Symptoms Center On Intensified Mood Changes And General Mood Abnormalities

Walking down the street, everyone seems to go about their business, not taking the time to look at others around them and see the potential suffering that could be occurring. While reading Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, it became clear how frightful it is to travel through life with Bipolar disorder. Kay began as a child growing up within a household of mental illness without knowledge until she was much older. Yet at the age of fifteen she did know that her sister had an “enormous artistic imagination and soul” (Jamison 15). This included having raging anger at different times co-occurring with her father's increased negative behavior of depression, rage and drinking after he retired and they moved. In California, Kay had to recreate

Jamison attends a medical conference and a presentation is made about the discovery of watery deposits in the brain tissue of manic-depressives, which interests her. Jamison begins to ponder her previous qualms about discussing her illness. She focus’ on the issues concerning her own embarrassment, cruelty from her colleagues and friends, and protecting her own family members. Jamison is grateful for a more balanced life. She is aware of the danger that the slightest mania may turn into wild insanity that can lead to death.

It is impossible not to enjoy An Unquiet Mind based on how it explores the topics that people suffering from bipolar disorder tend not to touch. That is, Jamison employs the writing to tell people about her life as a victim of a mental health condition that is characterized by stigma everywhere. In depicting such an account, the author explores the actual nature of the disease, how it affects its victims, and how victims can fight it. Basically, the storyline gives a lifeline to people who suffer from bipolar disorder, and who have lost hope in achieving their dreams in life. The most fulfilling aspect of the reading features the fact that the author is able to identify a problem and at the same time offer a practical solution to the problem from a personal perspective, something that is rare to come by in real life medical practicing. Simply put, it is enjoyable to read Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind.

The symptoms presented by the client are characteristic of Bipolar I disorder with single manic episode. The defining features of this diagnosis are a single manic episode with no history of major depressive episodes. The manic episode is characterized by a distinct and persistent period of abnormal mood that is elevated and expansive that lasts for at least one week. The most prominent features of the manic episode presented by the client include a sense of grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, and an increase in behavior that is goal directed. This manic episode has caused disruption in the client's professional life, and the symptoms are not a result of physiological effects from any

Currently effecting between 2-4% of the overall population and as one of the leading causes of homelessness, suicide, and hospitalization, bipolar disorder is yet, still one of the most perplexing, as well as the most misunderstood mental disorders out there. With this particular disorder, the complexity arises given one’s predisposition, diversity, and non-specific range of hazards for said disorder; thusly, making a cure, or at best, prevention, difficult, if not impossible, if not for appropriate early intervention. Bipolar not only puts a strain on the economic condition of our country, but on the individual, as well as society as a whole; given, its propensity to bring about financial difficulties, employment difficulties, and poor self-esteem and this is simply three examples, out of quite possible a largely finite numeral of disparities realized within the afflicted, as well as the overall populace. Nothing left of what we deem normal will be left untainted, and with limited governmental funding and a lack of knowledge, mankind’s naïve, uncaring nature will only bring about less than desirable responses to treatment, medicinally or otherwise; given, the disorder is far more difficult to treat later in life. With the proximal factors of which occur within one 's own environment, such as acute

Moods are a common part of everyday life. They fluctuate every second of the day. It is normal to be happy, depressed, content, or even excited depending on the events that happen in your day, and how you perceive these events. A mood disorder is recognized when moods become “impairing” and hard to cope with (Parker et al, 2012, p.419). People have extreme swings from extreme happiness to sadness. These moods cannot be controlled, causing them to react inappropriately to events that are happening in their lives. Mood disorders can cause a person to be unstable in certain aspects of their lives, causing a disruption in a person’s daily activities.

            Before researching this topic, I used to think that Bipolar Disorder was a very rare mental illness and in most cases, a misdiagnoses. There are many misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder and mental illness as a whole. Bipolar Disorder has become an epidemic in America and affects nearly everyone in some way. The term Bipolar is increasingly being misused to describe someone having a bad day or being excessively happy. Over the past generation, Bipolar has began to be used as an adjective to describe how people are feeling or acting.  Most of us know someone who either has Bipolar Disorder or someone affected by it. The purpose of this essay is to examine Bipolar Disorder and determine the best way for individuals, along with their loved one’s to manage the disorder. This will hopefully help people understand what a friend or family member is going through and even help an individual struggling with Bipolar Disorder. Better yet, it could inspire others to research and spread ideas to someday cure Bipolar Disorder. Citizens can call upon their elected officials to increase access to mental health services (counseling, therapy, medications) for people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and support the families that are affected.

“When you are mad, mad like this, you don 't know it. Reality is what you see. When what you see shifts, departing from anyone else 's reality, it 's still reality to you” (Hornbacher, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to educate viewers on bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is one of the most serious mood disorders around because of the severe affects it has on a person’s mind, behavior, family and basic daily functioning. “Approximately 5.7 million” Americans have bipolar disorder ("Bipolar Disorder Statistics - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance," 2013). Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive illness that causes shifts in behaviors, mood, and energy which in turn then affect one’s social functioning. The term “ups and downs” is just a glimpse of what someone with bipolar disorder experiences. Basically, people with bipolar disorder experience tsunamis of emotions that bring them down so low they can become suicidal or bring them so high, they can act like the Tasmanian devil from looney tunes (to an extent).

Bipolar Disorder impacts roughly 5.7 million adults in the United States (DBSA, 2000). This illness causes individuals to experience drastic spikes and shifts in their mood. There are stages where people may feel a sense of isolation or hopelessness, which is often referred to as a “depressive episode” (NIMH, 2011). The other peak stage those with bipolar disorder may experience is an

The author of An Unquiet Mind, Kay Jamison, suffers from bipolar disorder a serious mental illness that has made its mark on her. “Manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder is a disorder of mood that involves recurrent episodes of abnormally elevated mood (mania) and depression.” (Burton pg.123 2009). Every case is different but all cases of bipolar have manic episodes followed by depressed states. From the decreased activity of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine in the brain results in depression, increased activity of these monoamine neurotransmitters results in the effect of mania. (Burton 2009). Lithium is a treatment commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Researchers

Bipolar Disorder is a life-impacting condition that is often chronic, creates significant impairment, and is marked by a cycling between depressive and manic episodes. These episodes are manifested by unusual and extreme shifts in mood, energy levels, and behaviors that interfere with executive functioning (Wilkinson, Taylor, & Holt, 2002). Divided into two levels of diagnosis; Bipolar I Disorder is defined by the occurrence of a manic episode that may or may not be accompanied by hypomanic or major depressive episodes (American Psychological Association, 2013). Furthermore, a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder is comprised by a hypomanic episode and a major depressive episode (American Psychological Association, 2013).

Bipolar Disorder, sometimes referred to as a manic-depressive disorder, is best described as an illness that results in drastic and unpredictable mood swings, energy levels and one’s ability to complete daily tasks. Not to be confused with simply being tired or in a bad mood, the symptoms associated with bipolar disorders are drastic, severe and frightening for many. It can easily annihilate relationships, jeopardize careers and in some cases, those with diagnosed bipolar can attempt and succeed in committing suicide. This paper will take a look at how this illness can affect one’s daily life and what that might mean to an outsider looking in.

Emotional states associated with this disorder differ in magnitude and severity when compared to "normal" emotional states. "Happy" and "sad" do not seem to be the

The author, Kay Jamison talks about her life with bipolar I disorder in her book, An Unquiet Mind. Jamison was a Caucasian woman who at the age of forty seven wrote this memoir. Currently she is seventy years old and dealing with her disorder. She spent her life moving around a lot because her father was an air force pilot. She grew up with an older brother who was very caring and an older sister that she bumped heads with. Kay’s father was a really delightful person. His emotions were contagious. Her mother was always helpful and caring for her family no matter how busy she was. Kay’s parents were supporting in all her interests; such as pets, poetry, science, and medicine. When she was fifteen, things took a turn and her family moved to California for her father’s new job as a scientist. Her father began to show worsening signs of depression. Around the age of sixteen, Kay realized that she was having mood swings that were very drastic. In her senior year of high school, she had her first manic depressive attack. She started her undergraduate study at UCLA dealing with her constant depression and manic episodes. As she was studying as an undergraduate, Kay began to take an interest in psychology. She pursued her PhD in psychology at UCLA again studying mood disorders. As a graduate student, she also began working in the psychiatric ward and dealing with marital problems in her first marriage. She was slowly spiraling out of control until she had a terrifying