Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often considered a hereditary disease. According to the National

Mental Health Association (2001) a specific genetic link to bipolar disorder has not been found.

Studies show that 80 to 90 percent of those who suffer from bipolar disorder have relatives with

some form of depression (NIMH, 2001). Bipolar disorder is a mental illness involving one or

more episodes of serious mania and depression which causes individuals to feel an euphoric type

high or feeling really low. Over 2.5 million people in America have bipolar disorder. This

disorder usually occurs during adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life.

Although, young children can be diagnosed with manic depression as well. Bipolar disorder also

shows symptoms by being very irritable and having destructive tantrums throughout the day.

Sommers (2000), wrote that teenage guys and girls are equally likely to experience manic

depression, but it is often more apparent in girls ( p.15 ). This is because guys do not like

admitting to being depressed because it makes them look weak and have no control, so they tend

to hold back their feelings which will only make their life more difficult. In contrast girls are

more prone to talk about their feelings than guys are. Diagnosing individuals with bipolar

disorder is very difficult due to the fact that many people deny that anything is wrong because he

or she likes the feeling of being in high mood. Another reason diagnosing is difficult is because

the problem may be related to some other type of illness or accompanied with a coexisting

problem like substance abuse, poor performance in schoolwork and jobs.

Bipolar disorder ( a.k.a. Manic Depressive illness) is a disorder that causes unusual shifts

in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function ( National Institute of Mental Health

[NIMH], 2001 ). This disorder consist of severe episodes of highs and lows that individuals go

through. These highs and lows have a much greater impact on an individuals life than the normal

highs and lows people go through everyday. These episodes can lead to unwanted behaviors,

depression, anxiety and can lead to suicide if not treated. There are four categories in which

bipolar disorder is classified according to symp...

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...s through medications. There are several different types of

medications on the market today used for treating bipolar patients but the oldest one that has

shown a significant decrease of episodes is known as lithium. Lithium is a natural and standard

mood stabilizer that has been extremely beneficial in treating bipolar patients. Also, many BD

patients will also be prescribed to some type of antidepressants like, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil.

Sleeping aids are sometimes prescribed for short term therapy for patients dealing with insomnia.

Most common prescribed sleeping aids are xanax, topamx. A combination of these medication

has shown to be effective, but reported patients having hard-take side effects. Taking a

combination of anti-psychotics, sleeping aids, thyroid supplements, and benzodiazepine is

sometimes called med cocktails. Patients taking medications are also advised to seek professional

help from psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or some type of mental health professional.

This is an essential part of treating people with bipolar disorder who want to keep this disease in

control and not it controlling ones life.