My research paper for Winter Quarter

    Heather Stokes

March 18, 2008

Professor Tiffany Adamski

Stautzenberger College

Living with Bipolar Disorder

    Imagine being exceedingly sad one moment that you cannot get out of bed and then at a wink of an eye, you have so much energy that you just can't shut up. It happens that fast for some bipolar sufferers. Millions of Americans are dealing with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health and quoted by Lauren Cahoon, that one in four adults suffer from a diagnosed mind or mood disorder each year; 14.8 million American adults suffer from depression and 5.7 million suffer from bipolar disorder (Cahoon, 1). The irony is the fact that so many suffer from the illness, yet it is still stereotyped in many ways. The concept of bipolar disorder has awareness but no acceptance.

    The symptoms of bipolar disorder are frightening and often confusing. The depressive state is filled with the obvious depressive thoughts, yet there are other ailments as well. Depression is filled with a whirlwind of trouble with eating and sleeping, lack of energy, and problems concentrating. The most serious and in some cases deadliest symptom is the suicidal idealizations. When dealing with these symptoms alone is terrifying enough there is a whole other side.

Mania is an upward battle that gets harder for the individual because it is hard to catch. The sufferer might not even know that they are experiencing the symptoms, because they feel so good. Symptoms of mania include racing thoughts and or speech, irritability, impaired judgment, and decreased need for sleep. However, those symptoms can get serious when it can turn into euphoria, grandiosity, and even psychosis. These symptoms are not only hard to recognize, but hard to diagnose.

    A diagnosis is tricky for most sufferers. Many are in denial that there is something wrong. Patti Duke, a long time suffer has this advice "First of all, do the best [you] can to get past the denial that there's something wrong. Know that there are treatments and you actually do function better in society (Tedford, 1)." There are many people who have the bipolar disorder, but refuse to receive treatment. Most are afraid of what people might say or do once people find out. The stigma is so strong against those who come public with their disease. According to Dr. Andrea Zevenbergen, associate professor of psychology at the State University at Fredonia claims "I think depression is more accepted now, but not all parts of the population accept it….I still see cases where people are reluctant to seek counseling because they feel people would judge them negatively (Wasmund, 1)." With both these quotes in mind, people that have the disorder are very sheepish to come forth that they have bipolar. One the one hand, they might know that there are treatments available. Yet, on the other, do not want to overcome the social pressures that can arise from coming forth.

    The fact is that mental illness is a problem in the U.S., yet many seem to overlook it. In fact according to The American Medical Association, mental illness is described as the leading health problem, and sending more people to hospitals than what people advocate such as cancer, lung and heart disease (Pekar , 1). In the same article, it is claimed "Despite this, the stigma attached to mental illness is still slow and widespread. Our society's progress toward understanding mental health continues to be devastatingly slow (Pekar, 1). " Can you imagine a world that wouldn't claim cancer as a legit illness? Well, this is what many bipolar sufferers with. That their disease is not as suffering as others or that it is not as important. The numbers speak for themselves. The awareness of mental illness and bipolar disorder needs to be on the rise.     

    Treatment for bipolar disorder is extensive. There is no cure, but there are pharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques (Bipolar disorder, Wikipedia). In simple terms, this means taking medications and getting involved in different kind of therapies. The medications that are used for bipolar include mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics. The fact that there is no cure does not mean that there is no hope, however. Many bipolar sufferers can lead productive lives (Pekar, 1).

    With all of the negative publicity of bipolar disorder in the media, it is hard to see this positive prognosis. Many people that have the disorder feel like it is a part of them and not just a disorder. Terri Cheney is the author of a book, Manic. In an interview with Karen Heise, Cheney describes her aliments with bipolar as following… "You are very attached to the conflict, and it defines your life. If you are mentally ill, you don't very experience it, you are it. ( Heise, 1)" This is why it is hard for many to separate themselves from the illness or the stigma that comes from it.         

    If you have bipolar disorder or know someone that does, you will see the struggles that you must overcome. The negatives and shortcomings that one must overcome can seem overwhelming. Yet, there is more awareness everyday such as MTV's True Life: I'm Bipolar and other public figures willing to make their diagnoses known (Bipolar disorder, Wikipedia). Hopefully someday, bipolar disorder will not have some much negatively attached to it. People everywhere will find the positives to help these sufferers succeed, not merely get by. The more acceptances that there are, the more bipolar disorder can be a triumph instead of a burden.

 

Works Cited

"Bipolar disorder"18 March 2008 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder>

Cahoon, Lauren. "Myths About Mind and Mood Revealed" Abc News 6 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008. <http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/Depression/story?id=4396226&page=1>

Heise, Karen. "Between the Lines" Authorlink. March 2008.Retreived 18 March 2008. <http://www.authorlink.com/articles/item/571>

Pekar, Bob. "Eliminate Stigma for Mental Illness" Courier-Post 18 Feb, 2008. Retreived 18 March 2008. <http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/OPINION/802180301/1047>

Tedford, Daniel. "Patty Duke speaks at UCI on illnesses" Daily Pilot 8 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008. <http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/03/08/news/dpt-pattyduke030808.txt>

Wasmund, Jessica. "Too Much to Handle: Adults Perform Balancing Act to Combat Stress" The-Post Journal . 24 Feb. 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008. < http://post-journal.com/articles.asp?articleID=25182>