Bipolar disorder ranked fourth among the most common disorders in Mexico, after schizophrenia, anxiety and personality disorders, and its prevalence is estimated to range between 1 and 3 percent, said the head of the psychiatric area of the Hospital. Brother Bernardino José Ibarache Beltrán, in which they treat this condition with the endorsement of the Ministry of Health. Despite everything, it is still a largely misunderstood disorder. Little by little, this disorder is unveiled and visibility has been created by celebrities and people who live and feel this terrible disease.
In 2010, Andy Irons, one of the best professional surfers of all time, was reported to have been found in his hotel room, dead of a heart attack at the age of 32. Irons’ death left the surfing world reeling, with many wondering what could have caused such a young man to die so suddenly. But what was not reported at the time was that Irons had long struggled with substance abuse problems and was taking opioids in part to control the symptoms of his bipolar disorder.
Known as the “People’s Champion,” Irons was a three-time world champion and, according to the new movie Andy Irons: Kissed by God, he had fought bipolar disorder since he was 18 years old. The film claims that he became addicted to drugs as a way to control his symptoms (according to research) people with bipolar disorder have a more than 50% chance of fighting drug abuse than people without the disease.
For years, Irons secretly struggled with attacks of severe depression, hallucinations, and paranoia. In the movie, his brother, professional surfer Bruce Irons, tells how Andy bit other surfers in the water like a shark and hid in his room because he thought people were chasing him. “I thought I was losing my mind,” says Bruce.
Although more than 3 million Mexicans (including children) have some form of bipolar disorder, like many other forms of mental illness, the condition is still highly stigmatized. “We want people with bipolar disorder to realize that they are not alone,” film director Steve Jones told MensHealth.com. “This film is intended to help raise awareness of a disease that is largely misunderstood. If we change a life, we will have succeeded. “
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Also known as manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder is a treatable mental illness marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior.
There are four types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder, which is defined by severe manic episodes lasting at least 7 days and depressive episodes lasting at least 2 weeks; bipolar II disorder, in which a person has a pattern of depressive and hypomanic episodes, but not full-blown manic episodes; Cyclothymic disorder, characterized by numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms lasting at least 2 years, and unspecified bipolar disorder, which is defined by symptoms of bipolar disorder that do not match the other three types.
Each type of bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme, sometimes debilitating, mood swings, ranging from periods of euphoric altitudes to sad and hopeless lows. These mood swings can last for weeks or even months, says Melvin McGinnis, director of bipolar research and clinical programs at the University of Michigan.
Signs of bipolar disorder generally appear in adolescence or early adulthood and continue throughout life, with 80 percent of patients experiencing multiple manic episodes. “15 percent of people with bipolar disorder commit suicide,” says Terrence Ketter, head of the Stanford University Clinic for Bipolar Disorders.
Fortunately, bipolar disorder can be treated with intervention. “A combination of medications and talk therapy can help control the disease,” says Ketter. If you or someone you love exhibits any of the signs and symptoms below, seek professional help to talk about what’s going on.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER?
A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH DEPRESSION
“One of the biggest difficulties in diagnosing bipolar disorder is differentiating it from depression,” says Ketter. “That is because people with bipolar disorder spend half to a third of the time in a state of depression,” says Andrew Alan Nierenberg, director of the Bipolar Clinic and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Unlike people with depression, people with bipolar disorder will also experience extreme mania or “high” periods. That said, Ketter says: “People who experience depression before the age of 25 are more likely to develop symptoms of bipolar disorder in the future.
“It is an affective disorder characterized by the presence of alterations or fluctuations in the mood that exceed the range of the standard ones. Those who suffer from it can have both manic episodes (exaltation, decreased need for sleep, very high self-esteem, agitation, high mobility, over excitement, hostility, low temperament and irritability control), and depression (low self-esteem, despondency, hopelessness) , handicap, feelings of guilt and problems with sleep, concentration and nutrition) ”, explains José Ibarache Beltrán.
SUDDEN HYPERACTIVITY
During a hypomanic episode, people can be highly productive and creative, says Antonia Baum, former president of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry. “When people go into a hypomanic state, their entire nervous system quickens, and that can prompt unlimited energy and ambition,” she says.
During a hypomanic episode, Baum says: “It is common for people to have fast speeches and racing thoughts that don’t connect. Sometimes people become extremely goal-oriented. But while this productivity may be satisfactory in the short term, these manic episodes can be debilitating and even result in hospitalization.”
SLEEP IS NOT NECESSARY
“One of the hallmarks of being hypomanic is not insomnia, but a decreased need for sleep, ” says Nierenberg. “When someone suddenly goes from six to eight hours of sleep a night and then their need for sleep drops dramatically, that’s a bad sign … physically, it may feel good, but that lack of sleep destabilizes their mood.” An example is Irons who was awake at dawn sailing all day and then partying all night.
If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is crucial to maintain good sleep hygiene by having six to eight hours closed per night.
STRANGE BEHAVIOR IN SEARCH OF HARMFUL ADVENTURES
McGinnis says that the physiological change in the nervous system from a hypomanic or manic state can often provoke a feeling of invincibility and inflated self-esteem. “Suddenly, someone might be inclined to drive faster, be reckless sexually, and look for emotions that are not characteristic of their normal behavior,” he explains.
To that end, some researchers have speculated that there is a correlation between extreme athletes and bipolar disorder. While there is little research to back that up, a 2015 study by Polish researchers found that male and female participants who practiced extreme sports such as rock climbing, mountaineering, and snowboarding showed more symptoms of bipolarity.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
McGinnis estimates that 60 percent of people with bipolar disorder have substance abuse problems, which he says often exacerbates symptoms. Baum says people with bipolar disorder crave mania, and alcohol and drugs can help recreate that feeling.
NEED HELP?
If you know someone who is going through this situation it is important that you go to specialized places such as the Fray Bernardino Álvarez Psychiatric Hospital has an emergency service that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as well as a pre-consultation from Monday to Friday from 7:00 am and serves the entire population that requires it.