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- I have bipolar disorder and I'm exhausted. How long do I have to keep a constant check on everything I say and do? I take my medication correctly, I see a psychologist and a psychiatrist, and yet…
- How can I help someone who is experiencing a mixed episode?
- How is bipolar disorder detected? I mean, are there any medical tests that can identify it?
- Why is bipolar disorder so difficult to diagnose?
- Can diet have a positive influence on health? Aside from a healthy diet, are there any foods to avoid or any foods that are particularly recommended?
- Why can't I stay stable for long periods of time and why do I easily fall into depression?
- How should the family act when an affected person begins to experience euphoria without yet being aware of the onset of their euphoria?
- Is it positive for children to know that one of their parents has bipolar disorder, or is it better to hide it?
- My relapses aren't of euphoria or depression, but I do have very strong relapses of intense anxiety that turn into panic attacks where the feeling of impending death leads me to act irrationally. I'd like to know if this is normal and how I can manage it.
- In which episode is there the greatest risk of suicide?
- Why is it difficult for these people to adhere to their treatment?
- How can you support the family of a person affected by bipolar disorder?
- What is the risk that an affected person will "use" the disorder to manipulate people or conditions to achieve their own benefit?
- In altered states of consciousness, that is, when the person presents symptoms of delusional ideation, can psychotherapy help?
- Why is the medication dosage lowered for people over 65?
- Is lithium production related to inactivity?
- Can a person with bipolar disorder have relapses despite taking medication?
- How can you tell if you're having a relapse?
- As a professional, what is the best way to address relapses in people with bipolar disorder?
- Is it normal to not remember anything when you have a relapse?
- How can you help someone with bipolar disorder who is depressed without putting pressure on them?
- Is there an app where I can talk to and consult with an expert when I have a relapse?
My relapses aren't of euphoria or depression, but I do have very strong relapses of intense anxiety that turn into panic attacks where the feeling of impending death leads me to act irrationally. I'd like to know if this is normal and how I can manage it.
Raquel Rivero Corihuela
Clinical psychologist at the Bipolar Disorder Unit (UBIP) of the Nuestra Señora de La Paz Clinic in Madrid
Orden Hospitalaria de San Juan de Dios. Provincia de España
Yes, it's normal to feel anxiety and panic attacks during the phases, and it's also normal to experience the anxiety you describe even when you're not in any phase; that is, you can have panic attacks even when you're in a euthymic state. It's incredibly distressing because, as you describe, the feeling of impending death feels very real.
The best way to manage it is to work on it. There are currently effective and well-established psychological treatments for panic attacks, so my recommendation is that you seek help from a clinical psychologist to acquire the necessary tools to learn how to manage them.
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Raquel Rivero Corihuela
Clinical psychologist at the Bipolar Disorder Unit (UBIP) of the Nuestra Señora de La Paz Clinic in Madrid
Orden Hospitalaria de San Juan de Dios. Provincia de España
