Hi,

How’s it going?

I saw this post on my blog at
http://www.bipolarcentral.com/bipolarsupporterblog:

“Hi Dave There is something I have
not read about in your emails. I wonder
if there have ever been studies done about
the effects of tobacco use or nicotine with
bipolar disorder. My father was a mile
mannered gentleman who was liked and
respected by most people.

He was a heavy smoker. He quit smoking
about age 50. Ather he quit smoking, his
personality changed. He began using a lot
of profanity, he physically attacted to
mailman, and when a local church burned
down, he tried to take credit for that. I
thought he needed some kind of mental help.
I planned to consult with an attorney.

The day I was going to see an attoryney, I
heard a newscast announcing the the govorner
of the statr (Missouri) had sighned a bill the
prevoius day forbidding involuntary detainment
of persons with a mental disorder. this was in
the 1970s before people had heard of bipolar
disorder. the rest of his life, he put me and my
mother through a lot of verbal abuse. My mother
said she wished he would start smoking again.

I have heard that nicotine has some effects on
the brain and may have something to do with
delaying the onset of alzheimer’s disease. I
sonder if you have heard of any studies having
to do with bipolar disorder. I would appreciate any
news about this in your email.
Regards
Fred
================================

I have been asked about this before.

Smoking does have an effect on the brain because it affects the dopamine receptors, which are the pleasure centers in your brain.

That’s what makes it so difficult to quit.

And it can have some effect on medications taken for things like bipolar disorder.

That’s why doctors always ask you if you smoke and how much you smoke (and for how long), and because smoking does have an effect on you.

As far as research on studies for bipolar disorder, it’s best to take an entire day or two to go to a university library. That’s what I always have to do.

You basically go to a big university and then spend the day researching for the study you are looking for.

That’s what I recommend in my courses/studies when you need to do research on bipolar disorder, which you should do when your loved one is first diagnosed and even after, so you can keep up with the latest research on the disorder.

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/report11

SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.bipolarparenting.com

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Visit:
http://www.survivebipolar.net
I believe there are also studies on bipolar disorder and smoking but I don’t remember the details.

I do know this, though –

That several people who I know who quit smoking and had bipolar disorder went into episodes.

Does this mean that you can’t quit smoking when you have bipolar disorder?

NO. But if you do, in my opinion, you need a plan if you are going to do so.

Talk to your doctor and therapist. Tell them you want to quit smoking.

Talk with your supporters.

Make a plan with all of them.

Check out all the programs that are for quitting smoking. There are a ton of them, everything from meditation to some kind of therapy programs to tapes and CDs to hypnosis (NOTE: I am not endorsing any one or which one.)

Whatever you are doing, make sure that you are monitored and if something goes wrong you have a plan B in place as well.

Michele who works for me once quit smoking and went into a mini bipolar episode.

According to her, here are the mistakes she made:

1. She didn’t do any research.
2. She didn’t have a plan.
3. She didn’t talk to anyone about it.
4. She didn’t tell her doctor.
5. She didn’t explore options.
6. She took medication she hadn’t
checked out thoroughly to see
if it would affect her bipolar
disorder.

The biggest mistake she made, though, was when she started having side effects, she didn’t stop using the medication, because she wanted to quit smoking so bad.

That’s what ended her up in the hospital in a bipolar episode.

So, even though quitting smoking is important, you also have to have a plan and not make the mistakes that Michele made.

Have you or a loved one been through a similar situation as Fred or Michele?

David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.