Best Depression Treatments

Hello again, fellow wackos and electronic rubberneckers!

If you are here because you’re like me—just a little “off”—then welcome. If you’re here to study bipolar disorder, stick around, because I know a little and I like to talk. If you are here to look at the train wreck happen, hoping I’ll melt down and post something mad about the speaking wombats that live in my refrigerator and their TV viewing habits well, you’ll probably be a little disappointed. I could be a freak, but I am not funny.

Yep, that’s right. I just called myself a freak. I figure if other folks are going to call me that, I can potentially get away with claiming it myself. Wacko, nutcase, loony, psycho… There are masses of things people say about bipolar disorder, and most of them just aren’t correct. Let’s take a look at a few of those things at this time.

Bipolar Myth 1 “Folk with bipolar disorder aren’t really sick.”

A few individuals say that bipolar disorder is “all in your head.” They assert things like “everyone gets depressed. You only need to suck it up and deal with it like everybody else.” If this is right then diabetes sufferers just need to get over their sickness, too. I mean, too much sugar isn't very good for everyone, right?

Just as a diabetic’s body does not process sugars properly, a person with bipolar disorder’s brain doesn't process dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine quite right.

Don’t accept my word for it, though. Take it from research scientists at the College of Michigan who've studied Abnormal Brain Chemistry Found in Bipolar Disorder . They know what they are talking about.

I'm just some freak, remember?

Therefore you can let me know I don't have a “real” disease and that I simply have to fix it, but first you have got to tell Ms. Diabetic to eat six Twinkies and sort it. Go ahead. I may call 911 while she is chewing.

This parable is so commonplace that insurance companies are permitted to treat it—or more exactingly NOT treat it—like it isn't a “real” disease. The last medical insurance I had would pay for 80% of the bill if I had to have major surgery, but only 50% if I saw a doctor for bipolar disorder. Also, they limited the quantity of times I could consult a medical practitioner for treatment to 12 times ever year. Tell you what let’s limit diabetes patients to 12 insulin shots per year and see how well they do.

What? We shouldn't do that because they could get sick and die?

Well, people with bipolar disorder die, too. Actually without correct treatment, 20% of them commit suicide. That is one in five, people. I'd say that comprises a heavy health risk. Perhaps this bipolar thing is a real illness after all.

Bipolar Myth 2 “People with bipolar disorder are beyond hope.”

He's got bipolar disorder. He is insane. He can't be helped. He is a complete waste of time. Or is he?

The plain fact is—he isn’t. Bipolar disorder is one of the best conditions to treat. There are many effective medications, some of which have been in use for quite a while. Lithium, for example, has been around since the 1950’s. Lithium does not work for everyone, though. That's why there’s Lamictal, Depakote, Zoloft, Tegretol, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Effexor, and a partridge in a pear tree. A psychiatric expert can tinker with medications till he finds a combo that works.

Medicines can help, but so can just talking. Talk treatment did me more good than any pill ever did. Nonetheless without the pills, I probably would not have listened to anything when I was at absolute bottom.

The point is this: people with bipolar disorder CAN be helped. So if you have bipolar disorder or know someone who does, don't give up. There's hope.

Well gang, it seems like I'm over word count. I informed you I like to talk! We will chat some more next time when I dispel one or two more legends about bipolar disorder.

So to all my chums and fellow freaks, till next time keep fighting!

Bryce Albertson is afflicted with bipolar disorder.

Here he is dispelling one or two legends about bipolar disorder.

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