Bipolar Disorder .... This is a GREAT short synopsis of what my life is like lol.. ... I'm holding on still, so come with me on this ride..

Ramsay Sallis (Medical Doctor treating men's sexual health at Boston Medical Group World Wide and Vortolife in the UKAnswered January 22, 2015)What is bipolar disorder, how is it caused, can it happen to anyone, how do you prevent it?Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by alternating periods of depression and manic (elevated mood) episodes. It commonly begins in the mid-teenage years, but can occur at any time.The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder unfortunately are very severe, more severe than normal depression, and often involve suicidal tendencies. As well sadly, most victims spend most of their time in the depressive stages.Bipolar disorder is strongly hereditary, more so than simple depression.There is a somewhat elusive idea that it's romantically not such a bad affliction to have as it tends to affect high achieving creative people like poets, musicians, artists etc, but this is far from the truth.It is as disabling as schizophrenia, reduces the average life-expectancy by some 20 years, and is most disabling to both the sufferers and their loved ones.Other causes include the abuse of drugs, severe emotional or physical trauma and the side effects of some medications especially broad spectrum modern antidepressants.The actual diagnosis of bipolar disorder is somewhat complex, but it is based on a medical history alone and there need to be symptoms of alternating periods of depression (including loss of interest in pleasurable activities, decreased of increased appetite, weight gain or loss, increased of decreased sleep habits, suicidal attempts of tendencies and a feeling of utter hopelessness) and mania (including a reduced need for sleep, an elevated mood, delusions of grandeur, spending beyond ones means, marked weight loss and the abuse of mood altering drugs).The mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder is medication based and the gold standard of treatment is the use of lithium, a mood stabiliser. Other medications used include Valproate, and Seroquil, and a handful of other drugs.Cognitive behavioural therapy works well, but only in conjunction with medication.The incidence of bipolar disorder has grown dramatically in Western populations, particularly in the past decade and it now affects some 5-7% of Western populations.In terms of lost productivity, morbidity and mortality, it is arguably the greatest medical burden on our society, and treatment can be quite a challenge.The good news is that it is often the drive behind most incredible talented and creative people and that with sound treatment and patience on behalf the therapist, the patient and their loved ones, sufferers can lead a very normal, fulfilling, and productive life.It is important to involve a multidisciplinary approach to treatment involving the primary physician, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker and the family, and with such an approach, the prognosis can very bright indeed.

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Thank you SO much for taking the time to read such an important article.. Everyone please continue your understanding, and maybe even help know how Bipolar Disorder can affect them as well when they know someone who has it. Also remember, because the article does not mention it, that a Bipolar episode many times is just a one time trigger, unlike mine.On a personal note… Bipolar Disorder has been the hardest ailment in my life to deal with since I was a child. It has by far outweighed my other mental and physical ailments. It has shaped and painted the continued “Ups” and “Downs” periods of my life.. With the hardest times of all being some of the most recent ones. So many living with mental illness/disorders during the last few years of Covid isolation have struggled to hang on.. And of you, the “normal”, with their own struggles to bare. Of whom many I don’t believe understood the severity it had on our community during that time. So many lost.... With the Bipolar strongly affecting my emotional states, and adding with my Autism’s continuous need for structure, stimuli, and social assurance, it almost broke me many times myself as it's a circus I've balanced my whole life. And understanding the amount of people I’ve seen lost, it’s hard to fathom it’s actual impact.And no matter how many people try to tell me otherwise, I will never again hide these disorders. I will continue to talk about them, and hopefully bring people some understanding along the way… I can only hope that this article helps start, or at the very least, continues to better your understanding as well.And most of all, PLEASE never think or choose to believe in your mind that WE are somehow a different person simply because we have chosen to share such a vulnerable part of our lives. We are the same person we have always been! Understanding that may be the biggest takeaway I can offer from this post. And just maybe, with knowing such news, can help you better understanding and shape the way you see past and future events with us in your lives… Please try not to give up on us or write us off, because most of us try so hard to be the person you and society wants us to be..Sorry for all that, but I want you to FEEL this article..Love you guys#bipolardisorderawareness #bipolarawareness #bipolarwarrior #bipolarstrong #bipolar #mentalhealthmatters #mentalwellness #mentalhealthsupport #autism #autismawareness #bekind #loveoneanother #educateyourself #nevergiveup

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