Mindfulness for bipolar disorder : how mindfulness and neuroscience can help you manage your bipolar disorder symptoms

In Mindfulness for Bipolar Disorder, psychiatrist and neuroscientist William R. Marchand provides a breakthrough program based in cutting-edge neuroscience and mindfulness practices to target bipolar symptoms. Along with healthy lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication, Marchand shows how mindfulness is the missing piece in successful bipolar treatment. Using the mindfulness skills outlined in the book, readers will learn how to work through feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress in order to improve their quality of life and find their true center. Read more... Abstract: In Solving the Bipolar Puzzle, psychiatrist and neuroscientist William R. Marchand provides an innovative, breakthrough program based in neuroscience and mindfulness practices to help you find relief from your bipolar symptoms. Read more... introduction 12 chapter 1 26 the missing piece in the bipolar puzzle 26 Talking About Bipolar Disorder 27 Conventional Treatments for Bipolar Disorder 36 Mindfulness and Meditation for Bipolar Disorder 39 What’s Next? 43 chapter 2 44 how mindfulness can rewire your brain 44 Genetics and Bipolar Disorder 45 Some Brain Basics 46 Brain Function and Bipolar Symptoms 50 Brain Function and Your Mindfulness Practice 58 Moving On 63 chapter 3 64 mindfulness and self-­compassion 64 Compassion for Your Bipolar Self 65 Being Present with Bipolar Thoughts and Emotions 70 Meditation As a Mindfulness Framework 71 Your Eight-­Step Mindfulness Recovery Plan 72 Getting Started 77 chapter 4 80 your daily meditation practice 80 Practicing Regularly 81 Watching Your Expectations 82 Choosing a Daily Practice 83 Planning Your Practice 86 Moving Forward 96 chapter 5 98 targeting bipolar depression 98 Recognizing the Role of Autopilot 101 How to Move Out of Autopilot 103 Using the Mindful Minute 107 Your Mindfulness Tools 109 What You Will Learn Next 110 chapter 6 112 calming bipolar anxiety 112 Recognizing Your Automatic Response 115 Being Present with Anxiety 118 Keeping Up Your Practice 124 chapter 7 126 Observing Your Thinking Patterns 126 How Automatic Thinking Patterns Develop 127 How to Recognize Bipolar Autopilot Scripts 130 Seeing Thoughts As Just Thoughts 133 Seeing Yourself on Autopilot 136 Mindfulness in Your Everyday Bipolar Life 139 chapter 8 142 Working with Mania and Desire 142 Desire Is Almost Always with Us 143 Being Present with Excessive Desire 146 Encountering Barriers 150 chapter 9 152 managing irritability and anger 152 Having Something You Don’t Want 153 Aversion and Desire in Bipolar Disorder 156 You Are Not Your Anger or Any Other Emotion 157 Freedom from Fearing Your Symptoms 160 Welcoming Your Painful Symptoms 161 chapter 10 164 rethinking your bipolar self 164 Bipolar Disorder and Self-­Concept 165 Exploring How You See Yourself 167 Exploring Your Self 169 Accepting Yourself As You Are 172 Finding Beginner’s Mind 175 More About Not Knowing 178 chapter 11 180 being bipolar and happy 180 Pleasure Vs. Happiness 181 Returning to Compassion 185 Finding Happiness and Joy 187 Living Mindfully with Bipolar Disorder 190 appendix 192 more options for your mindfulness practice 192 glossary 198 suggested reading 202 references 204 In Mindfulness for Bipolar Disorder , psychiatrist and neuroscientist William R. Marchand provides an innovative, breakthrough program based in neuroscience and mindfulness practices to help you find relief from your bipolar symptoms. If you have bipolar disorder, you may experience feelings of mania or high energy, followed by periods of depression and sadness. These unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels can make it extremely difficult to carry out day-to-day tasksand ultimately reach your goals. Finding balance may be a daily struggle, even if you are on medication or in therapy. So, what else can you do to start feeling better? Mindfulnessthe act of present moment awarenessmay be the missing puzzle piece in effectively treating your bipolar disorder. In the book, you will learn how to actively work through feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress in order to improve the quality of your life. Written by a prominent psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and mindfulness teacher who draws upon his research experience and personal mindfulness practice as a monk in the Soto Zen tradition, this book will provide you with the tools needed to get your symptoms under control. If youve sought treatment for bipolar disorder but are still struggling with symptoms, mindfulness may be the missing piece to solving the bipolar puzzle and taking back your life. This book will help you get started right away. Content: Getting ready to practice mindfulness. The missing piece in the bipolar puzzle -- How mindfulness can rewire your brain -- Mindfulness and self-compassion -- Your mindfulness plan for solving the bipolar puzzle. Your daily meditation practice -- Targeting bipolar depression -- Calming bipolar anxiety -- Observing your thinking patterns -- Working with mania and desire -- Managing irritability and anger -- Rethinking your bipolar self -- Being bipolar and happy -- Appendix: More options for your mindfulness practice.