While caught in the throes of a debilitating mood disorder, it’s understandably difficult to know where to turn for help. A person suffering from manic depression, or bipolar disorder, needs knowledge, support and encouragement to help come to terms with the condition and learn to live a normal, happy life. Fortunately, there are a number of resources to aid the individual who is suffering from manic depression.
Online Information
The Internet can offer a wealth of information for those seeking to education themselves about manic depressive disorder. For example, the Bipolar Disorders Center is a substantial source of information for those who have bipolar children or adolescents in their care. Their website has articles on early intervention, healthcare and insurance alternative medical resources, and special needs parenting (see Resources).
Advocacy and Support Groups
There are numerous groups that lobby on behalf of those with bipolar disorder. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has chapters throughout the United States; it is the nation’s largest organization that advocates for the mentally ill. Its website is a rich resource of information.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is an advocacy groups specifically focused on helping those with manic depression. Serving over 4 million people yearly, the DBSA organizes peer-led support groups, hosts an interactive website and distributes millions of brochures each year covering topics of interest to those with bipolar disorder.
Public Mental Health Agencies
Every state has a public mental health agency that supplies vital services such as referrals and information to those who are battling mental illness. A comprehensive list of public state mental health agencies is available on the Bipolar Disorders Center website (see Resources).
Self-Tests
The appeal of a self-test is that it allows a person to perform a guided evaluation of his own symptoms in private, which may provide him with more information about his possible diagnosis and guide him toward seeking professional health.
Numerous online questionnaires can help those who suspect they may have manic depressive disorder. The website Counselling Resource offers the Goldberg Bipolar Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, a 12-question self-test aimed at adults who have suffered at least one previous depressive episode (see Resources).
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers a number of online screening tools that enable people to screen themselves for depression, mania or anxiety.
