Mike Asks... I find myself in a medical dilemma and don’t know where to turn. My fiancée recently graduated from dental school and went to Africa to volunteer. A year prior, she had an anxiety episode, as she was unsure about finishing her medical degree or not (anxiety/depression). The doctor put her on cipralex and within a short time she was back to normal. Over time she reduced her intake to the lowest 10mg and she was able to successfully graduate as a dentist. She then went off cipralex cold turkey, 3 weeks prior to going to Africa to volunteer in a local hospital.

If you're dealing with mental illness yourself or with a family member, friend, or colleague, you're probably already playing the role of mental health advocate. Every time you spread the word about mental illness and teach someone else what you know about it, you make it a more acceptable topic of conversation. Every time you mobilize services for you or your loved one, despite tremendous roadblocks within the mental health system and despite the stigma and resistance in the wider community, you are practicing grass roots advocacy. If you are ready to do even more, consider taking on an active role in mental health legislation, becoming a grass-roots lobbyist for the cause.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. We have already covered lithium, along with anti-seizure and atypical antipsychotics commonly used as anti-manic medications or mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder. Last week, we introduced our coverage of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants with a post on Prozac (fluoxetine). This week, we continue our series on SSRI antidepressants with this post on Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride).

Times are tough, and if you're uninsured with bipolar disorder, finding and paying for treatment and medication can seem like an insurmountable challenge. In Bipolar Disorder for Dummies, we offer some suggestions on how to access more affordable mental healthcare assistance, including seeking treatment at community or county mental health clinics or University medical centers. Other community resources such as churches, religious organizations, or support groups such as NAMI and DBSA can help you locate affordable care. Following are some suggestions on where to turn for help when you can't afford your prescription medications:

Shelli Asks... My ex refuses to believe that our son is bipolar. He insists that our boy tried to choke his half-sister to death and that our son speaks of his "evil-other side" but he fights with me about giving the boy medication. Could he be so stupid as to think our boy is just mean? Since he is medicated he is a calm and kind teenager. Have you ever heard of one of those? The ex even commented one time that our son was "like a different child" when he was visiting after he started his Seroquel but still refuses to believe the diagnosis. What can I have him read or look at to help with his disbelief?

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog with a couple minor changes Jill Ravitz recently posted her bipolar story, which caused me to think about my own situation with my wife and our family. Back in 1999 my wife was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Within about two years, we were discussing divorce.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. Over the past weeks, we covered several commonly used atypical antipsychotics, including Zyprexa (olanzapine), Risperdal (risperidone), and Seroquel (quetiapine). This week, we turn our attention to antidepressants, specifically the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) variety. Medications in this class include:

Getting jacked up on coffee, tea, or soda can be a thrill. The chemical reactions pump you up and make you feel a little less groggy in the morning and after lunch, and the drinks taste yummy, too. For an added boost, you can light up a cigarette. Unfortunately, these stimulants can bump up your heart rate and blood pressure and accelerate both your brain and body. They can magnify mania, irritate a depressed brain, and join forces to undermine the efforts of your mood stabilizers. Because of this, if you have bipolar disorder, it's a good idea to limit your exposure to these over-the-counter mood enhancers.