Bipolar Disorder
Definition:
"(Noun) a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression." (Google)
Symptoms:
"People with bipolar disorder can have a range of symptoms. Many experience dramatic mood swings, going from emotional highs to emotional lows with more normal moods in between, while others have much milder mood changes.
"People with bipolar disorder can have a range of symptoms. Many experience dramatic mood swings, going from emotional highs to emotional lows with more normal moods in between, while others have much milder mood changes.
Mania is a term that describes the emotional highs of bipolar disorder.....
In general, symptoms of a manic episode may include:
- High energy, excessive activity, and/or restlessness
- Overly good mood
- Irritability
- Fast, erratic talking
- Racing thoughts
- Inability to concentrate
- Little need for sleep
- Feelings of power
- Poor judgment
- Reckless spending
- High sex drive
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Aggression
- Refusal to admit that there is a problem
In bipolar disorder, manic episodes alternate with periods of emotional lows, which are known as depressive episodes. Signs of a depressive episode may include:
- Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of emptiness
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of guilt, feeling worthless, or feeling helpless
- Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, such as sex
- Low energy
- Trouble with concentration or memory
- Restlessness or irritability
- Excessive sleeping or insomnia
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Pain or other physical symptoms not explained by an illness or injury
- Thoughts of death, or suicidal thoughts or attempts
(EverydayHealth.com)
What it's like:
Horrible (at least in my case). I feel so out of control and just lost. Sometimes I get mad and I don't understand why, I just am. It's usually over stupid, insignificant stuff too. I also have a hard time in school because it's hard to focus.
Treatment:
Usually medicine of varying types and strengths depending on the person and the severity of their symptoms. Therapy is usually recommended too and can be quite useful if you can afford it. Some people that I've met choose not to use medicine which is their own personal choice. However, I prefer my medicine because it makes me feel so much better and happier (not like crazy happy but just more energetic).
Major (AKA Clinical) Depression
Definition:
"(Noun) Severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of
time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy." (Google)
Symptoms:
"According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive
disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere
with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities....
Those symptoms might include:
- Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
- Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
- Restlessness or feeling slowed down
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
- Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)" (webmd.com)
Again, horrible. For me, I'm constantly tired (I've slept for over 24 hours before), I don't want to do anything, including hanging out with my best friend and then I feel bad for not spending time with her; it's an awful cycle.
Treatment:
"The kind of depression treatment that's best for you depends on the type of depression you have. For example, some patients with clinical depression are treated with psychotherapy, and some are prescribed antidepressants. Others are prescribed antidepressants and psychotherapy. Still others who don't respond to standard depression treatments may opt to try brain stimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also called electroshock therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)." (webmd.com)
Anemia
Definition:
"a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness." (Google)
Symptoms:
"Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include:
- Extreme fatigue.
- Pale skin.
- Weakness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Frequent infections.
- Headache.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness." (mayoclinic.org)
What it's like:
It's pretty obnoxious. It's not decapitating in the way that my bipolar disorder or depression is, but, it is really annoying at times. I'll be standing up doing pretty much nothing and all of the sudden, boom, I'm dizzy. I get nauseous sometimes when I'm moving around a lot, and I get headaches everyday. Now that I'm on an iron pill I've noticed the symptoms pretty much disappear which is really nice. Oh, and I can't donate blood.
Treatment:
"Treatment for anemia depends on the type, cause, and severity of the condition. Treatments may include dietary changes or supplements, medicines, procedures, or surgery to treat blood loss." (nhlbi.nih.gov)
Vitamin D Deficiency
Definition:
It's what it sounds like; I have lower levels than normal of vitamin D.
Symptoms:
Honestly, there aren't any real tell-tale signs. I would recommend going and getting it checked through a simple blood draw if you're concerned about it. I live in the Pacific Northwest (which is lovely), namely, Seattle. Seattle is known for it's rain and therefore, lack of sunlight which is a very big contributor of vitamin D.
What it's like:
Eh, it's not that bad. Honestly it's not really that noticable other than my muscles are weaker than they should be and my body hurts from time to time. Meh.
Treatment:
Vitamins, go for a stroll during sunny days, drink orange juice. Stuff like that.
OCPD (AKA Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)
Defintion:
" Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is characterized
by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and
interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and
efficiency." (psychcentral.com)
Symptoms:
"Some, but not all, people with OCPD show an obsessive need for
cleanliness. This, and an obsessive preoccupation with tidiness, may
instead make daily living difficult. Though this kind of obsessive
behavior may contribute to a sense of controlling personal anxiety,
tension may continue...
-
- is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost
- shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met)
- is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity)
- is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification)
- is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value
- is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things
- adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes
- shows rigidity and stubbornness" (wikipedia.com)
What it's like:
So so sooooo annoying. I don't want to be like this, but I am. My mom gets so angry because I can't bear to part with things that aren't necessarily important to someone without OCPD but is to me. Money is hard because with my bipolar disorder I tend to like to go one sprees but my OCPD doesn't want me to and then my depression kicks in and I feel awful and guilty after buying something and will even go back and return stuff. It's very hard. I absolutely have to tell people goodnight twice before I go to bed. Like, I can't help it. It's not something I would wish on someone else quite frankly.
Treatment:
"Treatment for OCPD includes psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior therapy or self-help. Medication may be prescribed. In behavior therapy, a patient discusses with a psychotherapist ways of changing compulsions into healthier, productive behaviors. Cognitive analytic therapy is an effective form of behavior therapy." (wikipedia.com)
So, there you have it. All about me. Please keep in mind that each of the "illnesses" above effect different people in different ways. What may be my reality may not be someone else's. I know that some of the sources may not be considered the most "professional" but they had what I felt like the best descriptions on how I felt in a way that could be understood by people who don't know what they mean.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to comment or send me a message. I'd love to be of any help and hear your thoughts!
-Bre
