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One of the most common mental health disorders is bipolar disorder. It forms a bridge between mood and psychotic disorders as it brings along symptoms of both. Not to mention, the severity of the bipolar disorder is more than mood disorders and less than psychotic disorders.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder affects more than 2.8% of Americans every year. It is further said that bipolar disorder is more prevalent in men compared to women. Still, there isn’t anything to worry about as immediate diagnosis and treatment can save you from the trouble.
In this article today, I’m going to share with you all the tiny bitsy details about bipolar disorder. It is with the sole purpose to enlighten you about the issue so that you know what you need to do if push comes to shove.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder manifests in three different episodes, including, manic episode, hypomanic episode, and major depressive episode. The symptoms of the disorder vary as per the episode one is experiencing; however, the following are a few common symptoms people with bipolar disorder go through:
- Increased agitation, energy, or activity
- Poor decision-making skills
- Distractibility and racing thoughts
- Unusual talkativeness and decreased need for sleep
- An exaggerated sense of self or euphoria
- Abnormally wired, jumpy, or upbeat
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Suicidal thoughts or possible attempts
Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, due to its psychotic symptoms, cannot be treated with therapy and lifestyle rehabilitation alone, it requires more than that. Therefore, taking antidepressants and mood stabilizers is mandatory.
However, several lifestyle tips and tricks can help manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder. In fact, if you’re experiencing a hypomanic or major depressive episode, natural remedies are more than enough to treat your condition. Here is a list of a few of them:
Herbs for Stress Management
As mentioned earlier, you cannot skip antipsychotics and mood stabilizers when treating bipolar disorder. But you can ditch antidepressants and benzodiazepines by turning to their natural alternatives.
Various herbs and plants are considered natural alternatives to allopathic stress-relieving medicines as they come with natural healing properties. Passionflower, ashwagandha, dried mushrooms, and lavender are a few examples of such herbs and plants.
All these herbs can be consumed in different ways, so you don’t have to worry about consuming them. For example, there are multiple ways to eat dried shrooms. You can either make mushroom tea or add one-two dried shrooms to your food. Similarly, you can apply lavender topically on your forehead for instant stress relief.
Lifestyle Rehabilitation
The next thing is lifestyle rehabilitation. To treat bipolar disorder, it’s mandatory to make a few lifestyle changes. It’s easier than you think, guys. Here’s what you need to do:
- Exercise regularly and try to walk for a few minutes in nature;
- Meditate twice a day, once in the morning and once at night;
- Go for a body massage to a nearby spa once a week;
- Make sure to have a warm bath or shower at the end of every day;
- Light a candle for a few minutes before you sleep and let the day sink in;
- And take care of your diet by eating more proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
You might even want to take advice from professionals other than making the lifestyle changes as they would be able to guide you in the right direction of curing the problem. This consultation can be done easily online these days through the best digital healthcare platforms. You can get more info here about how it could work fine for you as well.
Lastly, please don’t forget to stay positive. Remember that it all comes to your willpower at the end of the day; thus, staying positive is the key. I wish you well, my pals!
