Your Guide
to Understanding Bipolar Disorder
18002231313
Ministry of
Health Singapore
Contents
1.
What
is Bipolar Disorder?
2.
What
are the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
3.
Who
gets Bipolar Disorder? What causes Bipolar Disorder?
4.
When
do you need help? What are the treatments available?
5.
Coping
with Bipolar Disorder
6.
Helping
someone with Bipolar Disorder
7.
Where
to get help
This
booklet is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice and
care. You should consult your family doctor or other healthcare professionals
if you have any questions about your medical condition.
1.
What
is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar
disorder is an illness characterised by episodes of extreme mood swings. During
these episodes, the patient’s mood, behavior and activity levels are
significantly disrupted. Episodes may be characterized by either an elevation
of mood with increased energy and activity (i.e. mania or hypomania), or a
lowering of mood with decreased energy and activity (i.e. depression).
2.
What
are the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
During
episodes of mania or hypomania (less severe mania), symptoms may include:
- Excessive happiness or irritability
- Feeling full of energy and restlessness
- Less need for sleep
- Racing thoughts
- Feeling full of self-importance
- Feeling full of great new ideas and having important plans
- Doing pleasurable things that often have disastrous consequences, such as spending large sums of money on expensive unaffordable items
During
episodes of depression, symptoms may include:
- Feeling sad and hopeless
- Lacking in energy
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
- A loss of interest in everyday activities
- Feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt and despair
- Feeling pessimistic about everything
- Changes in appetite causing weight loss or gain
- Either sleeping excessively or having difficulty sleeping
- Suicidal thoughts
3.
a.
Who gets Bipolar Disorder?
Although
the local prevalence for bipolar disorder is yet unknown, gobal estimates
suggest that 1-2% of people may suffer from bipolar disorder over their
lifetime. Men and women are equally likely to get the disorder.
The age of
onset for bipolar disorder ranges from childhood to 50 years of age, with a
mean age of approximately 21 years.
b. What
causes Bipolar Disorder?
The cause
of bipolar disorder is yet unknown. However, it is thought that genetics,
enviormnetal as well as social factors play a role.
4.
When
do you need help?
If you or
your loved one has noticed that you are suffering from severe mood swings with
the symptoms associated with mania, hypomania or depression, you should seek
professional assessment.
If you have
been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you should be on regular follow-up with a
doctor
5.
What
are the treatments available?
The
majority of people with bipolar disorder can be treated using a combination of
different treatments. These include:
·
Medications
to prevent episodes of mania, hypomania and depression – these are known as
mood stabilisers and are taken every day, on a long-term basis;
·
Medications
to treat the main symptoms of depression and mania as and when they occur;
·
Psycho-social
treatments to help recognize the early signs of an episode as well as to
identify situations that may trigger a relapse;
·
Learning
healthy coping skills to deal with stress.
6.
Coping
with Bipolar Disorder
Living with
bipolar disorder is challenging. However, many people with bipolar disorder
have successful careers, happy family lives, and satisfying relationships.
There are
steps that you can take to manage the condition more effectively, such as:
- · Avoiding or learning to cope with stressful situations that may trigger an episode of mania or depression;
- · Avoiding drinking too much alcohol or taking recreational drugs, as this may interact with your medications or trigger an episode;
- · Taking your prescribed mood medications regularly and not to suddenly stop taking them just because you feel well;
- · Informing your doctor immediately if you get any side effects from the mediation you are taking. He can adjust your dosage or change the type of medication that you are taking;
- · Learning about your illness so that you can recognize the signs of an approaching episode and take the necessary steps to manage it effectively;
- · Leading a healthy lifestyle, including getting sufficient sleep.
If you have bipolar disorder, the help and support of your family and
friends are important. If they know that you have the condition and understand
what it is about, they can recognize when you are experiencing mood swings and
advise you to seek help.
7.
Helping
someone with Bipolar Disorder
You can
help someone with bipolar disorder. The first and most important thing you can
do is help him get the right diagnosis and treatment. Ensure that he sees the
doctor on time. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment. Some people stop
taking the medication as soon as they feel better or because the mania feels
good. Stopping medication can cause serious problems.
To help a
friend or relative, you can:
- · Offer support, understanding, patience, and encouragement;
- · Learn about bipolar disorder so that you can understand what your loved one is experiencing;
- · Talk to him and listen carefully to what he has to share;
- · Listen to feelings which he expresses – be understanding about situations that may trigger bipolar symptoms;
- · Invite him out for positive distractions, such as walks, outings, and other activities;
- · Remind him that, with time and treatment, he can get better;
- · Never ignore comments about harming himself. Always inform his doctor of such comments.
8.
Where
to get help
Consult a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms or wish to seek help
From 1 Nov 2011, the Medisave for Chronic Disease Management Programme
will be extended to include Dementia and Bipolar Disorder. The scheme will
allow patients with these mental illnesses to use their Medisave to pay part of
their treatment bill.
To locate a hospital or a clinic near your home that is on the Chronic
Disease Management Programme Mental Health (CDMP MH) visit http://www.hpb.gov.sg/chronicdiease.
For information on CDMP and CDMP Mental Health call the healthline at
1800 2231313 or visit http://www.hpb.gov.sg/chronicdisease.
Copyright HPB B ECMT 690-11
November 2011
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