BOY, INTERRUPTED:-

My Magical Misery Tour

by

Jeff Baker

Jeff Baker © 2012

BOY, INTERRUPTED:

Bipolar Mood Swings Diagram

BIPOLAR I - MANIA

BIPOLAR II - HYPOMANIA

AVERAGE MOOD

AVERAGE MOOD LOW (SAD)

BIPOLAR II - DYSTHYMIA

BIPOLAR I – CLINICAL DEPRESSION

AVERAGE MOOD HIGH (HAPPY)

NORMAL STAGES OF GRIEF (DABDA)

DENIAL: “Not happening”

ANGER: “Why this?” “Why ME?”

BARGAINING: I'll “give” or “trade”

DEPRESSION: “I'm sad. Why bother?”

ACCEPTANCE: “It's okay. Why worry?”

NERVE ENDINGS...Microscopic: Axons &

Dendrites

Provide all signals to and from the brain

Synaptic Gap:

Neurotransmitters: Norepinephrine, Dopamine, Serotonin

NEURAL NETWORKS

NERVE STIMULATION

LIMBIC SYSTEM (EMOTIONS)

MANIA:

Excess of neurotransmitters...

DEPRESSION:

Near lack of neurotransmitters...

HOW WE ARE WIRED:

“FACT” >BELIEF >

THOUGHT > FEELING(S) >

BEHAVIOR(S) > RESULT(S)

STIGMA:FEAR, DISGUST, IGNORANCE

BPD – BIOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN(LIKE CANCER, HEART DISEASE,

DIABETES)

DIFFERENCE IS OUTWARD VS. INWARD

BEHAVIOR VS. PHYSICALLY VISIBLE OR INVISIBLE

MOOD DISORDERS 1 of 5 Americans suffers one or more mental disorder(s) Depression 3rd reason for doctor visits Psych meds prescribed 2nd only to analgesics Untreated mood disorder folks have a 33% suicide rate 90% of suicides result from clinical depression Only 49% of bipolar folks receive treatment 70% of bipolar patients have had at least 1 misdiagnosis 83% of bipolar cases are severe 37% of bipolar folks either ignore or don't recognize it

PSYCHIATRIC VISITS, ETC.BPD diagnoses 13% by primary care physicians

BPD diagnoses 18% by psychologists

BPD diagnoses 64% by psychiatrists

20% of all mood disorder patients/np 33% commit suicide

Depression 2x higher in women than in men

BPD found equally among men and women

BPD folks live 9.2 yrs less than the 78 yr nat'l average

40% BPD folks abuse drugs, alcohol or both (violence!)

BPD folks unemployment rate is 50% higher

APA STATISTICSBipolar Disorder is an affective mood disorder

5.7 million adults diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder average onset age is 25

Alcohol, drugs used to self-medicate

Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder persons 15% suicide

Takes up to 1 year to fully recover from a BP episode

Takes up to 3 years to have meds properly adjusted

It takes up to 10 years to be properly diagnosed w/BPD

BIPOLAR DISORDER - PREDISPOSITIONS

Genetics – 50 % German bloodlines High IQ Arts (1 study 85%) Trauma – PTSD, abuse Stressful environment Anyone at anytime Avg onset 25-35 years

OBSERVATIONS:Children, Teens are often misdiagnosed as ADHD

Bipolar patients almost always need medication

Not unusual for BP patient to relapse after stable

Rapid-cycler – patient with 4 or more severe episodes a year

Mixed Mania – episodes occur daily for approx 1 week; mania & depression co-exist

RELEVANT QUOTATIONS“You can think your way into depression,

but you cannot always think yourself out of depression.” - Lewis E. Britton, M.D.

“In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Where there is no hope there can be no endeavor.” - Samuel Johnson

BIPOLAR SYMPTOMS - MANIA

Grandiosity “I am God” I possess all abilities and powers Very little sleep, yet energetic Rapid, often loud speech Excessively judgmental Easily distracted, cannot concentrate Impaired judgment Wildly impulsive Reckless, despite the consequences

BIPOLAR MANIA, CONT'D Delusional, sometimes with hallucinations Totally uninhibited--potentially psychotic Giving away cherished valuables Unending pursuit of pleasures:

Wanton sex Abuse of Alcohol Chain smoking

Abuse of illicit and/or prescribed Rx

BIPOLAR DEPRESSION

Feeling sad, useless, hopeless Irritable Cannot experience pleasure Fatigue, energy depletion Loss of interests Appetite and weight changes Sleep – restless, excessive, insomnia Lack of concentration

DEPRESSION, CONT'D Sporadic or total loss of memory Feeling guilty Feeling worthless Thoughts of death or suicide Loss of motor skills Catatonia Vegetative

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT3 GOALS:

1. Decreased Episode Frequency (8-10 avg)

2. Decreased Episode Duration

3. Decreased Intensity of UP and DOWN Mood Swings

THREE TREATMENTS

Psychiatric Drug Course

Psychological Counseling

Positive Lifestyle Changes

MY APPROACH SERENITY

ELIMINATE STRESS

AVOID ANGER

ACCEPT OR CHANGE

SAD BUT TRUE... Mental facilities are often full, some with waiting lists Most of us are either uninsured or underinsured Primary-care physicians are untrained in mood disorders Patients are always the last to know Both unipolar and bipolar disorders are incurable; medical &

lifestyle change for stability Psych Meds are powerful, with

costly, wicked side-effects

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Hide the car keys Get rid of firearms Secure all debit/credit cards

and checkbook – give weekly allowance

Obtain Medical Power of Attorney; specify docs & hospitals

Gather & list all meds Dispense meds Create a team game plan

WHERE TO GET HELP! Angie's List, Web M.D.: Psychiatrists Primary care Doc or Psychologist Your clinic's nurse Patient referral Public Health officials Boy Interrupted's website / email:

(www.) BipolarAid.org bipolaraid@gmail.com

QUESTION & ANSWER Clinical Aspects My experiences My history My prognosis My beliefs My outlook

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU! “I am the way, the truth,

and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me” - Jesus (John 14:6)

“for God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” - (John 3:16)

BOY, INTERRUPTED:-

My Magical Misery Tour

by

Jeff Baker

Jeff Baker © 2012