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Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders: Bipolar
Recently I did an article on depression, and got some great feedback, which I really appreciate so thanks for that guys! As I got the impression that people enjoyed this piece that I did I have decided to do a piece on Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as manic depression, this is a more specific type of depression.
Bipolar is a mental disorder, which affects your mood, actions, and generally how you function. It is far more extreme than the usual ups and downs that some people experience. The symptoms can sometimes be so severe; they can lead to problems with relationships, schooling and even suicide if it is not treated. So obviously the best thing to do would be to talk to your doctor about treatment as it is treatable.
People with bipolar are just normal everyday people and can lead quite successful; normal lives, if it is treated. About 1% of the adult population gets bipolar every year, which is a pretty large amount. Often people with bipolar dont even realise that they have it, and will simply deny any ideas put forward that they are actually mentally sick. So it is quite hard for them to come to terms with it, as it is far easier to judge what is going on around you rather acknowledge what is actually happening to you.
A lot of the time Bipolar develops is the teenage years, as chemicals and hormones are rapidly swapping and changing. There are some people who have quite severe bipolar and develop early signs in childhood or at the other end of the spectrum when they are older. So as you can see Bipolar affects people from all warps of life.
Here are some basic symptoms of Bipolar:
- More energy, restlessness
- excessive happiness
- easily irritated
- thinking about many things at once, talking to fast
- low concentration
- needs very little sleep
- unrealistic expectations and beliefs in their abilities
- bad judgement
- spending sprees
- a long period of behaviour that is different from the persons usual behaviours or personality
- more sexual drive
- unnecessary use of drugs, alcohol specifically sleeping medications and cocaine
- aggressive or intrusive behaviour
- oblivious and in complete denial of what is going on and their illness
Bipolar disorder, unlike some other mental illnesses cannot be diagnosed through blood tests or brain scans. A diagnosis is based on symptoms and family history. Not being able to be diagnosed with bipolar from a physical examination can be physically and mentally straining, so it is important that people are supportive in any that they can.
Suicide is often an outlet for people with bipolar, as being a depression disorder, they often feel worthless and wish that they were dead. If you know someone who is suicidal please do one of the following things:
- Call a doctor, emergency room or ambulance as they maybe able to talk them out of it
- make sure that the person who is suicidal is not left alone
- make sure that access to all harmful objects or medications is cut off to prevent self harm or suicide
Ways of knowing if someone is suicidal:
- Talking about suicide and wanting to die
- the feeling that nothing will change, get better and worthlessness
- feeling that no one and nothing can make a difference
- Feel as if you are becoming a burden on family6 and friends, and also the feeling of guilt you get from feeling like you are becoming a burden
- The abusive behaviour of alcohol and drugs
- Organising a will, or who will give all your things to after you die
- Writing a suicide letter
- Purposely putting yourself in the way of harm or creating dangerous situations for yourself to be put in
Suicide is something that is often planned and organised in great detail, as the try to make it as quick and painless as possible for themselves. Sometimes suicide attempts fail and the person ends up being injured as a result of it. This can make the person even more emotional sensitive as they wish that they should be dead. So if you are or know someone who is suicidal please seek medical help immediately, as even if in a good circumstance and the attempt is not fatal it can still be harmful probably more emotionally rather than physically.
I hope this article was helpful, in the ways of educating people with and without the disorder as I feel the public is very unaware of depressive disorders, which is quite shocking as many people are diagnosed with it everyday! Please remember only let bipolar be an illness for you, do not let it become you!
Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders
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