Tuesday, 3 January 2012
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Mental conditions are no laughing matter, especially when you have a loved one who manifests problems in their mental health. It could be a perpetual state of depression, or a state of unpredictability in terms of mood swings and reactions to any emotional stress trigger. Among these problems, manic depression is one that is considered very difficult to understand or to treat. What people used to call manic depression is more commonly called bipolar affective disorder these recent years.
What exactly is this condition called bipolar affective disorder? Essentially, it is a mental condition in which the brain has abnormalities in its anatomy or physical structure, the hippocampus in particular, as well as its physiology, or the balance of chemicals that send a message to certain body parts. The term “bipolar” is used to refer to the extremes of moods that a person suffering from it tends to experience: he may experience moods that are too low, or depression, and moods that are too high, referred to as mania, or even both. This imbalance of moods results in impaired judgments, causing the person not to be able to operate within the normal demands of daily life.
How does a person know if he has this disorder? Generally, a medical practitioner makes the diagnosis based on symptoms. They generally rule out other conditions that may also cause the same symptoms. Then, the medical history of the patient is evaluated, which includes the record of any prior episode of mental illness. The family’s medical history is also checked to see if there is any history of mood disorders. Currently, blood tests are being studied for possible help in the future of diagnosis of this illness.
But what causes bipolar affective disorder? Science and research has not yet proven the possible causes, although they have become accepted by the general public. Heredity has been shown to be a major factor, although specific genetic abnormalities still remain to be suspicion. A chemical imbalance in a person’s brain is also suspected, perhaps linked to leaking membranes along the pathways through which the messages are delivered within the person’s brain. Another possible cause that scientists are considering is a seizure disorder in the frontal cortex of the brain; apparently, convulsions do not occur with these types of seizures because these do not contain any psycho-motor centers; instead, this area affects mood and a person’s judgment.
As of the time of this writing, an estimated 3 out of every 200 people are diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. About one to two million Americans have this condition. Interestingly, there have been no difference found between the condition among different races or ethnicity, nor have there been any difference of rate of occurrence among men and women.
How is this treated? Typically, ongoing treatment is required for most cases. The patient is usually given medication and is required to meet with a psychiatrist on a regular basis. One’s lifestyle will also need to be adjusted, if only to avoid the triggers and to avoid a relapse. This means the person will be expected to monitor his moods as well as symptoms. He will also need to practice good management of stress as well as to pace himself in order to avoid under-stimulation or over-stimulation in certain situations. The need for supportive family and friends is also found crucial, as is the stress relieving effect of hobbies.
While the disorder has currently been found to be incurable, there have been people who report the loss of symptoms through seemingly unscientific means: since the condition is related to mood and affects one’s self-image, having a proper view of one’s value seems to help tremendously. People who believe that there is a Higher Being who values them enough and is not double-minded about them seems to give them a sense of security and purpose, and greatly diminishes the occurrence of symptoms. The assurance that they are forgiven by God and not condemned anymore has also resulted in people who used to be in bondage to their condition soaring high in freedom and joy, with some no longer needing their regular medication. This gives hope to anybody who has a family member suffering from the condition, as it may appear to be affected greatly by thought processes that can be changed.
What is Bipolar Affective Disorder
What exactly is this condition called bipolar affective disorder? Essentially, it is a mental condition in which the brain has abnormalities in its anatomy or physical structure, the hippocampus in particular, as well as its physiology, or the balance of chemicals that send a message to certain body parts. The term “bipolar” is used to refer to the extremes of moods that a person suffering from it tends to experience: he may experience moods that are too low, or depression, and moods that are too high, referred to as mania, or even both. This imbalance of moods results in impaired judgments, causing the person not to be able to operate within the normal demands of daily life.
How does a person know if he has this disorder? Generally, a medical practitioner makes the diagnosis based on symptoms. They generally rule out other conditions that may also cause the same symptoms. Then, the medical history of the patient is evaluated, which includes the record of any prior episode of mental illness. The family’s medical history is also checked to see if there is any history of mood disorders. Currently, blood tests are being studied for possible help in the future of diagnosis of this illness.
But what causes bipolar affective disorder? Science and research has not yet proven the possible causes, although they have become accepted by the general public. Heredity has been shown to be a major factor, although specific genetic abnormalities still remain to be suspicion. A chemical imbalance in a person’s brain is also suspected, perhaps linked to leaking membranes along the pathways through which the messages are delivered within the person’s brain. Another possible cause that scientists are considering is a seizure disorder in the frontal cortex of the brain; apparently, convulsions do not occur with these types of seizures because these do not contain any psycho-motor centers; instead, this area affects mood and a person’s judgment.
As of the time of this writing, an estimated 3 out of every 200 people are diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. About one to two million Americans have this condition. Interestingly, there have been no difference found between the condition among different races or ethnicity, nor have there been any difference of rate of occurrence among men and women.
How is this treated? Typically, ongoing treatment is required for most cases. The patient is usually given medication and is required to meet with a psychiatrist on a regular basis. One’s lifestyle will also need to be adjusted, if only to avoid the triggers and to avoid a relapse. This means the person will be expected to monitor his moods as well as symptoms. He will also need to practice good management of stress as well as to pace himself in order to avoid under-stimulation or over-stimulation in certain situations. The need for supportive family and friends is also found crucial, as is the stress relieving effect of hobbies.
While the disorder has currently been found to be incurable, there have been people who report the loss of symptoms through seemingly unscientific means: since the condition is related to mood and affects one’s self-image, having a proper view of one’s value seems to help tremendously. People who believe that there is a Higher Being who values them enough and is not double-minded about them seems to give them a sense of security and purpose, and greatly diminishes the occurrence of symptoms. The assurance that they are forgiven by God and not condemned anymore has also resulted in people who used to be in bondage to their condition soaring high in freedom and joy, with some no longer needing their regular medication. This gives hope to anybody who has a family member suffering from the condition, as it may appear to be affected greatly by thought processes that can be changed.
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