Symptoms And Diagnosis Of A Dental Patient

The stigma associated with bipolar disorder is unacceptable. The purpose of this paper is to improve the readers ability to understand what bipolar disorder is and how being diagnosed with this disorder affects all facets of daily living. Family, friends and associates of individuals with bipolar disorder are often affected as well. As a result of the stigma associated with the disorder, the effects remain: often multiplied by individuals that have a limited understanding of the disorder. There are numerous myths related to individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Hopefully a few of these myths will be put to rest after learning more about the disorder.

Bipolar disorder has been gaining more and more attention over the last few years. With shootings on the rise, or at least the publicity of them, people are often pointing their fingers at mental diseases including bipolar disorder. An ongoing issue regarding mental illnesses, however, is the population has failed to fully understand what they truly are, the symptoms, and how to treat them.

First, I would directly ask about both sides of the bipolar spectrum – mania and depression. During my interaction with the patient, I primarily focused on the depressive side of mania, as that is the side of the bipolar disorder that the patient was currently exhibiting. The patient did not exhibit any signs of mania, and had not exhibited mania since being in the facility, so I did not focus my attention on this topic. To gain a comprehensive assessment on the patient, it would have been beneficially to at least bring up mania signs and symptoms with the patient. As stated in class, not all bipolar patients will admit to the mania symptoms, as patients tend to enjoy the increased energy and productivity levels. If I would have discussed this information with the patient, he may have noted that these symptoms directly correlate to his diagnosis. Second, after completing my assessment, I would work toward acquiring a support system for the patient, outside of the hospital. Through the conversation, I did acquire the knowledge that the patient does not have family or children nearby, but I did not gather information on support systems beyond the family. Various support systems I could look at for this patient include: Veterans, sexual abuse victims, gay men, and elders without family. Outside of the VA hospital, a veteran’s success relates to the amount of

According to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, stigma can cause patients to feel shame, hopelessness, distress, and make them not seek help in fear of being labeled as “crazy.” Media depictions of mental illness and bipolar disorder can cause a vicious cycle. According to Atkins, stigma and prejudice against bipolar disorder can lead television and movie writers to focus on “scary, out-of-control people who do bad things” (Atkins PAGE NUMBER), which then further convinces the public that people with mental illness are dangerous. The seriousness of mental illness can also be downplayed because of stigma. By using the word “bipolar” to refer to everyday mood swings, the public may not think that bipolar disorder exists or that it is a serious ailment. According to Mikayla DeLeon, the word is used “jokingly” among her friends. In her experience, “it [is] an insult… [It’s] not really taken seriously”. These contrasting misconceptions can make people who are suffering with a mental disorder not want to seek help. They may also fear telling their loved ones because they fear being seen differently by their friends and coworkers, being labelled as “crazy,” and losing opportunities at work. Jessica Blaikie, a young woman that suffers from mental illness says that, because of the misconceptions surrounding mental illness, “I was so afraid to say anything

The burden of bipolar disorder, which has an estimated prevalence of 4% worldwide, permeates throughout all aspects of society from the

Bipolar disorder is a difficult topic for myself. I have an aunt and an uncle that have bipolar disorder. My uncle committed suicide in 2010. On the other hand I feel that it is important to research and learn about this topic because it is something that I have a different perspective than those who have never had this personally affect their lives, and that can be helpful in treating those suffering from the disorder and also their family members.

There is a dark stigma surrounding mental illness in general, and bipolar disorder is no exception. According to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, a stigma is “a mark of disgrace that sets someone apart.” Bipolar disorder is incredibly misunderstood by society at large, which leads to this stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. In everyday conversation, the word “bipolar” is frequently used to describe how someone is feeling at that moment. If a person is sad one moment and

When people are asked what bipolar I disorder (BD) is, they often describe someone as being psychotic, having drastic mood changes, being depressed then super happy, and the list is endless. Often, individuals who suffer with BD are stigmatized and discriminated. The following piece is part of a poem called “You and Me” written by Debbie Sesula, “...If you get angry/ You’re considered upset/ If I get angry/ I’m considered dangerous. / If you over-react to something/ You’re sensitive/ If I over-react to something/ I’m out of control…” BD is not well understood by society and it is unfortunate that individuals who have this disorder often isolate themselves and feel ashamed.

Choosing a topic to write my research essay over came pretty easily to me. I have grown up around my mothers best friend and never have I thought that she had an illness-that she was bipolar. She is a single mother, has a special needs son and is one of the most compassionate women I have ever met. She comes across as put together, supportive and outgoing; always seeming to have a positive outlook on life. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned about her childhood and her fight with bipolar disorder. As a child she had uncontrollable mood swings and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder her sophomore year in college. She told me about her struggles and not comprehending why she was acting the way that she did, it intrigues

Clinical diagnoses of Bipolar disorder, (BP) and schizophrenia (SCH) symptoms that are related to mental illness have increased dramatically within the last several years, and treatment is becoming more specialized. But, unless you study these disorders, or have some degree in psychology, the basis of your knowledge of these disorders comes from media, movies and newspapers. Mass media is the public’s primary source for information so when they decide to present breaking news about some criminal felon who reportedly suffers from mental disorders such as bi-polar or schizophrenia, that is now the population’s idea of the mental disorder. Ultimately misleading the population’s perception due to one story about a single person. .

To most of my peers, bipolar disorder is synonymous with “mentally retarded,” “messed up,” or “crazy.” To me, however, bipolar disorder represents the unremitting struggle to overcome vicious stereotypes and to deal with the daily challenges that my mind inflicts upon itself. It is a common misconception that bipolar patients are incompetent and incapable of achieving the same caliber of success as those without the disorder. I defy these fallacies and I am proof that a chemical imbalance in the brain does not hinder the ability for a person to succeed. Competency is a consequence of the will to flourish. My illness may make everyday tasks more difficult, but it has not impeded the ability for me to excel in my education and in my life.

The apparent increase in the number of children in today’s society that are diagnosed with mental illness, especially that of bipolar disorder, does not seem to come as much of a surprise to anyone. Yet, why is this? Is the recent over-diagnosis due in part to fault within the definition of what pediatric bipolar disorder actually is? Many believe this to be the case; while others support the notion that bipolar disorder is not over diagnosed and the recent prevalence of the disorder is the result of increased awareness on the part of health professionals along with an increase in the number of children who are more readily succumbing to such a disorder. To admit to an over diagnosis should not be seen as a denial of the disease itself, but rather, the different clinical presentations of the disorder should be seen as an inconsistency among practitioners. This discrepancy results in the acknowledgment of more cases than actually exists; an admission of this over-diagnosis would be seen merely as a flaw within the ability of practitioners to reach a consensus. Such a flaw manifests itself in the over diagnosis of the disorder, which is something that, for the sake of the client as well as the field as a whole, should not be overlooked.

When trying to distinguish between a Bipolar person and an average Joe, one might have difficulty. As the term suggests, this ailment isn’t as easily seen much like the flu, but expressed in a rather peculiar way: behaviorally emotionally, and mentally. Due to this inability to be seen, it’s much harder for doctors to accurately diagnose somebody who is thought to be sick. Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), a book that has been written and approved by the American Psychiatric Association, doctors will record a patient’s symptoms, behaviorally and emotionally, and see where he or she lands on the spectrum (Sutton 7

Bipolar disorder is a much more serious disease than I had ever thought. Until recently, I just thought it was not being able to make up ones mind about which emotion to portray. Frequently, I used the term to describe people that I perceived as being temperamental or unstable. During my shift on the medical floor for work, I came in contact with my first true bipolar patient. When I first introduced myself to her, she was friendly and what I thought was a ‘normal’ patient. Small talk was made about where I am from, where I attend college, how long I have worked here, if I have a boyfriend, and

This experience has helped me a lot as a dental hygiene student. I learned a lot about this patient and his condition. In the future, I plan to educate my patients about the caries process to prevent anything like this to happen. Seeing my patient suffer like this at such a young age helped me understand the importance of oral hygiene care. Overall, this clinical experience stands out as significant because I learned a lot from this