Fran
Former desparate mom
By Inner North Brisbane Mental Health Service Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and Health Service District,
Government
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Bipolar disorder is an illness, a medical condition. It most often starts with depression. People with bipolar disorder typically experience recurrent episodes of mood swings, or severe changes in mood and behaviour. Bipolar disorder is characterised by these mood changes from an elevated and irritable mood, mania or "highs", to a sad and hopeless or depressed mood or "lows". Some people may have high and low episodes or mood changes over a matter of days, some may have periods of normal mood in between. The frequency of these mood swings and the duration varies from person to person. Over time the interval between episodes often decreases. The manic episodes typically have a rapid onset. Some people may only experience the manic symptoms.
How Common Is It?
It is much less common than a depressive illness. One to two percent of the population will develop bipolar disorder at some point in their lives. It can start at any time during or after the teenage years, and can affect children and the elderly. Unlike some forms of depression it affects as many men as women. It is often not recognised as a serious disorder and people may have symptoms needlessly for years
What Causes It?
The causes of bipolar disorder are not fully understood. It is probably caused by a combination of factors.
Genetic factors -
research has shown that bipolar disorder does seem to run in families. People with a close relative with bipolar disorder have a greater risk of developing the disorder than the general population.
Biochemical factors -
mania like depression is believed to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be corrected with appropriate medication. Current evidence suggests that there are unusually high levels of norepinephrine, one of the neurotransmitters in a personâs brain, during a manic episode and low levels during a depressive episode.
Environmental factors -
stress may play a part, particularly when increased in a personâs life, and there are inadequate coping mechanisms to deal with it. Stress may then trigger an episode or contribute to the disorderâs occurrence.
Lack of support or a physical illness may contribute to an episode .
Symptoms can also be caused by a wide range of medical and neurological conditions and substances, such as alcohol, marijuana and non-prescribed drugs. Antidepressant medication can occasionally cause a manic episode, and some medications particularly for high blood pressure can trigger depression.
What It Is Not
It is not your fault, it is not a character disorder. Neither depression nor mania are a sign of weakness, nor that someone has just given in. The person is unable to just pull themselves out of it.
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of a manic episode may include:
* feeling -
o euphoric or very happy and excited
o over friendly
o unrealistically self-confident, inflated self-esteem
o more important than usual
o believing you are God, a famous person or when you have unusual powers
o irritated with people who donât share your optimistic outlook
o full of energy and restless
o unable or unwilling to sleep, going for days without sleep and not feeling tired
o believing that you are hearing voices that other people cannot hear
o full of new and exciting ideas
o /ul> behaving -
+ in a reckless or dangerous manner, bizarrely, moving quickly
+ driving dangerously, gambling, drinking alcohol or taking non prescribed drugs excessively
+ with an increase in goal directed activities and agitation
+ in an inappropriate way socially and sexually with family and friends and strangers - disinhibited
+ excessively, spending money, buying quantities of unrealistic articles
+ by talking excessively, pressured speech, loud and fast and incomprehensible in an unreliable manner
o thinking -
+ disorganised, racing uncontrollably, very creative
+ flight of ideas
+ distracted, difficulty concentrating and attending
+ little insight or understanding that they are unwell
+ impaired judgement
The symptoms of a depressive episode may include:
o feeling -
o
+ depressed, sad, cranky or irritable
+ worthless or a sense of guilt
+ low in confidence and self esteem
+ a lack of enjoyment in life and pleasurable activities
+ unwell with physical complaints
+ suicidal
o behaving -
+ with an increase or decrease in sleep
+ by losing your appetite or interest in food or overeating
+ low energy or fatigue
+ with profound fatigue. feeling refreshed or
+ finding it hard to tackle daily living tasks
/
# thinking -
* having difficulty sorting out problems
* suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death
* unrealistic negative thoughts
* indecisive and difficulties concentrating
What Treatment Is Available?
The prognosis or outcome for each episode is good. The combination of medication and psychotherapy is considered the most effective treatment. Hospitalisation may be required depending on the degree of the severity of the episode.
The major types of treatment for bipolar disorder include:
* biological -
o antidepressant medication
o antipsychotic medication
o mood stabilising medication
o Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
* psychological -
*
psychotherapy or counselling
# Cognitive Behavioural Therapy learning coping strategies and symptom management
# Interpersonal Therapy helping with problems
# Psychoeducation learning about your illness for you, your family and friends
# Psychosocial rehabilitation looking at coping skills and activities, work or leisure
Government
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Bipolar disorder is an illness, a medical condition. It most often starts with depression. People with bipolar disorder typically experience recurrent episodes of mood swings, or severe changes in mood and behaviour. Bipolar disorder is characterised by these mood changes from an elevated and irritable mood, mania or "highs", to a sad and hopeless or depressed mood or "lows". Some people may have high and low episodes or mood changes over a matter of days, some may have periods of normal mood in between. The frequency of these mood swings and the duration varies from person to person. Over time the interval between episodes often decreases. The manic episodes typically have a rapid onset. Some people may only experience the manic symptoms.
How Common Is It?
It is much less common than a depressive illness. One to two percent of the population will develop bipolar disorder at some point in their lives. It can start at any time during or after the teenage years, and can affect children and the elderly. Unlike some forms of depression it affects as many men as women. It is often not recognised as a serious disorder and people may have symptoms needlessly for years
What Causes It?
The causes of bipolar disorder are not fully understood. It is probably caused by a combination of factors.
Genetic factors -
research has shown that bipolar disorder does seem to run in families. People with a close relative with bipolar disorder have a greater risk of developing the disorder than the general population.
Biochemical factors -
mania like depression is believed to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be corrected with appropriate medication. Current evidence suggests that there are unusually high levels of norepinephrine, one of the neurotransmitters in a personâs brain, during a manic episode and low levels during a depressive episode.
Environmental factors -
stress may play a part, particularly when increased in a personâs life, and there are inadequate coping mechanisms to deal with it. Stress may then trigger an episode or contribute to the disorderâs occurrence.
Lack of support or a physical illness may contribute to an episode .
Symptoms can also be caused by a wide range of medical and neurological conditions and substances, such as alcohol, marijuana and non-prescribed drugs. Antidepressant medication can occasionally cause a manic episode, and some medications particularly for high blood pressure can trigger depression.
What It Is Not
It is not your fault, it is not a character disorder. Neither depression nor mania are a sign of weakness, nor that someone has just given in. The person is unable to just pull themselves out of it.
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of a manic episode may include:
* feeling -
o euphoric or very happy and excited
o over friendly
o unrealistically self-confident, inflated self-esteem
o more important than usual
o believing you are God, a famous person or when you have unusual powers
o irritated with people who donât share your optimistic outlook
o full of energy and restless
o unable or unwilling to sleep, going for days without sleep and not feeling tired
o believing that you are hearing voices that other people cannot hear
o full of new and exciting ideas
o /ul> behaving -
+ in a reckless or dangerous manner, bizarrely, moving quickly
+ driving dangerously, gambling, drinking alcohol or taking non prescribed drugs excessively
+ with an increase in goal directed activities and agitation
+ in an inappropriate way socially and sexually with family and friends and strangers - disinhibited
+ excessively, spending money, buying quantities of unrealistic articles
+ by talking excessively, pressured speech, loud and fast and incomprehensible in an unreliable manner
o thinking -
+ disorganised, racing uncontrollably, very creative
+ flight of ideas
+ distracted, difficulty concentrating and attending
+ little insight or understanding that they are unwell
+ impaired judgement
The symptoms of a depressive episode may include:
o feeling -
o
+ depressed, sad, cranky or irritable
+ worthless or a sense of guilt
+ low in confidence and self esteem
+ a lack of enjoyment in life and pleasurable activities
+ unwell with physical complaints
+ suicidal
o behaving -
+ with an increase or decrease in sleep
+ by losing your appetite or interest in food or overeating
+ low energy or fatigue
+ with profound fatigue. feeling refreshed or
+ finding it hard to tackle daily living tasks
/
# thinking -
* having difficulty sorting out problems
* suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death
* unrealistic negative thoughts
* indecisive and difficulties concentrating
What Treatment Is Available?
The prognosis or outcome for each episode is good. The combination of medication and psychotherapy is considered the most effective treatment. Hospitalisation may be required depending on the degree of the severity of the episode.
The major types of treatment for bipolar disorder include:
* biological -
o antidepressant medication
o antipsychotic medication
o mood stabilising medication
o Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
* psychological -
*
psychotherapy or counselling
# Cognitive Behavioural Therapy learning coping strategies and symptom management
# Interpersonal Therapy helping with problems
# Psychoeducation learning about your illness for you, your family and friends
# Psychosocial rehabilitation looking at coping skills and activities, work or leisure
