Bipolar disorders are serious mental illnesses characterized by extreme mood swings. The patient can veer from mania to depression, and they may experience normal moods in between those two extremes.
The manic phase is characterized by euphoria. The patient will be energetic, talkative, reckless and restless. They may indulge in wild shopping sprees or sexual promiscuity. A patient in the depressed phase will be subdued and sad. They can be plagued by feelings of worthlessness, crying fits and difficulty sleeping.
Types of Bipolar Disorders
A patient with bipolar I disorder displays the most severe symptoms. They will have an extreme manic episode followed by a severe depressive episode and then back again. In bipolar II disorder, the manic phase is milder; it is sometimes described as hypomania. The depressive phase, however, is still severe.
Cyclothymic disorder is a milder form of bipolar disorder. The manic and depressive states don’t last as long as they do in full-blown bipolar disorder, and the symptoms aren’t as extreme.
In the “rapid cycling” form of the condition, the patient suffers at least four mood episodes during a single year. Those episodes must last a given number of days to qualify as such. This form of the disorder is more common in women than in men.
The “mixed features” form describes a condition in which the patient shows both depressive and manic traits during a single mood episode. For example, the patient can have the racing thoughts and high energy of mania, but they can also have the hopelessness of depression.
How is the Disorder Treated?
Bipolar disorders are typically treated through a combination of medical treatment and psychiatric counseling. It is important to understand that professional treatment for this disorder is not one-size-fits-all. The right treatment for one person may be vastly different than the right treatment for another person with a similar condition.
At Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center, we take the time to evaluate the entire patient. We want to get to the root of the disorder in order to come up with a customized treatment plan that aims to improve your quality of life. During a consultation with us in Billings, you can learn all about your treatment options. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started.
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
TMS
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.
TMS
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.
TMS
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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