personal stories bipolar disorder
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression is a mental illness in which a person alternates between states of deep depression and extreme elation. However, bipolar or manic-depressive illness is far more complex than just alternating between depression and euphoria. Bipolar disorder affects thoughts, feelings, perceptions, behavior and even affects how a person feels physically (known clinically as psychosomatic presentations). Bipolar disorder is divided as bipolar I, bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and Cylcothymia, depending on the type and severity of mood episodes experienced.
The diagnosis of the American Psychiatric Association and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly known as the DSM-IV, because it is in its edition the fourth largest) indicates that bipolar disorder is characterized by the existence of one or more episodes of elevated mood (clinically known as mania) or episodes Mixed often accompanied by depressive episodes. These episodes are usually separated by periods of normal mood, but in some cases, depression and mania may rapidly alternate (rapid cycling). Extreme manic episodes can lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
Bipolar Symptoms
Mania / hypomania:
Mania often begins with a greater sense of energy, creativity, and social ease, these feelings can progress rapidly to an extreme elevated mood and continued participation of an exaggerated sense of self and / or state irritable mood. When in this state, individuals become more physically active, talkative, easily distracted, and show a decreased need for sleep. In most cases, people do not realize that something is wrong and you can enjoy the feeling of mania brings. Case deteriorates resulting in greater risk-taking behavior, including sexual activity and excessive spending. In severe cases, the person also may have hallucinations or become delusional, which is called a psychotic episode.
Depression:
Depressive symptoms are severe, widespread and persistent. Feelings may include:
* Despair
* Hopelessness
* Frustration
* Ira
* Irritability
* futility
* Guilt
* Loss of energy
* Limited interest in normal activities
* Weight changes
* Difficulties with sleep
* Slowness in thinking
* Difficulty in making simple decisions
* In severe cases, the thought of suicide
Bipolar Treatment
There is no simple answer for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of many things.
* Education: Understanding bipolar disorder is essential. Individuals should educate themselves on their signs and symptoms general so that they can better identify and understand their moods. Learn about treatment and triggers is a critical part of the disease self-management. With this knowledge, people with bipolar disorder and their families are better able to prevent future recurrences.
* Medication: The disorder bipolar is a recurrent disease, and therefore, people require medication as a form of long-term treatment. Most people need a number of drugs to control their symptoms and maintain wellness. Finding the right cocktail of drugs may take several months or even years, before finding a winning combination. It is crucial that this process is closely monitored and discussed with a psychiatrist. There may be a strong need to discontinue use of medicines when you feel best, most times this behavior leads to a relapse. The main categories of medications used include: mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety medications.
* Psychotherapy and Group Counseling and Psychotherapy support groups are highly recommended, especially during the first or second year after diagnosis, which, in combination with drugs significantly increases the chances of finding a stable, healthy lifestyle. Both professionals and provide mutual support in the form of a vision stories, effective treatments, and coping strategies. Know that you are not the only treatment effective in itself.
Stigma and Bipolar Many people delay seeking help and treatment for bipolar disorder, because they fear being labeled as crazy, dangerous, or even contagious, they fear what their friends, family, and employers might think. There is still a social stigma of having a mental illness, but social attitudes are changing gradually. One of the most challenging aspects of stigma, after diagnosis, is self-stigma. The result is internal to the stigma belief of the devaluation of attitudes and blame himself for the disease. Some strategies to counter stigma include a better understanding of what stigma and how it affects people, and the exchange of experiences and coping strategies in peer support groups.
For a great online Bipolar support group feel free to sign up at BiPolar Blues, the worlds first bipolar social networking website (A facebook for only people with bipolar disorder)
Kim Dunlap
