The Sunday News
Lee-Anne T. Hall
Bipolar
AS Zimbabweans we still live in a society where psychiatric conditions are not well understood. We live among people that suffer from these conditions but we always turn a blind eye and accuse them of being attention seeking.
Bipolar is by far one of the misunderstood conditions and its awareness in Zimbabwe is very important.
Diagnosis of Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe.
Bipolar disorder is characterised by recurrent periods of depression and elevated mood consisting of increased energy and activity during which people may have sleep loss, extreme talkativeness and engage in irresponsible behaviour eg overspending.
Types of bipolar disorder;
1 Bipolar I Disorder — defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least two weeks.
2 Bipolar II Disorder — defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes.
3 Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS) — diagnosed when symptoms of the illness exist but do not meet diagnostic criteria for either bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person’s normal range of behaviour.
4 Cyclothymic Disorder, or Cyclothymia — a mild form of bipolar disorder. People with cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania as well as mild depression for at least two years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.
When getting a diagnosis, a doctor or health care provider should conduct a physical examination, an interview, and lab tests. Currently, bipolar disorder cannot be identified through a blood test or a brain scan, but these tests can help rule out other factors that may contribute to mood problems, such as a stroke, brain tumor, or thyroid condition.
When getting a diagnosis, a doctor or health care provider should conduct a physical examination, an interview, and lab tests. Currently, bipolar disorder cannot be identified through a blood test or a brain scan, but these tests can help rule out other factors that may contribute to mood problems, such as a stroke, brain tumor, or thyroid condition. If the problems are not caused by other illnesses, your health care provider may conduct a mental health evaluation or provide a referral to a trained mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, who is experienced in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.
The doctor or mental health professional should discuss with you any family history of bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses and get a complete history of symptoms. The doctor or mental health professional should also talk to your close relatives or spouse about your symptoms and family medical history.
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed than when experiencing mania or hypomania. Therefore, a careful medical history is needed to assure that bipolar disorder is not mistakenly diagnosed as major depression. Unlike people with bipolar disorder, people who have depression only (also called unipolar depression) do not experience mania.
Prevention and treatment
Bipolar disorder can worsen if left undiagnosed and untreated. Episodes may become more frequent or more severe over time without treatment. Also, delays in getting the correct diagnosis and treatment can contribute to personal, social, and work-related problems. Proper diagnosis and treatment help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and productive lives. In most cases, treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.
Substance abuse is very common among people with bipolar disorder, but the reasons for this link are unclear. Some people with bipolar disorder may try to treat their symptoms with alcohol or drugs. However, substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar symptoms, and the behavioural control problems associated with mania can result in a person drinking too much.
People with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses. These illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from treatment for bipolar disorder.
Treatments
Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated effectively over the long-term. Proper treatment helps many people with bipolar disorder — even those with the most severe forms of the illness — gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. But because it is a lifelong illness, long-term, continuous treatment is needed to control symptoms.
Treatment is more effective if you work closely with a doctor and talk openly about your concerns and choices. An effective maintenance treatment plan usually includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Medications
Different types of medications can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder. Not everyone responds to medications in the same way. You may need to try several different medications before finding ones that work best for you.
Keeping a daily life chart that makes note of your daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events can help you and your doctor track and treat your illness most effectively. If your symptoms change or if side effects become intolerable, your doctor may switch or add medications.
Mood stabilisers are usually the first choice to treat bipolar disorder. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilisers for years.
Common side effects of other mood stabilising medications include:
– Drowsiness
– Dizziness
– Headache
– Diarrhoea
– Constipation
– Heartburn
– Mood swings
– Stuffed or runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms.
These medications may also be linked to rare but serious side effects. Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist to make sure you understand signs of serious side effects for the medications you’re taking. If extremely bothersome or unusual side effects occur, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Living With bipolar disease:
If you know someone who has bipolar disorder, it affects you too. The first and most important thing you can do is help him or her get the right diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make the appointment and go with him or her to see the doctor. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment.
To help a friend or relative, you can:
– Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
– Learn about bipolar disorder so you can understand what your friend or relative is experiencing.
– Talk to your friend or relative and listen carefully.
– Listen to feelings your friend or relative expresses and be understanding about situations that may trigger bipolar symptoms.
– Invite your friend or relative out for positive distractions, such as walks, outings, and other activities.
– Remind your friend or relative that, with time and treatment, he or she can get better. Never ignore comments from your friend or relative about harming himself or herself. Always report such comments to his or her therapist or doctor.
How can I help myself if I have bipolar disorder?
It may be very hard to take that first step to help yourself. It may take time, but you can get better with treatment. To help yourself:
– Talk to your doctor about treatment options and progress.
– Keep a regular routine, such as going to sleep at the same time every night and eating meals at the same time every day.
– Try hard to get enough sleep.
– Stay on your medication.
– Learn about warning signs signaling a shift into depression or mania.
– Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately.
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‘Take care of your busy body, you owe that to your family.’’
For more information about Bipolar disorder please contact me:
Lee-Anne T. Hall
BSc Physiotherapy
[email protected] OR visit my website www.healthpromotionbyleeanne.wordpress.com
