How to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Your friend or loved one is suddenly dealing with the onset of some serious mood shifts. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects a person’s ability to function in day-to-day life. The swings from extreme energy and fearlessness (mania) to debilitating depression can be a lot for anyone, even bystanders. The good news is… Continue reading How to Help Someone with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and BPD: Similarities and Differences

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) are two commonly diagnosed mental health conditions. These conditions are considered rather serious. When left untreated, both bipolar disorder and BPD can significantly impair a person’s life. Although bipolar disorder and BPD have some similar symptoms, they are caused by completely different things. In this piece, we… Continue reading Bipolar Disorder and BPD: Similarities and Differences

Medications for Treating Bipolar Disorder

medicine for pain relief for nerve pain

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by periods of severe depression and hypomania and/or manic episodes depending on the type of bipolar disorder one is diagnosed with. To determine if a person has bipolar disorder a medical professional may evaluate the following:  Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis This condition is usually diagnosed by… Continue reading Medications for Treating Bipolar Disorder

How Bipolar Disorder Impacts Parent and Child Relationships 

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that “one in 14 kids in the U.S. has a caregiver with poor mental health.” Mental health is a critical part of a child’s overall well-being. When specialists talk about mental health, they mean the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of a child.… Continue reading How Bipolar Disorder Impacts Parent and Child Relationships 

Bipolar Disorder: Understanding, Coping, and Thriving

What is Bipolar Disorder?  An estimated “4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bipolar disorder, formerly referred to as manic depression, is a mental disorder where people experience extreme mood swings. Most people with bipolar experience extremely high highs (known as… Continue reading Bipolar Disorder: Understanding, Coping, and Thriving

Patients at work: Member Nancy on being her own boss

We recently launched a blog series about patients who’ve started (or are gearing up to launch) their own businesses, sparking a discussion around how to manage your health without giving up on your career goals. Say hello to Nancy (@spicerna), who sat down with us to discuss how she finds a balance between living with… Continue reading Patients at work: Member Nancy on being her own boss

Patients at work: Member Jenny launches online craft shop on Etsy

  A few weeks ago, we kicked off a new blog series about patients who have started (or are working on launching) their own businesses. We’ll be featuring some enterprising members and learning more about how they manage their health and their career goals at the same time. Today, we’d like introduce Jenny, (jhound), a… Continue reading Patients at work: Member Jenny launches online craft shop on Etsy

“In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part 3

Over the past few months, Eleanor (redblack) has been sharing about her bipolar II on the blog, and today, we’re posting the final part of her series (thank you Eleanor for being so open and taking the time to share with everyone)! Eleanor talks about her relationship with her psychiatrist Jon and how they recently… Continue reading “In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part 3

“In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part 2

Back in May, Eleanor (redblack) wrote about her some of her experiences with bipolar II to help spread the word for Mental Health Awareness Month. She’s continuing this month by sharing about the personal support system she’s developed through a wonderful relationship with her husband Jim, her special bond with a particular mood community member… Continue reading “In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part 2

“In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part I

  We just posted that May is Mental Health Month, and so we wanted to help raise awareness by getting the patient perspective out there. PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor (redblack) first experienced bipolar II as a young woman, and she’s been managing her mental health with the help of her family and psychiatrist ever since. She shared… Continue reading “In my own words” – PatientsLikeMe member Eleanor writes about her journey with bipolar II: Part I