Author: APerry

Bipolar is a type of mood disorder which is known to affect all aspects of one’s life, which includes your mood; attention; behaviours and energy level. Currently, there is no cure for this disorder, however, the symptoms can be treated. So, it is advised that those who have this disorder are treated once it is discovered, so as to increase the chances of being able to manage it successfully.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic one, which implies that it could last throughout the lifetime of a person. Hence, even if depression fades off, and mania is reduced, there is a huge possibility that they would return if the disorder is not treated.

Treating the symptoms of bipolar disorder, usually requires a mix of psycho-education, psychotherapy and a combination of medication. Some programmes such as Intensive outpatient programmes and hospitalization would also come in handy.

For medication, they are essential in treating bipolar disorder, and below are categories of medications which might be prescribed.
Mood stabilizers
Antidepressants
Antipsychotics

It is necessary to note that, it could take several attempts before you get the medication which would work well for you. You can inform your doctor of all side effects plaguing you, before you stop the use of any medication. It is advised that you should not take medications based on your own volition, which involves either messing with the dosage or stopping its usage completely.

Psychotherapy is another form of treatment which can be applied in treating Bipolar. This treatment is also known as counselling, and ample time is provided for the individual to learn productive strategies which would help to cope with the disorder inherent in regulating the symptoms.

There are also certain values which psychotherapy would teach, such as solving problems effectively, stepping up self-care habits, and building hardiness.
Outpatient treatment is an effective treatment for treating Bipolar, and it involves providing group and individual interventions, peer support, medical support and the likes.

Inpatient treatment involves taking care of a patient in a hospital or a facility, this is usually highly beneficial when the patient has an unstable mood, or if the patient is regularly processing thoughts concerning committing suicide.

Dual diagnosis treatment has its focus on the treatment of both self medicating and bipolar symptoms. It is necessary to always seek medical support in order to solve the symptoms which are often associated with withdrawing from alcohol or drugs use.

Going through the process of losing someone you love, could be very painful and distressing, which is what a good number of people go through when this happens to them. People who experience grief and bereavement, usually have moments of sorrow, anger and guilt. These feelings actually fade off over times, as individuals involved would accept the loss and move on with their lives.

However, for some people, this feeling of loss could be extremely devastating, and their condition does not improve over time. This condition is known as complicated grief, which could also be referred to as complex bereavement disorder.
For complicated grief, the emotions are so painful and long lasting, that the individual would have issues recovering from the loss and going on with his or her life. Complicated grief keeps the individual in a continuous and increased state of mourning which prevents healing.

Below are the common symptoms for complicated grief:
Extreme sorrow and pain over the loss of a loved one
Little focus on everything which goes on around you
Intense longing for the dead
Problems coming to terms with the death
Numbness
Extreme bitterness
Finding no purpose or meaning in life
Lack of trust in anyone
Inability to enjoy life to the fullest
Personal death wish
Depression and guilt
Isolation from family and friends

There are some strategies which can help you triumph over grief and loss, and they are listed below:
Sticking to the treatment plan
Practice stress management
Proper care of yourself
Surrounding yourself with the faith community
Socialization
Learning new skills
Belong to a support group

Grief and loss is most times treated with a form of psychotherapy which is known as Complicated Grief Therapy, and the techniques employed are similar to that used for depression and PTSD.

During this therapy session, the individual would learn more about grief and how it could get complicated. Also, there are certain topics which would be treated, that would enable you accept your loss and carry on with life.

You would also be able to communicate better with people, and explore certain emotions and thoughts. Furthermore, the feelings of guilt and blame would be reduced.
There is no much research on the use of Medications to treat grief, however, antidepressants can be used for people who are clinically depressed.

Anger which is not controlled, has the tendency to ruin relationships, your career and your health as well. Being angry can also affect your life, and could induce depression, violence and feelings of suicide. You need to understand that anger does not only affect yourself, it also affects your children, neighbours, family, friends, colleagues and the likes. Hence, if you are an individual who is suffering from anger problems, there is a need for you to seek support, which would enable you to get the appropriate support quintessential in managing anger effectively.

Anger as a phenomenon is not a problem. The real problem arises when your anger gets to a stage where it becomes uncontrollable, and then you lose control of your behaviour. When this occurs, you can behave irrationally, abuse could occur, you could get addicted and even get into trouble.
Most times, people who have anger issues tend to hide their feelings, stating that it is not appropriate, and they need no help. This is what often leads to crazy outbursts and health-related issues.

There is no cure for anger as it stands, as it is a healthy emotion which everyone has. When it becomes uncontrollable, it could become destructive.
However, anger can be treated, and one effective treatment for anger, is cognitive behavioural therapy, whose purpose aids the angry individual to come to terms with the fact that there are negative thoughts in place, which are most times responsible for the outbursts. This therapy helps affected individuals to work well with mental health professionals to study how to effectively manage stressful life situations more productively.

Patients would learn how to:
Handle life situations in a more effective and calm manner
Resolve conflicts in relationships in a better way
Handle grief more effectively
Handle fatigue, chronic pain and other symptoms

Another technique which works effectively, is Heart Coherence Training, and this works by putting to heart some specific technique which would enable you to monitor the rhythms of the heart amongst others.
Conclusively, anger suppression does not ensure that the emotional upset would go off, what could happen is, depression or anxiety could set in. It is essential to reach out to a professional who would be of help when it gets beyond control.

There is no one who cannot fall victim of mental health, as anyone could be affected. When you have a clear understanding of mental health issues, you would be able to understand how to care for those who are suffering from mental problems. There are many factors which contribute to the mental health which could work alone or in conjunction to create a tendency for mental illness.

On a conventional note, the following are possible factors which could cause mental health disorders:
Inherited conditions
Use of excess drugs, alcohol and other toxic substances
Biochemical modifications in the brain or imbalance of the hormones
Negative strains from life experiences

In Ottawa, there is provision for residential treatment for those who have mental health problems, and it is advised that affected individuals do not shy away from this opportunity, but partake in the set-down measures which are in place to help mental health imbalanced patients.
The residential treatment for mental health in Ottawa, gives thorough supervised care for mental health patients on a regular basis. It is indeed the best alternative for those who are down with the effect of mental illness.

There are some benefits of getting residential treatment for mental health in Ottawa, and the first one is, the availability of medical staff who would be there to monitor, supervise and give the best treatment depending on how severe the condition is. One advantage which residential patients have over the others is, they respond faster and better to outpatient patients because the treatment given to inpatients or residential patients, are more intensive.

The treatments given to residential patients eases the symptoms faster for the ultimate good of the patient.
In addition to this, another benefit of receiving residential treatment for mental health in Ottawa, is there is a chance for you to go through any testing which is quintessential in providing a more detailed and accurate diagnosis.

So, as residential patients, diagnosis would be carried out while you are around, and the appropriate measures would be taken faster since you are there.
Below are Residential treatment centres for mental health in Ottawa:

Valiant Behavioural Health

The treatment for anxiety in all individuals is not the same, as it varies based on the type of anxiety disorder and individual inclinations. Most times however, treatment for anxiety incorporates various type of medication and therapy.
Strong dependence on alcohol, depression and a host of other conditions, can have a strong connection to anxiety in some individuals, that managing the anxiety disorder, must be put on hold until the person has been certified to manage other triggering conditions.

The first line of action as regards the treatment for anxiety, should be taking note of the upcoming symptoms of feelings which come from being anxious, and making conscious efforts to cope with the conditions in the absence of medical aid.
If this step does not step-down the influence of the symptoms of anxiety, or if the outset is uniquely intense, there are other available forms of treatment which can suffice.

One notable form of treatment is Self-Treatment. As the name implies, it is a situation whereby the person manages the anxiety without the involvement of any clinical aid. Although, this is common to less intense periods of anxiety. There are some recommended techniques by health specialists in order to cope with brief periods of anxiety such as: Stress levels management and monitoring; Relaxation techniques such as deep-breathing exercises; mental exercise; physical exercise; support network.

Counselling and therapy, is a standard form of treatment for anxiety, and it includes psychological counselling and therapy, and this could include psychotherapy which involves CBT known as cognitive behavioural therapy, which is a blend of therapy and counselling.
Cognitive behavioural therapy helps to detect and modify the harmful thought outlines which can induce an anxiety disorder and troublesome moods. This would assist people in controlling the way and manner by which their minds and bodies respond to some triggers.

Medications are also quintessential in the treatment of anxiety disorder. Some classes of medications which have been proved to be effective in treating anxiety disorder includes: Tricyclics such as clomipramine and imipramine; Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam or Valium have been also proved to be effective; Anti-depressants such as citalopram and fluoxetine would also come in handy.

In order to keep anxiety disorder in check, the following steps can be applied:
Consuming less soda, chocolate and caffeine
Regular check with the doctor or pharmacist
Balanced diet
Steady sleep patterns
Evading the use of alcohol, cannabis and other recreational medications

The state of being depressed can be likened to someone who is under a dark covering, where it is quite difficult to come out from. What people do not know about depression is, even the most critical depression can be treated. Hence, if depression is preventing you from having a nice life- the kind of life that you desire, then there is a need for you to seek help.

Increasing your knowledge about depression options, would aid you in knowing the appropriate approach for you. There are a number of excellent treatment options which can help you prevail over depression.

LIFESTYLE TREATMENT
As simple as lifestyle treatment could be, they are very effective in the treatment of depression. Even if there is a need for you to integrate other forms of treatment, Lifestyle treatment happens to be the basic essential treatment which helps to lift depression.

The following are productive lifestyle treatment tips:
Regular exercise: Exercise is known to improve the endorphin and serotonin level of the body. It also induces the growth and development of brain cells. You can start by exercising regularly one hour per day. When you do this for a month, you would be glad at the benefits gotten.
Social care: Being in the midst of people always, has a way of reducing isolation, which is a key trigger for depression. So, it is necessary for you to always keep in touch with family and friends.

Good Nutrition: This is highly important for all aspects of your health. It is necessary for you to eat well-balanced meals, which would ensure your energy level is optimal, and mood swings are minimized.
Sleep: The effect of sleep on your mood is great. If you do not sleep well enough, the symptoms of depression are bound to increase. It is essential that you get enough sleep every night.

Other forms of treatments for depression are Psychotherapy for depression treatment, which has to do with talking and analyzing, and it is a sure productive form of treatment. In addition to this, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy and interpersonal therapy are often used. At times, they are usually incorporated into one another.
A depressed individual is advised not to keep to oneself. There is a strong need for you to open up and allow help come your way.

OCD is also known as Obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it involves a sequence of irrational thoughts and obsessions which would make you to carry out repetitive behaviours. Such obsessions and compulsions are usually known to distort daily activities, which could induce great distress.
On your part, you might make attempts to ignore or put an end to your obsessions, however, it would only increase your anxiety and distress level. Eventually, you would feel compelled to carry out compulsive acts which would try to reduce your stress level.

So, irrespective of efforts to eliminate such obsessive urges or thoughts, they would keep resurfacing.
There are two symptoms which are associated with Obsessive-compulsive disorder, and they are: Obsession symptoms and compulsion symptoms. It is possible to have only one of them occurring at once.

Obsession symptoms involves uninvited and persistent thoughts which could cause anxiety or distress. Such symptoms are listed below:
Fear of contamination
Doubts of carrying out certain actions
Intense stress when things are not properly arranged
Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, which makes you uncomfortable
Avoiding situations which can induce obsessions. For example, shaking hands
Anguish in replaying sexual images in your mind

Compulsion symptoms are monotonous behaviours which you would feel motivated to perform over and over again, with a view to relieving yourself of anxiety, only to discover that there is only a temporary relief gotten from it. Common compulsive symptoms are listed below:
Washing your hands till your skin gets raw
Regular check on doors to confirm if they have been properly locked
Checking the cooker to confirm if it has been properly turned off
Counting in regular patterns
Saying a prayer, a word or phrase silently

There is really no cure for Obsessive-compulsive disorder, however, there are two treatments which have been found to be very effective over time.
The first is Psychotherapy, which involves Cognitive behavioural therapy, which is needed for people who have OCD. You would be required to face your fears, and also learn healthy ways on reducing your anxiety level. It takes great effort and practice.

Also, Medications are the second form of treatment, and below are the approved drugs with the age schedule:
Clomipramine: For children 10 years older and adults
Fluoxetine: For children 7 years older and adults
Fluvoxamine: For children 8 years older and adults
Paroxetine: For adults only
Sertraline: For children 6 years older and adults