Bipolar Misconceptions

“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.

This source gives the readers an in-depth overview of Bipolar Disorder and the causes of having the mental health issue. There’s a great distinction between the ups and downs people experience and bipolar disorder. Due to the ups and downs teens and children experience, bipolar disorder is hard to diagnose during those early years. The National Center of Biotechnology Information’s research program is run by Senior Investigators, Tenure Track Investigators, Staff Scientists, and Postdoctoral Fellows which makes the source credible. The source contained

Bipolar disorder is not an easy illness to detect. The patient might suffer for years before he or she is diagnosed and treated. Bipolar disorder can have a lot of results, some of these could end up with damaged relationships, poor jobs or school performance, and even suicide. Although this long- term illness can cause a lot of problems in patients, treating it correctly can lead the patient to have a full and productive life.

People with bipolar disorder face a suicide rate that is around three times as high as the general population (Oral, 2014) due to factors that their disorder present. These contributing factors include, but are not limited to: “early age at disease onset, the high number of depressive episodes, comorbid alcohol abuse, a history of antidepressant-induced mania, and traits of hostility and impulsivity” (Sobel, 2012). People may feel a loss of control in their life or illness because of these factors or vice versa. Around 10-20% of people with bipolar disorder commit suicide (Dinan, 2002), which makes the illness

My family and friends tried to understand. I know that most of them hated to be around me. Who wants to be around someone that is always down? I couldn’t tell them why and they needed a reason. They would invite me out in an attempt to cheer me up. I either didn’t want to go or I’d agree and back out at the last minute. It is difficult for people to understand that bipolar is a disease. My body doesn’t produce seratonin. Seratonin aids the body in sleep and keeps Mary a “happy, normal person.” It is like being a diabetic. Diabetics need insulin. It is a chemical imbalance. My body needs seratonin. It, too, is a chemical imbalance. All most people see is depression and to most you should just be able to “snap out of it”. They think you are having a pity party. I suffered all of the classic symptoms:

There are two main types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I and Bipolar II. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Bipolar I Disorder is “defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least two weeks.” What is Bipolar?) Because the manic and depressive episodes last for such an extensive period of time, Bipolar I is the most severe. In this type of bipolar, there has

In the world of mental health disorders, one of the most common is Bipolar Disorder. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Bipolar Disorder affects as much as 2.6% of the adult population. The effects of Bipolar Disorder can range from mild (having little impact on the patient’s day to day life) to severe (making the patient’s life debilitating and nonfunctioning). Bipolar Disorder also has a devastating effect on the patient’s friends and family. Bipolar Disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders, however, with proper treatment; the sufferer can go on to live a normal and useful life.

Bipolar disorder is a deep rooted sickness. Scenes of lunacy and depression in the long run can happen again in the event that you don 't get treatment. Numerous individuals infrequently keep on having manifestations, even in the wake of getting treatment for their bipolar issue. Some types of bipolar issue are: Bipolar I disorder involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression. Bipolar II issue is a milder type of state of mind height, including milder scenes of hypomania that other with times of extreme dejection. Cyclothymic turmoil portrays times of hypomania with brief times of gloom that are not as broad or durable as found in full depressive scenes. Other Problem is feeding and eating disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate behaviors such as self-induced vomiting to avoid weight gain. Dissociative disorders are conditions that include interruptions or breakdowns of memory, mindfulness, personality, or observation. Individuals with dissociative issue use separation, a safeguard component, pathologically and automatically. Dissociative disorders are thought to fundamentally be brought on by mental injury

One percent of American’s suffer with bipolar disorder but, unless you know someone who has the disorder or have it yourself you probably cannot define the disorder. Bipolar disorder is defined as a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily tasks by the National Institute of Mental Health. Or that is what the current definition for bipolar disorder is. Alan C. Swann in his article What is Bipolar Disorder says that we are far from a rigorous definition of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is currently still being figured out, so therefore no concrete definition can be made. He also specifically states that bipolar is not to be confused with depression or mania, it is an illness just like the flu or diabetes. Many people think that just because you are bipolar that you are constantly having an episode. Being bipolar does not mean you are constantly moody or having “highs” or “lows”; bipolar people have normal days as well. There are different types of bipolar disorder; Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS), and Cyclothmic Disorder or Clyclothmia. Symptoms of Bipolar I include: Manic episodes that can last up to seven days, and if the symptoms persist longer than seven days you can end up hospitalized. Symptoms of Bipolar II include: depressive episodes but no full blown manic episodes. Symptoms of BP-NOS include: you have symptoms of bipolar disorder, but none of them

In 2012, I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and since then have tried a variety of different medications and treatments to find a way to stabilize my moods. Recently, with the help of Lithium I have felt better and definitely more stable but far from cured and I am still always weary of having an episode. One of the hardest parts of living with bipolar disorder does not even have to do with its effects; it has to do with not knowing what causes myself and many other people around the world to feel this way and every new piece research that comes out brings us one step closer to figuring it out.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2015), bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that may cause random shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and their ability to perform everyday tasks. There are different types of bipolar episodes; the high, euphoric episodes are known as mania, and the low, miserable episodes are known as depression. The median age, of those who are affected by this illness, is 25 years old. Although, it can start in early childhood, or as late as 50 years old. This mental illness does not discriminate against race, ethnicity, social standing, or age; it can affect anyone. Bipolar disorder affects roughly 5.7 million Americans above the age of eighteen; that is approximately 2.6 of the United States population (The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).

In general, having Bipolar Disorder is like living at your best and you are worst and having no control over it. People may refer to bipolar are manic depressive disorder, this is due to for the individuals having periods of mania, and periods of depression. Bipolar is derived from having two moods, hence mania and depression. Mania is a period of energy, individuals will feel energized, on top of the world and may even experience sleep deprivation. Sometime later, the energy goes away, and depression will set it. Depression is where the individual will be at their lowest, become suicidal and struggle to be productive in various places such as school, work, relationships, and carry out every day activities (Roberts). I have chosen to pick this topic because 2 out of 5 people in my household family have bipolar, and now I, myself am starting to show signs of having bipolar disorder. Living with someone who has bipolar that isn’t managed is very difficult and scary. My sister, who is the person behind me picking this disorder has struggled all her life since 7th grade, so 16 years later, she is still struggling to be manageable and not have as severe ups and downs. I also know people, more than just my house family, who have bipolar and I can even see how difficult it can be. I work at an assisted living place, and absolutely love it. I love to help people. We have a resident who is in their mid-60’s and the only reason he is living there, is due to his bipolar. He still has

I have bipolar. Everyday I have things to overcome. It's hard. I'm not complaining, "people have it worse", "you're an upper middle class white kid" "you have everything why are you complaining?". People say these things and it's hard to not snap at them yell, "I know! I'm trying, my brain is fucked up ok!" I can't help it sometimes. You have to put yourself first, I don't care what they say! I don't care what you say! People will always be assholes, you can't help it. You can't let them tell you what's wrong with you, you can't tell yourself things are wrong with you. How did I conquer my inner monologue, I didn't, I'm still battling. I don't know if I'll win, I don't know if my battle will be never ending. One thing I do know is I'll fucking

I began to suspect that I was suffering from Bipolar. I had seen my mother struggle through it for years. And her mother. I deduced that it was possible that I inherited it from her. But then again, mental health issues are a bunch of euphemisms for the weak individuals to blame their failures on. At least, this is what I believed back then. I could deal with my issues without any help.

One experience that has had a dramatic effect on me was when my grandfather had his stroke. This had a dramatic change in my life in many ways and my life will never be the same because of it. Not only has it taught me to take care of myself, but it has always taught me to not take anything for granted, especially time we get to spend with our family.