Why Am I Still Depressed? Recognizing and Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar II and Soft Bipolar Disorder

by Phelps, Jim

• ISBN13: 9780071462372
• ISBN10: 0071462376
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-27
• Publisher: McGraw Hill

Summary

Tried everything but still not feeling better? If your depression keeps coming back or is even getting worse, then you may be suffering from bipolar II or "soft" bipolar disorder. Commonly misdiagnosed, these mood disorders are characterized by recurring bouts of depression along with anxiety, irritability, mood swings, sleep problems, or intrusive thoughts. Why Am I Still Depressed? shows you how to identify if you have a nonmanic form of bipolar disorder and how to work with your doctor to safely and effectively treat it. Author James R. Phelps, M.D., gives you the latest tools and knowledge so you can: Understand the Mood Spectrum, a powerful new tool for diagnosis Know all your treatment options, including mood-stabilizing medications and research-tested psychotherapies Examine the potential hazards of taking antidepressant medications Manage your condition with exercise and lifestyle changes Help family and friends with this condition understand their diagnosis and find treatment

Author Biography

Jim Phelps, M.D. has been a psychiatrist in private practice specializing in treating patients with bipolar disorder for more than 15 years.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	xix
PART I Do You Have a ``Mild'' Form of Bipolar Disorder?
Understanding the Mood Spectrum and How It Can Help You	3	(12)
Understanding the Middle of the Mood Spectrum	4	(6)
Using the Mood Spectrum to Diagnose Bipolar Variations	10	(1)
Naming and Understanding the Different Types of Bipolar Disorder	10	(5)
Can You Be a Little Bipolar? Recognizing Hypomania	15	(24)
The Difference Between Hypomania and Mania	17	(1)
What Does Hypomania Really Look Like? Identifying Symptoms	18	(9)
When Hypomania Is Barely Detectable	27	(4)
Bipolar III: Antidepressant-Induced Mania or Hypomania	31	(1)
How Brief Can a Bipolar Phase Actually Be?	32	(2)
Depression and Hypomania at the Same Time: Recognizing Mixed States	34	(5)
No Mania or Hypomania? Understanding ``Soft'' Bipolar Disorder	39	(16)
Looking at the ``Soft Signs'' of Bipolar Disorder	40	(6)
Why You Should Know About Soft Bipolarity	46	(3)
Hormonally Related Mood Conditions and Soft Bipolarity	49	(3)
Can You Still Be Bipolar Without Depression? Diagnosing ``Normal''	52	(3)
Making Your Diagnosis	55	(26)
Why Searching for Hypomania Can Be Difficult	56	(5)
Getting an Accurate History: How Family and Friends Can Help You	61	(3)
What If They Call Me Bipolar When I Really Am Not?	64	(8)
Bipolar Tests	72	(9)
What Else Could It Be? Ruling Out Conditions That Mimic Bipolar Disorder	81	(22)
Medical Conditions That Look Like Bipolar Disorder	82	(5)
Medications That Can Produce Bipolar-Like Symptoms	87	(2)
Psychiatric Conditions That Might Explain Your Symptoms	89	(2)
Conditions That Commonly Occur with Bipolar Disorder	91	(12)
PART II Finding and Using the Right Treatment
Getting Help: How You Can Work with Your Doctor	103	(16)
What Your Doctor Needs to Know About You	104	(6)
Strategies for Working with Your Doctor	110	(3)
Working with Your Doctor Over Time	113	(6)
Where to Start: Guidelines for Choosing Treatment	119	(28)
Evaluating Claims by Looking for Evidence	120	(4)
Considering the Risks and Benefits of a Treatment	124	(6)
What Causes Mood Disorders Anyway?	130	(4)
General Guidelines for Managing Bipolar Variations	134	(7)
Three Main Strategies for Treating Complex Mood Disorders	141	(6)
Mood Stabilizers: The Core Ingredient in Medication Treatment	147	(22)
Examining the Mood Stabilizer Menu	148	(9)
How to Choose from All These Options	157	(8)
Balancing Hope and Realism When Using Mood Stabilizers	165	(1)
How Long Do You Need to Take This Stuff?	166	(1)
Can Trying a Mood Stabilizer Make Things Permanently Worse?	167	(2)
What You Need to Know When Considering Antidepressants	169	(22)
When Depression Is the Dominant Symptom	170	(1)
The Antidepressant Controversies	170	(21)
Managing Weight Gain from Medications or Other Causes	191	(18)
Not Just the Medications' Fault	192	(6)
How to Handle Weight Gain	198	(6)
Blocking Weight Gain with Antidote Medications	204	(5)
Simple Lifestyle Changes That Can Improve Symptoms	209	(16)
Watching Sleep, Light, and Darkness Closely	210	(7)
Stress Management: Crucial to Stabilizing Moods	217	(1)
Limiting or Eliminating Mind-Altering Substances	218	(7)
How to Use Psychotherapy Across the Mood Spectrum	225	(12)
Five Effective Psychotherapies	226	(5)
If Several Are Available, How Do You Choose?	231	(1)
When Should You Start---and Stop?	232	(5)
Exercise: Not the Usual Rap	237	(10)
The Best Evidence You Ever Heard	237	(4)
Are You Ready for a Simple Program?	241	(6)
How Family and Friends Can Help	247	(4)
First, Do No Harm	248	(1)
Don't Just Do Something, Sit There	248	(1)
Ask, Don't Tell: Collaborating	249	(1)
Setting Boundaries	249	(1)
The Problem of Insight	250	(1)
Concluding Thoughts	251	(4)
Selected References	255	(8)
Index	263