). Also, as
you read through this chapter, do try the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), or
“Tapping”.

The Ultimate Preparation

Now is the time to get in the habit of tracking your moods, your medication(s), and
integrate some meditation or relaxation exercises into your life. This is best done
several weeks in advance of your trip, and in fact should be a part of your daily
life, but even the day of, and through your adventure, this will help immensely.

Two tools may serve you well. One is a new mobile app called MOOD WATCH
that gives you life-changing data in the palm of your hand. You can download the
app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android devices for just 99 cents and
is available in 11 languages. (visit www.MoodWatchapp.com). Another similar
tracking app is the T2Tracker created by the US Department of Defense to help
returning soldiers with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress disorder), and it is free. http://
t2health.org/apps/t2-mood-tracker#.UdNd9lOAFZo The details and instructions
for Mood Watch are in the references section.

Tapping
For some additional peace of mind during travel, you might consider trying my
“bonus tip.” It’s called Tapping or EFT: Energy Freedom Technique 2. Amazing,
deep, effective, fast, and specific information is also available in the reference
section.

2 Emotional Freedom Techniques, Craig, G (nd). EFT Manual (pdf). Retrieved 2013-06-26.

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MedJet Assist
And finally, one less worry is always a good thing. I recommend you check out
MedJet Assist3.

This is about physical safety, and the only thing it has to do with bipolar is this:
you will have one less worry. If you or any of your family become seriously sick
or injured, for next to nothing, your fears are gone. MedjetAssist.com. They do
NOT cover psychiatric illnesses, but they DO cover everything else. Rain or shine,
24/7, all around the globe. If you are hospitalized more than 150 miles away
from your home and require continued in-patient care, Medjet will arrange for
air-medical transfer to the hospital of your choice in your home country. This is an
unbelievable service, and it’s real. Place one more worry behind you, whether it’s
for your family or yourself. The flat-rate membership fees are amazingly affordable
both for individual and family plans. This is a MUST HAVE in your travel kit. Look
it up: MedjetAssist.com, and use the discount code: TRAVL for an International
Bipolar Foundation 2% discount on all fees and products.

MedFlash
MedFlash can be a lifesaving tool for travelers as you never know when
you will be incapacitated or injured.

MedFlash is the next ‐generation of PHR (personal health record) and

is much more than an electronic filing cabinet. In fact, it’s not a PHR
at all. It’s an Electronic Personal Health and Wellness Manager (ePHM)
that delivers a highly personalized and interactive health and wellness
experience that puts the member – the customer in control.

MedFlash offers many exciting features:

Portability for on-the-go or emergency access:
This remains a critical component in any PHM system, but unless it’s portable,
its value is severely limited.
MedFlash offers multiple ways to enter and access the health profile data stored
inside the ePHM, including web portals, smart phone applications and an en-
crypted USB drive along with a 24/7/365 emergency hotline.
In an instant, ePHM’s provide paramedics and emergency room staffs with
access to the information they need to properly provide care when a traveler
is incapacitated or unresponsive. This flexibility also allows MedFlash to easily
transport information between their primary care and specialty care physicians.
Internet access:
MedFlash also connects members to a wealth of trusted medical information
available from multiple sources along with 24/7 access to clinical/nursing support
through our Fone Med Program.
Again, use the ordering code TRAVL for your discount.

3 As an affiliate with MedJet Assist I was able to secure the 2% discount code.

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Ready to Launch
So your departure date is finally here. You are ready to launch.

We all know airports have the potential to be crowded, noisy places. Your goal
is to have a plan. First of all, travel as lightly as you possibly can so your luggage
doesn’t overwhelm you physically and mentally. Take your time, ask for help and
be prepared to tip. There are people in place to assist you.
If you feel unsteady on your feet-- whether from extreme anxiety or any other
reason-- do not hesitate to seek assistance. Assistance can be just a matter of
using a cane to help with your balance and as a sign to let those around you know
that you require some assistance. It is as much for other people as it is for you.
Keep in mind, a cane isn’t your only option depending on your level of instability.
Nearly all airlines offer a wheelchair service, and if you like, you can request it when
you make your reservations. Also note that if you do ask for wheelchair assistance
you must comply completely with everything you are requested to do. The airline
wants things to go well for you and everyone around you.

Airborne
Once you are airborne, there are several things you can do to stay relaxed at
30,000 feet and to reduce the effects of jet lag. This is my own formula, which I’ve
found to be truly effective trip after trip.
• Let’s assume you have read this entire chapter and have implemented the
tips wisely. You should be well-rested, nourished and organized. You’ve
packed your meds and some snacks in your carry-on, and a cane if you need
it (high anxiety types). You know what to expect-- any stops, plane changes,
flight times and the local arrival time at your destination. You are looking
forward to your trip!
• On longer flights, by all means sleep when you’re sleepy, but shoot for the
longest leg of the flight. Consider the time it’ll be when you arrive, because
you’ll want to adapt to the swing of things as quickly as you can once you’re
there.
• Kudos to you if you’re an easy sleeper, but if not, ask your doctor to prescribe
a sleep aid. What you want are good REM cycles. Go light on coffee or
other caffeine beverages.
• As some medical research shows, taking one aspirin can help prevent the
development of blood clots during long periods of sitting. Ask your doctor
whether this is advisable for you.
• Move your body. Tricky business these days with airline regulations and
limited space, but do as much as you can. Visit the restroom! There are
in-seat exercises the airlines often have instructions for. Moving is good,
especially for your legs.
• Set your watch to the new local time as soon as you’re on your final flight.
As funny as this sounds, set your head too. Refer only to the new time zone
and completely buy into your new reality.

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For a little different approach, David J. Miklowitz, author of The Bipolar Disorder
Survival Guide writes on jet lag:

“One way to combat this travel disruption is to gradually adjust your internal time
clock to the new place you’re going, before you actually leave. So, over the
course of a week before you travel to a later time zone, go to bed an hour earlier
than usual, then an hour and a half, and then 2 hours earlier, and so forth. By the
time you arrive, it may be easier to adjust to the hours of the new time zone. This
procedure usually works best if you’ll be in the new time zone for more than a few
days.”

Jet lag is one of those maladies that has as many cures as hiccoughs, and probably
all about as effective.

After You Land

Slowly take in your new world-- the sights, the sounds, the smells. This is the
perfect time to practice mindfulness, to be fully in the moment as you explore a
different environment. Remember, whatever time it is there is YOUR time. If it’s
siesta time, go for it, but avoid oversleeping. A nap is a nap!
Now comes the easier part—enjoying yourself. Keep to the Mood Watch program
which will keep you on course—your meds will be correct, you’ll stay focused and
centered and mindful, enjoying a little grounding meditation as part of your daily
rituals... just like brushing your teeth, but a good deal more focused on keeping
you able to enjoy yourself!

Let’s face it, living with a mood disorder is challenging, but it has no right nor
should it have the power to keep us from traveling and exploring our world. Ernest
Hemingway said it so beautifully, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but
it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Enjoy your journey!

Kimberly Knox

Resources:
TSA (Transportation Security Administration): www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/
what-know-you-go‎
Tips for Traveling Abroad: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html
MoodWatchApp.com, available in 11 different languages and endorsed by
NAMI (National Alliance for Mental illness) and the International Bipolar
Foundation

Instructions on how to use Mood Watch:

MOOD WATCH lets you easily track your moods and biofeedback for a clear
picture of how to improve your mental health and overall well-being. Simply
respond to the following questions on your iPhone or iPod touch.

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 -- Overall, how are you feeling? (Choose from Excellent, Great, Good, Fair Not
So Good or Terrible.)
-- How many hours of sleep last night?
-- Quality of sleep? (Choose from Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor )

(A wrist blood-pressure/pulse monitor)

From here, you’ll have a little biofeedback exercise, and one that’s well worth
doing. Your mind has more to do with your body than you might think, and you’ll
see the proof here.

Any blood pressure monitor will do. For example this wrist monitor is small,
inexpensive (under $20.00), and if you’re consistent in the way you use it, it’s
accurate. Just strap it on and record your pulse and pressure. Remember,
be consistent. Keep the monitor at heart-level and avoid talking, laughing or
fidgeting and uncross your legs. Now record the numbers in MOOD WATCH.
Then, meditate for between 3 and 5 minutes, focusing on your breath… slow
deep breath in, longer exhale out. Practice will make meditating easier as you
learn to relax and note how you feel better.

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Finally, take your pressure and pulse again and record the numbers after
meditating. You will likely notice a significant difference. If not, you will likely
with practice. (Don’t forget to pack your blood pressure cuff!

Doing this step regularly will help you lower or stabilize your baseline pulse and
pressures so that regardless of your mental state, your body will maintain an even
keel. This is biofeedback. It takes practice, but it is both doable and incredibly
rewarding. Having the ability to check your vitals will reassure you that things are
not nearly as bad as they might feel when anxiety is creeping up. You will quickly
learn that you have more control—even subconsciously—over your body than you
imagined.

Now, go on to evaluate your mood components guiding the buttons with your
finger. You can rate your levels in seconds:

• What is your level of anxiety?

• What is your overall mood? High or low?
• What is your level of calmness? Calm or agitated?
• What is your level of focus or mindfulness?
High or low?
• And what is your level of energy? Physical
and emotional.

All of these components can be customized to

fit you personally. For example, tap on Energy
and change it to Exercise, if you’d prefer to
track that component. You can also change
the secondary component, or how it’s scored.
You have a tremendous amount of flexibility.

Once you’ve rated your mood components,

there’s a space—morning, noon, and evening-
-to make important notes about how you feel
or how your day is going. These turn out to be
invaluable later on down the line when looking

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at all of your information at one time.

You can also keep quick and easy track of

your medications and supplements, the
dosages and whether you’ve taken them.
Three of four subtle but effective alarms
double to remind you to fill out your chart
and take your medications or supplements.

MOOD WATCH takes all of your personal

details, compiles and displays them in a
Chart on the app. You get a personal
picture of your moods over a week’s time.

The Week Report is even more revealing. It includes your mood chart, and also
sleep, blood pressure, meditation, your meds and your notes.

When seen together, the data are amazingly revealing and helpful in figuring out
what action you can take to feel better. For example, you
may discover that you need to get more sleep… or less
sleep. Perhaps you forgot your medication, or are taking
too much. And you can see what happens to your vitals
and your mood when you meditate.
The Weekly Report can be emailed or printed out on
standard-sized paper for easy reference. Consider sharing
your data with your doctor. MOOD WATCH can be the
window to improved mental health and a happier life.

T2Tracker: http://t2health.org/apps/t2-mood-tracker#.
UdNd9lOAFZo

MedjetAssist.com

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Emotional Freedom Techniques, Craig, G (nd). EFT Manual (pdf). Retrieved 2013-
06-26

Tapping is a mystery. How it works is a mystery, but it works. Imagine a life free
from anxiety, agitation, fear, worry… when you tap, you release these energies
and make room for calmness, joy, contentment, mindfulness, and energy. It only
takes a few minutes. A MUST TRY!

Let me tell you how I was taught: Standing up or sitting down, doesn’t matter,
you’re just going to be focusing for a few minutes. Get centered (focus inside) and
focus on what’s getting to you. Could be a pain you want to resolve--physical,
emotional, could be generalized anxiety, could be sadness, could be anything,
truly.

We’re about to start, so think of your problem--let’s call it anxiety--and rate your
level of anxiety on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most anxious, one being no
anxiety, and don’t play the game if you don’t have any anxiety. Choose anything
else.

Alright, so you’re centered, and you have your problem in mind. Take your
dominant hand and make gentle karate chops into the palm of your other hand –
nothing crazy.

Let’s say you’re at a seven. Start chopping into your hand and repeat the phrase,
“Even though I have this anxiety, I love and accept myself completely.” You repeat
that phrase 3 to 5 times as you are chopping. (Pick a number and be consistent: 5)

For the next section, take both of your hands to the very crown of your head--the
very top. Tap the top of your head with both hands saying, “anxiety”. Repeat this
word 5 times. That’s right, just that word, while you’re tapping.

Move to the inside corners of your eyebrows just above your nose. Tap your
fingers, two fingers each hand, on the bone at the inside corner of your eyebrows.
As you are tapping, continue saying, five times, “anxiety”.

Go to the outside corners of your eyes, tapping on the orbit (bone), again saying,
“anxiety”, 5 times.

Now follow the orbit edge down to the center of your eyes--just below your eyes.
Tap there on the bone again, and as you’re tapping, say 5 times, “anxiety”.

Now with one hand move your fingers down below your nose and above your
upper lip. There, saying 5 times, “anxiety” as you tap.

Next, move your fingers to just below your lower lip, centered, and the top of your
chin. Tap there, 5 times, saying, “anxiety”.

Okay, homestretch! Both hands at the sides of your neck, slide your fingers down

191
to your collarbone, and down another 2 inches, there on your chest, tap and say,
5 times, “anxiety”.

And the final tap: on either side of your body reach one arm around and underneath
your arm, tap the side of your body as you say, 5 times, “anxiety”. And you’re
finished!

Now, take a deep breath, relax, and centering yourself again, rate your level of
anxiety. I think you’ll be astounded to find that your level of anxiety really did go
down and you really do feel different.

This technique is so incredibly effective it defies any feeble explanation. Just try it.

Tap away!

References
Miklowitz, D.J., (2011) The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, “OK, Now That I’m
Going to Bed on Time, How Do I Fall Asleep?” 175 – 176.
McCarthy, M.J., Welsh, D.K. Cellular Circadian Clocks in Mood Disorders, J Biol
Rhythms 2012 27: 339 DOI: 10.1177/0748730412456367

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 The Caregiver
By Muffy Walker, MSN, MBA

Putting baby locks on the kitchen cabinets to protect my toddler was one thing,
but locking away the steak knives from my seven-year-old was not something I ever
imagined would be necessary. I also never imagined that I would need to use my
skills as a psychiatric nurse on my own child.

When my youngest son Courtland turned four, my husband and I began noticing
behaviors that were foreign to us. Court had become unusually aggressive; having
uncontrollable temper tantrums in the grocery store aisle, throwing toys across
the room at his brothers, and kicking me at the slightest parental control. Once
a gregarious, outgoing child, he had become fearful, frightened to go to school,
afraid to be in his room alone, or afraid to go outside to play. Court now shunned
the beach; the sand bothered his toes, and in summer he wore winter clothes,
complaining he was cold. The inside labels on his shirt and seams on his socks sent
him into fits of rage.

I worried that like my other two children, Courtland might also have Attention-deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but perhaps a really, really bad form of it. Over the
next three and a half years, Court saw five psychiatrists, each offering a different
diagnosis including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional-Defiant
Disorder, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Finally, after being incorrectly treated
with an anti-depressant, Court experienced a full
blown manic episode and was ultimately diagnosed
with Early-onset bipolar disorder.

Even with medical training, my husband and I were ill

prepared for the frustration we experienced trying to
steer our way through the mental health system, the
fear we encountered not knowing what the future held
for our youngest son, and the lack of understanding
and support we met on a daily basis.
Our lives changed dramatically. We read every book
printed, searched the internet for any clue offering
help or hope, sought multiple opinions from varying
disciplines (psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists,
etc.), and clicked on every available website.

I quit my job and dedicated my waking hours to learning more, helping my son,
and emotionally supporting my family. We looked into alternative schools and
ultimately sent him to 4 different schools. We used mood charts, star charts for
good behavior, practiced Ross Greene’s “3 basket approach”, and hired a mentor
as we learned that author Danielle Steele did for her son, Nick Traina. We went to
family therapy, individual therapy, and social skills groups.

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The first 10 years were particularly difficult. We walked around as if on egg shells.
We chose our words carefully so as not to upset Court; learned to disguise his
many pills in pudding; in order to monitor his sleep we allowed him to stay in our
room; repaired multiple broken windows, and sheltered our two other boys from
Court’s untempered profanity.

Bipolar disorder does not just affect the diagnosed

person. Marriages are stressed to breaking points,
siblings feel left out or slighted, friends may be
ignored, and parents may harbor feelings of guilt or
helplessness. All relationships are challenged in one Bipolar disorder does
way or another. not just affect the
diagnosed person
Within the first year following Courtland’s diagnosis
of bipolar disorder, I found very little support, both for
myself and my family. I began talking with other moms
at the playground, explaining why my son was different
and what his aberrant behaviors meant. I wanted my son to
grow up not feeling ashamed that he had this disease. We talked
openly and honestly about it and encouraged him to do so, as well.

In the early years, our openness came back to haunt us. Parents whispered about
him at t-ball games, no one invited him to birthday parties, sleepovers or play
dates. The children on the playground called him names like psycho, looney head
and mental case. The boys taunted him and told him to go back to the mental
hospital (even though he’d actually never been at one). Each day when I picked
him up from school, he would shuffle over to the car with his head hanging down,
telling me of yet another example of the bullying he had endured.

I wanted so badly for him to fit in, for the other kids to understand him and to
accept him for who he was. After all, the children with diabetes or other physical
illnesses were not excluded. Only those with mental illnesses were.

Like a mother lion, we all do whatever is necessary to protect our cubs, but I felt
like I was losing this battle. I learned that the special education teacher curriculum
in California does not include a “chapter” on bipolar disorder, although it does
include autism, Asperger’s, ADD, & ADHD. Therefore, how could they understand
my son’s behaviors and respond to him in an appropriate manner? They couldn’t
and didn’t, so I gave in-services to the teachers to help educate them about bipolar
disorder. I worked with the school Superintendent and Principal to incorporate
anti-bullying tenets and even hired a theater group that specialized in anti-bullying
vignettes. Nothing seemed to help, but as much it seemed an insurmountable
obstacle, we did not give up.

When my son was 9, we allowed a television station in Los Angeles to interview us.
After telling a co-worker what I had agreed to, she sent me a scholarly paper about
children with AIDS, advising parents not to be public about it. I understood her

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concern, but chose not to succumb to the unjust negative stigma associated with
the biochemical brain disorder with which my son was born.

As I continued to talk openly about his disorder, people

I had known for years, began secretly sharing with
me that someone in their family was also diagnosed
with bipolar disorder. Strangers called or emailed me,
confiding that their son or daughter, mother or uncle
also had bipolar disorder.

They all shared their stories of sadness, grief over

a future now robbed of its potential, loneliness for
their excluded child, fear for their child’s safety
and unanswered questions about medications,
hospitalizations, conservatorship, doctors - the lists
were endless.

If you are reading this chapter, then you are probably all too familiar with my
examples of living with someone who is not stable, or of the bullying and negative
stigma and the futility of attempts to correct them.

As caregivers of someone with the disorder, we need to be aware that just as with
so many other illnesses, the symptoms of bipolar disorder range broadly within
a spectrum. Although one person may be psychotic (loss of touch with reality) or
a danger to himself (one in five children with bipolar disorder will kill themselves
before the age of 18), another may be relatively high functioning, attend regular
school, and hold a meaningful job. Think Rachmaninoff, Hemingway, Vincent Van
Gogh, and Carrie Fisher. All are highly successful, extremely creative people, all
who have/had bipolar disorder. Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can be
especially difficult given the nature of the disorder.

Not only is healthcare coverage more limited than for other illnesses, there is the
issue of getting someone to treatment when he or she may not want to go. A
person who is in a manic phase (up) may
refuse to seek treatment and may even
discontinue his medication. The medications
are powerful and have unpleasant side
effects. Someone in a depressed phase
(down) may feel so helpless and worthless
that getting help seems not to be an option.
Furthermore, most of the medications used
to treat bipolar disorder are powerful, have
unpleasant side effects and may thwart their
“high” feelings. Because there is not yet a
cure for bipolar disorder, these medications
must be taken for life, which is a scary
prospect for most people.

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For caregivers, coping with someone with bipolar disorder takes a heavy emotional
toll and strains the relationship, often to the breaking point. An added burden is
the stigma of mental illness, which leaves families feeling frightened and isolated,
unaware that many other families share their experience.

For purposes of this chapter, a caregiver is anyone who has primary care
responsibility for someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Caring for a child,
however, is much different than caring for an adult, for whom you probably have
no legal rights. Not only does the type of care change with age, the typical course
of the disorder tends to differ in children and adults.

So what can we as caregivers do to help our loved one with bipolar disorder?

CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER:

• Educate yourself (congratulations - you’re already on the right path by
reading this). Visit our website for downloadable educational brochures,
videos, other web links, and suggested reading. www.ibpf.org

• Seek treatment from a reputable, board certified psychiatrist. Ask for

referrals from your pediatrician, friends and mental health organizations. As
a family caregiver, you can help by scheduling appointments, keeping track
of medications and making sure they are taken as prescribed, and report
any mood changes to the clinicians.

• Meet with your loved one’s clinician. Although clinicians are bound by
laws of confidentiality, you can ask to go with your family member to the
appointment.

• Establish an atmosphere where symptoms, medications and concerns can

be discussed freely. Understanding the early phases of the illness will help
everyone seek appropriate help when it is needed. Sometimes, those with
bipolar illness aren’t aware when they are depressed or manic, although it is
quite obvious to the caregiver. Pointing out when it is time to see the doctor
or re-evaluate the medication needs to be done in an open, accepting way.
Watch for triggers, and watch the behavior for clues of an upcoming change
of mood or frame of mind. You are in the best position to recognize this.

• Consider a contract that you and your loved one with bipolar disorder agree
on when he or she is calm, stable, and lucid. If the person is 18 years of age
or over, you will generally not be able to learn much about his treatment
because of HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Write out a statement describing agreed-upon treatment plans that you can
show to your loved one when he or she is no longer rational or is refusing
treatment.

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• Prepare a resource list, even if you don’t think you need the service,
(example) Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) in your area.

• Enlist support and build a network. This is extremely important, not only to
help you with the day –to- day stressors and limit your isolation, but also to
learn what is “normal.”

• Look into a Special Needs Trust. Wikipedia defines this as, “A special needs
trust is created to ensure that beneficiaries who are disabled or mentally ill
can enjoy the use of property which is intended to be held for their benefit.”
In addition to personal planning reasons for such a trust (the person may
lack the mental capacity to handle their financial affairs) there may be fiscal
advantages to the use of a trust. Such trusts may also avoid beneficiaries
losing access to essential government benefits.

• Let your family member know that you care. According to Dr. Andrea
Bledsoe of Everyday Health, here are some things TO SAY and NOT TO
SAY to someone with bipolar disorder:

• Please don’t say:

1. You’re crazy.
2. This is your fault.
3. You’re not trying.
4. Everyone has bad times.
5. You’ll be okay — there’s no need to worry.
6. You’ll never be in a serious romantic relationship.
7. What’s the matter with you?
8. I can’t help you.
9. You don’t have to take your moods out on me — I’m getting so tired of
this.

Some of the best words of encouragement include:

1. This is a medical illness and it is not your fault.
2. I am here. We’ll make it through this together.
3. You and your life are important to me.
4. You’re not alone.
5. Tell me how I can help.
6. I might not know how you feel, but I’m here to support you.
7. Whenever you feel like giving up, tell yourself to hold on for another
minute, hour, day — whatever you feel you can do.
8. Your illness doesn’t define who you are. You are still you, with hopes and
dreams you can attain.

• Embrace the diagnosis, it’s not going to change, and may not improve.
Medications can control it, but there is not yet a cure.

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 Caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder can be exhausting
and disruptive to your daily patterns. More often than not,
you may even overlook your own personal physical and
emotional needs. First and foremost, you must take
care of yourself. If you are not strong both physically
and emotionally, you are no good to yourself or
others. As they say in the airplane, “put your oxygen You must take care
mask on first before assisting another.”
of yourself
When you take on the role of caregiver, you add
more than just one new hat to your
repertoire. Now you are “nurse,”
“doctor,” advocate, case
manager PLUS your previous
roles as wife, mother, father, sibling.
Caregivers’ stress Where there’s caregiving, there’s stress — that feeling
hormone levels were 23 that comes from having too many demands on your
percent higher than those time. Chronic tension suppresses your immune
of their non-caregiving system, making you more susceptible to illness.
counterparts Research shows that caregivers’ stress hormone
levels were 23 percent higher than those of their non-
caregiving counterparts. They also had lower levels of
disease-fighting antibodies. This is why it is crucial to find
ways to take stress-relieving breaks.

So, what can we do to help ourselves in our role as caregivers?

1. Exercise daily, even if for only 20-30 minutes a day.

2. Get adequate rest and sleep. Adhering to a healthy sleep schedule may be
difficult with all you are now dealing with. Here are some helpful hints to get
those much needed Z’s: Avoid paying bills, having difficult discussions, or
other stressful events in the evening. Try scheduling them early in the day.

Clear your mind. Try imagining a calming scene bringing into play the five
senses. Walk on the beach, listen to the waves, smell the salt air, feel the
warm sun...

Take a warm bath an hour or so before going to bed.

Smooth on some lavender cream or put essential oil on a cotton ball near
your pillow. Research shows that the scent of lavender eases anxiety and
insomnia.

Listen to soothing music and turn off the TV and video games an hour
before going to bed.

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 Make love, not war. Research shows that sex actually helps induce a sleepy
state by releasing endorphins.

Try some slow, deep breathing. This type of breathing relaxes your body,
oxygenates your blood and reduces the stress you feel.

3. Eat nourishing foods. Try to avoid caffeine, sugar, and processed foods.
Avoid alcohol. Many believe alcohol helps them relax and sleep, however,
alcohol disrupts the sleep cycle causing a nonrestful sleep.

4. Enjoy some “me” time. Plan ahead for some “me” time, whether it’s a walk
with your dog, lunch with a good friend, or curling up with a good book.
“Me” time can be very restorative.

5. Acknowledge and understand your negative emotions. Guilt, anger,

isolation and resentment are normal feelings often associated with the
caregiving process. If you notice yourself feeling this way, take a step back
and remind yourself that these are part of the normal process.

6. Laugh. Enjoying a good belly laugh helps the body relax, raises your blood
oxygen levels, produces endorphins, stimulates your internal organs, and
boosts your immune system. Know a good joke?

7. Give yourself a pat on the back. You aren’t doing this to win a caregiver
award but at the same time, you may not have realized how taxing it
would be. If your loved one with bipolar disorder does not show his or her
appreciation, don’t take it personally. Appreciate your own efforts and how
they’re helping.

8. Find support. Whether you seek support from your church, a professional
therapist, or simply check in with a cheery friend, support is essential. Caring
for your loved one is not a one-person job, although we tend to think it is.
Connect with others who are in the similar situation. Support groups can
work wonders for your morale. Your situations always seem so much worse
until you are in the company of those going through the same thing.

9 Redefine your priorities. Taking care of someone with bipolar disorder may
leave you with little time and energy for yourself. Adjust your expectations
of yourself and explain to others why your time and focus on them may need
to change.

10. Arrange respite care: http://www.caringtoday.com/arrange-respite-care/

respite-resources.

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11. Consider Supplements. Low serotonin levels have been linked to low
spirits, says Marie-Annette Brown, PhD, RN, of the University of Washington.
Getting 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid; 50 milligrams each of B1,
B2 and B6; and 400 international units of vitamin D every morning has been
shown to boost serotonin and, as a result, people’s mood and energy. In
Dr. Brown’s research, combining these supplements with daily exercise and
exposure to natural light helped women overcome depression.

12. Have hope. Remember, bipolar disorder is treatable and in most cases can
be stabilized. Be prepared for the condition to worsen and/or improve at
times. We won’t give up hope.

My dreams for Courtland have not disappeared, they have just changed.

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202
  
 
   

ENERGY CALM SAD NORMAL

JOY RELAXED TIRED SAFETY
ALERT CONFIDENCE CONFUSED HEALING

Yellow Blue Red Green

203
STRESSED ENTHUSIASM NERVOUS
TENSE ENERGIZED EXCITED ANXIOUS
 HAPPY

WORRY PEACEFUL CREATIVITY IRRITATED

Black Purple Orange Gray

 

 
 Medication Side Effect Checklist
__Blurred vision
__Changes in weight
__Swelling of hands and feet
__Dizziness
__High or low blood pressure
__Headaches or migraines
__Changes in menstruation or breasts
__Change in sexual functions
__Dry mouth
__Excess saliva
__Constipation
__Diarrhea
__Nausea

__Changes in urination patterns

__Muscle stiffness
__Trembling of muscles
__Trembling of tongue
__Tics or abnormal movement
__Tremors
__Decrease in muscle strength
__Jittery
__General fatigue

__Memory loss
__Difficulty in concentrating
__Anxiety
__Agitation
__Thoughts of suicide

If you experience any of the above side effects from your medication, please
contact your treating physician.

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 Exercise Journal
Use this form to log your daily exercise to keep you motivated. Make multiple
copies to use in order to maintain a consistent exercise program.

WEEK OF _________________________

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

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 Food Log
DATE _________________________

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

SNACK

Use this form to log your daily food intake to encourage healthy eating
habits. You may want to make multiple copies to use in order to maintain a
consistent health food plan.

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 Doctor Contact Sheet

Primary Care Doctor

Name: ___________________________________

Address: _________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

Psychiatrist
Name: ___________________________________

Address: _________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

Therapist
Name: ___________________________________

Address: _________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

Other
Name: ___________________________________

Address: _________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

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 Questions For Your Doctor
Use this form to prepare for your upcoming doctor’s appointments. Make a list
of questions you have for the doctor so that you use your limited time with them
wisely and don’t forget to ask the important questions.

1.__________________________________________

2.__________________________________________

3.__________________________________________

4.__________________________________________

5.__________________________________________

6.__________________________________________

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The mission of International Bipolar Foundation is to improve understanding and treatment
of bipolar disorder through research; to promote care and support resources
for individuals and caregivers; and to erase stigma through education.

ibpf.org