- Bipolar disorder is a state of mind where people’s moods go from one extreme to another.
• Some people experience euphoria in this state because they feel a burst of energy and creativity.
• It is a myth that people with bipolar disorder cannot recover and lead a normal life.
Star Yo Yo Honey Singh recently admitted to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which kept him away from public eye for as long as 18 months. During the course of his treatment, he had to change 4 doctors as he confessed ‘nothing was working’. For a mental disorder as dangerous as this, where even some experts are believed to flounder, it’s important we know the signs and symptoms!
Bipolar disorder, earlier known as manic depression, is a state of mind where people’s moods go from one extreme to another; it is basically an elevated state of mind. People suffering from bipolar disorder would sometimes be over charged and upbeat about everything, talk faster, fidget more and then suddenly slip into a depressive state of mind for hours, unable to retract themselves from the state. A small but significant percentage of such people end their lives. Just like depression, getting a bipolar diagnosis is understandably scary but necessary to get life back on track.
Bipolar disorder has a symptom called hypomania, which is like a high-energy state where the person feels over enthusiastic without losing grip on reality. Some people experience euphoria in this state because they feel a burst of energy and creativity. This is the only ‘good’ side of the disorder – while it lasts. On condition of anonymity, a bipolar patient describes the state as one where “my mind would race from fears, obsessions, fantasies, disturbing thoughts to pinning questions. It is highly exhausting as well as dangerous to struggle with so many thought patterns, all at once.”
What’s the way forward?
It is a myth that people with bipolar disorder cannot recover and lead a normal life. Yes, living with the disorder is challenging but there are many who are leading a healthy life with successful careers and families.
Bipolar disorder not only affects your memory, sleep, appetite, self-esteem, anxiety but also your energy levels; many cases are linked to substance abuse and lifestyle health issues like diabetes, heart disease, migraines and high blood pressure.
Learn more: It is important to be educated about the disorder. The more you know about it, the better you will be at helping yourself to expedite recovery. Keep stress at bay: Avoid getting into stressful situations and resort to relaxation methods like meditation, deep breathing techniques or yoga. Seek a solid support system: While medication is at the center of the treatment, having a good support system will help you recover faster. You can be a part of support groups or reach out to trusted friends.
Make a routine: Setting a time table is considered an important step in treating the disease – steps like sleeping on time, exercising regularly, eating well, monitoring moods and surrounding yourself with people who understand and support you.
Monitor moods: If you monitor your symptoms, you will know signs that make your moods swing out of control. Try to stop the problem before it gets out of control.
It is a fact that bipolar disorder requires long-term treatment. It is a chronic illness that can relapse. So it’s important to continue medication to stay symptom free.
Diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be tricky and often difficult. So in order to get the best treatment, it is advisable to work with a psychiatrist who is skilled in the disorder and can help you wade through the many twists and turns.
In the west, the readiness with which bipolar disorder is diagnosed, simply because you have mood swings, owing to ups and downs in life, is a scary trend indeed. Dr Joanna Moncrieff, a senior lecturer in Psychiatry at University College London wrote a book, The Bitterest Pills: the Troubling Story of Antipsychotic Drugs. She elaborated on how the symptoms of bipolar disorder are different from those of classic manic depression. “Diagnosis of bipolar disorder means the sufferer needs to be on heavyweight drugs their whole lifetime; the drugs that are meant for serious psychiatric conditions. They don’t even tell you what these drugs will do to people with milder emotional problems.”
REFERENCE:
Mar 17, 2016.All you want to know about bipolar disorder.The Times Of India.Retrieved from
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/All-you-want-to-know-about-bipolar-disorder/articleshow/51437234.cms
