My friend Albert has bipolar disorder, so he experiences emotional ups and downs that are sometimes difficult to manage. At first, I had a hard time understanding him, but now I am more patient and understanding of his illness.
I remember when I first met my friend: he was outgoing, funny, and always had a bright smile. We spent a lot of time together and had a thousand adventures. Years later, things changed. Albert became more withdrawn and quiet. He slept all day and didn’t have much appetite, as well as changes in his personality, from a good mood one day to a terrible mood the next. It was then that Albert’s mother confessed to me that her son had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
As the name implies, it involves mood swings between depression and elevation, plus all points in the middle. However, it affects not only mood but also behavior, thinking and sleeping patterns, and feelings. Bipolar disorder in any form requires treatment. Otherwise, the person may be on a path of self-destruction. The suicide rate among bipolar is relatively high.
No one has explicitly identified bipolar disorder, but the most common suggestions are that it has something to do with cells and activity in the brain. U.S. mental health officials estimate well over two million adults have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the past ten years.
The National Institute of Mental Health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Mental Health Association are just a few recognized U.S. organizations that provide information to anyone directly or indirectly affected by bipolar disorder.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.5 million adults, in the United States.
Here are some essential facts about bipolar disorder provided by these organizations that may alleviate some of your concerns and questions surrounding a recent diagnosis.
1 – There is no specific cause for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests many components come into play, all of which modify the chemical balance of brain parts. Several studies on bipolar disorder in families demonstrate a genetic disposition toward the illness. Other factors: traumatic life events, chronic disease, alcoholism, and drug abuse.
2 – The illness has varied symptoms: the most pronounced are dramatic mood swings consisting of euphoria to debilitating episodes of depression and then back to normal moods. During an episode of delight, behaviors include extreme energy, decreased need for sleep, and increased aggression. Depressive episodes cause extreme despair, hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
3 – Women and men are equally affected, as are children and adolescents (although a diagnosis in children and adolescents is more challenging to determine). Those diagnosed with bipolar disorder have at least one family member with the illness. And children of parents with the disease are more likely to develop it themselves.
4 – There are effective treatments with a medication called mood stabilizers. In addition to medication, psychotherapy prescribes as a treatment. Psychotherapy helps people understand their illnesses and develop skills to cope with life events and stressors that can trigger manic and depressive episodes.
5 – Bipolar disorder is not curable. It is lifelong. With a close relationship with a mental health professional, proper diagnosis, and vigilant adherence to medications and prescribed treatment plans, many people with bipolar illness lead productive and rewarding lives.
Some tips: 1. Reduce stress. Mental health professionals believe increased stress can trigger a depressive episode in people with bipolar disorder. Finding time to relax or talk to someone during a stressful event leads to greater calm.
2. A healthy lifestyle. It is crucial to establish routines, such as exercising simultaneously every day, going to bed at the same time every night, and waking up at the same time every morning. Erratic sleep patterns increase the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Maintain a healthy diet.
3. Improve your life. Engage in things that bring feelings of joy, happiness, and accomplishment. Hobbies or activities that bring peace or relaxation serve well in dealing with the confusion of bipolar disorder.
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Bipolar disorder is not a simple illness; it is a complex brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves—also known as manic-depressive illness. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience extreme mood swings, from euphoric highs to depressive lows. Diagnosis is based on mental health evaluations, physical examinations, and laboratory tests.
