Useful Information about Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a major mental illness that affects many people. It has also been called "manic depression."
About one person in every one hundred people (1%) develops the disorder at some time in his or her life. It occurs in every country, every culture, every racial group and at every income level. Bipolar disorder causes symptoms that can interfere with many aspects of people's lives. Some of the symptoms cause severe mood swings, from the highest of highs (mania) to the lowest of the lows (depression.) Some of the other symptoms of bipolar disorder can make it difficult to know what's real and what's not real (psychotic symptoms). It is important to know that there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future: - There is effective treatment for bipolar disorder.
- People with bipolar disorder can learn to manage their illness.
- People with bipolar disorder can lead productive lives.
The more you understand about the illness and take an active role in your treatment, the better you will feel and the more you can accomplish toward your life goals. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed based on a clinical interview conducted by a specially trained professional, usually a doctor, but sometimes a nurse, psychologist, social worker or other mental health worker. The interview will usually include questions about any symptoms you have experienced and how you are functioning in different areas of your life, such as relationships and work. There is currently no blood test, X-ray or brain scan that can be used to diagnose bipolar disorder. To make an accurate diagnosis, however, the doctor may also request a physical exam and certain lab tests or blood tests in order to rule out other causes of symptoms, such as a brain tumor or injury. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be found in other mental disorders. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is based on a combination of different symptoms, how long they have been present, and their severity. Symptoms that occur only when a person has used alcohol or drugs are not included. No one has the exact same symptoms or is bothered to the same degree. You may, however, recognize having experienced some of the following symptoms: Extremely high moods are called "mania." People who have had periods of mania have reported the following symptoms: - Feelings of extreme happiness or excitement.
- Feeling irritable.
- Feeling unrealistically self confident.
- Sleeping less.
- Talking a lot.
- Having racing thoughts.
- Being easily distracted.
- Being extremely active.
- Having bad judgment.
Extremely low moods are called "depression." "Depression" is defined as including: - Sad mood.
- Eating too little or too much.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Feeling tired and low energy.
- Feeling helpless, hopeless, worthless.
- Feeling guilty for things that aren't your fault.
- Suicidal thoughts or actions.
- Trouble concentrating and making decisions.
Symptoms that make it hard to know what's real are called "psychotic symptoms." Some people with bipolar disorder have psychotic symptoms. They have described the following experiences: - Hearing, seeing, feeling or smelling something that is not actually there (hallucinations).
- Having very unusual or unrealistic beliefs that are not shared by others in your culture or religion (delusions).
- Confused thinking (thought disorder).
Bipolar disorder is nobody's fault. This means that you did not cause the disorder and neither did your family members or anyone else. Scientists believe that the symptoms of bipolar disorder are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Chemicals called neurotransmitters send messages in the brain. When they are out of balance, they can cause extreme shifts in your mood. This chemical imbalance can also cause the brain to send messages that contain wrong information. Scientists do not know what causes this chemical imbalance, but they believe that whatever causes it happens before birth. This means that people have a "biological vulnerability" to develop bipolar disorder, which then develops at a later age. In addition to biological vulnerability, stress is also believed to play a role in the onset and course of bipolar disorder. Many questions about bipolar disorder remain unanswered. People usually develop bipolar disorders as teenagers or young adults, approximately age 16 to age 30. People can also have their first symptoms when they are in their 40's or 50's. People vary in how often they have symptoms the severity of the symptoms and how much the disorder interferes with their lives. Bipolar disorder affects people in very different ways. Some people have a milder form and only have symptoms a few times in their lives. Other people have a stronger form of the disorder and have several episodes, some of which require hospitalization. Bipolar tends to be episodic, with symptoms varying in intensity over time. When symptoms reappear or get worse, this is usually referred to as a "symptom exacerbation" or an "acute episode" or a "relapse." Some relapses can be managed at home, but other relapses may require hospitalization to protect the person or others. With effective treatment, most people with bipolar disorder can reduce their symptoms and live productive, meaningful lives. Examples of people - famous and every day people - who have bipolar disorder who are leading productive, creative, meaningful lives: - Patti Duke - an American actress who had her own television series and has starred in movies, including "The Miracle Worker." She also has a singing and writing career.
- Robert Boorstin - a special assistant to President Clinton and an author.
- Vincent Van Gogh - one of the most famous painters who ever lived.
- Kay Redfield Jamison - a psychologist, researcher and writer who in 2001, won a MacArthur Fellowship, sometimes referred to as " the genius award."
- Ms. X - an attorney in a large law firm and is active in her church.
- Mr. Y - an elementary school teacher, married and is expecting his first child.
- Mr. Z - actively looking for work, he used to need frequent hospitalizations, but has successfully stayed out of the hospital for three years.
Learning about your illness is a very important step.
Other important steps include: - Learning how to cope with stress
- Building social support
- Developing a relapse prevention plan
- Using medication effectively
- Learning how to cope with symptoms
- Getting your needs met in the mental health system
Information on all of these topics can be found in this Recovery Web site.
This article is adapted from the Illness Management and Recovery Workbook, an Evidence-Based Practice, available on the Substance Abuse, Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, a branch of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. |
