Bipolar

Like so many other mental health disorders , bipolar is one that is often mentioned online. It is also followed by extremely inaccurate , misleading, or just wrong statements. The reality of the bullshit that is social media is that people are looking for likes and followers in the hopes of generating money, fame, or, in some cases, more sinister motives. The spread of misinformation and disinformation is a common occurrence, and while I have like 4 followers who sometimes read my posts, I feel that I can at least help my juju knowing I put out something factual.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is lifelong. It is a fairly common diagnosis and can be genetic. There are different types of bipolor disorder ; Bipolar 1, Biopolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar disorder causes dramatic shifts in someone’s mood, energy, and ability to think clearly. The average age of onset is around 25 , but it can occur in adolescence and sometimes in childhood.

Symptoms and their severity can vary , and a person can experience a distinnct manic or depressed state, but they can also experience an extended period of time without any symptoms. They can also experience both extremes simultaneously or in rapid succession. Severe episodes can include symptoms such as halucinations or deusions, and when this happens, people can be misdiagnosed with schizphrenia.

To be diagnosed, one must experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania (a milder form of mania that doesn’t include psychotic episodes). Moods can rapidly switch and become more unpredictable where behaviors are problematic and judgments are impaired. Marked by impulsivity, recklessness, and unusual risks. People are also unaware of the negative consequences of their action while in a manic state. Learning from prior episodes and what kinds of behavior signal red flags of manic behavior can be a valuable tool to manage the disorder.

Depression marks  another significant symptom of the disorder. The depresive state of the disorder is so debiliting that people can’t get out of bed and can include chages in sleep, appetite,  overwhelming feelings of loss, failure ,guilt, or hopelessness. These intense low’s can increase the risk of suicide attempts, with roughly 60% of people with bipolaattemptingng suicide and 19% successfully completing suicide.

The most significant difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is the severity and duration of manic episodes. Bipolar I involves more severe manic episodes that can last days or even weeks and bipolar II having lesseverere hypomanic episodes that last or a shorter duration.

Lastly, while mood swings that shift through manic episodes and depresive episodes are the most common symptoms other symptoms include delusions, lack of concentration,slowness in activities, delusions of grandure or false belief in superiority, paranoia , changes in sleep, weight fluctuations,  fatigue or restlessness, and rapid or freenzied speech.

It’s also important to remember that teatments consist of medication ,therapy, and suporive care. While there may be fluctuations and changes to what and how these treatments  are managed, treatment is lifelong, and going off medication is a common and dangerous scenario.

…until next week