Inside Bipolar
The definition of Bipolar disorder or bipolar disease is that of a person that has one or more episodes of abnormally manic or elevated moods. It is a mood disorder suffered by numerous people. It is followed by symptoms and depressive episodes. Bipolar disease also causes a person to experience mood swings quickly. Mixed episodes are where they experience both extremes at once and this is not uncommon.
Different Types of Bipolar
There are several different bipolar disease types. First of all, and most commonly, a person will have mood swings that cause them to experience very high moods – or manic episodes. During these phases of their bipolar disease, they will feel as if they can do anything, and they will often rush from one thing to another, in extremely happy frames of mind. They make rash decisions while in these states, and often do things that they would not normally do while they are manic.
The second of the bipolar disease types is when the person experiences manic episodes and periods of depression. These are all intertwined. Here, people with bipolar will find that they are moving between episodes of extreme happiness and extreme depression quite often.
Mixed Episodes
In yet another bipolar disease type, a person will find that they are experiencing both the manic and depressive states at the same time. This will cause them to feel very agitated and confused, as they will be torn between being happy and manic, and still having the signs of depression.
Problems with Bipolar Disorder
A disrupted life is the biggest problem and symptom for anyone with bipolar. It can be quite difficult for them to make and keep relationships, they find themselves alternating between excessive sleeping and not being able to get enough sleep. They are simply not able to exist in the same world as everyone else.
Also, many relationships are strained when a person has bipolar disease. Because of the abrupt and swift changes in mood, a person with bipolar is often drawn to people who are at either end of the spectrum when it comes to moods of their own. They are often hard to deal with, irrational and upsetting to those around them. This, in turn, causes people to pull away from them, which end up causing more bouts of depression.
Treatment Options
The good thing about bipolar is that it can be treated with the proper types of drug therapy even though it runs in the family. Because its caused by inconsistencies in the brain function, correcting this function of the brain is the best way to begin dealing with bipolar disease, and this is done through medication.
Related Reading:
Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental IllnessHere is an inside look at what it is like to live with a mental illness and how individuals and their families find their way through medical, governmental, societal and spiritual issues -- to hope. Ten people with mental illness tell their stories, and many experts and advocates in the field add helpful perspectives.
Bonus material includes more personal stories and historical background, help for churches in relating to mental illness, support of family members, self-care, and more. A PDF discussion guide is included.
Spanish subtitles available (main program only)
Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical ApproachThe 6th edition of this market-leading textbook offers a clear, straightforward way to understand the often intimidating subject of psychiatric mental health nursing. Its practical, clinical perspective and user-friendly writing style help you quickly master key concepts. Clinical chapters follow the nursing process framework and progress from theory to application with a wealth of real-world examples to prepare you for practice.
- UNIQUE! A conversational, user-friendly writing style helps you quickly grasp complex psychiatric mental health nursing concepts.
- Clinical chapters are logically and consistently organized with sections on the clinical picture, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and application of the nursing process.
- Clinical chapters follow the nursing process, providing you with consistent guidelines for comprehensive assessment and intervention.
- Vignettes prepare you for real-world practice with personal, descriptive characterizations of patients with specific psychiatric disorders.
- Coverage of psychopharmacology in clinical chapters familiarizes you with specific drug treatment options, including the most commonly used drugs and important nursing considerations for their use.
- Assessment Guidelines boxes list essential guidelines for comprehensive patient assessment.
- Case Studies with Nursing Care Plans present individualized histories of patients with specific psychiatric disorders and include interventions with rationales and evaluation statements for each patient goal.
- A separate chapter on cultural implications, as well as Considering Culture boxes throughout the text, provides essential information on culture, worldviews, and techniques for providing culturally competent care.
- Coverage of treatment and recovery in the community addresses the need for successful ongoing psychiatric mental health nursing care in the community setting.
- A chapter on end-of-life care examines the psychological impact of terminal illness and death on patients, families, and nurses.
- Updated nursing process and clinical chapters keep you current with the latest ANA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.
- An increased focus on health promotion and recovery reflects federal, state, and local initiatives to improve screening methods, patient and family teaching, rehabilitation, and community treatment options for people who have mental illnesses.
- Enhanced Evidence-Based Practice boxes emphasize the profound impact of research-and your potential role in that process-on the advancement of psychiatric treatment options.
- A new chapter on sleep disorders covers the most common sleep disturbances and their relationships to psychiatric illness, as well as the nurse's role in their assessment and management.
- A new chapter on sexual dysfunction and sexual disorders examines the complex issue of sexual behavior and provides the information you need to conduct a sexual assessment, identify sexual dysfunctions and disorders, recognize nursing implications, and formulate interventions.
