- Episodes of mania and depression
- Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania where a person feels extremely “up” — full of energy, elated, sometimes euphoric — and depressive periods where they feel sad, apathetic, and hopeless.
- Interference with life and increased risks
- This disorder can severely interfere with people’s lives and when left untreated, it can increase the risk of substance misuse and suicide.
- Considerations in storytelling
- Use storytelling to help counter stereotypes that are painful for those living with the condition.
Storytelling Tips
Portray a Range of Mental Health Experiences
- When portraying mania or hypomania avoid simply depicting the “positive” aspects of these states, like the increased energy or the elevated mood.
- Think about how to depict the negative aspects of these mood states — such as increased risk taking, increased impulsivity, and irritability — so viewers understand the realities of this condition.
Depict Effective, Realistic Help-Seeking and Treatment
- Show what it looks like to maintain recovery.
- Treatment for people living with bipolar disorder can be complicated because medications restrict the euphoric feelings associated with mania, making adherence hard.
- These challenges can sometimes make it feel difficult or impossible to maintain recovery, so showing the stories of people who have found that balance can help encourage people with this condition and their support network to continue treatment.
Consider the Impact of Language
- Avoid using the term “bipolar” to refer to someone who is simply “moody” or has “mood swings, and avoid using “manic” as a descriptor for someone who is high-energy or “all over the place” to prevent misconceptions about bipolar disorder.
Move Past Stereotypes
- Be cautious of stereotypes that can perpetuate stigma, such as the stereotype that individuals with bipolar disorder are dangerous or violent.
- In reality, the data does not suggest people with this condition are more likely to be violent (outside of drug or alcohol use).
Snapshot
Bipolar disorder causes intense and unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, concentration, and activity levels. This condition is characterized by episodes of mania during which a person feels extremely “up” — full of energy, elated, sometimes euphoric — and depressive periods where they feel sad, apathetic, and hopeless.
During a manic period, people may feel invincible and extremely important, talented, or powerful. Mania often involves compulsive behaviors — like purchasing a lot of items or reckless sex — and sometimes a decreased need for sleep. Hypomania refers to an elevated state with similar attributes, but with lower intensity and less impact on one’s ability to function.
The depressive period often follows the mania and is compounded by the reality that the person with the condition is dealing with the depression and the consequences of their behaviors during the manic episode.
The three main types of bipolar disorder are bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia.
Types of Bipolar DIsorder
- Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days or require hospitalization. Generally, mania is followed by a depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks.
- Bipolar II disorder involves less severe manic episodes — called hypomania — and depressive episodes.
- Cyclothymic disorder is a chronically unstable mood state involving hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. People with cyclothymia may have windows of normal moods, but these rarely last less more than eight weeks.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
Mania:
- Feeling very elated, “up”, extremely high mood
- Feeling very “wired”
- Decreased need for sleep
- Talking very fast
- Racing thoughts
- Increased energy
- Increased risk-taking
People having a depressive episode:
- Very sad, down, hopeless
- Trouble sleeping
- Lack of energy
- Lack of interest in almost all activities
- Inability to experience pleasure
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Treatment Options
Bipolar is a lifelong illness and episodes of mania and depression can occur throughout a person’s life, even during treatment. However, advances in treatment now allow individuals with this condition to have a quality of life more like that of individuals without the condition.
- Medication is an important part of bipolar treatment and can include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants. Getting the right medication regime can be difficult and evolve over time, so frequent sessions with mental health professionals are recommended.
- Psychotherapy can help people with bipolar disorder develop coping skills and implement lifestyle changes that support recovery.
- Inpatient treatment is sometimes recommended to help stabilize and fine-tune a person’s medication plan in a safe environment.
- Family counseling can be important since the amplified, and sometimes damaging, impact of mania can be difficult for friends and family to understand and manage.
- Self-care is an important part of any treatment plan, but especially so for people with bipolar disorder because lack of sleep, high levels of stress, and substance use can worsen the condition or trigger manic or depressive episodes.
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