By Dr. Robles
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. People who have bipolar disorder can have periods in which they feel overly happy and energized and other periods of feeling very sad, hopeless, and sluggish. In between those periods, they usually feel normal. You can think of the highs and the lows as two “poles” of mood, which is why it’s called “bipolar” disorder.
The word “manic” describes the times when someone with bipolar disorder feels overly excited and confident. These feelings can also involve irritability and impulsive or reckless decision-making. About half of people during mania can also have delusions (believing things that aren’t true and that they can’t be talked out of) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there). Most people with bipolar disorder spend more time with depressive symptoms than manic or hypomanic symptoms.
Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be treated. It’s a long-term condition that needs ongoing care. People who have four or more mood episodes in a year, or who also have drug or alcohol problems, can have forms of the illness that are much harder to treat.
Treatment can make a huge difference. With a combination of things — good medical care, medication, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and the support of friends and family — you can feel better. Bipolar disorder has no known cure. It is a chronic health condition that requires lifetime management. Plenty of people with this condition do well; they have families and jobs and live normal lives.
Ketamine Treatment
For many, ketamine is a miracle treatment breakthrough that helps people facing severe bipolar depression, treatment-resistant bipolar depression, and suicidal thoughts that can accompany these serious bipolar episodes. When Ketamine is used to treat bipolar depression under medical care, ketamine is not used as a street drug or an anesthetic. It’s being used as an antidepressant, and it can be a very effective one.
Ketamine is different from traditional antidepressants. Traditional antidepressants target the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Ketamine blocks glutamate and enhances the brain’s ability to grow and change. Ketamine blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which seems to be its depression-reducing kingpin. It rebalances glutamate and GABA as well as facilitates the development of new receptors and synapses. The ketamine-induced activity in the brain leads to the reduction of severe bipolar depression symptoms. Ketamine treatment can bring a host of benefits.
Ketamine has a high success rate, with up to 85 percent of people reporting significant improvements in their mood (Depression Alliance, n.d.).
This leaves about 15 percent of people unaffected by ketamine treatment, whereas, with traditional antidepressants, approximately 33 percent of users don’t improve. Not only does ketamine treatment help bipolar depression, but it also does it quickly. While it can take four- to eight weeks to feel the positive effects of traditional antidepressants, ketamine treatment creates relief in a matter of hours.
Bipolar Disorder Outlook
Bipolar disorder can make you feel utterly alone. But that isn’t the case. More than 2 million adults in the U.S. are coping with bipolar disorder right now. It’s important not to blame yourself for your condition. Bipolar disorder is a physical illness, not a sign of personal weakness. It’s like diabetes, heart disease, or any other health condition. Nobody knows what causes bipolar disorder, but for many people, it is a very manageable condition. The important thing is to focus on the future. Living with bipolar disorder can be tough. But don’t let it hijack your life. Instead, act and regain control of your health. With dedication and the help of your health care providers, you can feel better again.
For most people, a good treatment program can stabilize their moods and help ease symptoms. Those who also have a substance abuse problem may need more specialized treatment. Ongoing treatment is more effective than dealing with problems as they come up. The more you know about your condition, the better you can manage your episodes. And support groups, where you can talk with people who are going through the same things you are, can also help.
The Ketamine Institute of Naples provides caring and individualized treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Schedule your initial free consultation at 239-784-2297. Start your mental health healing journey at 1045 Crosspointe Drive, Suite 2, Naples, Florida.