The Lived Experience Analysis

In my personal life I have only distantly been affected from a case of bipolar disorder (BD). In high school, a classmate of mine had a mother who suffered from bipolar disorder and we as a class only found out about it when she committed suicide. I never really understood bipolar disorder before then, and afterwards I only understood it as the mother being very confused and constantly unhappy. In my undergraduate years and now in my beginning graduate career, I am solidifying my understanding of bipolar disorder. I think that by the accounts in the articles from Inder et al (2008) and Rusner et al (2009), as well as the videos “Sweethearts” and “Rapid Cycling” it is difficult even for those with bipolar disorder to fully understand their own condition.

Bipolar disorder also known as manic depression has always been a mystery since the 16th century. History has shown that it can appear in almost everyone. Bipolar disorder causes mood swings in energy, thinking, and other behavior. Having a bipolar disorder can be very disabling (Kapczinski). A study was evaluated and about 1.3% of the U.S population of people suffers from bipolar disorder. Stressors and environmental influences can trigger and cause a person to go through numerous episodes. Bipolar disorder is characterized according to the severity of the stages. According to Kapczinski, there are four different stages that a person with bipolar disorder can experience. The prognosis of a disorder is different in each particular patient

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive lifelong illness in the brain that causes shifts in mood, energy, activity, and the ability to carry out normal tasks, but efficient treatment helps people to manage these complications and normalize their daily lives. This illness is a very serious mental disease affecting about 2.6 percent of adults in the United States that has the power to cause risky behavior and even suicidal tendencies if not treated (www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml). It is more common in older teens and young adults, but it affects children as young as six years old. It affects men and women, all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes equally but women experience more periods of depression than

In this book the author discusses her own dealings with Bipolar Disorder. She goes on to say how it has affected her and the sufferings she has faced over the years. She talks about bipolar disorder at its most earliest stage in life and into the adult aspects in life. Just like the author Jeanetter Plunkett, she also talks about the effects of bipolar disorder on family members and friends, which also supports my thesis statement.

The other side of bipolar is being depressed. A nineteenth century psychiatrist, Emil Kraepelin summarized what the depressive side of bipolar is. “The patients heart is heavy, nothing can permanently rouse his interest, nothing gives him pleasure. He has no longer any humour or any religious feeling- he is unsatisfied with himself, has become indifferent to his relatives and to whatever he formerly liked best. Gloomy thoughts arise, his past and even his future appear to him in a uniformly dim light”. (Emil Kraepelin) Feeling guilty, worthless and helpless is very common with this disorder. In worst cases some patients have suicidal thoughts on a consistent basis. About 25% of patients attempt suicide and 10% succeed their attempt of suicide. As for others, they don 't have the ability to enjoy life. Some female patients lose the feeling of beauty. Their appetite changes, they either eat more or they eat less. Therefore they will either gain a lot of weight or they will lose weight. Their physical changes they see can affect their emotions negatively. Constant aches and pains are caused by chronic depression, allthough this tends to happen earlier in the disease.

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic- depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes out of the ordinary shifts in a person’s mood, energy and having the ability to do everyday tasks. Bipolar affects millions of people every year (1 % of population) per year. This particular type of disorder does not only affect one particular person, it also affects the people around them (family, friends). Bipolar disorder was discovered in 1875 by a man of the name of Jules Falret and was able to establish a link between depression, suicide and somewhat moods which were filled with joy, excitement and happiness . As the disorder was discovered he was able to determine that there was a link within families which meant that this disorder was a genetic link. Bipolar throughout time has struggled in the early ages as people did not believe that it was a legitimate illness as two moods seemed impossible for that period of time and it almost seemed fake. In the 1980’s the term “bipolar” replaced the term manic- depressive disorder as a diagnostic term. Since the discovery of Bipolar disorder researchers, doctors and Psychologists have come a long way in fully understanding the different types of moods that an individual can achieve and how they can be diagnosed. Bipolar once was confused with now known as other mental disorders such as unipolar depression ( ‘depression without mania is sometimes referred to as unipolar because the mood remains at one emotional state or

Bipolar disorder, previously manic depressive disorder, is a disorder that has a myriad common misconceptions surrounding it within the general public. Unless one has taken the time to research what Bipolar Disorder is/entails or is suffering from the disorder itself, knowledge about the disorder typically comes from hearsay. Before reading Kay Redfield Jamison 's novel, most of what I knew or had learned about Bipolar Disorder was from other individuals. I knew it was some form of disorder but the details eluded me. Many times you will hear teenagers say things like "Oh, she is so bipolar" when a friend shifts from happy one minute to mad the next or "The weather is so bipolar" when it shifts from sunny to raining rapidly. From this, I assumed that Bipolar Disorder had something to do with a rapid shift in moods. However, other than looking up on one occasion whether Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depressive Disorder are the same thing, I did not pay much more attention to what Bipolar Disorder was or what those suffering from the disorder dealt with on a daily basis. It was not until I came to college where we briefly covered the disorder in classes, like intro, and read Jamison 's memoir for another course that I really began to understand what Bipolar Disorder is and how it affects those who suffer from it.

Bipolar disorder is a disorder of the brain and is also called manic-depressive illness. Due to this disorder, the affected individual experiences abnormal mood shifts, unusual levels of energy and activities and atypical ability to perform tasks of daily life. As far as symptoms of bipolar disorder are concerned, they are rather severe in nature. They are not like the usual ups and downs experienced by people once in a while. Bipolar disorder has been found to cause serious damage to relationships, poor performance (academically or professionally. It can even cause patients to attempt suicidal actions. However, the good thing is that there is treatment available for bipolar disorder. For this reason, a number of people have been able to lead contented and productive lives after receiving the appropriate medications and treatment. The development of bipolar disorder often takes place during late adolescent or early adult years. The facts and figures reveal that a majority of people experience the symptoms of bipolar disorder before reaching the age of twenty-five ("Bipolar Disorder").

Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that interrupts people 's everyday life, with having different symptoms, but there are treatments to help those people too. In the article ‘Bipolar Disorder’ from the National Institute of Mental Health it states, “Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.” Bipolar Disorder can change somebody’s tasks during the day from certain event that can happen. People with Bipolar Disorder can feel like they have enough

When you think of someone with bipolar disorder or depression you automatically think of someone who is crazy. A lot of very successful people life day to day with this disorder.At the age of 22 ,Demi Lovato, started rehab for her bipolar disorder. Demi got to the point where she would cut herself along with getting addicted to drugs. Demi once said, "It 's possible to live well, fell well, and also find happiness with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness they 're struggling with."

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a life long and potentially fatal illness caused by mood swings of depressive and manic episodes. Bipolar disorder, if not properly treated, could interfere with relationships, a career or school performance, and is the cause in every 1 of 5 suicide deaths. Physicians, as well as the patients, are not seriously acknowledging the severity of this illness. Patients are being misdiagnosed and commonly treated without the recognition of their individuality. Treatment should be based on what works best and better suits the

We all have highs and lows when it comes to our moods. It can vary to last for a couple minutes or a couple hours, but some struggle with their moods constantly changing for long periods of time. Bipolar disorder has two moods, the manic phase, and the depressive phase. It is a brain disorder where you never know which one is going to show up for and other people will deal with for the day, or maybe even weeks. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition that can be harmful to the person who is dealing with the brain disorder but as well as, those people who are involved in the person’s life.

A person's family history and genetics (diathesis) often play an important role in the greater likelihood of someone having bipolar disorder in their lifetime (Mental Help Net, 2004). Increased stress and inadequate coping mechanisms to deal with that stress may also contribute to the disorder's manifestation. Bipolar disorder is most often experienced as a swing between a manic and a depressed mood, which may often be related to increased stress or other event in a person's normal life (Mental Help Net, 2004). Nearly anything can trigger a person to shift in mood, and sometimes there is no obvious trigger at all. Often, the first manic episode is triggered because of some external stressor the person has experienced.

The change in mood that comes with bipolar disorder can harshly interrupt the patient's life. For instance , depression can make the patients unable to get out of their bed or even to enjoy their normal life and mania can affect a person so he/she cannot sleep for days

There is one thing that we could do good to learn in our own life. What I am talking about is the fact that life experiences change us and make us think, act, and feel differently than before.What you might be thinking is that there is no way we can be changed by a "life experience". Well I have two little examples from some good books of mine that will change your mind about that.