Documentary Research: Bipolar Disorder

Primary Research: Questionnaire 

17

3/18/2014 6:30 PM View respondent's answers

16

3/18/2014 5:49 PM View respondent's answers

14

3/18/2014 5:41 PM View respondent's answers

16

3/18/2014 5:36 PM View respondent's answers

51

3/18/2014 5:18 PM View respondent's answers

12

3/18/2014 4:39 PM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 4:28 PM View respondent's answers

15

3/18/2014 4:24 PM View respondent's answers

15

3/18/2014 3:58 PM View respondent's answers

32

3/18/2014 12:56 PM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 12:50 PM View respondent's answers

15

3/18/2014 11:53 AM View respondent's answers

15

3/18/2014 10:58 AM View respondent's answers

18

3/18/2014 10:31 AM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 10:04 AM View respondent's answers

N/A

3/18/2014 10:04 AM View respondent's answers

16

3/18/2014 9:52 AM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 9:51 AM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 9:49 AM View respondent's answers

18

3/18/2014 9:44 AM View respondent's answers

18

3/18/2014 9:39 AM View respondent's answers

17

3/18/2014 9:38 AM View respondent's answers

16

3/18/2014 9:33 AM View respondent's answers

18

3/18/2014 9:32 AM View respondent's answers

Findings:

Secondary Research

About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a condition which affects your moods, it gives you mood swings which go from being extremely happy and overactive (mania, less extreme mania is called hypo-mania) to being extremely sad and low (depressed). These mood swings can happen at any time, and someone could experience one for up to several weeks or longer, some people with bipolar may never experience a 'normal' mood very often.

The main signs and symptoms of bipolar are as followed, the first group of bullet points are what a bipolar sufferer may feel when in a mania stage:

• extended periods of feeling overly happy or outgoing
• extremely irritable mood, agitation, or jumpiness
• talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• being easily distracted
• increasing goal-directed activities
• restlessness
• little to no sleep for several days in a row without feeling tired
• having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities
• behaving impulsively
• high-risk behaviors, such as spending sprees, impulsive sex, drug or alcohol use, and impulsive business investments
• suicide attempts

These group of bullet points are the symptoms which they would feel when in a depressed stage:

• extended periods of feeling worried or empty
• isolation from friends and family
• loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• feeling tired or slowed down
• having problems concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
• being irritable
• change in eating, sleeping, or other habits (including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and other eating disorders)
• abuse of alcohol and drugs, especially cocaine
• dependence on sleeping pills
• thinking of death or suicide, or attempting suicide

The high and low phases of bipolar can sometimes be so extreme that they have a dramatic affect on everyday life. However, there are several options available for treating bipolar, and these medications aim to control the effects of an episode and help someone with bipolar to live normally.

During particularly severe episodes of either mania or depression, a person suffering with bipolar disorder may experience psychosis. Psychosis is the term for a state of detachment from reality, which may be either temporary or prolonged. Bipolar psychosis is characterized by two types of symptoms:

• Hallucinations: experiencing visions and sounds that don't exist
• Delusions: strong attachment to incorrect but extremely compelling beliefs

Several medications are available to help stabilize mood swings. These include:

• lithium carbonate
• anticonvulsant medicines
• antipsychotic medicines

If you are already taking medication for bipolar disorder and you develop depression, your GP will check that you are taking the correct dose and, if necessary, will adjust it.

Episodes of depression in bipolar disorder can be treated in a similar way to clinical depression. This includes using antidepressant medication.

Who it affects?

Bipolar disorder is relatively common. Around one person in 100 is diagnosed with the condition.

Bipolar disorder can occur at any age, although it often develops between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Men and women from all backgrounds are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder.

The pattern of mood swings in bipolar disorder varies widely between people. For example, some people will only have a couple of bipolar episodes in their lifetime and will be stable in between, while others may experience many episodes.

How Bipolar effects daily life?

Only somebody with bipolar can express how it feels to live with bipolar, and that is what I am trying to achieve through my documentary. Although it does strongly affects others around,

When a friend or relative has bipolar disorder, it affects you too. Taking care of someone with bipolar disorder can be stressful. You have to cope with the mood swings and sometimes other problems, such as drinking too much. Sometimes the stress can strain your relationships with other people. Caregivers can miss work or lose free time.

If you are taking care of someone with bipolar disorder, take care of yourself too. If you keep your stress level down you will do a better job, and it might help your loved one stick to his or her treatment.

List of a few documentaries on Bipolar Disorder 

Famous figures

A large number of celebrities and famous people from the past and present have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, although they may be seen to be living normal celebrity lifestyles or carry out their work ok, somewhere they are being badly effected by bipolar. 

Here is a link to a large number of known celebrities and famous figures who were diagnosed with bipolar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_bipolar_disorder

One example of a bipolar sufferer is Stephen Fry, he was diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 37, before his diagnoses he was experiencing extreme depression from his bipolar, and attempted to commit suicide.

More information on Stephen and living with his disorder is in this documentary:

There are other parts to this documentary which can be found on Youtube.

Robbie Williams also makes an appearance in this documentary and talks about how he dealt with his disorder before he had legal medications, he drank heavily and took drugs to help level himself out when he was in different mood swings. 

Books on Bipolar Disorder

There are many books on Bipolar, and many different types, for example there are books which explain bipolar, books which explore peoples struggles with bipolar, children's books and many more, these books have helped people understand more about bipolar and how bipolar sufferers feel. Below are some examples of these books and their description:

'When Someone You Love Is Bipolar'  

Helps readers learn how to help their loved one come to terms with a bipolar diagnosis and find effective treatment - and how to work together to get control over the mood swings and live life to the fullest. This book shows spouses what they can do to provide helpful nurturance and support, while also taking care of themselves.






'Beating Bipolar' 

This book explains how to emotionally overcome bipolar disorder, sharing insider lessons from a leading expert who also lives with the illness. It will help families, teachers, mental-health professionals, those with bipolar disorder, and anyone looking to learn about it. The book is filled with uplifting stories and techniques to help manage this debilitating illness. With bipolar disorder affecting millions, this book will be the guide to allow us to create more healing in our lives.


'Brandon and the Bipolar Bear'

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear was the first fictional story available for young children about bipolar disorder. Now revised to keep up with advances in the field, this 24-page book will continue to bring comfort to young ones struggling with this serious illness. By reading the pages of this book, children and adults alike will get a rare glimpse into the private feelings and fears of a bipolar child. Children with bipolar disorder will be able to identify with Brandon's moods as he cycles between depression and mania. They will be comforted along with Brandon as he learns that he is not the only one who struggles with this inner turmoil. They will be educated as he learns what the illness is, how people get it and why there is hope for him to feel better. This story is appropriate for children between 4 and 11 years of age. However it will also be indispensable to parents, health care workers, teachers, grandparents and anyone else who cares about a child with bipolar disorder. It will increase understanding and awareness of this serious illness.

Journals 

Journals are special documents or articles which medical researchers have written about a certain disorder or illness. Here is a link to a website with some articles in the form of PDF documents; http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/collection.aspx?categoryid=5124

Bibliography

http://www.timberlineknolls.com/mood-personality/bipolar-disorder/signs-effects

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bipolar-disorder/Pages/Treatment.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_bipolar_disorder

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Brandon-Bipolar-Bear-Tracy-Anglada/9780981739632?b=-3&t=-20#Fulldescription-20

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781401939519?redirected=true&viewCountry=UK&selectCurrency=GBP&gclid=CNfh0473m70CFeKWtAodYRYAWA

https://wordery.com/when-someone-you-love-is-bipolar-cynthia-g-last-9781593856083?currency=GBP&gtrck=eDZoMlBhbVcrVGNrRkc0ekZEbEp1SGFoRFNHUzdIUldJTnhvbWlmSWVvMD0&gclid=CLvb96r2m70CFdShtAodX1gAxA