MOODSTRControl Your Mood – Control Your Life

Description

Mood swings may be a part of your life, but the struggle to control them doesn’t have to dominate it. Together with the right course of medication, The Bipolar Workbook can put you back in control. Dr. Monica Ramirez Basco has assembled a versatile toolkit of proven self-help strategies designed to help you recognize the early warning signs of relapse, resist the seductive pull of manic episodes, and escape the paralysis of depression. Whether you’re new to the diagnosis (and not quite sure it fits) or want to enhance your current treatment, this simple program puts you in charge. Easy-to-follow guidelines and worksheets help you identify problem areas and minimize their impact, including ways to: *Reduce the recurrence and severity of your symptoms.*Slow things down and get the sleep you need when mania strikes.*Keep motivated and avoid procrastination when you’re depressed.*Fine-tune medical treatments to maximize your gains.*Rein in emotional reactions.*Stay focused and achieve your goals. Since every individual’s experience with bipolar disorder is unique, Dr. Basco encourages you to customize a plan that suits your needs. So take charge and make a better life.

Description

The psychiatrist whose pioneering bestseller Moodswing introduced lithium as the treatment for bipolarity now focuses on the milder form of the disease, and the result is another landmark work--one that can help millions with Bipolar II to live better livesThirty years ago, Dr. Ronald Fieve pioneered the use of lithium for what was then known as "manic depression." His book Moodswing was a runaway hit, published in seven countries. Since then, Dr. Fieve has focused on patients with mild bipolarity--what is now known as Bipolar II. He has discovered that Bipolar II patients are--almost across the board--driven, successful, high-achieving individuals who, with the right treatment, can actually turn their illness into an asset.In this first book to concentrate exclusively on milder bipolarity, Dr. Fieve explains how newer drugs with fewer side effects are revolutionizing the treatment of Bipolar II. Some people with mild bipolarity may not require drugs at all--just a specific lifestyle program, which Dr. Fieve spells out in this book. In the past, many patients with the illness have resisted treatment because they did not want to give up the euphoria of the "highs." But left untreated, the condition's lows can be devastating--sometimes resulting in suicide. Here, Dr. Fieve reveals his remarkably successful treatment program (with results supported by thousands of patient histories) that allows patients to keep the highs while minimizing the lows. And he explains how his program can help turn the illness into a positive and patients into what he calls "bipolar beneficials."

Description

Many people today suffer from bipolar disorder and depression. You may be one of these or have a loved one that suffer the effects of this condition. It is no longer an embarassment or a secret to be or know someone that is depressed or has bipolar issues.There is no one specific reason this condition affects so many and there is also no cure; but there is treatment out there.Explore some of most common scenarios that may seem familiar to you if you feel you may be a little "different." You may even find out how to and what kind of treatment may help you or someone else before depression or bipolar disorder takes over a life or even destroy's it.

Description

It's a simple yellow wildflower whose extraordinary properties have been documented for centuries. Hypericum, or St. John's wort, as it is more commonly known, has emerged in Germany as one of the most popular, effective, and safe treatments for a devastating disease that affects millions: depression. Now, for the first time, the worlds of conventional medicine and alternative healing have at last come together to embrace St. John's wort's exceptional powers. In St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good, Norman Rosenthal, M.D., a leading authority in the field of depression and author of the bestselling Winter Blues, shows readers how they can relieve a host of different emotional conditions and difficulties accompanying the ordinary stresses of everyday life by tapping nature's own resources instead of using the pre-scription drugs that are now being taken by thousands of people worldwide. Written in an engaging, accessible manner and filled with fascinating anecdotes, the latest scientific research, and carefully documented case studies, St. John's Wort examines how extracts of this flower influence not only the brain chemical serotonin, which is also affected by such drugs as Prozac and Zoloft, but other critical brain chemicals as well. In addition, St. John's wortis easily accessible and can be purchased everywhere, from grocery stores to pharmacies;requires no prescription;costs a fraction of prescription medications;has no toxic effects;shows benefits after two weeks of treatmentGiven the widespread availability of this amazing herb and the prevalence of the conditions for which it has been proved so useful, the time is ripe for St. John's Wort, the comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible guide that will show readers how they can feel better quickly, safely, easily, and naturally.

Almost 18 million people suffer from depression in the United States. Powerful antidepressant drugs are widely prescribed. Yet the bestselling remedy for depression in Germany, with more than 10 times the sales of Prozac and fewer side effects, isn't a drug--it's a shrub: St. John's wort, or Hypericum perforatum. St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good is a comprehensive, reader-friendly guide to assessing whether St. John's wort is right for you, and what you need to know about depression, conventional antidepressants, and this herb to manage your condition effectively. Rosenthal is a National Institutes of Mental Health researcher and psychiatrist who conveys a great deal of information simply and interestingly. He relates success stories of clients who have benefited from St. John's wort, discusses the research, helps you diagnose and understand your depression, and shows you how to create a personalized plan for using the herb. He also recommends leading an "antidepressant lifestyle" through stress management, exercise, social support, sleep, and adequate light. A history of the herb ("from ancient remedy to herbal superstar") chronicles its 2,000 years of use. This is a must-read book if you or a loved one suffers from depression. (Rosenthal stresses that the herb and his program are not substitutes for medical care, and that anyone suffering from severe depression should seek medical help.) --Joan Price