From my mind to these pages may there be insight and guidance into the struggles and life of mental illness. Being diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses is not easy to come to terms with. I believe I have learned to accept the diagnosis of Bipolar Type I. Statistically approximately 10% of the Canadian population will experience a mood disorder at some point. That is approximately 3.5 million Canadians. That is a significant number of people. This does not include other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Also referred to as manic depressive disorder, bipolar is characterized by depression and manic episodes. Most of us are well aware of what depression looks like; this includes feelings of sadness, emptiness, decreased interest in regular activities, decrease in functioning, and a decrease or increase in appetite and sleep. This alone is a mood disorder called unipolar depression.
The opposite swing is a manic episode that is an up swing often described as a kind of high. This may present with euphoria, optimism, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, impulsiveness, rapid thoughts and speech, grandeur, and recklessness.
Together the depression and manic episodes create a roller coaster of emotions. It is no wonder the manic episode is much preferred since the result is more productive and enjoyable. Even though you may be living in a world you created, not entirely in touch with reality and occasionally even experiencing psychosis it is still better than feeling so deflated you don't even have enough energy to end your miserable life.
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