Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Trapped

When a person is diagnosed with any mental illness they may experience feeling a lot of shame. The public seems to have a lot of negative thoughts associated with people that have any form of mental illness. What people don’t understand is that it is not something anyone chooses to have or enjoys dealing with anymore than a person diagnosed with cancer. Also, just because they have the illness does NOT mean that everything they say and do that offends you can be attributed to their “disease.” Although having a mental illness is not a death sentence, it is something that doesn’t go away. They have to deal with it and the ramifications of it every single day. The best thing you can do is be supportive and remember that it is not always “them” you are dealing with daily.

So let’s talk specifically about Bipolar Disorder. What exactly is it?

Bipolar disorder means that a person will have extreme mood swings in which they go from very high and energized (manic) to very low, unmotivated and depressed. The high periods can last from a few days to a month or more and the low periods usually last much longer. The low periods can last from several weeks to even several months. About 1 in every 50 people in the United States has bipolar disorder.

What are the symptoms?

During a manic phase the person may be feeling overly happy or excited OR they may be overly irrirable or angry. They can so things that are very impulsive during this time like drive recklessly or spend a great deal of money unwisely. They may also experience symptoms of depression other times which can include feeling very sad, down, irritable or anxious, losing interest in people or things, sleeping to much, having little or no appetite, trouble concentrating or making decisions, feeling fatigued or low in energy, moving or talking slowly, feeling very bad or guilty about themselves or contemplating suicide (or actually carrying out suicide attempts.

It is very important that if you have a loved one that suffers from bipolar disorder that you learn to recognize their “triggers.” Once you understand that you can avoid those places, things, or activities that can bring on a episode. Try to remember that it is not your fault when/if they snap or yell at you or even say thing you know they don’t mean. Reading many blogs and comments from those with bipolar have a similar theme with failed relationships. Either they avoid them altogether in hopes to not hurt anyone, or they experience many failed relationships because it is hard to find a partner that can deal with their mood swings. People with bipolar long for “normal” relationships that won’t be disrupted by their mood disorder.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorders means that a person has dysregulations in the emotional regulation “circuitry” of the brain, especially the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. It’s possible that the imbalances are inherited from blood relatives. Amny people that abuse drugs and alcohol sometimes are people that are trying to self medicate their bipolar disorder. A significant portion of the homeless population also suffers from some form of mental illness.

Treatment?

Treatment will most likely involve mood stabilizing medications such as lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, etc and be in conjunction with taking an antidepressant as well as possible anti anxiety medications. Therapy is also very useful. Many people have trouble taking medications because it makes them feel very zoned out or even kind of blah. I know that when I took medication (I am diagonsed with a less severe form, Bipolar 2) I felt like a zombie and all my creativity was washed away. I guess for some people they choose between crazy or boring. LOL.

Bottomline?

Be supportive of your neighbor, friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, husband/wife, or parent/child with bipolar disorder. They need as much support and patience as you can afford to give. Remember, we are all One, just different branches from the same tree. Don’t give up on your loved ones.

FAMOUS/CREATIVE PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

Russell Brand, actor/comedian
Kurt Cobain, musician
Patricia Cornwell, American crime writer
DMX, rapper
Mel Gibson, actor and director
Macy Gray, musician and actor
Linda Hamilton, actress
Ernest Hemingway, writer
Demi Lovato, American actress, singer
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher
Sinéad O’Connor, musician
Ozzy Osbourne, singer
Edgar Allan Poe, poet and writer
Jackson Pollock, American artist
Axl Rose, lead singer and frontman best known for Guns N’ Roses
Nina Simone, American singer
Britney Spears, singer
Jean-Claude Van Damme, actor
Vincent Van Gogh, artist
Pete Wentz, musician
Delonte West, American basketball player
Amy Winehouse, musician
Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress