Information on Bipolar Disorder

1. By: Crystal Stuy

2.  Mental Health -> “ Successful performance of
mental function, resulting in productive activities,
fulfilling relationships with other people, and the
ability to change and to cope with adversity.”
 Mental Illness -> “ Refers collectively to all mental
disorders.”
 Mental Disorder -> “ A behavioural or
psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in
an individual and
 that is associated with present distress or
disability, or with a significantly increased risk of
suffering, death, pain, disability or loss of
freedom.”
(Holmes, Knox, Mooney, & Schacht, 2013, p. 39).

3. Bipolar Disorder
 Mood disorder that is known as a manic depression illness
due to the intense depression stage bipolar people get in
 Bipolar is a brain disorder that causes unusual changes in
mood, energy , activity levels and the ability to carry out
normal every day activities.
 Bipolar is different then your usual person who has their
good days and their bad. Bipolar disorder moods go from
one extreme to the next, really high ups and really low
downs
 Their downs actually start affecting their everyday living
such as their relationships, jobs, and performance in
school. These moods even turn so low to the thoughts of
suicide.
(Bipolar, 2009).

4.  Symptoms of bipolar specifically depend on
which phase they are in whether its
depression or mania.
 Both phases are completely opposite from
an extreme high to and extreme low
 Anxiety is common to have with bipolar
 Suicidal thoughts are a symptom during the
major depression state.

5.  Suicide - > is when someone takes over their
own life
 People who are diagnosed with bipolar have
high rates of suicidal thoughts
 Bipolar people are also likely to abuse alcohol
and drugs which could also worsen symptoms
and increase the risk suicide.
 These thoughts happen because of how severe
their phase of depression is and how long they
end up staying in that stage.
 The state of depression in
bipolar is more common then
mania
(Merrill, 2013).

8.  Depression is described as a state of prolonged
severe sadness that sometime subside on their
own and sometimes need some type of support to
get passed it. Depression can affect the way a
person lives by their lack of motive to want to do
anything but sit in isolation alone.
 I believe that there are so many issues that could
contribute to depression throughout a person’s life
growing up
 A person may have went through a really bad
experience and doesn’t know how to cope or
who to talk to about it or maybe doesn’t even
have anyone they feel they can trust.
 Problems such as stressful situations as in school,
work, relations, family, violence, bullying, abuse,
or assault of any type can lead someone into a
state of depression (Smith, Saisan & Segal, 2014).

9.  Mania -> is the stage in bipolar when the person
is at their highest up rather then lowest down at
depression. Mania usually consists of a person
being extremely agitated, overjoyed emotional
state. This state makes people feel optimistic,
energetic, a feeling of having powers or
extraordinary abilities. These people with mania
are hard to compromise with and become
irritated when you try and change their mind or
slow them down at what their doing. Mania can
cause people to be impulsive and not truly think
things through making bad decisions.
 Hypomania ->can be hard to determine
because its confused with just being in a good
mood.
(Bernstein, Cramer, Fenwick, & Fraser, 2008).

10.  Bipolar along with many other mental disorders are
becoming more and more prevalent these days.
 There are a lot of people including professionals that
are not aware of the symptoms and don’t treat these
people properly as in they need help
 People all over the world have lots of problems that
are not diagnosed because they may have had it all
their life so they have never noticed a difference.
 People think that these mood changes are just who
they are and don’t look further into their mood
changes
 Awareness of mental disorders needs to be known for
the safety of the people of our society and so that
these people can get the help they need

11.  This theory is concerned with how illnesses effect the way of
how a person can be normally in their social role. A mental
disorder such as bipolar effects a person’s ability to think and
make decisions.
 Society expects that the ill be treated and listen to medical
advice and then be able to continue to fulfill normal social
role obligations.
 Society doesn’t want illnesses to be altering or changing the
social norms of society in any way. Even though social
changes and norms today is what has a lot to do with why
health and illnesses are becoming more and more prevalent.
 Alcohol, drugs, medications, smoking, stress and multiple
other contributors even marital status is making society have
more health issues, including mental disorders.
 People have illnesses and continue to reproduce and chance
the outcome of passing along that illness that is genetically
inherited or an increased risk.
(Holmes, Knox, Mooney, & Schacht, 2013).

12. There are multiple things that could
contribute to bipolar disorder including:
Genetics -> Family history
Biological abnormalities -> Structural
difference in parts of the brain
Faulty neurotransmitters -> Difficulty in
production and function of
neurotransmitters
(Krucik, 2013).

13.  Bipolar type 1 disorder
The most common form of bipolar that you come across. This type
people usually encounter one or more episodes of mania or even
mixed episodes. These episodes last longer then your usual ups and
downs. Mania in type 1 bipolar disorder can last up to a week or
longer, the depressive states can last up to two weeks. Both mania
and depression can last up to a month at a time.
 Bipolar type 2 disorder
Harder to determine rather then type 1 bipolar disorder due to not
being able to determine the difference whether their in a state of
hypomania or just that their in a good mood . This type of bipolar
has more episodes of depression rather then the mania but does
still have mania just not as severe lasting only a couple days rather
then weeks at a time. Although these episodes are not as long they
do still effect functioning on a daily basis. During the times that the
patient affected is not in a current stage of mania or depression
they have periods of wellness. Since the low of depression is so low
in this type of depression suicide is a higher risk.
(Bipolar, 2009).

14.  Cyclothymic Disorder -> is known as having less mood swings
that are less severe in depth and length compared to type 1 &
2. This type has rapid mood changes which is more commonly
seen when a person is first being diagnosed young having their
first episode.
 Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified -> a person falls into
this category when they cant be clearly diagnosed to a
specific type of bipolar due to not enough symptoms or not
often enough or long enough of symptoms.
 Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder - > is when a person has rapid
mood changes ranging from mania, hypo mania to major
depression or even mixed symptoms of these more then four
times in a year.
(Krucik, 2013).

15.  Bipolar disorder is said to effect about 2% of the
population
 People who have family members that have bipolar
disorder are at an increased risk of 4-6 times more likely
in being diagnosed
 Bipolar disorder type 1 is equally affected by both
genders where bipolar disorder type 2 has a higher rate
affecting women.
 People with depression are at a 20% chance of it turning
into bipolar disorder within a 5 year period of time
 The most common age of diagnoses is around 25yrs or
younger accounting for just about half of the diagnosed
sufferers. Bipolar can be diagnosed as early as
childhood to as late as 50
(Krucik, 2013).

16.  Help to stabilize the patients moods
to less frequent and less severe
 Assist in the ability to be able to
function daily in normal everyday
activities such as work or school
 Eliminate thoughts of suicide or self
injury
(Merrill, 2013).

17.  Medication involving mood
stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants
are also used. Regular visits with the
psychiatrist are recommended as well to go
over treatment
 Electroconvulsive Therapy is used to treat
either phase of mania or depression. This is
more of a last resort when medication is not
working.
 Support Programs teach new ways of coping
with the phases of bipolar and relate to others
and not feel alone
 Talk Therapies sometimes just having someone
to listen is all a person needed
(Merrill, 2013).

19.  I truly believe that talking can help a lot of people out
of certain problems. I feel that some people feel that
they are alone and are seeking that attention but
don’t know where to look for it.
 Keeping things built up inside is not good for anyone
as it’s a big burden to keep something so big or even
small a secret. There’s a sense of relief when you are
able to finally tell your story, to let out what has been
bugging you, building up inside. These thoughts will
only continue to get worse if the person doesn’t know
how to cope properly.
 Prevention of things is truly key. Everyone should have
someone they feel they can turn to and feel that they
are comfortable and trusting of them.
 I cant imagine being alone, I have a huge support
system of family and they are who helps me get
through the rough times.
 I also think that awareness within the society in being
able to recognise a person in need of some type of
help and to be approachable to that person. Lend
your ear even if its just for a couple minutes to show
that person that someone does care even a
complete stranger.

20. Bernstein, D., Cramer, K.M., Fenwick, K.D., & Fraser, I. (2008).
Psychology (1st Canadian ed.). Psychological Disorders
(pp. 573 – 579). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company
Bipolar (2009). Bipolar disorder. Canadian Mental Health
Association. Retrieved from
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/sites/default/files/Bipolar210we
b.pdf
Holmes, M., Knox, D., Mooney, L., & Schacht, C. (2013).
Understanding social problems (Custom ed.). Illness and
Health Care (pp. 39 – 42). Toronto, Ontario: Nelson Education
Ltd.
Krucik, G. (2013). What Do You Want to Know About Bipolar
Disorder? Health line. Retrieved from
http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder
Merrill, D.B. (2013). Bipolar disorder. Medline Plus. Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000926.htm
Smith, M., Saisan, J., & Segal, J. (2014). Depression symptoms &
warning signs. HelpGuide.Org. Retrieved from
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_dia
gnosis_treatment.htm