What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a mental illness that occurs when a person’s mood fluctuates rapidly between mania and depression. The periods between each state of BD can last several weeks and can be quite extreme. Here at Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center, we encourage you to learn more about bipolar disorder and what you can do to manage it.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
When people experience manic episodes, they experience certain symptoms associated with BD. Symptoms of mania are extreme euphoria or irritability, impulsive and rash decision-making, and highly talkative spells. Those with BD also experience racing thoughts, increased sexual libido, and an unusually high level of energy. During times of mania, individuals may engage in risky behavior. On the flipside of the BD, depression is a debilitating experience felt sooner or later. Symptoms of depression are feelings of helplessness, apathy, slow speech, poor coordination, feelings of fatigue, and oversleeping or not sleeping enough. Feelings of sadness and loneliness are also indications of depression. A major warning sign of depression is suicidal feelings and thoughts.
Treatment and Maintenance of Bipolar Disorder
There are many options to consider when treating bipolar disorder. It is important to see a psychiatrist so that the individual with BD gets the proper care and treatment. These health care professionals are well qualified in helping patients develop better skills in coping with the ups and downs of BD. Those with BD should also refrain from the use of alcohol and habit-forming drugs. These individuals need to get enough sleep each night so that they can prevent episodes from occurring. They should take care to not be overstimulated by parties and overexposed to television. There are certain types of medications that are used to treat bipolar disorder. These drugs include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and certain antidepressants.
Contact Us to Get More Information
To learn more about bipolar disorder, its symptoms, and how to treat it, we welcome you to make an appointment with Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center. At our convenient location in Billings, our dedicated team of professionals will be happy to explain your options in full and address any questions or concerns you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to meeting you!
TMS
by Deb (age 64)
Category: generalThe hoops I jumped through in order to be evaluated were straightforward and efficient. I met with PA Kaitlin for about an hour to discuss my history and previous medications. Then Dr. Amato joined us to further discuss my history, the TMS treatment, and answer any questions. Myrna gathered all of the information and submitted it to my health insurance company to request coverage for TMS. Fortunately, insurance approved the treatment and I was able to begin the next week. I’m sure most people have anxiety about starting a treatment like TMS. No matter how many times it’s described to you, there are many unknowns. How will I feel during treatment? Is it painful? What if this doesn’t work? What if it works for a while but then stops? In all honesty, I was very uncomfortable during the first couple of weeks of treatment. The alternating two seconds of tapping sensation caused some pain during treatment, and at the end of the first week I thought about quitting. But I had sworn to myself that TMS was a last resort and I HAD TO complete the treatment and give it a chance to work. My technician, Heather, told me that some people don’t feel the tapping at all, they only hear it. Guess I wasn’t one of those people! But as the days went by, it became easier to tolerate the treatments. During this time I also saw Lauren weekly for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). This is highly recommended for people undergoing TMS treatment, and it was a positive complement to my total of 100 minutes each week “under the helmet”. The weekend between weeks three and four, I started to notice subtle improvements in my mood, increased belief in my self-worth, and enthusiasm for simple things like going for walks, meeting friends for lunch, and taking on volunteer work in the community. I hesitated at first to believe that TMS was helping me. I was afraid that I was convincing myself it was working because I so desperately wanted it to! But now that I am past the treatment I can say with cert
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by Barbie (age 68)
Category: generalI feel so blessed to participate in the TMS protocol at MT Psychiatry. After struggling so many years with depression and not getting significant results from medication, particularly of late, I noticed positive results in the first two weeks of treatment. TMS can literally give you back the beauty & joy in living as well as the courage to make positive life changes and improvements in your daily living situation. I heartily encourage anyone to put yourself into the hands of the amazing TMS team who so gently and graciously make this journey with you out of the black hole that is depression. It is my honor and privilege to give the TMS treatment the highest recommendation.
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by Shayne (age 66)
Category: generalI am grateful for the support and caring I have received from Dr. Amato (and Heidi, Heather and Myrna) in my quest for mental health and a fuller more productive life. While the TMS results have been subtle, I feel more positive about my future and I would recommend this team absolutely. Thank you!
TMS
by Carrie (age 65)
Category: generalNot realizing how fuzzy my head was, I thought I was only going through severe anxiety and depression. Through the insight of Pat, I was able to go through TMS treatments which brought down the anxiety and depression immensely and has cleared up the fuzzy, far off substantially. All the personnel treated me with kindness and I’m sure their attitudes helped in my recovery.
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by Bridget (age 47)
Category: generalThe first outcome of TMS I noted happened early in my treatment, at about the beginning of week two. I felt as though my “brain fog” had been chipped away. I wish I could report that I feel my mental health issues are in “remission”, but I can’t do so yet. My hope is that I will see improvement in the weeks to come, now that my TMS cycle has ended. I can say that my brain feels – in some way – different; I can’t explain exactly how. I continue to struggle at this point in time but sill have hope for more improvement.
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