Bipolar Disorder: The Roller Coaster Ride From Hell

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Bipolar Disorder: The Roller Coaster Ride From Hell Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is often misdiagnosed, left untreated and misunderstood by the patient, family and friends. Its treatment varies among the different types of the disorder. The forms of Bipolar are characterized by symptoms of the patient and the symptoms are treated according to the patient’s needs. However, many symptoms are often misdiagnosed and untreated. This mistreatment or lack of treatment can lead to devastating results. However, proper treatment and support allows the patient to lead a fuller, more productive life. There are four main forms of bipolar disorder. The first form is Bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I is characterized by its episodes of mania (Fink 26). The second form is Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II has some element of major depression mixed with an episode of hypomania (Fink 27). Often referred to as “Bipolar lite,” the third form is called Cyclothymic Disorder (Fink 27). It is referred to as Bipolar Lite because its symptoms are not as major as the other forms of Bipolar. The final form of Bipolar disorder is Bipolar NOS. Patients diagnosed with this form of Bipolar disorder have symptoms that do not fall into any other category of Bipolar disorder, hence the name Bipolar NOS, meaning Bipolar Not Otherwise Specified (Fink 28). The characteristics of Bipolar Disorder are major depression, mania, hypomania, and mixed mania (Fink 29). Burgess explains why it is called Bi-polar, “Bipolar refers to the two psychological states of mania and depression that are associated with the illness” (Burgess 1). According to the Merriam Webster’s dictionary, depression is defined as “a state of feeling sad or a psychoneurotic or psychotic disor... ... middle of paper ... ... Bipolar Support Alliance conducted a research study that indicated more than 2.5 million people suffer from Bipolar, also known as Manic Depression (Fawcett 3). The many faces of this illness is treated and stabilized with various types of medication and therapy. Furthermore, the family of the patient most likely will benefit from seeking therapy in their effort to help the patient with stabilization and living with this illness. All involved in the patient’s life is valuable in this process. Strategies for recovery include medication, visits with psychiatrists and other medical providers as needed, psychotherapy and support from family. These strategies can help people live with this illness affectively. No matter the type, Bipolar is a sickness and should be looked at and treated as such. People are much more than their illness and should be treated accordingly.

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