Bipolar Disorder
Depression's Unpredictable Little Sister.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
This is the best way I can explain bipolar from a metaphorical standpoint.
From a medical standpoint it is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes periods of mania, i.e. extreme, unnatural happiness, anger, anxiety, etc., followed by long periods of depression. During 'manic episodes', the person will be extremely, uncomfortably happy, spend excessively, and may even need to be hospitalized because of their uncontrollability. Depressive episodes consist of lack of emotion, crying for no real reason, and suicidal thoughts or actions. There may or may not be periods in between when the person is completely normal-acting. There are many types, and everyone's case is different. Some people cycle through their moods faster than others, for others it can take weeks or months to cycle through their moods. Finding out what the person is feeling, really, is difficult sometimes, even for that person.
Bipolar, like most diseases, is treatable.
Not curable, but the symptoms can be lessened by medications and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The medication groups usually given by psychiatrists to bipolar patients are antipsychotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, benzodiazapines, lithium, and symbyax, depending on the symptoms of the specific patient. It can take months and sometimes years to get diagnosed once a patient starts showing symptoms, sometimes, unfortunately, it is not caught soon enough and only gets diagnosed once the patient has a manic episode so severe they must be hospitalized or the patient becomes so depressed they make a suicide attempt.
Statistics
more than 2/3rds of all people diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a relative with the disorder or major unipolar depression.
Bipolar disorder shaves on average 9.2 years off a persons lifespan, as, unfortunately, 1 in 5 patients with bipolar disorder complete suicide.
About 20% with adolescents with unipolar depression develop bipolar depression within about 5 years of the onset of depression.
Patients who report they're very satisfied with their care and care provider tend to have a more positive outlook on their illness, and as a result are able to cope with it better.
Not all bipolar people are violent or unstable, some are, but most aren't. Some bipolar people experience their manic symptoms more, some people experience their depressive symptoms more. Every case is different.
If you think you may have bipolar or are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should talk to one of the counselors. They can most likely refer you to a person that can get you the help you need.
Famous People With Bipolar Disorder
Raising Awareness, Debunking Myths and Ending Stigma
Some people think that people are "faking" being mentally ill or that they're being "over-dramatic". This is often not the case, and believe me, these people don't like being mentally ill and if they had the chance to get some magical surgery to get rid of their ailment they would. These people are usually the same people that think that medications can fix everything. It's not like that. Medications lessen the blow, kind of like a meat tenderizer to the face rather than an anvil. Bipolar patients on medication may still have manic and depressive episodes, they'll just be less frequent and less intense.
World Bipolar day is March 30th, on the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed as having bipolar. Awareness days are very important, especially for mental disorders, because a lot of people don't know a lot about/have misconceptions of certain diseases. It helps to raise money for research on diseases as well, which can be very useful. People don't want their illnesses, usually, and it would probably be great for them if something that was usually chronic, like bipolar, to be fixed with a surgery or a few therapy treatments.
Why Green?
Rachael Elizabeth Midcap
When I'm not whining about being sick I'm usually doodling or making some sort of art. Drawing is a safe space for me, somewhere I can go when I feel terrible about myself. I find that creative outlets for my emotions are best, it's not in my nature to be a destroyer and making something like art just comes naturally to me. I've decided to make my art a career and plan to become a character concept artist or a graphic novelist.
Email: rmidcap16@petk12.org
Website: elliecanart.tumblr.com