Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

By Stacie M. Shuart

Axia College of University of Phoenix

I. Overview of Bipolar Disorder

1. Types

2. Treatments

II. The high’s and lows of bipolar disorder

A. High Mania

1. Managing mania

2. When mania gets out of control

B. Low Mania

1. Depression

III. Family and Friends

A. How to help someone

1. How to Help

2. How much help is too much?

B. How to help yourself

1. support system

2. Resources

Over two million people in the United States alone suffer from a serious lifetime

condition called bipolar disorder also known as manic depressive and mood disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes shifts in a person’s mood, energy and

ability to function. (Bipolar Help Center) Bipolar disorder is often mistaken for hyperactivity in

children known as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Bipolar disorder can affect

every aspect of the person whom has the disorder life. Bipolar disorder can affect their school,

jobs, and relationships. Bipolar disorder is not only hard for the person whom has the disorder

but also hard for loved one and friends too. With proper treatment and therapy those who have

bipolar disorder can lead a normal life. According to the recent Mental Health Report of the US

Surgeon General bipolar along with unipolar depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-

compulsive disorder as one of the top leading causes disabilities in the United States

today. (University of Michigan Depression Center)

Bipolar disorder is also known as the mood disorder for obvious reasons. A person

diagnosed with bipolar disorder can go weeks even months without a manic episode.

This does not mean they are cured. There is no cure for bipolar disorder. They will have

it for the rest of their life. Mood swings can be very scary and very hard to deal with.

Depending on the type will also depend on the severity that they will have of the

disorder. (WebMD, 2008)

Although only 3% of the population has bipolar disorder, it can be treated.

However, like with most disorders this disorder also carries some heavy consequences if

left untreated. Manic episodes can cause trouble with friends, family, work, and the

police. Feelings of severe depression can cause suicide and self-harming. I caution

those who have bipolar disorder to not stop taking the medication no matter what. The

medication that is taken keeps the moods stable and keeps daily life manageable.

There are many types of bipolar disorder some that are mild and some that are

severe.

1. Bipolar 1 disorder goes from severe episodes of mania to depression.

2. Bipolar 2 disorder has forms of mania that switch to depression.

3. Cyclothymic disorder has milder forms of mania and depression.

4. Mixed bipolar disorder there is a serious mixture of having both hypomania and

depression at depression the same time. Having a volatile mixture of depression, high

energy and anger all at the same time is never a good sign. (Michael Aronson, MD,

Psychiatrist)

5. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder happens when a loved one or friend has hypomania and

depression four or more times during the year, moth, week, or day. Women are more

prone to have more cycling then men do. (WebMD, 2008)

There are different treatments that are used to help people who have bipolar

disorder. Medicine can be used alone but often enough it is used with a combination of

treatments. Doctors will prescribe mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anti-psychotics.

Sometimes they will also prescribe sleeping medication to help insomnia and stop the

racing thoughts. Therapy was another form of treatment. Through therapy they can

learn how to cope and find helpful tips on how to control and learn how try

constructively to deal with depression and anger and all the emotions. The therapist can

set up family therapy and help the family learn to help their loved ones who have been

diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The highs and the lows of bipolar disorder are very noticeable. With bipolar the

moods are severe on both spectrums. They have manic highs and manic lows. With