Pages 4-5
TYPES OF BIPOLAR
Pages 6-7
BEING BIPOLAR BIOGRAPHY
Pages 8-9
3-STEP PROGRAMME
Pages 10-11
A PROBLEM HALVED
Pages 12-13 DIAGNOSIS
Pages 14-15 CONTACTS
introduce Yourself Hi, My name is Elise i was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when i was 21, i am now aged 35. Whats your understanding on bipolar disorder? My understanding of bipolar disorder is that it used to be called Manic Depression. In some ways the old term is easier to understand because it involves Mania and Depression but it is a little simplistic. Bipolar refers to two poles or opposites of mood and the disorder is basically a malfunction in the person's brain where they experience extreme mood swings. We all experience different moods in that we all feel excitement and confidence and giddiness and we can also feel really blue and down. In someone with Bipolar Disorder this goes to further extremes - rather than just getting blue, their mood plummets to horrifying depression that actually ends in suicide for 1 in 5 sufferers and the "high" moods escalate to mania or hypomania which is basically an extreme form of the upper happy moods and can involved dangerous behavior like gambling, promiscuity, spending huge amounts of money. It is an irrationally high mood where thinking becomes distorted. You have definitely made readers to understand what the condition entails. What is your personal experiences with these mood swings? My mania... I was surprised that my "mania" actually was not a happy experience. I thought it would be like flying and painting the world in bright colors but it actually is quite uncomfortable for me because my thoughts race so fast I feel almost in physical pain and I get very irritable. Do you feel there are any misconceptions about bipolar disorder? Absolutely. I think people confuse it with Schizophrenia and confuse Schizophrenia with what used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder. People also assume you are intellectually handicapped and can't take care of yourself. There's also the idea that people with Bipolar Disorder are dangerous. Every time you hear of a murder or a school gunman going on a rampage people start throwing around the idea they are mentally ill or have Bipolar Disorder. The truth is
people with Bipolar Disorder are much more likely to be a danger to themselves rather than others Before you were diagnosed what was your experiences with Bipolar? My mum has bipolar disorder and her mother, who is deceased, also had it. They suffered a lot more from it because treatments were more barbaric in their generations and less was known. I wasn't told until I was 12 that my mum's hospitalizations were for "mental breakdowns" and not for a heart condition... A lot of people are surprised to find that Bipolar Disorder is mainly hereditary. Researchers are studying the gene that it appears on which is good in some ways but scary in others. I guess I worry that if they find the gene that people will start terminating pregnancies based on pre-natal testing, the same way they do with Downs Syndrome. Do you fear your child may suffer from depression or from your disorder? Always, everyday. I nearly didn't have children because of it but I guess I decided that I am ultimately glad I was born so why would I make a decision for my child to not experience life? Do you worry people will think or treat you differently when and if they find out you suffer from such extreme levels of depression?  Yes I do. Stigma is still very bad, especially in the workplace. Basically, despite laws against it, if you disclose your illness 9/10 times you won't get the job. Employers make concessions for disabilities like wheelchairs etc but are very reluctant to accommodate people with a mental illness. Do you have any uplifting advice or words for readers who may be suffering from bipolar? You are not alone! There are millions of us living successful lives. I have a happy marriage and a gorgeous child. More and more is being found out about treatments so there is no need to suffer alone and without good medical treatment. There are thousands of gifted and talented sufferers in the world. Hold your head high and don't be ashamed. Take care of yourself and enjoy life one day at a time because it is possible to live a fulfilling life. I also comfort myself with my faith and the fact that God does not make mistakes. He made me unique and beautiful just the way I am.
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NOT THE RE A U O Y T RE T H A JUST BE AWA M B IP ORO F G N RI E F F SU Y G O IN G N O N LY P E RS O N A M RE A T H E RE RO U G H. H T LA R D IS O RD E R, G IN O G RE T YOU A T H RO U G H W H A IS A N D U S E H T E V E LI E B E TO N T A G E. A IT S Y O U R C H O IC V D A R U O Y EST OF T H IN G D O T H IS T O T H E B O G A E B RD E R C A N B IP O LA R D IS O C IB LE A N D IN V IN U O Y S AKE E LE BC . B E C A U S E IT M LS A O G E V YOU HA D RI V E N W H E N H RI S B RO W N C , S M A LI IL W B B IE E R F RO M F F RI T T IE S LI K E RO U S S E N O J A NE ZET C C E SU S A N D C A T H E RI RY E V LL A T H E Y A RE B IP O LA R A N D OU BACK Y LD O H IT T LE T F F U L. D O N
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Treating Bipolar disorder Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step in bipolar disorder treatment. This isn’t always easy. The mood swings of bipolar disorder can be difficult to distinguish from other problems such as major depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. For many people with bipolar disorder, it takes years and numerous doctor visits before the problem is correctly identified and treated. Making the diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be tricky even for trained professionals, so it’s best to see a psychiatrist with experience treating bipolar disorder rather than a family doctor or another type of physician. A psychiatrist specializes in mental health, and is more likely to know about the latest research and treatment options. For help finding psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in your community, see Resources section below.