The Bright Side of Bipolar
"What is Manic Depression?"
Jim Carey, Robin Williams, Van Gogh, Buzz Aldrin, Jimi Hendrix and Sylvia Plath, what comes to mind when you read this list? Personally, when I first saw the list, it was creativity, imagination and talent. Yet this array of great icons is just a small part of the list of bipolar disorder sufferers in the world. People like these show what can be achieved with this stereotypically pessimistic “disorder”.
Also known as ‘manic depression’, bipolar disorder is a mental illness causing dramatic mood swings moving from overly-high or irritable moods (manic phase) to periods of hopelessness, pessimism and worthlessness (depressive phase) and then switching back again. This cycle is often repeated with occasional periods of normal phases in between.
There are many symptoms of bipolar disorder which, common with most mental illnesses, share overlapping symptoms with other disorders e.g. a lack of sleep, more talkative and overly happiness are common in the manic phase while a change in appetite, feelings of guilt and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex, are a few of the symptoms included in the depressive phase.
This makes it reasonably common for misdiagnosis to occur, especially during the depressive episodes. It is believed that bipolar is caused by low levels of dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin in certain brain areas, while mania is associated with excessively high levels. These neurotransmitter imbalances also seem to be inherited.
Overall, bipolar disorder is perceived to be a dreadful disorder with nothing but negatives coming from it like suicide and a poor social life, however, these assumptions couldn’t be more from the truth! Most patients lead full and productive lives. The main beauty of bipolar disorder is the link with creativity as it’s amazing how much talent has been developed through bipolar. The knowledgeable Stephen Fry said himself that he wrote his best books whilst in the manic phase of his bipolar disorder. Another amazing aspect is the depth of experience they have. These people go through more than can be described and show courage, will and power as a result of the going through not just the highs and lows in life, but the extreme highs and lows in life. They go through it all, which is why bipolar sufferers are unique, heroic and inspirational in comparison to the rest of us.
Plenty of help is available for bipolar and the positives of it should certainly not be overlooked! One form of treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy which looks at the cognitive triad and aims to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. This is one of the most popular psychosocial treatments and is highly recommended as it gets to the root of the problem. Others include mood stabilizers, such as Lithium, which are medications that balance the manic and depressive states experienced by patients.
Cognitive Triad
So, if you think you or someone you know is suffering from bipolar disorder then do the right thing and don’t hesitate to seek help via a doctor or psychologist. However, remember, bipolar disorder affects approximately 1% of the population and the possibilities with what can be achieved with these one of a kind people are endless!
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