Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is an illness where a person feels extreme happy and sad feelings right after one another. This is not just the normal ups and downs that a person may go through in a day. These are extreme emotions of mania and depression. This mental illness affects an equal amount of men and women.

Mania is when a person goes through a stage of extreme happiness or becomes very excited. This person may also experiences hallucinations and or delusions. Some people take risks that they normally would not because they do not think of the consequences in their state of mind. The severity of these psychotic episodes determines the overall severity of the case. Some people may have mania that does not disrupt their social lives in a negative way. This is known as hypomania. Although, most cases of bipolar disorder as classified as severe.

Depression, as covered in my first post, is a condition that can completely take over a person's life. Bipolar disorder can make depression so severe for some people that they may not even be able to get out of bed. Suicide is not only found in depression. In bipolar disorder a person may become suicidal even in their manic state. This makes is much more difficult to treat because it is not just during their episodes of depression.

This illness usually sets in at about the age of 25. There are many different things that are thought to cause this type of mental illness. The biggest factor is genetics. There are many medications and therapies that can help to treat this mental illness that can keep it at a manageable level for the patient and their family.

Reference:
Bipolar Disorder. (2016). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-Disorder

Depression

When sadness and feelings of hopelessness are affecting your life, there may be a serious underlying problem. Depression is a mental illness that can affect people of all ages. It is more common in women than in men. About 6.7% of the U.S. population experiences a depressive episode every year. A depressive episode is defined as having the symptoms of depression for at least two weeks. Some symptoms of depression include

• "Empty" feeling
• Loss of interest in activities
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Changes in appetite
• Thoughts of suicide

Depression can be caused by a number of different reasons. There may be more than one factor that can trigger a depressive episode. Environment can play a big role depression. Everything from difficult relationships to financial problems can be a factor in depression. Genetics is another factor. Some people may be more likely to get depression if they have other family members that are experiencing it as well. If a person experiences a trauma, especially at a young age that may contribute to.

Treatments for depression usually work very well. There are quite a few antidepressant medications and mood stabilizers that people can take to help improve their moods. Psychotherapy can also help people who are experiencing depression that is not very severe. Electroconvulsive therapy has been something that many people view as a bad form of treatment. It is actually very effective. Many people are concerned about memory loss but research has shown that any side effects are usually short term and leave no lasting problems for the patients.

Depression is a serious condition that should always be taken seriously. It can have terrible results if it is left untreated. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help people identify depression in friends and loved ones.




References:
Depression. (2016). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression

Depression. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

Anxiety

The first type of mental illness that I want to cover is anxiety. Everyone feels some type of anxiety at some point in their lives. Being a college student, stress is part of my every day life. I am stressed when I have a paper due the next day, and I feel anxious right before a test. An anxiety disorder involves a constant worry and feeling of fear, not just about school work. Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness diagnosed in the United States. Anxiety usually sets in at a young age and is commonly found more in women than men.

Some symptoms of Anxiety include:

• Feeling tense
• Irritability
• Feeling of dread
• Heart racing
• Upset stomach
• Insomnia
• Sweating

There are a few different types of anxiety disorders. Some people experience panic attacks that can happen at any moment. This can increase their anxiety and cause them to self isolate so that they do not experience an attack like that in public. 

Another type of anxiety disorder are phobias. Phobias are irrational fears that can seriously impact that quality of life of a person depending on their certain type of phobia or phobias. 

Generalized anxiety disorder is another example. This is the constant worry about everyday things. It is impossible to complete even the most simple of tasks without worrying. 

There are other less common types of anxiety such as agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder. 

Genetics and our environments play the biggest part in what causes anxiety. 

There are quite a few different types of treatments available for people who think that they may be experiencing some of these symptoms. There are multiple approaches to different therapies available. Other options would be to take medications, anti anxiety and antidepressants are available if prescribed by a doctor. Relaxation techniques can also be very helpful with improving the quality of everyday life.

Reference:

Anxiety Disorders. (2016). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders

Introduction

Monday February 15, 2016

Hello, my name is Jenny Pierce. I created this blog because I am interested in different types of mental illnesses. I think that it is important for people to understand a little bit about mental illnesses since they are so prevalent in our society. Many people know a family member or friend that may be suffering from one. Through this blog, I hope to inform and help you better understand more about mental illnesses.