Free Bipolar I Disorder Essay Example

Q2: What do you think would be a most difficult psychological disorder with which to cope?

I believe that bipolar I disorder would be among the most difficult to cope with, because of the fluctuating nature of the disorder. It would not be possible to accustom one’s self to one’s condition because it would consistently be changing. The variation between depression, mania, and mixed episodes would make it difficult to find an even level on which to operate. In addition, the significantly high incidents of relapse, even with treatment, would make this disorder incredibly difficult to live with (Gitlin, Swendsen, Heller, & Hammen, 1995).

Q3: What would be effective treatment for this condition?

Q4: If you were dealing with this life problem, what would you need from society?
Coping with this disorder would require significant accommodation from society, specifically related to employment. Some individuals with bipolar I disorder, especially if it is poorly controlled, are not able to work at all. They require full societal support in regards to income, housing, and so on. However, individuals with well-controlled bipolar I also require societal support. Specifically, they require understanding when it comes to work attendance and mood. It is likely that a bipolar individual will require days or times off work to meet with doctors, therapist, and psychiatrists. They would require specific understanding that they might need more time from their job than a healthy employee. In some ways, it might be seen as similar to a chronically ill employee with a physical illness—they will not always be able to perform the physical duties of their job, and require appropriate accommodation. In addition, simpler accommodations are required. For example, an individual on lithium requires ready access to water, to counteract the side effects of the lithium. (Johnson, Winett, Meyer, Greenhouse & Miller, 1999)Q5: What would you need from those close to you?
If personally suffering from this disorder, I would require support specifically related to medication. It is difficult for an individual to accept they will be on medication for their entire life, and I would require my friends and relatives to reassure me that this was not only not a problem, but not a flaw in me. I would appreciate understanding related to remaining on medication, and support in continuing to take it, even when I acted as though I did not need it. In addition, I would expect a family member or romantic partner to be comfortable reminding me to take my medication and/or go to my appointments. That kind of support, which is both material and tangible, is vital to an individual suffering from such a destabilizing illness as bipolar disorder. (Johnson, Winett, Meyer, Greenhouse & Miller, 1999)

Sources Cited:

Gitlin, M. Swendsen, J. Heller, T. Hammen, C. (1995). Relapse and imparirment in bipolar disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 152(11), 1635-1640
Johnson, S. Winett, C. Meyer, B. Greenhouse, W. Miller, I. Social support and the course of bipolar disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108(4), 558-566.
 
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (2006). Bipolar Disorder: The Management of Bipolar Disorder in Adults, Children and Adolescents, in Primary and Secondary Care. NICE Clinical Guidelines, 38.