Living the Golden Years with Bipolar Disorder

More than 6 million Americans adults suffer from bipolar disorder, and more people go untreated for many years. This life-long disease affects the way a individual cognitive functions, including, behavior, memory, perception, judgment, perception and problem-solving skills. This disease is extremely server and leaves the patient with difficulty in all activities and the ability to carry out daily tasks.

The onset of this disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. This mental illness is difficult to identify and can be particularly distressing and disruptive for the patient, spouses, friends and employers. While bipolar disorder has no cure, treatment and recovery is possible and patients can return to their jobs, careers and maintain meaningful relationships.

Bipolar and the elderly are not easily recognized as an illness and may suffer needlessly for many years. The symptoms of this mental illness in seniors are agitation, irritability, seeming distracted, confusion, hyperactivity and psychosis. The bipolar cycles are fast, characterized by recurring episodes of depression and mania or having mixed symptoms at the same time.

How do seniors cope with it? The first step is scheduling a thorough, medical examination. This procedure is to rule out other underlying medical problems, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and brain tumors. Treatment for bipolar seniors is a combination of medications that will not interact with current medications; talk therapy is also an effective strategy.

Keeping track of mood changes and symptoms with a daily journal can help a doctor determine a person's response to treatments. Having emotional support, understanding, patience and encouragement, take walks, and other activities or hobbies. With time, medications and other therapies seniors may have a better quality of life.