![]() If your doctor isn't able to refer to anyone, here is the web address for the UK association of humanistic psychotherapists. The NHS is not very comprehensive or quick with therapy, so you might want to contact a psychotherapist on your own and if financially that's difficult, see if they will work on a sliding scale. So along with medications (psychiatrist) you need to find a therapist to work on a mood management program. It gives you the tools to notice what's going on and to make adjustments. That's what a program like the WRAP plan is about. So you have to continually use the clutch and manually adjust the emotional gear. You start having a racing mood and unless you downshift manually, you're going to be out of control soon until you can't maintain that and you cycle down and then get too far down, etc. You with BD are like a car with a manual transmission. They are usually within their normal range. They tool around the day going from a little sad and then they feel a little glad and if they get to too high a gear, the emotional transmission just automatically sends them back to a lower gear and if the low gets too low, the transmission clicks into a higher gear. Most people are like cars with automatic transmission. So that you can regulate your moods as they cycle. And having a strategy like the WRAP program is a coherent way to do this. ![]() YOU have to take charge of managing your BD. ![]() I believe from my experience that it is SO important for you to not just take the meds and expect them to do everything. The video with Mary Ellen is a bit strong but worthwhile. I want you to look at the videos and see what you think: Now here's a YouTube search I've put together on the WRAP program. ![]() The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression by Mary Ellen Copeland. First let me cite one of her books for you. She's a therapist and developed a BD treatment protocol called Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). The biggest problem is forgetting to keep to the plan when times are good and then something happens! Copeland also had BD and was hospitalized. I have found her work easy for people to use and easy to keep up with. In my practice, I use the resources with people with BD from Mary Ellen Copeland. The individual's mood usually swings from overly "high" and irritable (mania) to sad and hopeless (depression) and then back again, with periods of normal moods interspersed." This is known as bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness, an illness that involves episodes of serious mania and depression. Here's a quote from the DSM-IV: "Sometimes individuals experience severe mood swings from periods of extreme depression to periods of exaggerated happiness. What do you think? Does this sound like it describes your situation? The idea is that the mood swings back and forth unpredictably, with some quicker than others. Thinking of death or suicide, or attempting suicide.Changing eating, sleeping, or other habits.Having problems concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex.A long period of feeling worried or empty.Behaving impulsively and taking part in a lot of pleasurable, high-risk behaviors, such as spending sprees, impulsive sex, and impulsive business investments.Having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities.Increasing goal-directed activities, such as taking on new projects.Talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another, having racing thoughts.Extremely irritable mood, agitation, feeling "jumpy" or "wired.".A long period of feeling "high," or an overly happy or outgoing mood.Symptoms of depression or a depressive episode include: Symptoms of mania or a manic episode include: Let's look at the Diagnostic Criteria for BD. You need to get a proper psychiatric evaluation for BD. Because your moods when they swing from one pole to the other will produce a lot of anxiety.Īnd this is actually the key to my answer to you that you need to consider and think about. The technique is not a cure, but it will help you in moments of difficulties, depression and anxiety, and you can use it over and over again. I also want to say that I will paste for you a technique for getting some quick relief when you are feeling anxiety or overwhelm. Hi! I believe I can be of help with this issue.įirst, let me say that your symptoms sound very consistent with Bipolar Disorder (BD).
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