tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16215663471089904332012-12-16T15:02:09.358-08:00A blog on the impact of living with bipolar disorder and the effect it has had on people around me. I have experienced the full bipolar spectrum including cyclothymia, which later developed into mania, major depression and psychosis. The purpose of this blog is to help people find out more about living with bipolar disorder and to provide a resource for those recently diagnosed with a bipolar disorder.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621566347108990433.post-22494961261203161152011-10-07T15:56:00.000-07:002011-10-07T15:56:47.009-07:002011-10-07T15:56:47.009-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Thank you to everyone who has commented on posts and visited this site. In order to implement new features and to grow this site further I have decided to move this blog away from Blogger and the new web address for Bipolar Life - Gift or Curse? can be found at <a href="http://www.bipolar-blog.com/">http://www.bipolar-blog.com/</a><br /> <br /> Please do visit my new site which although is still being developed, the navigation system has been much improved and many new features will follow.<br /> <br /> </div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621566347108990433.post-2281422838137696652011-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:002011-08-31T08:10:24.260-07:002011-08-31T08:10:24.260-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><strong closure_uid_998cj="145"><em>Bipolar 2 Disorder</em></strong></div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">The essential feature of Bipolar II Disorder is a clinical course that is characterized by the occurrence of one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by at least one Hypomanic Episode. </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><strong closure_uid_998cj="147"><em>Major Depressive Episode</em> </strong></div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2 week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. <br /> <br /> For adults depressed mood most of the day occurring nearly every day, whilst for children and adolescents it&nbsp;can be irritable mood.<br /> <br /> Loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day occurring most days.</div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month, or a decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. In children, failure to make age expected weight gains can be taken into account.<br /> <br /> Unable to sleep or sleeping too much which occurs most days.&nbsp;People when depressed often have problems falling asleep and will frequently awake very early in the morning. This is called insomnia. Hypersomnia occurs when a person sleeps too much. They may have a problem staying awake throughout the day.</div><div closure_uid_998cj="149" xmlns:o="urn:www.microsoft.com/office" xmlns:st1="urn:www.microsoft.com/smarttags" xmlns:w="urn:www.microsoft.com/word"><br /> A person with depression may feel or appear to others that their thinking and movement has been significantly slowed down. In some cases the opposite can occur and a person may be very agitated, restless with a heightened state of anxiety.&nbsp;</div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> <div closure_uid_j3f8oi="119">Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. A person may become unmotivated to undertake everyday chores such as washing up or attending to their personal care.</div><div closure_uid_j3f8oi="119"><br /> </div></div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick). A person may dwell on past events and feel guilty for things that have happened that they&nbsp;had no control over.<br /> <br /> Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others). A person may simply be unable to make a decision, even everyday decisions which we make such as should I walk to work or take the car can be challenging.<br /> <br /> Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal&nbsp;thoughts without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide <br /> <br /> B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode. <br /> <br /> C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. <br /> <br /> D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g.&nbsp;drug&nbsp;abuse,&nbsp; medication) or a general medical condition (e.g. thyroid problems). <br /> <br /> E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation. <br /> <br /> <strong><em>Hypomania</em></strong></div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">Hypomania is similar what a person may experience in a Manic State however the severity on their life is not usually as significant as that of Mania.</div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">A. A period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual non depressed mood. Some people are more excitable than others and this behaviour pattern must be out of character to a person's normal mood state.<br /> <br /> B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree: <br /> <br /> Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity. <br /> <br /> Decreased need for sleep (e.g. feeling rested after only 3 hours of sleep) <br /> <br /> More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking. I know myself that I hate that quiet room when everyone is siting there and not talking. On countless occasions I have irritated people with my constant talking, especially strangers in doctor's waiting rooms etc.<br /> <br /> Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. I personally have found hypomania to be my most productive state both&nbsp;on&nbsp;a work and social level.&nbsp;A business idea can blossom but it can be difficult to distinguish the good ideas from the bad ones when in this state. <br /> <br /> <div closure_uid_j3f8oi="120">Distractibility (i.e. attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli) I have lost countless days reading irrelevant information on the internet and starting new hobbies which I did not have the knowledge or skills to start with!</div><div closure_uid_j3f8oi="120"><br /> </div></div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation, excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments). <br /> <br /> C. The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic. The behaviour is out of character to a person's normal mood.<br /> <br /> D. The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others. <br /> <br /> E. The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features. <br /> <br /> F. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g.drug abuse,&nbsp;medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g. thyroid problems). </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_998cj="131">Please be aware that antidepressants can cause someone to appear to be in a manic or hypomanic state. This would come under section F ruling out a diagnosis of Bipolar 1&nbsp;or Bipolar 2 Disorder.</div></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621566347108990433.post-3562656016576207242011-08-31T06:42:00.000-07:002011-08-31T06:49:19.021-07:002011-08-31T06:49:19.021-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong closure_uid_oipjnq="138">Bipolar I Disorder</strong><br /> <br /> <div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><div closure_uid_82r3ax="127">The essential feature of Bipolar I Disorder is&nbsp;the occurrence of one or more Manic Episodes or Mixed Episodes which must last for at least one week, or for any length of time if&nbsp; hospitilization&nbsp; is required.&nbsp;Often the person has previously experienced depression however depression is not required in order for Bipolar 1 Disorder to be diagnosed. There is often a&nbsp;wrong assumption that people in a Manic State are happy, often quite the opposite is the case. A person may be&nbsp;extremely irritable&nbsp;and aggressive. </div></div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><strong><em>The symptoms of a Manic Episode are:</em></strong></div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139">A. A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood.<br /> <br /> B. Whilst in a period of a heightened mood state, three or more of the following symptoms have been present (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree: <br /> <br /> Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity. Believing that their intellect level or financial status is greater than it is etc. The person may gamble large sums of money or make significant out&nbsp;of character donations to charity and friends etc.<br /> <br /> Decreased need for sleep. A person experiencing Mania will often feel rested after just three hours and it is not uncommon for them to go several days without any sleep.<br /> <br /> More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking. A person's speech will often be quite rapid and louder than usual. They will frequently jump from one subject matter to another and will often use rhyming words.<br /> <br /> Racing thoughts and flight of ideas. This can be the gift of Bipolar Disorder if ideas and thoughts are channeled appropriately. A person experiencing racing thoughts of flight of ideas will often be seen to be churning out ideas for a book, a project etc at breathtaking speed. Unfortunately though many of these ideas are not appropriate and a rational person would quickly dismiss the suggestion as nonsense. For example I may think the Eiffel Tower is a danger to low flying aircraft, solution to paint the whole tower in fluorescent pink. A good idea?</div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139">Distractibility. A person in a manic state will find concentrating on one task and finishing it extremely difficult. Their thought process has moved onto the next task before completing what they started. Often important things will be left unattended to and the person will focus their limited attention span on unimportant stimuli.&nbsp;</div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation, excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments) <br /> <br /> C. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode. <br /> <br /> D. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features. <br /> <br /> E The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatments) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism). </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139">A person experiencing Mania will often require hospitilization and this&nbsp;is a serious mood impairment. In some cases, if untreated, a person may go on to&nbsp;develop psychosis and experience delusional thoughts, auditory and/or visual hallucinations.&nbsp;They may feel that they have been granted special powers by God, they are the reincarnation of Christ&nbsp;or that they are on a secret mission to save the planet etc.</div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><strong><em>Mixed State</em></strong></div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="150"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="150">A. A person can be diagnosed as being in a Mixed State if the criteria is met both for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode (except for duration) nearly every day during at least a 1-week period. <br /> <br /> B. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features. <br /> <br /> C. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism). </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="150"><br /> </div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="150">Bipolar 1 Disorder is often referred to as the sleeping condition. After an episode a person may go several years without a reoccurance only for another episode to occur. It is likely that stress is a trigger for a reoccurance however stress is not the sole contributor. Many other factors are believed to be a cause including lifestyle and genetics.</div><div closure_uid_oipjnq="139"><br /> </div></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621566347108990433.post-58392338103667399632011-08-26T13:12:00.001-07:002011-08-29T10:26:47.780-07:002011-08-29T10:26:47.780-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am currently running a poll asking how long it took to obtain a diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder. Please see the poll at the right hand side of this site and make a selection.<br /> Many thanks</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1621566347108990433.post-17816067925112448862011-08-14T14:27:00.000-07:002011-08-26T13:08:01.456-07:002011-08-26T13:08:01.456-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_ipan8j="108">What a day it's been. My partner has been staying at a friend's house for the past&nbsp;three days and I have been home alone looking after seven children (four which are mine) and two dogs. I feel&nbsp;like I've had hand grenades, cyanide pills and a firing squad to overcome today. Let's hope tomorrow is better! Recently retired to the sanctuary of my room and took two Diazepam to feel a little less edgy and started browsing the internet. Whilst doodling before I fall asleep I came across an excellent forum for mental health in which it was so nice to see people supporting one another. The forum can be viewed on <a href="http://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/index.php">http://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/index.php</a></div></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13304980869509465972noreply@blogger.com0