LOVE AND MANIA!
It is a known fact that love has always had an important role to play in the life of any given person, no matter who they are or where they belong. It is a naturalistic emotion that enjoys giving something, desired or needed rather than receiving it. But the beauty of love is that it disregards factors such as race, religion, morality, and even illnesses of the body or mind. The right person or group of people will love you and accept you no matter what and will help you grow in the best way possible. In this blog, I’d like to unravel the effects and importance of love with respect to Bipolar disorder and people suffering from it.
So, what is “Bipolar disorder”? Also referred to as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health illness that is characterised by a severe fluctuation in a person's mood, energy, thought processes, and behaviour. A patient of bipolar disorder may experience a sense of euphoric to almost manic high followed by an acute sense of low. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition defines mania as an isolated episode of abnormally and persistently high, inflated, or agitated mood that lasts for a period of at least one week. It causes symptoms such as inflated self-esteem or egomania, impaired sleep needs, increased talkativeness or pressure to talk more than usual, flight of thoughts or the interpretation that their minds are racing, and even an increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.
Numerous elements come into play when we consider how bipolar disorder affects relationships. Living with a disorder like this may result in major setbacks in friends, family and romantic relationships. Falling in love or having loved ones around them is not the difficult task at hand, but maintaining these love relationships is what causes all the chaos. People with the disorder often have a hard time differentiating between the emotions and feelings that they are going through. When a person is experiencing a hypomanic episode, also known as an ecstatic high, they may have a strong need for greater love and may even want to give their partners and loved ones a lot of closeness or care. Most of the time, they have a tendency to love too much and can't help but take care of their loved ones. But the exact reverse happens during depressive episodes. Intimacy with their spouses is avoided when they experience severe mood swings- manic symptoms like poor judgement and recklessness, or depressed symptoms like low energy and disinterest. Even being near their loved ones or showing them concern or affection seems difficult to them. An episode of "Modern Love'' delivered a nearly flawless representation of what it's like to live with bipolar disorder and how the disorder impacts both the person and those around them. The show skillfully illustrates how dating can become more difficult if you have mental health issues. In the first half of the episode the protagonist is lively, successful, and charming; nevertheless, in the second half, we also witness her descend into depressive episodes and experience days when she is unable to get out of bed. She searches for love but ultimately rejects a potential relationship.
Several meticulous descriptive investigations have carefully explored the mood, behavioural, cognitive, and perceptual abnormalities of mania. The vast majority of people suffering from bipolar disorder report despair, irritability, expansiveness, and mood lability as frequently as euphoria, according to studies looking at mood symptoms during manic episodes. These symptoms and behavioural changes, may not only affect the person in general, but may also bring about issues in their home, love and work life.The inability of a son or daughter with this disorder to control their emotions may make it challenging for parents or other family members to look after them. Their constant shift in mood may be a cause of severe concern for the members of the family. Children, who depend on parents for stability, may find the erratic behaviour associated with bipolar disease frightening and perplexing if a parent is affected by it. When it comes to intimate relationships, the disordered partner may have an increased desire for sexual gratification and may even turn to risky measures to satisfy their pleasure needs. On the other hand, they might completely avoid physical contact when experiencing a depressive episode. With manic highs and depressive lows, managing the disorder at work might seem quite challenging. Roughly nine out of every ten bipolar disorder patients reported that their disorder had a detrimental impact on their ability to perform at work in a research performed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. More than half of respondents believed they needed to change professions or occupations more frequently than other people.
A significant factor in the progression of the illness is the nature of social and familial support. For family caregivers, who are frequently unpaid non-professionals who significantly contribute to the care and support of others, such as family or friends, the functional impairment frequently associated with bipolar disease can have substantial repercussions. Despite this, the pleasures and benefits of aiding someone with a chronic illness like bipolar disorder can diminish the strain that comes with it. Positive effects include heightened feelings of love and compassion for the person receiving assistance, improved empathy for those going through similar difficulties, and increased feelings of thankfulness. In a study with 12 participants who were aged between 15 and 35 and were designated as the primary informal caregivers of someone with bipolar disorder, it was determined that all of the participants identified the benefits of providing informal care. This sub-theme addresses the connections participants had with the individual they were caring for as well as other people who were dealing with a personality disorder. By offering care that reflects a knowledge of the complexity involved with bipolar disorder and makes use of a collaborative approach to care that actively incorporates caregivers, mental health nurses could support informal caregivers more effectively. It entails recognising the abilities that have been established to deal with the disorder's impact on daily functioning as well as the expertise and knowledge that the person with the disorder and her or his informal caregiver have in managing the disorder in all of its phases.
The majority of the difficulties associated with bipolar disorder may be lessened and made to look manageable with the proper kind of medicine, therapy, and support system by their side. It is important to convey to those who are experiencing it that they are not alone and that things will get better with time.
References
Two sides of the same coin: caring for a person with bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17(6), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01555.x
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression): Symptoms & Treatment
Bipolar-Disorder-Definition-Differential-Diagnosis-Clinical-contexts-and-Therapeutic-approaches.pdf
Bipolar Disorder and Work: Best Jobs, Work Schedule, and Tips for Managing
About the author
Sparsha Rai is a first-year student, currently studying B.Sc in Applied Psychology from NMIMS, Mumbai. She is originally from Mangalore, a stunning city located in the Indian state of Karnataka. She is a creative and funny individual, who uses music and jokes to get through the obstacles in life. She intends on being the best at whatever she does and aspires to become the best and most original version of herself.
So, what is “Bipolar disorder”? Also referred to as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health illness that is characterised by a severe fluctuation in a person's mood, energy, thought processes, and behaviour. A patient of bipolar disorder may experience a sense of euphoric to almost manic high followed by an acute sense of low. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition defines mania as an isolated episode of abnormally and persistently high, inflated, or agitated mood that lasts for a period of at least one week. It causes symptoms such as inflated self-esteem or egomania, impaired sleep needs, increased talkativeness or pressure to talk more than usual, flight of thoughts or the interpretation that their minds are racing, and even an increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation.
Numerous elements come into play when we consider how bipolar disorder affects relationships. Living with a disorder like this may result in major setbacks in friends, family and romantic relationships. Falling in love or having loved ones around them is not the difficult task at hand, but maintaining these love relationships is what causes all the chaos. People with the disorder often have a hard time differentiating between the emotions and feelings that they are going through. When a person is experiencing a hypomanic episode, also known as an ecstatic high, they may have a strong need for greater love and may even want to give their partners and loved ones a lot of closeness or care. Most of the time, they have a tendency to love too much and can't help but take care of their loved ones. But the exact reverse happens during depressive episodes. Intimacy with their spouses is avoided when they experience severe mood swings- manic symptoms like poor judgement and recklessness, or depressed symptoms like low energy and disinterest. Even being near their loved ones or showing them concern or affection seems difficult to them. An episode of "Modern Love'' delivered a nearly flawless representation of what it's like to live with bipolar disorder and how the disorder impacts both the person and those around them. The show skillfully illustrates how dating can become more difficult if you have mental health issues. In the first half of the episode the protagonist is lively, successful, and charming; nevertheless, in the second half, we also witness her descend into depressive episodes and experience days when she is unable to get out of bed. She searches for love but ultimately rejects a potential relationship.
Several meticulous descriptive investigations have carefully explored the mood, behavioural, cognitive, and perceptual abnormalities of mania. The vast majority of people suffering from bipolar disorder report despair, irritability, expansiveness, and mood lability as frequently as euphoria, according to studies looking at mood symptoms during manic episodes. These symptoms and behavioural changes, may not only affect the person in general, but may also bring about issues in their home, love and work life.The inability of a son or daughter with this disorder to control their emotions may make it challenging for parents or other family members to look after them. Their constant shift in mood may be a cause of severe concern for the members of the family. Children, who depend on parents for stability, may find the erratic behaviour associated with bipolar disease frightening and perplexing if a parent is affected by it. When it comes to intimate relationships, the disordered partner may have an increased desire for sexual gratification and may even turn to risky measures to satisfy their pleasure needs. On the other hand, they might completely avoid physical contact when experiencing a depressive episode. With manic highs and depressive lows, managing the disorder at work might seem quite challenging. Roughly nine out of every ten bipolar disorder patients reported that their disorder had a detrimental impact on their ability to perform at work in a research performed by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. More than half of respondents believed they needed to change professions or occupations more frequently than other people.
A significant factor in the progression of the illness is the nature of social and familial support. For family caregivers, who are frequently unpaid non-professionals who significantly contribute to the care and support of others, such as family or friends, the functional impairment frequently associated with bipolar disease can have substantial repercussions. Despite this, the pleasures and benefits of aiding someone with a chronic illness like bipolar disorder can diminish the strain that comes with it. Positive effects include heightened feelings of love and compassion for the person receiving assistance, improved empathy for those going through similar difficulties, and increased feelings of thankfulness. In a study with 12 participants who were aged between 15 and 35 and were designated as the primary informal caregivers of someone with bipolar disorder, it was determined that all of the participants identified the benefits of providing informal care. This sub-theme addresses the connections participants had with the individual they were caring for as well as other people who were dealing with a personality disorder. By offering care that reflects a knowledge of the complexity involved with bipolar disorder and makes use of a collaborative approach to care that actively incorporates caregivers, mental health nurses could support informal caregivers more effectively. It entails recognising the abilities that have been established to deal with the disorder's impact on daily functioning as well as the expertise and knowledge that the person with the disorder and her or his informal caregiver have in managing the disorder in all of its phases.
The majority of the difficulties associated with bipolar disorder may be lessened and made to look manageable with the proper kind of medicine, therapy, and support system by their side. It is important to convey to those who are experiencing it that they are not alone and that things will get better with time.
References
Two sides of the same coin: caring for a person with bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17(6), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01555.x
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression): Symptoms & Treatment
Bipolar-Disorder-Definition-Differential-Diagnosis-Clinical-contexts-and-Therapeutic-approaches.pdf
Bipolar Disorder and Work: Best Jobs, Work Schedule, and Tips for Managing
About the author
Sparsha Rai is a first-year student, currently studying B.Sc in Applied Psychology from NMIMS, Mumbai. She is originally from Mangalore, a stunning city located in the Indian state of Karnataka. She is a creative and funny individual, who uses music and jokes to get through the obstacles in life. She intends on being the best at whatever she does and aspires to become the best and most original version of herself.
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