Bipolar Disorder by Nadine Ayers

What is bipolar disorder? What causes it?
Who gets it? How is it treated?
These are all questions that I am going to answer for you in this blog. I am also going to include the experience of someone who has dealt with bipolar disorder most of their life.



(bipolar sad) (bipolar happy)



What is a bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder-sometimes called manic-depressive disorder- Is a serious mental illness and should be treated as such. It can cause a person to have constant shifting mood swings. An individual suffering from bipolar disorder can feel very sad, low and depressive,and then have a mood switch and feel very happy and on top of the world, also known as mania. A person suffering from bipolar disorder may change moods several times a day, or just a few times a year. Bipolar disorder can cause a person to have suicidal thoughts, engage in risky behavior. The mental illness can also do heavy damage to relationships and careers.

What causes bipolar disorder?
Although scientist have not found the exact cause of bipolar disorder, researchers have found that bipolar disorder often runs in families which means that a person can be at risk because of genetics. Lifestyle and environment can also cause bipolar disorder. Millions of Americans suffer from bipolar disorder and don't even know it. Bipolar disorder effects men and women equally, and can effect any race. Bipolar disorder usually begins in early teen years and as late as mid twenties, although there have been cases of young children being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder.
A person suffering from the illness will experience mania(a high, happy feeling), and depression(sad, withdrawn feeling)
Other symptoms of the illness include:
- Excessive happiness
-irritability
-restlessness
- increased energy
- insomnia
-racing thoughts
-high sex drive
-Loss of interest in usual activities
-Withdrawn
-Suicidal thoughts
-Self hurting
-anxiety
-uncontrollable crying
-change in appetite
-sudden change in behavior

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder.

Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, there are many treatment options available to help the person and their family cope with the disease. Medication is necessary for all patients to help them control their moods. There are many available such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Zanax. It is also good for the patient suffering from the disease and their families to educate themselves on the disease, and if possible attend Psychotherapy to help cope with issues arising from bipolar disorder. In completing this blog I had the opportunity to speak with a gentlemen by the name of Ryan H., who suffered from bipolar disorder starting in his early teen years, I have included his story below in pictures with commentary, in hopes that it will give the world a better understanding of how the disease affects a person.


(mom and dad divorce)
Ryan H. feels that he may have inherited his bipolar disorder from his mother who also suffers from the disease. His mother took anxiety medicine to help control her moods as well as her panic attacks. His mother and father divorced when he was 5 years old upon which his mother began having such extreme mood changes that his grandmother was forced to take custody of him from his mother. After the divorce he seldom saw his mother, and only saw his father once a month. Ryan feels that these issues may have contributed to his bipolar disorder.



In Jr. high he started feeling social anxiety. he felt as if he did not fit in with the other kids. He was really depressed, he felt as if girls did not like him. He often stayed to himself and slept most of the hours outside of school. Ryan became so depressed that he often thought of killing himself.



At the age of 13 Ryan was taken to see a psychiatrist who then diagnosed him with bipolar disorder and placed him on Prozac. The medicine made him worry less and feel more care free. After being on Prozac Ryan got his first girlfriend and started making friends at school.


Ryan eventually got married and had children, years later he and his wife split up and he relapsed. He says the Prozac medicine no longer worked for him and his doctor then gave him samples of Zoloft, which worked really good. Ryan did not have any insurance so he could not afford to buy the medicine. He was forced to deal with his bipolar medication with out drugs or therapy due to low wages.



Ryan became very moody and depressed. he would often cut himself because he felt as if he deserved to be hurt. He would drink until he passed out, and often sat alone in his apartment.



When Ryan was not drinking and hurting himself, he would sleep for hours and hours, or visit strip clubs because he felt like that was the only way he could be loved.



Ryan found it very hard to go to work and function in every day life.



Ryan found it very hard to interact with his children, and often felt irritated by them. He never had the energy to play with them and that made him even more depressed.


Ryan became tired of dealing with his illness without medication. He contact the community health care center in his area and asked for help in dealing with his illness something he had never done before. After seeing a psychiatrist he was put back on Zoloft, he was allowed to pay on a sliding fee scale which made the medicine very affordable to him.



He feels a lot happier with his life since being on Zoloft, his is able to cope with life, and has lots of energy for his children. He enjoys going to work and has a positive outlook on life.


Ryan is just one of millions of stories of people who are dealing with bipolar disorder, if you feel that you or someone you know may have this illness seek help immediately. Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness but with proper medicine and education does suffering from it can live a happy and pleasurable life.