That extreme excitement may be a tell-tale sign

My first case of mental illness just about when I was starting my residency training in psychiatry back in 2006 was a case of Bipolar Disorder.  

Jimmy (not real name) is like a younger brother and he came to pay me a visit at home. He appeared very happy however everything else seemed fine. He shared with me some of his new spiritual experiences and how he had become bolder and more expressive of himself. He simply said that he was having one of the best times of his life and that he had all these fabulous ideas going through his mind. We chatted till about 12 midnight then I had to stop the discussion simply because I had to go to work the following day. At about 3 a.m. Jimmy was up again. He woke me up saying that he wanted to chat some more because he had discovered that, in his words, “great men don’t have need of sleep.” It was at that point that it hit me that Jimmy was having a mental breakdown.

Jimmy has a condition called Bipolar Disorder. Read about the signs and symptoms Here and Here. The proportion of any population regardless of ethnicity, race or geographical location that is usually affected by this illness is usually about 2%. Young people with Bipolar disorder have far greater risk of committing suicide.

Some famous people who are known to have this illness are Ted Turner, an American Billionaire media mogul, founder of CNN; Jean Claude Van Damme-a very successful martial art actor; and Winston Churchill-a famous British Prime Minister who was noted for his leadership of the British Army during the Second World War.

Bipolar disorder, though challenging, can be managed when proper management is sought. Remember that “when you are better educated about what you are dealing with, then you are never without hope.” Let’s spread the awareness not the stigma. Talk to a professional today.

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3 Cardinal Signs of Depression

"Depression is like living in a body that fights to survive, with a mind that tries to die"

--HealthyPlace.com

 

Everyone experiences set backs and occasionally have 'low mood' days. In moments like that we may loosely use the word "I am depressed", however an individual who suffers from the mood disorder called depression this is completely different from the normal depression we all experience.

Depression generally makes it very difficult for the affected individual to cope and manage with life. It is not an illness of the "weak" or "fainthearted" as many often think. Depression has been proven to be associated with functional changes in the brains of the individuals who are affected by it. 

 

The three cardinal symptoms of depression are

# 1. Persistent low mood- which occurs most part of the day, almost every day for two or more weeks or even months.

 

# 2. Loss of interest in hobbies, work, activities and in things you normally or previously enjoyed doing.

 

# 3. Noticeable reduced or lack of energy, hence the individual is easily fatigued.

 

There are other symptoms such as impaired sleep, impaired appetite, diminished ability to concentrate or indecisiveness almost every day, suicidal thoughts and feelings of guilt, helpless, and hopelessness.

 

When you are better educated about what you are dealing with, then you're never without hope. Let's spread the awareness and not the stigma.

Remember, people with mental health challenges can live more productive lives, talk to a professional today