5 Powerful Ways to Fight Bipolar Disorder in Children Perhaps Your Child!"

1. Get rid of the TV and video games.

What? You may gasp, but the amount of stuff that kids see these days only damages their development of proper thinking such as assessing reality, problem solving, etc. We are convinced that bipolar disorder in children can be aggravated by TV and video game images. You most likely heard about this study already on TV affecting a childs sleep functioning. Once we got rid of these things, yes, we got objections, but a few days later the kids were playing in the backyard throwing a ball around laughing! What a concept! This makes for happier parents too!

If you cant eliminate TV and video games completely, then maximize their time to an hour a day. Then instead, teach them the importance of doing good things for others and focus on that by verbally praising them. Show them what is important to enjoy life hard work and loving others instead of seeking to be entertained.

2. Give your kids Omega 3 Supplements.

By now, you should be aware of the damage of our modern diet and the lack of Omega 3s. If not, you will enjoy our article on Dr. Andrew Stoll curing bipolar patients with Omega 3s. Bipolar disorder in children can be effectively handled with a quality Omega 3 Supplement.

3. Feed your kids natural foods first.

Instead of going for a quick fix meal with tons of preservatives, aim for natural meals. There is so much sugar and salt and other damaging ingredients in our foods today that we are damaging our bodies. (If you owned a Porsche, would you give it recycled oil or the best of the best? Same with our bodies they are fabulous machines that wont purr if we feed them junk.)

4. Exercise with your kids!

Exercise is the most underrated yet successful treatment for bipolar disorder in children. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published results that 30 minutes a day of exercise was a more effective method of fighting major depression than drugs. Its important to teach your kids the necessity of exercise for all aspects of health. Whatever exercise you choose, your child will love the fun and youll love a happier child and a happier you too! ;)

5. Find a great counsellor for your child.

Bipolar disorder in children can be caused by traumatic events events that your child may find difficult to speak with you about. Dont feel helpless and dont insist on wanting to be the one your child talks to. The important thing is that they can share with someone. Events such as the early loss of a parent, parental depression, incest, or abuse can cause bipolar disorder in children. You may want to have your childs school guidance counsellor meet with him or recommend someone else for your child. Just make the call.

Warmest regards,
Merri Ellen
? Copyright http://www.cure-your-depression.com - All Rights Reserved.

Merri Ellen is a former depression sufferer who has a mission to share the latest research on curing depression. Just recently, she has contributed to the writing of a special report on 6 Ingredients to Cure Depression which is a free report! You can learn more at: http://www.cure-your-depression.com/depressiontreatment.html

Copyright 2005 cure-your-depression.com. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give author name credit.

Merri Ellen is a former depression sufferer and mother of 2, wife of 1 hubby, owner of 1 cat. Shes beaten it (depression, not the cat) and is on a mission to share the research she spent hours compiling to help others be in the know of what depression really is and how to really treat it. Depression isnt a disease it is a symptom! She invites you to share your stories too. http://www.cure-your-depression.com/  

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What is a Mood Disorder?

Mood disorder has become a bit of a generic term when discussing mental health. In reality, the term mood disorder refers to one of two specific conditions: depression or Bipolar Disorder.

Many people refer to feeling sad or disappointed as "being depressed". This is a factually incorrect description. Depression is, in part, a chronic change in one's mood, outlook, or behavior. Normal sadness and disappointment don't linger on for weeks at a time.

Bipolar Disorder is a swing between feeling euphoric mania, and major depression. Bipolar Disorder can have a severe impact on the lives of people inflicted with it, as the euphoric mania stage sometimes results in excessive, irresponsible behavior -- spending a great deal of money unwisely, for instance, or inappropriately interjecting oneself into certain situations -- while the major depressive stage can leave a person almost completely incapacitated, and sometimes leads to a suicide attempt.

Having anxiety is quite a different scenario than having Bipolar Disorder. Anxiety is, generally speaking, feeling emotionally overwhelmed and/or extremely fearful, be it most of the time, or only in certain situations. The person with anxiety may feel as though they aren't in control, but an anxious person typically isn't going to engage in public displays of irrational or unreasonable behavior like someone with Bipolar Disorder may. Interestingly enough, this fear of becoming mentally ill is typically an indication that one is not mentally ill at all, as most people who are truly mentally ill consider themselves to be normal and healthy, and may even react hostilely to anyone suggesting otherwise.

While using the term mood disorder when one really means anxiety may just be a case of semantics, it is important to differentiate between various emotional and psychological conditions, if for no other reason than to ensure proper treatment.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

One thing that is coming up more than ever is the condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some were aware of it before this became the common name and remember it as shell shock.

It starts with events that are so traumatic for those suffering, that they can't deal with it all at once, and shouldn't be expected too. In wars, many soldiers experience horrors that were extremely beyond anything they could ever prepare for. This has been a strongly noticed issue on the rise since the many soldiers returned home from the Vietnam War.

Many have experienced post traumatic stress disorder from acts of violence around crime scenes, devastating losses, repeated abuses beyond imagination, and yet many more situations. The key factor often being the result is severely traumatizing to them.

Whatever the cause, untreated, those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder stand to deal with many side effects including sleep trouble, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and even blackouts when these occur. While they came back, the issues of their trauma are still buried deep in their mind in full force.

One of the more extreme side effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is another disorder called Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), in which studies indicate all cases have PTSD as well. Split personalities seem to be one of the ways the human mind can deal with the trauma hidden back in.

One thing that will definitely be necessary when treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is unraveling the layers of emotional feelings, fears and other things that may have long been hidden and attempted forgotten. Learning to deal with these feelings and fears is the most important thing. Being able to find someone they can open up to about them and get the word out of their head will indeed bring long-term progress

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When Anxiety Becomes a Personality Disorder

Very severe anxiety can sometimes lead doctors to diagnose people with personality disorders. Symptoms of the two most prevalent ones are described in this article.

Anxious (Avoidant) Personality Disorder is characterized by pervasive and persistent emotions of insecurity, shyness, tension and apprehension. The person believes they are undeserving, unlikable, and inept socially, and not that important compared with other people. These feelings often mean the affected individual avoids relationships unless certain that they are liked by the other person.

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder comes in two forms: 'impulsive type' and 'borderline type', both have the following characteristics: a strong inability to think and plan ahead in combination with no real self-control and the occasional sudden outburst of extreme anger. This anger can itself lead to other behaviors such as violence, particularly if these acts are challenged or stopped by people in the vicinity.

Impulsive type emotional instability manifests itself with a low level of being able to control impulses. Violence and threatening behavior are frequent, and more often than not are direct responses to others criticizing the person affected.

Borderline type emotional instability can be characterized by strong doubts of personal aims, image and sexual preferences, leading to upset and distress. Debilitating feelings of emptiness can promote suicide, or at the very least self-harming. People get involved in emotionally taut, constrained relationships which frequently have crises, but which they try to remain in so as to avoid being abandoned.

As yet the diagnosis of this mental condition is controversial since its causes and treatments are not fully agreed upon. Certain sufferers benefit from being emotionally open enough to discuss past difficult and upsetting experiences. Through airing their problems they become able to better identify the risky situations and so learn how to then deal with them.

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Rapid Cycling in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder by itself is a condition in which its sufferers cycle between two poles of mental instability; mania and depression. Rapid cycling occurs when the sufferer shifts quickly between the two states with little to no warning.

Because it is one of the most serious forms of bipolar disorder the prognosis for anyone afflicted with rapid cycling bipolar disorder is not always good. The mental health and brain function of people with this condition is highly compromised because of the rate at which they go from mania to depression and back again. Treating this condition is also difficult.

In order to make a rapid cycling diagnosis the patient will have to meet the standards set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders IV-TR which states that the patient must have at least four episodes of depression and mania/hypomania in a one year period.

Some people with rapid cycling bipolar disorder are asymptomatic, meaning they have periods when they exhibit neither of the cycles associated with this disorder. This does not diminish their need to effectively deal with their condition because when the mania and depression do hit it can be severe enough to be life threatening.

The more troubling side of this disorder is those who have little to no time between normalcy and a depressive or manic episode. Without proper mental health help people who suffer from this extreme can be a danger to themselves and others.

It is also possible that those who suffer from rapid cycling bipolar disorder will also partake in risky behavior. Drug and alcohol abuse is not out of the question particularly for those who like to self medicate. This can actually make the symptoms much worse and cause the cycling between the two extremes to happen at an even faster pace.

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What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder may be easily misdiagnosed or even be mistaken as a form of shyness. Having said that, many sufferers of social anxiety are not even aware that they are experiencing an anxiety disorder. Approximately seven percent of the population suffers from social anxiety. Recent years have shown progress in treating this type of disorder.

Social anxiety can be defined as fear of social occasions and situations and the interaction with people due to feelings of negative evaluation, inadequacy, embarrassment, humiliation and self-consciousness. This form of phobia provoked by the social situations exceeds the ordinary shyness when it ultimately leads to complete or excessive social avoidance and invariably causing substantial social impairment. People with this disorder are often the world's loners.

The physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder are associated with two or more of the signs that are caused by persistent fear or worry, negative feeling of embarrassment and humiliation such as restlessness, feeling of fatigue, trembling and sweaty palms, lack of focus, muscle tension or sleep disturbance. There is a high possibility when you experience irritability, shortness of breath and intense anxiety and worry that suggest that you are suffering from a social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety symptoms closely resemble ordinary shyness but they can be differentiated in terms of the intensity and extreme experience of anxiety and tension.

In the early stages of the disorder, it is critical to receive the appropriate medical intervention by drug-based medication or non-drug based methods or combination of both. Alternative medicines have also recently grown in popularity, of which therapy is often used widely for healing social anxiety. There are no clear guidelines on the best course of treatment. It may take several attempts and method or prescription changes to find the one that works for you.

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