How to Help Adolescents With Manic Depression

Manic Depression is currently referenced more properly in the clinical arena as bi-polar disorder. While the disorder is best handled by a seasoned clinical professional therapist and a psychiatrist as regards medical intervention, there are a number of things you can do to help someone you suspect/are aware has this disorder.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a mentor such as a therapist, psychiatrist or both
• information/books on the subject (NOT popular science types)
• a support group for bi-polar disorder

1. While you are not the doctor, you can help a loved one with this disorder by becoming informed. Reading books on the subject can be helpful, as can joining a support group specifically for bi-polar disorder. There are even online chat groups with many very supportive members who can help with your cause.

2. Once you know more about the disorder, you can begin to develop ways for you to cope with the loved one, as well as know how you can help them. It takes a real understanding of your boundaries as well as what you can and cannot do to help. This is only achieved by in-depth inquiry. Failing to do your research and know your limits in such a relationship can have horrible results. While serious, the disorder is something to learn to live with, not imagine you know what to do.

3. A telling example of knowing what to do and boundaries would include staying clear with yourself about what you can and cannot tolerate peacefully. The disorder itself is not a product of will or the lack of it; it is a physically manifested problem that must be carefully managed by the patient as well as those living with the patient.

4. In this short "how to" we can only address an approach to helping someone with bi-polar disorder. If you suspect that your loved one has this problem, find a kindly but firm way to get them to the appropriate clinician for professional help. Frequently this is the only intervention that occurs, but it will save a life.

5. Most of all, remember that the disorder is just that, a disorder. It is not the person, or even their "personality" any more than any other disease is a whole person. Mental illness / mental health hold varying degrees of wellness, and it is vital to remember this. Some are able to cope better than others with a disorder, as are their families and friends. Knowledge and information are your allies, as are the professionals helping you.

Tips & Warnings

• Not every therapist or psychiatrist is well versed in bi-polar disorder, especially pediatric bi-polar disorders
• Many forms of bi-polar disorder go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because symptoms vary, as do the proficiencies of the therapists
• Some patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder actually do not have it, but they may have symptoms or "present" similarly. Beware of this as you move through what seems like the maze of recovery.
• In my circle of friends, one family actually had celiac-sprue, not bipolar disorder (as diagnosed); when they were able to see the true culprit and eliminate gluten from their diet, the bi-polar symptoms of the family members/children disappeared completely. Their bodies were being ravaged by the gluten attacking their immune systems.
• EVERY personality disorder has a great probability of being an addictive behavior = the mind and body cope with that disorder and use it to cope. So therapy can be a huge plus in overcoming the personality disorder to live a relatively healthy life.

[luv2blog]

on 12/22/2008 Nice article.

Good point sneedc. People should always get a second opinion if you go to a healthcare professional and don't see improvement. Heck, get 3rd and 4th if needed. NOBODY knows your body like you. Only YOU know for sure when something is wrong. I went to 5 different doctors and none could find my problem. They called it psychological and wanted me to learn how to manage pain. I moved to GA (for a job) and the doctor I found to be my new obgyn found a fibroid in my bladder. That was the cause of the pain I had for 10 years that the other 5 doctors chalked up to "psychological stress". Doctors are NOT created equal. If you aren't getting better with one professional, keep looking. When all else fails, go to a hospital that specializes in research. It's your life - take charge.

[luv2blog]

on 12/22/2008 Nice article.

Good point sneedc. People should always get a second opinion if you go to a healthcare professional and don't see improvement. Heck, get 3rd and 4th if needed. NOBODY knows your body like you. Only YOU know for sure when something is wrong. I went to 5 different doctors and none could find my problem. They called it psychological and wanted me to learn how to manage pain. I moved to GA (for a job) and the doctor I found to be my new obgyn found a fibroid in my bladder. That was the cause of the pain I had for 10 years that the other 5 doctors chalked up to "psychological stress". Doctors are NOT created equal. If you aren't getting better with one professional, keep looking. When all else fails, go to a hospital that specializes in research. It's your life - take charge.

[sneedc]

on 12/21/2008 In my case, it could also be a misdiagnosis--seek alternate help if you are so bold. I went to a vitamin therapist, who practices alternative meds and found candida in my system. Once that was successfully treated, I was able to get on meds that healed me from the inside out instead of anti-psychotic meds that just mask the illness. FOOD FOR THOUGHT! thanks for this awakening article.