Bipolar DisorderBy: OffMyMeds

What is it?• a disorder where a person

experiences shifts in their mood, energy, and ability to do specific things• alternates between manic

and depressed stages

• feeling “up,” “high,” or elated• lot of energy• active• agitated or very irritable• make risky decisions or

actions

Mania Episode

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Depressed Episode• sad, empty, or hopelessness• little energy• sleep too much or too little• worried• eats too much or too little• contemplates death or suicide Often when a person is in a depressive stage, as a

result of bipolar disorder or another mental illness, they will not get out of bed for a long period of time,

which could lead to eating too little.

Causes • not one specific cause, instead multiple factors, such as:

• brain structure/function• genes/family history

Causes: Brain Structure/Function• patients tend to have an

underactive front part of their brain when making decisions• underactive medial prefrontal

cortex, which is seen in the redpart of this brain• imbalance in certain

neurotransmitters

Causes: Genes/Family History• people are more likely to have bipolar

disorder if a relative has it• just because it is a part of a person’s

history, it does not mean a person will develop it• because family history may play a role

in development, genes may be involved• scientists are not completely sure if

genes play a role

This chart shows the chance of a person having bipolar disorder depending on whether they have a family member with the mental

illness.

Treatments

• medications can help control a person’s symptoms• psychotherapy• Electroconvulsive Therapy

(ECT)• hospitalization

Ridgeview Institute is a psychiatric and addictive treatment facility in

Smyrna, GA.

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Treatments: Medications

• help control bipolar symptoms• mood stabilizers• antipsychotics• antidepressants

Lithium is an example of a mood stabilizer, which can help a person with bipolar disorder

contain their symptoms.

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Treatments: Psychotherapy

• give support, education, and guidance to patients with bipolar disorder and their families• different types of psychotherapy:

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)• Family-focused therapy• Psychoeducation

Group therapy can help people with mental disorder because it lets them know that others are going through the same thing and know how they are feeling. It is also

more cost effective for the patient.

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Treatments:• used as a “last resort” for people

with bipolar disorder• used when other treatments have not

worked

• can cause confusion, disorientation, and memory loss• helps a patient during a depressive

stage

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Bipolar: Alternating between Mania and Depression

• a person with bipolar disorder will alternate between mania and depression• these episodes could last days,

week, or months• between these two episodes, the

person would most likely experience a normal mood

Mania: how you Feel• extremely happy• annoyed by people who aren’t as optimistic as

you

• energetic• inability to sleep• full of new ideas

During a manic episode, people with bipolar

disorder will feel really good about themselves. They might feel better

than they have ever felt. They may think that they could do anything. This could ultimately lead to

an impulse decision with consequences.

Mania

Mania: How others see you• moving from one idea to another• unrealistic plans• bizarre behavior

(uncharacteristic of you)• talking fast• spur of the moment decisions• often lead to consequences

Alcoholism is often “paired with” bipolar disorder. During a mania stage, the person may begin to start heavy drinking again, which can

have terrible effects.

During a manic episode, a person with bipolar disorder may make

impulse decisions, such as driving a long

distance after an entire day at work and late at night. Another impulse could be buying a car, they could not afford.

Mania

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Depression: How you feel Mentally

• unhappy• loss of interest• indecisive• tired• loss of self-confidence• useless, inadequate, and

hopeless feelings• suicidal

During a depressive episode, a person with

bipolar disorder may be having feelings of hopelessness or

uselessness. This may result in suicidal

thoughts or actions.

Depression

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Depression: How you feel Physically

• no appetite• weight loss• waking up earlier than normal• hard to go to sleep• constipation

DepressionDuring a depressive

episode, a person with bipolar disorder

may begin to lose their appetite and

stop eating. This can result in extreme

weight loss, which can be detrimental to

their health.

Refusing Medication• some medications can be used to help

calm the side effects of both the mania and depressive stages• there are lots of cases where a bipolar

patient will refuse to take their medication because…

• medication might come with more side effects• doesn’t want to lose the mania

that comes with bipolar disorder• gives that person a label

People with bipolar disorder often refuse to take their meds and usually end up throwing them away. This is

because while they are on their medications, everything is good, so they go off thinking that they are “cured.”

DisclaimerThis is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this

blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian:

laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

Sources (Information)• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml• http://psycheducation.org/the-biologic-basis-of-bipolar-disorder/1035-2/• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-

disorder/basics/causes/con-20027544• http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/factsheet/bipolar-disorder-what-does-it-feel-like• http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2013/05/bipolar-refuses-

treatment/

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