Bipolar II - How Nutrients Act As Brain Food To Treat Cognitive Deficits
By Athlyn Green Bipolar II, as it is called, is a classification for manic depressive illness. It is an official diagnosis in this disorder group. What is it exactly and why is it called bipolar 2? It differs from other manifestations of this condition and presents somewhat different symptoms. Bipolar type 2 is characterized by a history of at least one major depressive episode. Depression is a common feature; so much so, that it is a mistake to somehow view this classification as a milder form of this disorder. The concurrent history or presence of one hypomanic episode is part of the diagnostic criteria. Hypomania is not full-blown mania and therefore does not necessarily interfere with work or social functioning, although it is observable to someone trained to recognize it, as an expression of bipolar II. While many claim that elevated moods are stimulating and can be fun, the downside is the irritation and outbursts that can also manifest. It is hard to believe that when the world feels so right, when everything just clicks, this can be a sign of actual illness, one face of a troubling condition called bipolar 2. Unfortunately, hypomania can progress until there is a crash into depressionor it may escalate into mania. The depression in bipolar type 2 presents the greater challenge: it may be more severe than unipolar depression and interferes with functioning, sending people into hospital or precipitating suicide attempts. While this condition can be said to be a mood disorder, psychiatric evaluation is redefining that distinction. Even between episodes, people with bipolar II experience residual symptoms and cognitive deficits that can worsen over time. We could liken our brain to a command center sending out messages to the troops. The messengers are serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals that are produced daily. Imagine though, if the power supply was compromised, if messages were garbled or not getting through. This is the scenario in bipolar 2. The brain is the most nutritionally sensitive organ in the body. Amino acids, and vitamins and minerals, are the raw materials for synthesis of the brain’s chemical messengers. If our brains receive inadequate amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters. Thankfully, modern treatments offer hope. You do not have to suffer the crippling effects of major depression that is a part of bipolar type 2. The brain can heal itself, supported by appropriate nutritional compounds, which can supply vital nutrients that act as brain food. Fast Facts About Deficiencies And The Brain Vitamin B6 is an important factor in synthesis of serotonin. 31-35% of depressed patients are deficient in folic acid (B9). Depression is linked to deficiencies of: Vitamin B12, Magnesium, SAMe Tryptophan, Omega 3. A correlation exists between B12 and a patient’s response and improvement on antidepressants. The mineral chromium used alone or with antidepressantsis effective for treating mild to severe depression. The amino acid taurine shows promising results in treating manic depression. Lithium, a mineral salt, can cause new brain cells to grow. For bipolar II, nutritional supplementation can be a valuable adjunct to conventional treatment or a stand-alone therapy. A quality supplement will be formulated to specifically target the brain and nervous system and will combine herbals, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and specialty supplements to balance cognitive deficits and restore mood functioning. If you are considering using nutritional remedies in conjunction with your current treatment for bipolar 2, it is important to keep your doctor in the loop. You may want to consult with an MD who is holistically trained or a nutritionist who has had 2-4 years of specialized training. Naturopaths have training in nutrition, herbology, and Chinese medicine. It is probable that as science uncovers more information about the brain and its ability to heal itself, and the critical role that nutrition plays in overall health and nervous system functioning, nutrients used as brain food will be the wave of the future in treating illnesses such as bipolar II. Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to Bipolar 2, a section of www.beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Athlyn_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Bipolar-II—How-Nutrients-Act-As-Brain-Food-To-Treat-Cognitive-Deficits&id=367546 long term ambien ambien soma fioricet online ambien and alochol ativan wikipedia
