Mental Health Monday

I have some experience with bipolar disorders, including my own diagnosis of a low spectrum disorder. I'm going to share some information that I gleaned from the Mayo Clinic website. As you read this, it may cause you to consider whether you or a loved one or an acquaintance may suffer from this. Instead of a self-diagnosis, however, you should consult a mental health practitioner.

BIPOLAR DISORDER

"Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) & lows (depression).

"When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless & lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings an affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior & the ability to think clearly.

"Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.

"Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings & other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications & psychological counseling (psychotherapy)." [My emphasis added.]

SYMPTOMS

"There are several types of bipolar & related disorders They may include mania or hypomania & depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood & behavior, resulting in significant distress & difficulty in life.

• "Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
• "Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode & at least one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.
• "Cyclothymic disorder. You've had at least two years--or one year in children & teenagers--of many periods of hypomania symptoms & periods of depressive symptoms (though less severe than major depression).
• "Other types. These include, for example, bipolar & related disorders induced by certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.

"Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder, but a separate diagnosis. While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe & dangerous, individuals with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause signifiant impairment.

"Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, typically it's diagnosd in the teenage years or early 20s. Symptoms can vary from person to person, & symptoms may vary over time."

Tomorrow:  "Mania & hypomania."

Thought for Today

Today's excerpt was especially meaningful to me, given my mental health topic.

THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble.” Ps. 50:15

“But after you have prayed, you should know that just as you can have no doubts about the promise, so you should have no doubts about its being heard; for the foundation of the prayer is the promise--& not our will, not our worthiness, & not our merits.”  Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm, Concordia Publishing House, 2017.