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This video is of interest because this story is an introduction into a Bipolar life. It is created by a young woman diagnosed with Bipolar. She tells her story of her struggle with the illness quite openly. I have included her Introduction videos here and urge you to visit her website on Youtube
There are currently three types of bipolar disorder outlined by the DSM-IV-TR and generally accepted within the medical community: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia.
Bipolar Disorder is term they use today for Manic Depression. There are currently three types of Bipolar Disorder defined in the DSM-IV: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia. They are differed from each other on how severe the episodes are.
I have been diagnosed with Bipolar II. It's difference from Bipolar I is the manic phase. I do not get as out of shape as others do. This illness causes unusual shifts in a my mood and my energy levels. Very often I lose the ability to function. I can have really high moments and then plunge into depression. The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months. There is no telling how long I will be "sick". Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include psychotic symptoms where reality is blurred and I think everyone is talking about me. Sometimes I experience the highs and lows together. I experience very fast mood swings between depression and mania many times within a day. This is called a mixed episode.
My Bipolar Disorder has result in damaged relationships, poor job and school performance, and even made me suicidal.
In my Manic phase of Bipolar Disorder I experience a form of euphoria. I feel all is well with the world and view it behind rosy coloured glasses. I get an increased energy level and I feel I need to accomplish things. My speech is so much faster than usual. I speak very quickly and confidently, something totally out of character for me. There isn't problem I can't figure out. Minor bumps in the road are totally ignored and skirted. Slow people aggitate me.
I have racing thoughts and find it hard to concentrate on one subject. If I am in conversation I finish other people's sentences. I guess I assume I know what they are going to say or something. It annoys me as much as them. I can't read when I am like this at all because I can't take it in. I read the same sentence 3-4 times before I understand it. So I am not a reader.
I don't need as much sleep and pull alot of all nighters. I can go for days without sleep. When I do crash its not for very long and I wake up and start where I left off. What I end up doing is stressing my system out to the max.
During this time I also exhibit poor judgment in making finacial decisions. I am reckless for my personal safety and I have managed to get tied up with the law before. I go on spending sprees and I sometimes get promiscuous.
As my behaviour falls apart I exhibit aggressive behavior. I think when I used to drink this inflamed this symptom and I was awful.
When I am on a high I can drink like a fish. I did recreational drugs when i was a teen but that was replaced by booze. Now-a-days with more insight to my illness the booze has gone down the drain too.
And Just like they say - after every high comes the drop off point. And you get a low.
In my Depressive phase of Bipolar Disorder I get symptoms of sadness and hopelessness. I am sure no one cares about me and things are never going to get any better. Anxiety, Guilt, and Irritability cause me all kinds of grief. I experience sleep problems yet I suffer from fatigue. My appetite is poor and I live on coffee and soup. I lose interest in everything and find it easier to just sit there and think. Again I have problems concentrating so reading is out and TV just makes background noise, so I usually listen to music. I have sucidal thoughts.
I go down so low I can't see up anymore. The lower my depression gets the more thoughts I get about death and dying. These thoughts turn into sucidal ideations as the depression worsens.
When I was labelled with this illness I was quite surprised. It was my first diagnosis. I had made a failed suicide attempt and ended up in the psych hospital. I was in complete denial. How could I at 40 be labelled mentally ill all of a sudden? But, I now understand the illness, its symptoms and its definition a whole lot more and can see I have had this one all my adult life. I just wasn't educated enough to recognize it.
I was put on lithium at first. The doctor said it was going to change my life. I wasn't going to have "fun" anymore. This scared me. But I took the medication. I ended up on a very high dose and got the shakes. They were so bad I had to stop the drug. I was on it about 5 years total I guess. Did it help? It stopped the mood swings. How did it make me feel? It left a taste in my mouth. I was on a lot of heavy meds at this time so I can't say because my over-all affect was of a zombie. I didn't feel. I just did.
I have been off lithium for about 5 years and have not have a bipolar episode until this Xmas. So far it has been with me for about 3 months. I am experiencing very deep depressions, I am getting mixed episodes. I find myself wandering in little circles repeating things. Or I'll get to laughing at something so hard I go hysterical then burst into tears. My highs are allowing me a good day here and there where I can feel "normal". I can leave the house, shop and make an appointment.
The high ends as soon as fast as it starts.
There is no cure for bipolar disorder; the emphasis is on management of the symptoms. A variety of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder; many people with bipolar disorder require multiple medications.
Intensive therapy may work to lessen the severity of mood swings by recognizing and managing triggering symptoms or events. Like all mental illness, recovery comes from learning coping methods. If you have been diagnosed with Bipolar I wish you a speedy recovery. Research your meds before you eat them.
Causes of Relapse of Symptoms and Behaviors to Avoid
A combination of medication and therapy is often used to somewhat suppress the symptoms of Bipolar disorder. Even when on medication, some people might still experience weaker episodes or have a complete manic or depressive episode. There are several factors that could cause someone to relapse into mania or depression:
Failure to continue taking the appropriate dose of medication
Under or over medicated or on the wrong medication. Generally, taking a lower dosage of a mood stabilizer will cause the patient to relapse into mania. Taking a lower dosage of an antidepressant can cause the patient to relapse into depression, while overdosing can cause the patient to experience mania. Overdosing on either medication can cause serious liver problems and possibly other health problems. During treatment, blood levels are often checked to ensure the appropriate concentrations of the drug(s).
Taking other medications that affect brain activity, or using recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroin. For Bipolar patients, mind-altering drugs can cause severe damage.
Not getting enough sleep can cause the patient to relapse into mania. It is also important that patients follow a consistent sleep schedule that includes 7-8 hours each night.
Avoid caffeine. Excessive amounts can cause relapses into mania.
Stress must also be managed appropriately. When not on medication, excessive stress can cause the patient to relapse into mania or depression. Medication raises the stress threshold somewhat, but too much stress can still cause relapses.
Also, patients should not consume excessive amounts of alcohol because that can cause liver damage.
DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Bipolar I Disorder
A. The presence of one or more current or past Manic Episodes or Mixed Episodes, with or without present or past Major Depressive Episodes.
B. The mood episode(s) are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and are not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
Manic Episode
A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week or requiring hospitalization.
B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree.
(1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
(2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
(3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
(4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
(5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
(6) increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
(7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
C. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode (presence of symptoms of major depression and mania at same time)
D The mood disturbancve is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
E. The symptoms are not do to a direct physiological effect of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
Hypomanic Episode
A. A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.
B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree.
(1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
(2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
(3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
(4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
(5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
(6) increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
(7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
C. The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.
D. The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.
E. The mood disturbancve is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
F. The symptoms are not do to a direct physiological effect of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
Mixed Episode
A. The criteria are met both for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode (except for duration) nearly every day during at least a 1 week period.
B.The mood disturbancve is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
C. The symptoms are not do to a direct physiological effect of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
D. Same as criterion D. for Manic Episode, above.
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DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Bipolar II Disorder
- Presence (or history) of one or more Major Depressive Episodes
- Presence (or history) of at least one Hypomanic Episode
- There has never been a Manic Episode or a Mixed Episode
- The mood symptoms in Criteria A and B are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and are not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
- The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode (both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time)
- The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g. hypothyroidism).
- The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
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DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Cyclothymic Disorder
- For at least 2 years, the presence of numerous periods with hypomanic symptoms and numerous periods with depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a Major Depressive Episode. Note: In children and adolescents, the duration must be at least 1 year.
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During the above 2-year period (1 year in children and adolescents), the person has not been without the symptoms in Criterion A for more than 2 months at a time.
No Major Depressive Episode, Manic Episode, or Mixed Episode has been present during the first 2 years of the disturbance.
Note: After the initial 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents) of Cyclothymic Disorder, there may be superimposed Manic or Mixed Episodes (in which case both Bipolar I Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder may be diagnosed) or Major Depressive Episodes (in which case both Bipolar II Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder may be diagnosed).
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The symptoms in Criterion A are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and are not superimposed on Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
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The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
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DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Major Depressive Episode
A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning.; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
- depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
- markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others.)
- significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
* Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
- insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
- psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
- fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
- feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproachor guilt about being sick)
- diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
- recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode (both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time)
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
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DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria
Manic Episode
A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week or requiring hospitalization.
During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree.
(1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
(2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
(3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
(4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
(5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
(6) increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
(7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode (presence of symptoms of major depression and mania at same time)
The mood disturbancve is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
The symptoms are not do to a direct physiological effect of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
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