Transcript
Bipolar DisorderMary Lou Guenther
The Mood Swings
• Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of depression and mania
• Usually, victims experience much more of the depression rather than manic highs
• Over 8 million Americans are affected by this mental illness
Mania
• State of elevated or irritable mood • Literally translated to “madness, frenzy”• Two different sides: hypomania and full blown
mania which can involve hallucinations and delusions
Characteristics of Mania
• Rapid speech• Racing thoughts• Decreased need for sleep• Euphoria • Impulsiveness• Hypersexuality• Racing thoughts
Characteristics Cont…
• Restlessness• Distractibility• Tendency to make
grand and unattainable plans
• Poor judgment• Reckless behaviors
(alcohol, drugs, spending sprees, etc.)
Euphoria• Medically recognized
as a mental or emotional state of well being
• Euphoria is an affect; It is exaggerated and not usually achieved during the normal course of human experience
Risks
• When in a manic episode people will take risks which are uncharacteristic and rash:
-- running up credit card debt-- gambling-- casual sex with strangers-- talking too much to strangers -- impulsive life-altering decisions
Characteristics of Depression• Extremely sad• Hopeless• Thoughts of
suicide• Loss of interest
in activities that were once enjoyable
• Restless or irritable
• Change in eating, sleeping, or other habits
Characteristics cont…• Alterations
in sleep patterns
• Feeling worried or empty
• Feeling tired
• Have problems concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
Thoughts of suicide
• Life is not worth living• Making plans – giving away valuables, saying
goodbye• “If you are actively suicidal, in crisis, call 911
immediately. Your life is worth saving and you are here for a reason. You are a precious, wonderful, and beautiful human being. It is ok that you may not know that now. It is none the less true.” – Mental Health Today
Worthlessness
• Feelings of self loathing and unimportance• Leads to suicidal thoughts and excessively low
self esteem
Facts about Bipolar Disorder
• Effects 1-3% of the population• If untreated, the suicide rate is at 20%• In every generation since WWII there has
been a higher incidence and earlier onset of bipolar depression
• Men, women, and all ethnicities are equally likely to get bipolar disorder
Famous People with Bipolar Disorder
• Jim Carrey• Robert
Downey Jr.• Ben Stiller• Robin
Williams• Beethoven• Van Gogh• Tim Burton• Jimi Henrix
Famous People cont..
• Sylvia Plath• Winston
Churchill• Theodore
Roosevelt• Edgar Allen Poe• Mark Twain• Abraham
Lincoln
Results
Thoughts of death, suicide
Unwanted consequences for rash decisions
Substance abuseHigher risks for heart
disease, migraines, obesity, and anxiety disorders
Treatment• Psychotherapy, aka
talk therapy• Talk therapy:
- can help you learn about why you have the disorder- Identify triggers- Set goals
Treatment cont…
• Medications are given specifically given to each patient
• Usually anti-depressants• Paired with therapy, medications can prevent
negative side effects of bipolar disorder
Lifestyle Changes
• Get regular sleep• Eat regular meals• Exercise regularly• Stay with your treatment
Light at the end of the tunnel
• http://www.facingbipolar.com/bipolar-mania.aspx
• http://www.medicinenet.com/bipolar_disorder/page2.htm
• http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous_people.htm
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