Bipolar Disorder essay
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, which is characterized by fluctuations in mood state. The disorder was formerly referred to as manic depression, and it causes extreme mood swings. The disorder affects approximately 1 percent of the world’s population irrespective of origin or economic status. A treatment plan helps the people suffering from the condition to manages their mood swings and other symptoms of the lifelong condition. The bipolar condition is one of the major problems facing the young population in the world. The disorder has adverse effects on the affected people, and it has caused mental disability to most youths. Also, Bipolar disorder has increased the mortality rate because most of the young people suffering from the condition commit suicide due to depression. Understanding the causes of the disorder, signs, and symptoms of the condition, the effects of the bipolar disorder in the community, and current treatment plan for the condition will be a major step in coming up with better treatment methods for the disorder condition.
Bipolar disorder affects both males and females at any age, and it affects relationships and academic performance. Young people who have bipolar disorder have shown poor performance in their academics because of increased depression caused by the condition. The condition has also resulted in many people committing suicide, and therefore a permanent treatment for the condition has to be found because the condition has been left untreated. A study was carried out to establish the reason behind decreased life expectancy for the people who have bipolar disorder. In the study, national registers were used to collect the required data. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Several myths and misconceptions about bipolar disorder have affected the treatment of the condition because the myths cause stigmatization to the people suffering from bipolar disease (Vargas, 2017). One misconception about bipolar disorder is the belief that bipolar disorder is just a mania. Mania is a condition that causes a change of mood for an individual due to daily disruptions. The myth has prevented many people who have bipolar disorder from seeking medical assistance by considering the condition as just mania. Another myth about bipolar amber fillerupis the belief that there is only one type of bipolar disorder. The fact about bipolar disorder is that there are three types of bipolar conditions namely; bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. The type of bipolar disorder depends on the level of moods swings caused. Another myth about bipolar disorder is the belief that the condition is rare. The fact is that bipolar disorder affects more people in the world than cancer. In Australia, the bipolar condition affects more than 360,000 people in a year. Some members of society believe that only people suffering from bipolar are moody. The belief has caused stigmatization among the people suffering from the bipolar condition. World Health Organization has estimated bipolar condition as one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Also, some people in the community believe that people who have bipolar disorder are manic all the time. However, the fact is that people with the manic disorder do not have mood fluctuations all the time. All these myths and misconceptions about bipolar disorder cause stigmatization to the people suffering from the condition. Myths and misconceptions about bipolar disorder affect the treatment of the disorder.
Researchers have invested much in establishing the exact cause of bipolar disorder, but no scientist has yet found the exact cause of the disorder (Rao, 2015). Scientists know that bipolar disorder is a genetically related condition, but they have experienced a difficult time in finding the exact genes that result in the disorder. The genetic cause of bipolar disorder is complex, and research has revealed that the cause involves many genes. A research was carried out in the effort of establishing the exact cause of bipolar disorder. The research involved 738 adults who were suffering from bipolar disorder. Questionnaires were used in the study to know the behavioral characteristics of the people who have bipolar disorder. In the research, the brain images of the participants were also taken. The behavioral traits of the relatives of the people who have bipolar disorder were also examined. The study revealed that the people who were severing from bipolar disorder had a thick gray matter in the brain. Also, the study established that the disorder was closely related to genetic causes. The research was a significant step towards getting closer to the exact cause of bipolar disorder. The data obtained in this research in Colombia was going to be more useful in establishing the real cause of the disorder because all the traits of the people who have bipolar disorder were found. Bipolar disorder affects the daily lives of the people suffering from the disease, and the disorder can cause to drug and substance abuse when not properly treated. In the process of coping with the permanent treatment of the disorder, establishing the exact cause of the disease is vital. However, researchers have not yet found the exact cause of bipolar disorder although scientists are aware that the disorder is linked to genetic causes.
Signs and symptoms of individuals who have bipolar disorder vary from one person to another. The symptoms also depend on the type of bipolar disorder an individual is suffering from and even the age of the patient (Depp, 2015). Mania and hypomania are different emotional episodes caused by bipolar disorder. Although mania causes severe mood fluctuations than hypomania, both episodes have the same signs and symptoms. One clear symptom of bipolar disorder is increased activity and energy. People who have bipolar disorder show signs of increased activity while at work and agitation. Also increased energy for the people who have bipolar disorder is accompanied by an increased need of talking to those who near them. Therefore, at workplaces or schools people suffering from the disorder can easily be identified and advised to seek the necessary medical attention. Bipolar disorder can also make its patients not to sleep for many days. The feeling of hopelessness and depressed mood is another symptom of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder can also cause loss of appetite in some cases especially in children. Weight loss is also a clear sign and symptom for people who have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder reduces the ability to concentrate on people suffering from the disorder. For, the children suffering from bipolar disorder, signs, and symptoms are not clear because for the teens one cannot easily differentiate whether the emotional changes are caused by stress or bipolar disorder. Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from one person to another and from one age to another. People showing signs of bipolar disorder in the community should be advised to seek proper medical attention to reduce the risks caused by the condition.
Bipolar disorder has adverse effects on individuals suffering from the disease and also to those who are close to bipolar disorder patients (Correll, 2015). The condition does not only affect the state of the brain but also affects other body parts. At the manic level, the bipolar disorder results in excess muscle energy hence increasing the activity of the patient. Bipolar disorder has an effect of making the patient restless and increased sex drive, which can result in sexual misconduct. Also, lack of sleep is another severe effect caused by the condition. Bipolar disorder has opposite effects on the patient if the patient suffers depression. Depression causes bipolar disorder patients to lack energy and need for more sleep. Another effect caused by bipolar disorder is lack of appetite, which makes the patient lose weight with time. Bipolar disorder causes brain problems hence affecting the nervous system of the patient. The brain is the central part of the nervous system, and when the brain is affected, it is most likely that the nervous system also fails. As a result, the bipolar disorder results in mental problems to the people suffering from the condition and also it makes it difficult for the patient to concentrate. Lack of ability to concentrate affects academic progress for the children who are suffering from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is accompanied by episodes of anxiety, and this can affect the cardiovascular system of the patient. Cardiovascular problems result in heart-related diseases to people who have bipolar disorder. Also, bipolar disorder affects the way the brain sends signals to the other body organs, and when the signals are not properly sent, people suffering from bipolar disorder experiences hormone fluctuations. People who have bipolar disorder can easily end up in drug and substance abuse because of depression. People suffering from bipolar disorder should be advised to visit health care providers to prevent the adverse effects of the disease, which includes suicide. Health care providers recommend specific medication for people who have bipolar disorder to control their moods (Hou, 2016). People who skip bipolar disorder medication in the periods when they feel better are at risk of developing more severe effects of the condition, and therefore medication should be continuous for people who have bipolar disorder. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder should be supported and advised to visit hospitals for proper medication to prevent the severe effects caused by bipolar disorder.
In conclusion, bipolar disorder is a condition that results in mood fluctuations to the people suffering from the condition. The disorder can affect anyone regardless of the nationality, age or gender of individuals. The disorder has approximately affected 1 percent of the world’s population according to the World Health Organization. Some people who have bipolar disorder commit suicide because of depression. Research has been conducted about the cause of the disorder, and although the exact cause of the disorder has not been established, the disorder is linked to genetic causes. Several myths and misconceptions about bipolar disorder exist, which affects the people suffering from the disorder and treatment of bipolar disorder. Anxiety and depression are the most common signs of bipolar disorder. People showing signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder should be encouraged to seek medical assistance. Bipolar disorder affects the brain of the patient, and the disorder can easily cause mental problems to the affected person. Bipolar disorder can also easily result in suicide when the patient is depressed. People who have bipolar disorder should be supported and encouraged to seek medical assistance to prevent adverse effects caused by bipolar disorder.
References
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Depp, C. A., Ceglowski, J., Wang, V. C., Yaghouti, F., Mausbach, B. T., Thompson, W. K., & Granholm, E. L. (2015). Augmenting psychoeducation with a mobile intervention for bipolar disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 174, 23- 30.
Hou, L., Heilbronner, U., Degenhardt, F., Adli, M., Akiyama, K., Akula, N., … & Benabarre, A. (2016). Genetic variants associated with response to lithium treatment in bipolar disorder: a genome-wide association study. The Lancet, 387(10023), 1085-1093.
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Rao, S., Lam, M. H., Wing, Y. K., Yim, L. C., Chu, W. C., Yeung, V. S., & Waye, M. M. (2015). Beneficial effect of phosphatidylcholine supplementation in alleviation of hypomania and insomnia in a Chinese bipolar hypomanic boy and a possible explanation to the effect at the genetic level. Springerplus, 4(1), 235.
Vargas-Huicochea, I., Robles-García, R., Berlanga, C., Tovilla-Zarate, C. A., Martínez-López, N., & Fresán, A. (2017). Mental health literacy about bipolar disorder and schizophrenia among medical students: a comparative study of illness recognition, treatment, and attitudes according to perception of aggressiveness-dangerousness. Salud Mental, 40(4), 141-148.