Living with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic and complex mental health disorder that causes extreme mood swings, including periods of extreme lows (depression) and extreme highs (mania or hypomania). In this video, we will discuss what Bipolar Disorder is, the symptoms of manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes, and comparing the difference between Bipolar Disorder Type 1 and Type 2. Also, we will discuss the biological aspect of Bipolar Disorder by introducing two key hormones - Serotonin and Dopamine. We want to raise the public awareness of mental health issues, and emphasize the importance of seeking a health care professional if you or anyone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis.

This video was made by McMaster students Mark Bertone, Jasmine Leung, Teja Koi and Maha Arif in collaboration with the McMaster Demystifying Medicine Program.

This video is provided for general and educational information only. Please consult your health care provider for Information about your health.

#DemystifyingMedicine, #MentalHealth

Copyright McMaster University 2021.

References

Mahmood, T., & Silverstone, T. (2001). Serotonin and bipolar disorder. ​Journal of affective disorders,​ ​66(​ 1), 1-11.
Manji, H. K., Quiroz, J. A., Payne, J. L., Singh, J., Lopes, B. P., Viegas, J. S., & Zarate, C. A. (2003). The underlying neurobiology of bipolar disorder. ​World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA),​ ​2(​ 3), 136–146.


Park, S., Park, B., Koh, M. K., & Joo, Y. H. (2014). Case report: bipolar disorder as the first manifestation of CADASIL. ​BMC psychiatry​, ​14(​ 1), 175.

Tran, D. Q., Beaudry, V., & Lajoie, Y. (2013). First Manic Episode in an 11-Year-Old Girl.
Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Académie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent​, ​22​(4), 324–326.

[sheesh]

anyone else makes life changing decisions while going through a manic episode then regrets it?

[deeprollingriver]

As a bipolar patient, I suddenly realized a profound truth for those with bipolar: we are not allowed to be sad.
Some of us have lost so much in our lives. We’ve lost friends, family, money, marriages, homes, children, our own minds, and our grief is just set aside. We’re medicated into not feeling anything. But even then, there is this undertow of such legitimate, profound sadness of loss that is never addressed.

[jessicawidmeier]

What they don't tell you is John started the group on a manic high thinking he could do something and then when the low hit he gave it up. Yeah I do that often, it sucks.

[LegionWarrior]

I really hate the lows. Thinking about death but id never act upon them. I worry about what it would do to my family

[Ava-imty]

I'd take the mania over depression any day... I'd rather be excited and panicking then wishing I could end it and being terrified of myself

[americanoutcast]

This is me without a doubt, makes life hell at least 50% of the time. The mood swings can be intense, one minute unusually happy and high energy then the next miserable and angry at the world. Can go back and fourth multiple times a day and it gets exhausting. Takes a truly strong person to get up every day feeling like this, remember that if you have it too.

[PrincessaDonita]

Last year I had 3 massive manic episodes. One of which I have little to no memory of. That happened in an airport and I'm lucky I was not arrested. Thanks to my good friend being there with me. Extreme stress in a trigger for me. I have to keep my meds regulated. Sometimes I feel on top of the world like freekin happy, invincible even, which can lead to me doing risky stupid things. The flip side is the extreme depression. No reason just suicidal thoughts, don't want to talk to anyone or do anything. I normally sleep these off. Thank you Clonazapam 😊

[takathousandbirds]

When I'm having my manic episodes, the only thing that keeps me stable is laying on my shower floor while warm water washes over me like a warm safe blanket

[md.yeakubekram]

10 years latter I understand why my girlfriends mood always swings, now I need to take more care towards her as because I am going to marry her with in a month❤❤

[ryan]

Really needed this. 21 year old male experiencing this stuff at a severe level for the first time in my life recently. This video helped to feel less of an outsider. Glad to see such an encouraging community of people supporting each other.

[lorainedelaney]

You succeeded in explaining in 6 minutes what has taken me decades to learn. Well done! I can only deal with information in short, manageable chunks and this fit the bill. Thank you.

[hillarybaker]

After 15 years I’m finally getting the help I need to not let bipolar disorder to control my life

[kgvysakhkg]

I am a Chronic Bipolar Patient. I don't know how I will be when I wake up everyday. It's hard and people around me doesn't give a Shi*

[pfrancisco]

John starts the mental health awareness group, while taking on way too many credits, while having an internship, & on top of it joins the soccer team altogether. A month or 2 into the next semester, everything starts to crumble. That's more of a reality for an individual dealing with bipolar.

[kenkaneki_]

I lost my mind for a while due to bipolar (type 1 with psychosis) and it was not fun for a long time. I thought I was dying for a while. I tried to unalive myself multiple times. I had to be put on the right antipsychotics and even now I'm not perfect. But I'm better. It does get better, if you also have bipolar disorder I'd recommend just biting the bullet and get on meds. It's the only way I feel somewhat normal.

[Techsore]

My story : April May June july are for depression and September to december are mania, mania is good but not always, But my relationships are going worst !

[bronwyn]

If you do happen to be adhd or if you are manic or even if you aren't it may help, set the Playback Speed to 1.25x he speaks very slow and I found myself drifting away alot. 🙂👍

[nicklewis]

For so long I was undiagnosed. until a few weeks ago when I tried to commit suicide during what I now know was a manic episode. I didn’t understand what was happening to me and why I could lose control of myself and my moods so easily and I had been feeling this was since a teenager. I just got diagnosed two days ago and I already feel so much better knowing that there is an explanation to what is going on. It’s a lot to take in, but knowing that I’m not alone like this makes everything seem a little bit brighter. Thankyou for videos like these they really do help explain the symptoms and spread awareness to people like me who had very little education on the subject beforehand.

[SwoopOG]

Living with bipolar sucks - it really does.... Imagine being happy and on top of the world and looking forward to your future one day - then the next day you cant even get out of bed and that goes on for 2-weeks - you have a business to run - you have to take care of all of the operations yet you don't have the same passion you had the day before -- welcome to being I run a business and I am Bipolar (III) Cycle - whatever you call it, lol... Look, I just try to take my meds and hope I wont wake up depressed tomorrow - that's all I can do.... Unfortunately most people don't understand bipolar and they blame it on outside influences... Right now I'm OK, I'm actually in "manic mode" (happy) but I know it's only a matter of time before I get depressed again and I cant get out of bed and have no passion for anything - and that could be tomorrow, a week or a month from now - you don't know but you know it will happen - and there is NOTHING you can do about Yea and I know people think that is bizarre or a sign of weakness - no it's NOT - I cant do anything about it... Congrats if you don't understand then you have perfect brain chemistry - I don't - and NO my brain is not deformed either - I just don't have WHATEVER it is that makes people mood stabilized...

[justbria]

I go to the psychiatrist soon. I know something’s wrong with me and I may be bipolar but it’s hard to face. I think stress and over thinking triggers my episodes.