How to Treat Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder

Anxiety and bipolar disorder are two different mental abnormalities affecting many these days. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. Patients suffering from this disease travels between mania, an abnormally high-spirited mood and depression, a terribly low mood. It has been found that a patient having bipolar disorder can also have anxiety. It is good to know the various treatment options available, so that you can take a well informed decision on how to treat anxiety and bipolar disorder.

There are many antidepressants which can effectively treat both anxiety and bipolar-disorder. The most popular drugs are serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. They stop the brain from recycling norepinenephrine and/or serotonin, the two neurotransmitters which are involved in mood. Mood stabilizers are medicines which can manage the symptoms of both bipolar disorder and anxiety. Lithium is a highly effective medicine which can stabilize mood. Valproic acid is another medicine given to those suffering from bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Mood stabilizer may be prescribed to an anxiety disorder patient to improve the effect of the initial anti-anxiety medication. Benzodiazepines are medication to treat anxiety and they act on the receptors in the brain. Examples of such medications which are used for anxiety disorder treatment ate Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam etc. A bipolar disorder patient can take such medication for getting relief from anxiety, sleeplessness or symptoms of agitation.

It is essential to know about natural remedies also to find how to treat anxiety and bipolar-disorder. You can include supplements with the permission of your doctor. The popular supplements include Sam-E, St. John's Wort and Omega-3. Serotonin and Dopamine are two brain chemicals which play a major role in bipolar-disorder. These chemicals have an impact on mood and if their levels are low, it can result in depression. The fact is that by remaining active and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, you can enhance the production of these essential chemicals. You can also join a support group, where you can share information with others who are tackling the conditions.