Is it common for only the manic symptom of bipolar disorder to be treated and not the depression?

VERY good question. I have a bipolar diagnosis and I have often thought the same. I think depression is seen as more 'common' than mania, so once a Doctor has found out and identified an episode of mania they will often target that. it is also very common to prescribe mood stabilisers for the ups and the downs, but the problem is that a lot of BP people also need antidepressants, but they are not prescribed because the Dr thinks that they might send the patient 'high'. (And often they do.) so yes, I would say it is almost easier to treatthe mania in BP disorder, as treating the depression always runs the risk of making the patient manic.

Blondie

Bipolar disorder moves from mania to depression. It's never the two at the same time. That's just mood swings.
When a bipolar episode is beginning, mania is the first symptom. This lasts for a while, it could be days or even months, then the subject suddenly reaches a breaking point & crashes into depression.
The treatment plan is to give mood stabilisers so the subject doesn't ever get into the mania. As the cycle is halted before it starts, the depression won't follow because the subject won't ever reach breaking point.
Many bipolars refuse mood stabilisers because they feel good & achieve a lot when they're manic and they don't recognise this as the beginning of an episode. unfortunately mood can't be stabilised at that level, the brain is overactive & will eventually burn or crash out, so they have to be stabilised at a lower mood than they might like. To many, this feels like they're being held in depression by medication.
After crashing out, bipolars usually recover from the subsequent depression without medication, so there's not a lot of point in taking risks with medication to accelerate a process that will happen naturally without risk. of course many bipolars would disagree, but then risk-taking is part of the cycle of manic behaviour.

Very often, it is only the symptom(s) of any disorder or illness that are treated, and rarely the disease itself. Many psychological or emotional illnesses, such as depression, are a result of a lasting problem that neither medication nor therapy can eliminate. Generally, psychiatrists treat by either therapy or drugs. And the more frequent of the two is guess what? Drugs. But if you have a real problem in your life, something that is causing you to lose sleep, and feel depressed, and you take some dugs that the psychiatrists prescribes for you, does your problem go away? no. You just FEEL less depressed because now they have made you into a medicated zombie who doesn't feel depressed anymore. You could get the same effect on your own, by turning to illegal drugs or alcohol, and in fact that's why many people do turn to substance abuse as a way of "dealing" with mental and emotional problems. why of course, doesn't help either-that's the point. Doctors and medication do not always have an answer.

Yes, well at least any good psych will know to only treat the mania at the beginning of treatment. Anti-depressants (of just about any kind) tend to have strange effects on bipolar's. most commonly it makes them cycle faster. it can often send them into mania or hypo-mania. And more recently they are finding it makes the depression worse.

Many people receive a bipolar diagnosis after starting anti depressants for an obvious reason. more people are seen for depression symptoms than mania b/c they are much more bothersome. Even if you are currently depressed your doc may start you on a mood stabilizer alone.

Once you are on a mood stabilizer that is working correctly your doc may add on an antidepressant if your first med isn't truly stabilizing your mood. Often the anti depressant is an on again off again med where the mood stabilizer is always used.

It is common to treat bipolar disorder without the use of anti-depressants. In some persons with bipolar disorder, anti-depressants can cause a manic episode to occur. The depression and the mania are treated with medications classified as mood stabilizers. The depression is not being treated directly, but the medication does help some of the depressive symptoms.

"This medication will make you gain about fourteen pounds," said the Psychiatrist, handing me a script for Depakote.

Having already gained tweny-eight pounds on medication for another and unrelated condition, I declined her kind offer and am trying to go it without her pill-pushing philosophy.

I do agree with one Answerer, however, in that the lows seem to go on forever and the highs are too short. How wonderful it would be if the manic stage could be arrested and contained to an acceptable level.

I also agree that alcohol is used by some as self-medication; often until the underlying cause is diagnosed.

it depends on the person and how the bipolar presents itself in that person...first of all many bipolars will tend towards either being depressed most of the time, manic most of the time, or a mixed state...then theres also the fact that even if you are mainly a depressed bipolar, and you happen to be in a manic state at the time, the medications you are taking will be adjusted at that time since your mood is different...like one of the people said before you are moreso treating the symptoms of the disorder not the whole thing not all at once anyhow, scientists pretty much know nada bout the brain...and also if you are talking about using antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers(also something for sleep or antianxiety), any and all in those categories can be used for a depressed person or a bipolar person...the names aren't quite so important its just the antidepressants have been able to fling some people into a manic state so psychiatrists might use those but theyll probly start off with antipsychotics or mood stabilizers (unless you were diagnosed depressed first then you try the antidepressants first)...like i said the scientists/doctors are still figuring out the brain and most of the psychiatric disorders do have points where they crossover so using a 'antipsychotic' can be just as helpful for seom people...the main thing is how you feel after you take the drug, if you feel more depressed you need to talk to your psychiatrist about adjusting your medication possibly and the same with if you feel too manic...

Why would you not want to treat the depression? That is the worse part if you ask me. my manic episodes, I feel great, full of confidence, and feel like I can accomplish anything. it is the crash that I hate, the depression that seems to last and last. I don't understand why you would not want treatment for depression.

if you did all of this it would help both issues

All treatment recommended by the doctors should be tested and approved and quite rightly so.
That makes sense right Obviously it costs vast sums of money to test and approve treatments because of the possible damage to people and the subsequent litigation costing millions of pounds.
Drug companies Fund most research and only and I mean only look at treatments, which show the promise of good deal of a profit, will even get examined. …….and thus other therapies do not get recommended by your local doctor or hospital. despite The fact that some of them do have overwhelming benefits some, which have saved needless operations, needless amputations, needless pain and trauma, needless kidney failures and much loss of life. Drugs are not the answer for depression or any other mental ill ness
This does not help you does it though. when you are ill and suffering—not hearing about therapies which can help from a person you look up to and trust Have you heard your local doctor recommend, Massage Spiritual healing, Knieisiology Herbs, Light therapy,.

Depression protocol but these therapies will work for many complaints of a so called mental nature
my research centers around the teachings and study of the Edgar cayce material , with added principles where appropriate. we have thousands of testimonials and results showing years of successful applications of the Edgar cayce material. please make no assumptions or cast aspersions unless you have studied the material at hand .
Do this and I will guarantee improvements to you inside a day its that simple, of course getting these things in place can be much harder. But we have personnel experience of the effectiveness of them and they do work. Every one of them can have a very beneficial influence on you.
Print this all off save it and enact it and share it --- of course someone to help you get these therapies in your life is invaluable but do not be swayed by them trying for short cuts ….
1,get someone to massage your back and legs at least 3 times a week use peanut oil or a mix of 50-50 olive and peanut oil.
2 use the violet ray machine an edgar cayce device google search this --- 3 times a week on the other days especially on the spine….we use it every day with very positive results
3.get a tent sleep out side 3times a week utilising earth energy - nature can help big time especially with how you feel how much energy you have
4 study and apply good nutrition adequate minerals all of them particularly calcium and magnesium iron essential fatty acids as well omega 3 6 9 protein etc
5 ensure your thyroid is working well
7 ensure you do at least I hr per day some kind of voluntary work when you are able..the reasons you are ill , or poor or have allsorts of bad things happen to you is because of karma -----usually from past lives but some from this one –voluntary work will offset your mistakes--- how much it offsets well that is down to god and how much you do. Healing us is in direct proportion to the help we give others ie your healing comes with helping others achieve theirs so if people are doing very little in helping others ---they suffer more and longer...and if they are doing a lot they get well faster....so now you know what to do ,,and like a lot of us are already doing being of service.
8 be amongst people who are giving, friendly who have time for you who love you , choose your friends well
9 be or get to a place which personally love or like
10 get and do some work which you like or love
11 ensure you do no acts which hurt or inflict on anyone –don’t want to add to your karma do we !!!
12 .get an radial appliance and use it--- an edgar cayce device ---google search
13 spiritual healing yes and reiki -.
14think good positive thoughts, laughter, look at comedy, play good uplifting music,
16 avoid at all costs exposure to violence, murders, suffering ,death ,tragedies, this is what is pumped at us and they call it the news ..feed upon good things , uplifting things, things that feel like a breath of fresh air. be careful who you mix with .
17 Positive affirmation- that’s right programme your self in the mirror , thoughts are things words are things actions are things , all have influence, few people realise these things can have an effect on themselves .
18 a detox ------ toxins can influence how you feel big time colonics castor oil packs 3 day apple diets
19 hugs get plenty of them in your daily life you would be amazed at how people are after a few decent hugs….
20 loads of exercise running walking climbing something which you enjoy
21 rid yourselves of all aspartame laden foods and drink and many additives get back to a wholesome organic diet diet
a total cure however is tied up with karma so you can imagine just how important is the voluntary work.

no. both sides of it have to be treated. the meds you take are to try and help you find a middle balance between the two extremes. suffering from bipolar myself i can't understand why some one would not want to be treated for both. they are both their own type of hell to exist with. (and yes people i realize that i used a bad word here. but it is an apt description of what people with any form of mental illness go through).

treatment of bipolar disorder encompasses both extremes of the condition, in that it seeks to stabilise the overall mindset, lower the highs and raise the lows.

Its probably because you are not on ther right medication for you. I would think both symptoms would be treated, especially considering it would seem that the depression would be more bothersome than the mania.

Yes, if the mood stabilisers are left alone and only tranquelisers are taken when the patient is suffering fro mania.

bipolar meds treat both

mania is probably more likely to warrant hospitalization, though

It all depends on the type of medicine, dose, medical records, and age. just ask a doctor.

Is it common for only the manic symptom of bipolar disorder to be treated and not the depression?

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