The Effects Of Bipolar Disorder On Individuals, Families And Society

“Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as manic depression, is defined as a serious mental illness in which common emotions become intensely and often unpredictably magnified. Individuals with bipolar disorder can quickly alternate from extremes of happiness, energy and clarity to sadness, fatigue and confusion. All people with bipolar disorder have manic episodes abnormally elevated or irritable moods that last at least a week and impair functioning. But not all become depressed ” (American Psychological Association, 2015). Bipolar disorder can vary in each individual. The symptoms fluctuate in pattern, severity and rate of recurrence. Some people are more susceptible to either mania or depression, while others change proportionately between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others live through a few throughout their lifetime.

In the United States alone, approximately five point seven million people have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, being considered “the sixth leading cause of disability among middle age group and the ninth leading cause of years lost to death or disability worldwide” (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015). Although equal in both males and females, studies have shown that males are prone to developing bipolar disease earlier in life. On the other hand, females are three times more likely to experience rapid cycling and have more depressive and mixed episodes when compared with males. Average age for onset of bipolar disorder is twenty five years, however, studies have shown that illness can develop at any age, including early childhood (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015). Increased risk factors for both men and women diagnosed with bipolar disorder may include ischemic heart disease, diabetes and COPD, together with influenza and pneumonia. In accordance with Swan & Hamilton (2015), bipolar disorder risk factors are probably caused by genetic factors, unhealthy behaviors and pathophysiologic changes occurring with bipolar patients; also medications used to treat this disorder (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015).

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

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

Bipolar disorder is a highly intermittent illness often beginning in the critical life period of late adolescence and early adulthood. Bipolar disorder can have a major impact on the social, educational and occupational development of individuals. Psychotherapy has been found to treat people with a mental disorder by helping them understand their illness. It teaches people strategies and gives them tools to deal with stress, unhealthy thoughts, and unhealthy behaviors. Psychotherapy helps patients manage their symptoms better and function at their best in everyday life. Sometimes psychotherapy alone may be the best treatment for a person, depending on the illness and its severity. Other times, psychotherapy may need to be combined with medications to get the best outcome or treatment. Therapists will work diligently with individuals and families to devise an appropriate treatment plan. Not always, will it be easy to fine the appropriate treatment or balanced treatment for the patient and family on the first therapy visit. That being said, it can sometimes prolong a recovery or make the patient and family noncompliant. By far, the researchers and healthcare professionals know that the best and most effective treatment for bipolar disorder is early diagnosis and early intervention. So, it takes everyone to work as a team including the patient and family to be successful towards the road to recovery.

“According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2.6 percent of Americans age eighteen or older (5.7 million Americans) have [this] disorder” (Atkins, 2007, p. 4). This statistic of course does not include children or teens, or the millions of other individuals suffering from it but not knowing it has a name. What disorder might this be? It is called bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, and many people to this day still confuse it with “normal” feelings people go through in life. In this report I will be discussing what bipolar disorder is and its

Bipolar and related disorders are lifelong perplexing mental illnesses that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Bipolar illness is a chronic shifting of extreme euphoria (mania) and deep sadness or hopelessness (depressive) episodes, complicated by comorbidities and the potential for poor health outcomes. The occurrence of bipolar disorder (BD) throughout the adult population in the United States is reported to be approximately 5.7 million people each year, with a lifetime prevalence of 3.9 percent. (National Institute of Mental Health)

The journal articles in which my reaction will be based upon are: Definitional Issues in Bipolar Disorder Across the Life Cycle (Youngstrom 2009) and Advancing Research in Early-Onset Bipolar-Barriers and Suggestions (Carlson 2009). These two articles both had in common a specific implication of a particular issue. The main issue that caught my attention is the controversy of a doctors ability to diagnose a child with bipolar disorder. Many years ago diagnosing a child as bipolar was a rare and almost an unseen event. In recent years the number has more then doubled in the amount of children now diagnosed with the disorder. This over diagnosing of children can become dangerous especially when the child is placed on medication that could be harmful across their lifespan.

Varying moods and energy levels have been a part of the human experience throughout history. As time has progressed and these mood changes have been identified as disorders. One example, bipolar disorder is perhaps one of the oldest known diseases. It has grown into one of the most common illnesses that people of every age, culture, and gender must deal with on an everyday basis. In recent times bipolar disorder has become quite prevalent in children and adolescents causing and increased concern and interest in this area.

Bipolar disorder is an illness known for its unique fast transitional mood shifts, usually from manic to depressive. (Moore, P et al., 2014.) This illness holds no prejudice as it can affect anyone at any age, gender or race. (Smith, M 2014) Bipolar disorder is not only dangerous to the patients themselves but could also potentially cause harm to bystanders as well. It is important to get treatment and prevent it from further development. A patient with bipolar disorder cannot differentiate between reality and insanity; they severely lack comprehension of their actions and behaviour as they are unaware of their mood swings. Unable to acknowledge their actions, they are additionally unable to grasp control of their physical, verbal and psychological vivacity.

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 becomes happy soon after, their mood swing is labelled as “bipolar.” When students and faculty at a

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic/depressive disorder once was a disorder that carried a severe societal stigmatism. It now has carries less stigmatism but is a disorder which has become difficult to diagnosis and extremely prevalent in today’s society. Due to the manic characteristic of the disorder it differentiates itself from the typical form of depression. Even though both depression and bipolar disorder can be due to an imbalance in brain chemistry and biology, genetics, or effected by traumatic stressors that happen in daily life, bipolar disorder has definitive treatment which applies solely to this specific disorder. Bipolar Disorder, as noted in the 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, is ranked Internationally as the 18th

Before I truly understood Bipolar disorder, it was still a fairly common word in my vocabulary. Anytime I thought someone was being moody or fluctuating between emotions, I joked by claiming that person to be bipolar. Several incidents of this involved one of my roommates who seemed to be happy one day, and quite the polar opposite the next. However, it was not until my clinical experience on the psychiatric unit that I realized what true bipolar disorder was, and that she did not fit the criteria. Even though I always thought my roommate was bipolar, I quickly found after being exposed to a diagnosed bipolar patient that my roommate was instead just moody. I decided to write this paper on bipolar disorder, not because I have struggle with it or know a friend or family member with this disease, but because I had several misconceptions about what it entailed.

According to The Public Health Agency of Canada (2013), mental illness is described as a modification in an individual’s mood, behaviour, and thinking process which is associated with significant distress and impaired mental function. This paper will aim to discuss the information taken from two home visits and using it to determine its effect on the family as a unit. My single concept that is relevant to the family’s experience is the family’s bond throughout the clients challenge with bipolar disorder (BPD). In this case, the chronic disease known as bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) are known as mood swings that can last up to days, weeks, or even months. They are generally caused by environmental pressures that surround the individual on a daily basis such as family, work, and social environmental pressures, stress, injury, and/or illness (PHAC, 2009). When a family member is effected by any chronic illness, there is a great impact on the other members of the family. Chronic illnesses can have an extremely stressful effect on individuals that are trying to adapt to these changes, which can also shape the families’ way of coping with the situation as well (Dobbie & Mellor, 2008).