Understanding And Living With Bipolar Disorder Essay Samples

Bipolar disorder was used to be known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression. It is a psychological disorder where patients experience extreme mood swing from overactive/excited behavior or manic episodes to deep depression. It also affects the person’s mood, energy level, thinking, and behavior (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2009). They sometimes see or hear something that other people do not see (Mind, 2013). Bipolar Disorder is a chronic illness where a person experiences extreme mood swings but can be treated given a proper assessment.
It is most commonly detected during the 20s or 30s of a person but nowadays, the number of children and adolescents diagnosed with the illness are going up. But this is not an easy task because there are only few child and adolescent psychiatrists that have experience in treating bipolar disorder (AACAP, 2009). Sometimes, the illness often left undiagnosed. Mild cases of bipolar disorder are similar with other psychiatric disorder making it hard to distinguish. In other cases, the patterns of the mood swings are inconsistent. Distinguishing high/manic episodes are also difficult as it may also occur to other people such those creative once being taken over by thoughts or those in use of drugs (Black Dog Institute, 2013). In children, most cases can be mistaken as another psychiatric disorder such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), childhood depression, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD).
Some tips from child and adolescent psychiatrists are helpful in identifying whether it is bipolar disorder or not. If the disruptive behaviour appeared after 10 years old and come and go with mood changes and periods of exaggerated elation, depression, no need for sleep, and inappropriate sexual behaviors, it is most likely bipolar disorder rather than ADHD. If the child experiences manic as well as depressive episodes, with depression being severe rather than mild or moderate, suspect bipolar disorder instead of child depression. When disruptive behaviors only occur periodically when the child is in a manic or depressive episode and disappear when the mood improves, but there are hallucinations or delusions, suspect bipolar disorder rather than oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) (AACAP, 2009).
There are different types of bipolar disorder. The first one is Bipolar I, or the classic form of the illness where recurrent episodes of mania and depression are observed. The second one is bipolar II where depression is altered by hypomania or primarily irritable moods. The last type is bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) where patient's manic episode, especially those of children, does not last long making it hard to classify as I or II. Altogether, it is called bipolar spectrum disorder (AACAP, 2009).
Frequency and length of manic or depression episodes depends. To some, it can be very few with the mania lasting between two weeks to four or five months while the depression last for an average of six months or longer but less than a year. In between this period, the patient can still have stable period (Mind, 2013). Worst cases include four or more episodes of hypomania, mania, major depression, or mixed states, all within a year and this is called Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2012).
Bipolar disorder also coexist with other illnesses such as substance abuse, which reason is still unclear, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and physical illnesses such as thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity (NIMH, 2012).
This illness can run in the families which may suggest genetic link, but absolute cause of bipolar disorder is still unknown. Scientists are looking at the possibility that since it can be managed by medication, it can be caused by a problem in the nerves in the brain with the involvement of disturbance in the endocrine system (Mind, 2013). But there are cases wherein it can be triggered by stressful environment and life events, childhood distress and life problems.
Unlike other diseases, bipolar disorder is a condition that will not just go away; it has to be properly addressed in order to be treated. As of the moment, there is no cure for bipolar depression, but it can be treated for a better or more manageable quality of life. Treatment comes in different ways. First on the list is psychotherapy, or talk therapy. Sometimes, this alone works for patients but most of the time, it's a combination of this and medicine. Taking medication is discretion of the patient, but according to most patients, their lives have significantly improved after going through a treatment plan with medication (DBSA, 2007). Some of the drugs given to patients are anticonvulsant drugs for depressive episodes, antipsychotic drugs for treating the mania, and lithium that can come together with the other drugs. All medicines are only sold to licensed patients with the lowest possible dose as it can have a negative side effect if misused (Mind, 1995). While to some, dietary supplement helps, it will still be important to discuss it with your doctor for it may interact with the medication.
Going through this illness is stressful to the both patient and caretakers, but people with bipolar disorder can still have a manageable life with proper medical attention and support from family and friends. Patients tend to seek help when they are depressed but most of the time it is during their manic days that people are worried about them. During the time that they are stable friends and family should discuss to them what they do during their manic episodes and agree to have something done when they have attacks. Some tend to have suicidal tendencies during their depressed moments, thus it’s very important to talk them out of it. They also have to be respected and trusted that they can still manage to have stable conditions. Patients are managers of their own body; they will need as much support that they can get, but the still need to handle themselves and their own life since it’s the goal of their treatment.

References

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2009). Bipolar Disorder: Parents’ Medication Guide for Bipolar Disorder in Children & Adolescents. Web.
Black Dog Institute. (2013). Bipolar Disorder: Self Testing. Web.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. (2007). Introduction to Depression and Bipolar Disorder. Web.
Mind. (1995). Understanding Bipolar Disorder. London: National Association for Mental Health, 2015. Web.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2012). Bipolar Disorder in Adults. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National institutes of Health. Web.