Garett Asks... Five months ago, I was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. First I was on Depakote and then I told my doctor I was still having major problems with my sleep. I was always up and about knowing it was 3 o'clock in the morning. I told her about the lack of sleep, and she immediately took me off of the Depakote and switched me to Seroquel.

Last week, Joe posted a piece entitled "Bipolar Dilemma: Insensitive Jerk or Irresponsible Oaf?" in an attempt to spark a discussion and collect insights on what to do when you sense that your loved one with bipolar is exhibiting symptoms of mania or hypomania. This week, Dr. Fink weighs in. Dr. Fink Replies... This dilemma lies at the heart of so much of the strife that families living with bipolar disorder face every day. I don't have any magic answers – I suspect that people living with these challenges have creative solutions that will be more helpful to others than anything the doctor might have to offer.

Robert Asks... Do you think a combination of different herbs can cure any form of bipolar disorder and if so what are those herbs? Dr. Fink Answers... In Chapter 9 of Bipolar Disorder For Dummies, we discuss a host of alternative treatments for bipolar disorder, including ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), light therapy, vitamins & minerals, and herbs, used alone and in conjunction with traditional forms of medicines and therapies. For example, some people claim that St. John's Wort is useful for treating the depressive pole in bipolar disorder. (Of course, unfortunately, like most other antidepressants, St. John's Wort also increases the risk of triggering mania, especially in someone who has bipolar disorder.)

Susan Asks... Hi, I have just recently been diagnosed with BPD. I have been on an antidepressant for years because I have suffered from depression (or what I was told was just depression) many years ago. Well recently I left my husband for the 2nd time and bought a car (that I couldn't afford) and then of course had the depression really set in hard. Worse than ever.

I was talking to my doctor the other day about the possibility of antidepressants being overprescribed. Her reply was that people often go to the doctor when they're feeling depressed, rarely report ever experiencing manic symptoms (probably because they were feeling pretty good at the time), and may even hide the truth about any mania they have experienced in the past because they are afraid of being labeled bipolar and having to be treated for it.

Ari Asks... I have a friend who has most symptoms of bipolar, but doesn’t seem to have any obvious sign of depression. He has most other signs of bipolar. He’s had about four episodes of manic behavior in the last five months which had lasted three to four days. Could he be bipolar in your opinion – like rapid-cycling bipolar disorder without the obvious sign or suffering of depression?

Stanley Asks... I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I am 27 and I have bipolar disorder, I was diagnosed four years ago, and within that period I have had three episodes. I am on medication. The last episode I was hospitalized for three months. I haven’t had an episode for a year. I am at present in college and hope to travel during the summer.

OuchOuch Asks... I did not experience hypomanic symptoms until I started taking anti-depressants. Anti-depressants didn’t work for me – they either didn’t work or they revved me up. Mood stabilizers helped my depression. I was therefore diagnosed as Bipolar II – is it really Bipolar II?

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.

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?