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Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by extreme changes in the patient's mood from mania to depression. Between these mood episodes, the patient may experience periods of normal mood. Bipolar disorder can lead to dangerous behaviors if not treated appropriately.1. What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a serious mental illness. It is a disorder that can lead to risky behavior, especially when the patient's relationships and career are damaged, and the person is even more likely to commit suicide if left untreated.Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood, from mania to depression. Between these mood episodes, a person with bipolar disorder may experience periods of normal mood.
The manic phase in bipolar disorder is described as a period in which the patient feels restless, energetic, talkative, reckless, energetic, euphoric. There may be extravagant spending or impulsive risky sex. Then, at some point, this soaring mood can turn to something darker — annoyed, confused, angry, feeling trapped.
The depressive episode in bipolar disorder is described in contrast to the manic episode, with manifestations such as sadness, crying, feelings of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure, trouble sleeping .
But mania and depression are different for each person, and bipolar disorder is a complex disorder to diagnose. For some people, mania or depression can last for weeks or months or even a year or more. For others, bipolar disorder occurs as more frequent and shorter mood episodes.
going through a manic episode may think that everything is going well. However, danger comes when the manic episode worsens. The changes can be dramatic and are marked by reckless behavior, promiscuous sex, personal or work-related mishaps, and financial irresponsibility.
Episodes of depression can be equally dangerous. A person may have frequent thoughts of suicide.
Bipolar disorder is equally difficult for the families of the sufferer. According to some experts, the condition is one of the hardest mental illnesses to accept for families. When a person is sometimes very productive and then becomes unreasonable, it seems more like bad behavior than a disease.
If this happens to you or your loved one, the first step to solving the problem is to see a psychologist. Whether it's bipolar disorder or another mood-related problem, effective treatments are available. The most important thing is that you recognize the problem and start seeking help.
2. Is bipolar disorder dangerous?
People with bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental disorders often have periods when they feel extremely sad, hopeless, anxious, or confused. When these feelings become too intense, the person may struggle with how to deal with the overwhelming emotions, and for some people, the effort to deal with distress can be seen as behavioral behavior. self-injury.Self-injury, which often includes cutting, cutting, or self-harm, is a hurtful attempt to deal with dominant negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety, and frustration. extreme hope. It is not a one-time action, but often repeated.
Usually, people who intentionally injure themselves are those who have experienced traumatic events in childhood or early development.
2.1. Some forms of self-injury in patients with bipolar disorder Sharp cutting of the skin is one form of self-injury. Other forms of self-injury may include burning, hitting or bruising, biting, banging the head, or scratching the skin. Sometimes pulling your hair out is a form of self-harm.
Some people who self-injure may do so methodically or frequently, almost as if the self-injury was a ritual. Others may impulsively self-injure as a way to get immediate relief from a build-up of stress. They may self-injure as a way to regulate intense emotions or as a way of self-distraction.
No matter how self-injury is used, it is an unhealthy, dangerous act and can leave deep scars both physically and mentally.
2.2. Why do people with bipolar disorder self-injure? Just as there are healthy ways to reduce stress, such as exercise, there are also unhealthy ways to deal with negative feelings. For some people, self-injury is a way to relieve stress and deal with negative emotions.
Along with self-harm, some people with bipolar disorder and other mental disorders are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than people without mood disorders. Some experts believe that risk behaviors are related to patients' attempts to self-soothe unpleasant moods, especially if they feel overwhelmed by traumatic emotions.
Like drugs and alcohol, self-harm is not an effective way to try to alleviate negative emotions. That's why it's important for people with mental disorders, especially when traumatic or abusive events occur in childhood, to talk to their doctor about effective strategies. to help manage feelings of grief.
2.3. Can self-injury lead to suicide? Suicide is a major risk for people with bipolar disorder. Between 25% and 50% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide, and 15% die by suicide. But people who self-injure to get out of feeling bad don't necessarily kill themselves.
Although self-injury and suicide are different, self-injury should not be assumed to be a trivial matter. Self-injury is essentially physical harm to a person's body. It is important for the self-injur to seek help.
3. Bipolar Disorder and Suicide
People with bipolar disorder are at very high risk of suicide if they do not receive treatment. The National Mental Health Association reports that 30%-70% of suicide victims have suffered from some form of depression. Men have a suicide rate close to 75%, although twice as many women attempt suicide as men.Risk factors for a person's suicide include:
Mental disorder and substance abuse Family history of psychosis or substance abuse Prior suicidal ideation here Have a family history of physical or sexual abuse Have family members or friends who have attempted suicide If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide and has had warning signs do not stand quiet. Seek the help of a healthcare professional immediately. People often talk about suicide before they even attempt it, so pay attention to what they're saying and take them seriously.
Some of the warning signs of suicide in people with bipolar disorder include:
Talking about suicide Always talking or thinking about death Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless Saying things like " It would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want to go out" Depression gets worse Sudden change from very sad to very calm or cheerful Significant increase in alcohol abuse or drugs Having a "death wish", tempting fate by taking risks that can lead to death, like driving through a red light Losing interest in things that were once interested in Visiting or calling people you care about Changes in will Recent sleep problems Not sleeping Seemingly restless or agitated Thinking that you can't stop harming yourself Hear voices you're harming yourself Want to commit suicide
4. Is bipolar disorder curable?
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong medical condition. Treatment is directed at managing the symptoms of the disease.Treatment for bipolar disorder should be directed by a psychiatrist. Treatment of bipolar disorder includes:
Drug treatment Psychotherapy Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS) Psychological Health Clinic - Vinmec Times International General Hospital City has the function of examining, consulting and outpatient treatment of psychological and mental health problems, including sleep disorders. With modern equipment, Vinmec Psychological Health Clinic is currently cooperating with experienced professors and experts:
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Reference sources: webmd.com, mayoclinic.org