Living with Bipolar Disorder

“Bipolar” means more than mood swings and chemical imbalances. It is a genetic brain regulation malfunction causing not only mood but behavioral symptoms. Severity and symptoms vary along a spectrum of disease presentations, from a happy, positive personality, to a moody temperament, to chronic and recurrent depressions, to classic manic-depressive illness. It is a chronic disease with periods of illness as well as remission. Keeping the disease under control requires daily maintenance and vigilance for emerging symptoms. The goal of this book is to help the bipolar person successfully manage his or her illness and live a full and meaningful life. First, the reader will learn all about bipolar disorder: how it presents, how it is diagnosed, how it is passed down in families, and how it affects women as compared to men. Next, the various types of treatment and the logistics of daily maintenance are discussed in detail. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of bipolar disorder are explored and the lives of interesting and outstanding historical and current bipolar individuals are examined.

Karen R. Brock, M.D., is a physician with extensive experience in medical education. She has spent her entire medical career in rural, underserved regions of the Appalachians and now resides in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Karen R. Brock, M.D.

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 264
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5865-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1512-7
Imprint: McFarland
Series: McFarland Health Topics

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
Introduction 3

Part I: Learning About Bipolar Disorder
1. How Did I Get Here? 7
2. A Historical Perspective 16
3. Bipolar Disease Basics 25
4. Bipolar Disease Diagnosis 40
5. The Bipolar Spectrum 68
6. Bipolar Disease Genetics 80
7. Bipolar Disease in Women 91

Part II: Treating Bipolar Disorder
8. Why Treat Bipolar Disease? 99
9. Bipolar Disease Medications 118
10. Talk Therapy and Lifestyle Management 138
11. Other Treatments 156

Part III: Living with Bipolar Disorder
12. The Dark Side of Bipolar Disease 171
13. The Bipolar Edge 182
14. Prominent Bipolar Disease Sufferers 192
15. Putting It All Together 221

Resources 227
Works Cited 236
Index 243

“Bipolar disorder and its challenges for patients and practitioners alike, are presented here in a comprehensive, clear, and compelling work. Brock does not pull punches when describing the reality of living with this disease. The author’s voice is both understanding and firm…well written and well organized…. Personal narratives add a strong human touch and help provide real insight into the nature of this disease”—ARBA.

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