Progression of Bipolar Disorder

Do not forget kindling theory behind worsening symptoms of I medicated BP.

I work in a public library and we use a lot of volunteers. Every library is different, but if this interests you at all, it might rewarding.

Wishing you all the best.

Oh no. Don't get me started. Politics raaage! Lol

Wait -- what's kindling theory? I know I've heard of it, possibly even on this thread.

Oh my brain! Lol

"...patients who have had a number of affective episodes are more vulnerable to future episodes – and that later episodes are less likely to require an environmental trigger than earlier episodes. But he acknowledges that some studies disagree, and that many patients do not follow these patterns."

Quote from this article here at PC: The Kindling Hypothesis: Is It Relevant in Psychiatry? | Psych Central Professional

Thanks tucson for the article.

Kindling occurs IMO like any response to stimuli. But the reverse of kindling can also occur with the right courses of action.

Is it easier to let a fire rage than to try to put it out? Simply all I am getting at is controlling bipolar is not hopeless. But it does require attention and care to reverse.

Research that I have come across points to the possibility of meds reversing the "damage" that BP can do to the brain. I imagine there are also other ways too. So I think what you are saying is true. Damagd to the brain due to BP can be reversed.

I don't know but I was feeling suicidal and manic. The psychiatrist prescribed risperdal and voila I'm back to work and being productive. I always trust the right drug combo more than therapy. Therapy helps but for me the most positive changes come when I get the right drugs going.

Ah I see. Thank you for the article! It was interesting. There is quite a lot I do not know about Bipolar Disorder, including theories and hypotheses that are floating around.

So based on this theory, it could very well get worse as time goes on for some.

as for meds. There is recent article on PC about how benzos are linked to Alzheimers (so much for how they need to be part of your "rest of life" coctail if you suffer anxiety. APs can cause brain atrophy on top of other things.

Not saying don't take them, but really to sell them as "neuroprotective" as I seen some people do......... hard to believe that.


Plus, how many brains for unmedicated, but aware (hence not self-medicating and badly living) bipolars they scanned to be able to say BP damages the brain? I really don't think you can claim bipolar itself is some brain corrosion agent. Choices made due to bipolar... yes... but the condition itself? We don't know.

Imho, the kindling theory is just pushed by Pharma a lot and doesn't have that much of merit.

my dad was MUCH, MUCH worse when he was younger, due to drinking. He quit drinking and changed his lifestyle, eliminated all of his triggers and has been totally stable and med-free for almost 20 years. He uses lifestyle discipline instead of medication, and it works great for him.
So, it doesn't always get worse with age.

I was not diagnosed until age 63 by a competent psychiatrist. The fist psychiatrist just was not the right one. Maybe I hold the age in life being diagnose?

Yeah, I would guess that choices made due to bipolar cause more damage. But I don't know if bipolar, if left untreated, would continue to cause more damage along its pathways.

I could see how kindling theory would be pushed by Pharma in order to scare people into medding up, or overmedicating. Any theory pushed by Pharma a lot should instantly have its validity called into question.

Looking back at when I was drinking and some of the things I did, I'm surprised my therapist didn't diagnose me as bipolar. But I think she attributed things I did to my drinking, or to my depression, which I don't think is quite right for a few of those things.

I'm glad to hear your dad is doing so well. He must have a ton of discipline, and that's awesome.

Lol that does sound like a record!

I got worse as I got older. My old PDoc told me that going through severe mania and or psychosis actually causes physical changes to your brain. So once you go through one really bad episode it increases your chances of more frequent reoccurrences, which helps explain why it gets worse with age for many people.