Bipolar Disorder is all the rage!!
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carrie Fisher, and Demi Lovato are among the celebrities to recently share with the public their struggles with bipolar disorder. Just what is bipolar disorder?
First, we should take a look at the big picture. Psychiatric diagnoses fall into several main categories, which include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, substance-related
disorders, and others.
Bipolar disorder is one type of mood disorder. Others include depressive disorders, dysthymic disorder (a milder form of chronic depression), and cyclothymic disorder (frequent periods of highs and lows that are not severe).
There are different types of bipolar disorders; the two main types are
Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder. Both include symptoms of mania
or hypomania and may include periods of depression.
Bipolar I is the more severe type. People who have this disorder may experience
manic episodes — distinct periods that may be marked by expansive mood, need little sleep but feel well-rested, may develop grandiose notions, hallucinations, delusions, racing thoughts, pressured speech, intense activity, and poor judgment.
Such disturbances cause marked impairment in the sufferers’ work, home, and social functioning.
Actress Carrie Fisher told USA Today, “A manic phase is
not predictable…. the last time, I hacked off my hair, got a tattoo, and
wanted to convert to Judaism.” People who have Bipolar I Disorder may also experience episodes of depression.
Bipolar II Disorder is a milder version of Bipolar I. Sufferers may experience symptoms similar to manic episodes, but are less severe. These are called hypomanic episodes. People who have Bipolar II do not have hallucinations or delusions, and their symptoms are not severe enough
to markedly impair their work or social functioning.
Bipolar I and II are thought to manifest in people who have a genetic predisposition. Even so, some stressors can worsen the symptoms, but they
can be minimized. For example, Catherine Zeta-Jones told the press that stress from her husband’s illness worsened her Bipolar II symptoms. She
wisely obtained treatment soon after her husband’s medical condition
improved. Another common problem that can precipitate or worsen bipolar symptoms is a lack of quality sleep. Quality sleep is much more important
than most people realize. In our country, people often sacrifice sleep in order to take care of other matters.
Mood-stabilizing medications are usually very helpful in treating these disorders. However, practicing good daily self-care can be one of the best deterrents in minimizing the onset of hypomanic episodes.
Thanks to the recent rash of celebrities talking with the press about their struggles with bipolar disorders, more people in the public may feel safer seeking treatment for their illnesses.
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