Bipolar Disorder: Maintaining a Stress Free Lifestyle

Bipolar GirlStudies shows that in 60 percent of bipolar disorder cases, the first major depressive or manic episode is preceded by a significant stressor. Moreover, the more a person experiences mood swings, the more he or she is vulnerable to developing future relapses. Not only that, but relapses may diminish the effectiveness of drugs.

While bipolar disorder is not a medical condition that can be self-treated, there are several simple steps you can take to minimize your episodes and effectively manage bipolar disorder on a long-term basis.

Stress and Memory

Stress and MemorySome memory loss is considered a mild cognitive impairment, but chronic, long-term stress can have a serious effect on the severity of that memory loss. When you’re exposed to stress, your body releases hormones, including cortisol, which may prevent the brain from remembering new information or even retrieving already stored items.

Excessive stress can actually damage that part of the brain which is central to learning and memory. It’s called the hippocampus, and the problem centers around the continued secretion of corticosteroids or cortisol.

Bipolar Disorder: Nutrition As Medicine

Nutrition As MedicineTreating bipolar disorder with prescription medications may be a necessary first step to get the symptoms of this disease under control. However, the drugs used for this health problem are indeed strong. For that reason, many people search for gentler, more natural approaches to tempering the episodes to provide some type of relief.

Causes and Treatments of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Manic DepressionMedical science has yet to uncover a reason why some people develop bipolar disorder. It’s believed, though, that a variety of biological, genetic and environmental factors seem to work together to trigger these episodes.

There are different kinds of emotions that you can feel throughout your life. There are times where you are happy, and there are also times where you will feel depressed about something. This is a normal reaction to the environment. If something pleases you, you will be happy and if something bad happens, you will feel depressed.