MAIN POST

Please share here the thoughts or feelings you are having about the assigned readings and videos. You are being presented with a variety of lenses through which to view the experience of bi-polar and the depressive disorders. Please link literature to practice as you offer examples, thoughts, quotes and citations.

STEVENS RESPOND

Bipolar Disorder is characterized by swings in feelings and behavior, the high highs and the low lows. Individuals with Bipolar will shift between manic episodes of high activity and then depressive episodes, and these swings can often be distinguished by days or weeks between swings. There deserves to be the distinction between Bipolar I & II; depressive episodes are more common with Bipolar I (but are not required for diagnosis).

With 25-50% of people with Bipolar attempting suicide, its a disease that deserves a great sense of care during diagnosis and treatment (Klein, 2014). With the negative impacts of medication so widely known and documented, its often the case where one might ask if modern psychiatry isnt doing more harm than good with medical treatments (Frances, 2013; Up/Down). In order to remedy the misdiagnosis of Bipolar the DSM has recently made changes to try and distinguish Bipolar from depression or schizophrenia (Craighead, 2014). With Bipolar I Disorder does not necessitate the depressive disorders that Bipolar II Disorder does, it is clear why one might be misdiagnosed with MDD or Borderline Personality Disorder (Craighead, 2014).

Both Laura Bain and Klein (2014) discuss the feeling of lacking control, being on a wave, being swept into the mood swings that are characteristic of Bipolar Disorder (TEDxTerryTalks; Klein, 2014). A close family member of mine similarly describes the feeling of helplessness in his swings. I employed my cousin for a number of years, and it was always clear upon his walking onto the job site how where he was in his experiences. It was not uncommon for him to work an 8 hour shift during his depressive episodes and not say a single word. It was utter darkness for him, and all I could do was let him know it was ok.

Over the years there has been advancements in both the diagnosis and treatment of Bipolar disorder, and this brings some optimism for people that are diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. For one, Bipolar is one of the most heritable psychological disorders (Craighead, 2014), so acknowledging a biological correlate is important. With new understandings some individuals are experiencing improvements in their quality of life, and while they might still experience swings, they are often reported as being less severe without being necessarily cured (Up/Down). There is also reports of the side-effects being worse than being non-medicated sufferer of Bipolar (Up/Down). In the end, it should be respected that everyones response to treatments are as varied as the individuals that seek treatment. In truth science still doesnt truly know the cause of the disease (Craighead, 2014). With a history rife with misdiagnosis for a great many psychological disorders, it is a great relief to not only the sufferers and their loved ones, but also psychologists and psychiatrists that advancements are showing glimmers of hope for many that suffer from the disease.

REFERENCES:

Craighead, E. W., Miklowitz, D. J., & Craighead, L. W. (2013).  Psychopathology: History, diagnosis and empirical foundations (2nd ed.).  Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (2013). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Frances, A. (2013) Saving normal: An insider’s revolt against out-of-control psychiatric diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the medicalization of ordinary life. New York, NY: William Morrow.

Klein, S. (2014). What Bipolar Disorder Really Feels Like. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bipolar-disorder-ellen-forney_n_5823138

TEDxTerryTalksLaura BainLiving with Bipolar Type II. (2011). from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ki9dgG3P5M&feature=youtu.be

Up/Down Bipolar Disorder Documentary FULL MOVIE (2011). (n.d.). Arpi-Revo Productions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyiZfzbgaW4&feature=youtu.be

MAIN POST

Please share here the thoughts or feelings you are having about the assigned readings and videos. You are being presented with a variety of lenses through which to view the experience of bi-polar and the depressive disorders. Please link literature to practice as you offer examples, thoughts, quotes and citations.

CHRYSTAPHORS RESPOND

According to the DSM-5 (2013), bipolar disorder may be diagnosed when a person has extreme mood shifts from depressive to mania (which is noted by an inflated self-esteem and excessive involvement in dangerous activities).  Craighead, Miklowitz, & Craighead (2013) mentioned that the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin may be at play when someone is suffering from bipolar disorder.  I wonder if bipolar disorder is the body’s natural attempt to find a balance.  For example, someone goes through a period of major depression, then the body kicks up the production of dopamine and serotonin in order to bring the individual out of his/her depression and sends the individual into a manic state.  I feel like the body is naturally guided to bring itself back to homeostasis, and perhaps bipolar is a consequence of something the body normally does.

I am not attempting to downplay the debilitating effects of the disorder, simply hypothesizing that it may be more normal than mainstream science has described.  I like how Laura Bain, the woman living with bipolar disorder, mentions that she is a scientist who seeks formulas but believes “wellness is more like art” (TEDx Talks, 2011).  Yes, there is a science behind treating people with bipolar and certain “formulas” have been proven successful.  However, I don’t believe the simple diminishing of symptoms means a person is getting well.  The symptoms are an expression of an underlying problem.  Bain mentioned that she didn’t have anything externally going on in her life that may have caused her to enter her first depressive state (TEDx Talks, 2011).  I would argue that there must have been some kind of problem, either one that was festering in her memory or some kind of dissatisfaction with her current life.  It’s hard for me to believe that her brain was just wired to take her through bipolar states.  There may be some kind of genetic hardwiring that would make one more vulnerable to bipolar disorder, but I believe there is a multifaceted reason people develop a disorder like bipolar.  This is where the art (not the science) of therapy plays a role.