bipolar disorder & homoeopathic treatment

What is Bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very quick. The fundamental abnormality of an affective disorder is a disturbance of mood, either depression or mania.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15 - 25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.

It may be depended on Internal /External factors :

- Genetic Factors are responsible

- Environmental factors like

Loss of loved ones
Lack of employment
People with bipolar disorder type I have had at least one manic episode and periods of major depression. In the past, bipolar disorder type I was called manic depression.
People with bipolar disorder type II have never had full mania. Instead they experience periods of high energy levels and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as mania (called hypomania). These periods alternate with episodes of depression.
A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves less severe mood swings. People with this form alternate between hypomania and mild depression. People with bipolar disorder type II or cyclothymia may be wrongly diagnosed as having depression.
-Emotional factors like

Stress
Over sensitiveness
Prolonged illness


Types of Bipolar Disorder:

In most people with bipolar disorder, there is no clear cause for the manic or depressive episodes. The following may trigger a manic episode in people with bipolar disorder:

Life changes such as childbirth
Medications such as antidepressants or steroids


Symptoms:

The manic phase may last from days to months. It can include the following symptoms:

Easily distracted
Always be sad , gloomy etc.
Little need for sleep
Poor judgment
Poor temper control
Reckless behavior and lack of self control
Sex with many partners
Fatigue
Headache and other pains
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
Weight changes
Constipation
Reduced libido
Talking a lot
Very high self-esteem (false beliefs about self or abilities)
Very upset (agitated or irritated)
Loss of interest in life & work
Feel worthless


Homoeopathy & Treatment:


The main goals of treatment are-

Avoid moving from one phase to another
Help the patient function as well as possible between episodes
Make the episodes less frequent and severe

How Homoeopathy Works?
Conventional treatments for bipolar disorder, such as antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, work to suppress symptoms rather than permanently correcting them. Homeopathic medicine works differently. It stimulates the person’s innate ability to restore natural balance. One of the benefits of homeopathic medicine is that it does not interact with medications, so it is safe to begin homeopathic treatment while we are in the process of tapering you off of medications.

Common homeopathic remedies for bipolar disorder:

Agaricus Muscarius:

This is an outstanding remedy for Bipolar disorder. These patients complain of body aches and twitching movements and are highly sensitive to pressure and cold air. They are emotionally insensitive, confused, and talkative with aversion to work. They are constantly yawning and drowsy all day, yet are overly energized and can lift heavy loads. They lack perception for comparative sizes of objects, and they may jump over small objects as if they were tree trunks.

Crocus Sativus:

This remedy can smooth the progress of patients who undergo frequent and extreme emotional and psychological changes. These patients exhibit violent anger followed by repentance. They exhibit paroxysms of laughter, drowsiness, and lassitude. They are indecisive and go through sudden changes from hilarity to melancholy.

Hyoscyamus Niger:

This is a first-rate remedy for a troubled nervous system. These patients behave as maniacs, are jealous, paranoid, quarrelsome, and may behave or speak obscenely. They are inclined to immodest acts, gestures, and expressions. They talk uninterruptedly, behave indecently, persist in stripping themselves, and are afraid of being poisoned. They are very restless and laugh at everything. Their symptoms are worse at night and during menses (in women).

Natrum phosphate:

This remedy is indicated for patients having hallucinations; they wake up at night to hear footsteps in the next room and can imagine furniture to be people.

Platinum metallicum:

This is a superb remedy for bipolar disorder. These patients are not their usual selves, have a perceived
personality, and feel that everything around them is changed. They are weary of everything and have an irresistible impulse to kill. They are arrogant and have contempt for others. These patients have an abnormal sexual appetite, and women can be nymphomaniacs.

Scleranthus:
This remedy is for BIPOLAR DISORDER, any level of manic depression, dissociative and multiple personality disorder, as well as conversion disorder can be helped by this remedy. These individuals are aimless, impulsive, indecisive

Tarentula hispanica:

This remedy corresponds with patients who are extremely nervous and hysterical. They are highly restless and must keep in constant motion, although walking makes them even more restless. They experience sudden alterations of mood and can be mischievous with destructive impulses. These patients are discontented and always guided by whims. They are sexually excited to the extent of insanity.

Veronal :

Bipolar disorders and problems with impulse control. Obsessive-compulsive disorders. Delusions and psychoses with excessive fervency, ecstasy and mania.

Note :
The selection of medicine depends a lot on it. Like all psychological disorders, depressive illness also requires good case study and continuous monitoring by a competent homeopath. One should not try any form of self-medication. In qualified and experienced hands homeopathy offers good prognosis in this condition without consent of doctor one should not stop his allopathic medications unless required

DR.JITESH SHARMA