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Emily Gi

Mrs. Maldonado

English 10 Honors

22 May 2017

The Two Sides of Suffering

The effects of bipolar disorder are like a light switch and its light bulb. One minute, the

room is bright and manic, and then the next, it is dark and depressing. It affects the environment

all around and the light bulb itself, much like how bipolar disorder can take hold of a person and

their situation easily. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, hereditary, and incurable mental

disorder where that person would have intense mood swings ranging from depressive moods to a

manic high. Its symptoms can be extremely dangerous to those who are diagnosed, and its effect

can reach the person’s nearby surroundings. Additionally, the way bipolar disorder is handled

causes many people unable to receive the best help they can get. Ranging from its symptoms to

the way professionals care for it, the people diagnosed with bipolar disorder suffer throughout

life more than those without.

People diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience an unsteady life because of their

symptoms. Since many people have bipolar disorder, “It’s was recognized from the beginning

that combinations of depressive and manic features are associated with a severe illness course,

including increased suicide risk” (Mental Health Weekly Digest). People with bipolar disorder

must live with these episodes their entire life while bearing an increased possibility of the desire

to commit suicide. With such risky effects, they are forced to live with this potential their entire

life since it is incurable. Not only that, it is found, “At least 50% of individuals with bipolar

disorder (BD) present with psychosis during their lifetime” (Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week).
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Half and more of those who have bipolar disorder find themselves dissociating with reality.

Being so unconnected to real life will prove to have dangerous side effects and unhealthy

mentalities, like damaging their views of the world and believing in the most ridiculous of facts,

thus making them live their entire life not focused with the world around them. While treatment

can help, “Many studies have demonstrated that patients with bipolar disorder suffer from

significant functional impairment, even during remission periods” (Archives of

Neuropsychiatry). During those time when their symptoms are at a down low, they are still at a

level where their normal functioning is still worse than a normal person’s. Knowing that can

really damage a person’s emotional thinking and their outlook on themselves. Therefore, people

diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a hard time living than others because of the symptoms

they show.

Those with BD also often find themselves stuck in a toxic web that is their personal and

social environment. In a study comparing people with bipolar disorder and those without, it was

found that, “Compared with healthy controls, patients with BD exhibited worse functioning in

terms of intellectual and social functioning…” (Archives of Neuropsychiatry). With such

impairment in their mind, their ability to interact with others in social situations deteriorate. Not

only that, their overall intellect is lower than those who are healthy, and therefore can create a

wall of prejudice blocking them from truly being comfortable in their nearby environment at a

constant. When studies, people with bipolar disorder showed, “They show more feelings of

stigmatization, social withdrawal, household relationships, relationships with friends, and

participation in social activities” (Archive Neuropsychiatry). Because of their disorder, those

diagnosed struggle with keeping relationships whole with others. Also, the fact that they are

mentally disabled means for stigmatization and thus making them have a decreased desire to
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interact with other people. With this inability, they live their lives with no social connections

and find themselves having no one to rely on. Especially since they are disabled, having these

severed connections can be a fatal blow to their living status. Bipolar disorder deteriorates the

person’s social functions and make their personal environment unhealthy.

Although many have bipolar disorder, many professionals tackle it in a rough way that

fails to do much help. So many people have bipolar disorder that, “Patients are often treated

with multiple mediations in an effort to avoid hospitalizations, but many experience sedation,

alterations in personality, and confusion” (Townsend Letter). With hospitalization, they can be

watched and cared for easier, yet they have no choice but to suffer under medication with severe

side effects. Living their life without getting the correct help is a normal occurrence for those

with BD. They are drowned under medication that can be truly damaging, but they are unable to

change it. Additionally, “…current therapies only address symptoms and are not curative”

(Townsend Letter). Not only that they stuck with taking dangerous medication, their therapies

only subdue their symptoms temporarily. It does not help them in the long run and no one is

making a step into finding out how to really cure it. However, people with BD cannot stop going

to therapy since it is the only way they can get even the slightest bit better. While those

diagnosed may receive therapy, “…delays in diagnosis are common, as many of these patients

are misdiagnosed with unipolar depression on initial presentation” (Clinician Reviews). Because

of the delays in diagnosis, people with BD may drag out their symptoms for a longer period of

time. This inaccurate diagnosis can harm them as it may make them receive incorrect and

unsuitable treatments. With such unsure examinations, the help they need will be put off to the

side, putting them at a risk. The tough life people with BD have accentuated by the weak

professional methods that are instilled for them.

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Those who live with BD receive the short end of the stick in life because of their risky

symptoms, their toxic personal and social situations, and the weak way professionals tackle it.

Having BD would cause a great pain to anyone who has it, so it is a horrible disorder to bear.

Those without BD are more likely to live a more functional and happy life, so it is important that

people help with the problems regarding it. By knowing this information, it should be shown

that the bipolar community must be helped since there are so many problems revolving around it.

Organizations such as the Macomb County Community Mental Health helps those diagnosed

with a mental disorder, including BD, by providing them all kinds of needed services and

chances for outsiders to assist.

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Work Cited

Covino, Jean, and Jennifer Hofmann. “Bipolar Disorder: recognizing and treating in primary

care.” Clinician Reviews, Feb. 2017, p. 42+. General

OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=GA

LE%7CA484311768&it=r&asid=20ba4868490592b997667b40b6203eec, Accessed 23

April 2017.

Filizer, Arzu Tigli, et al. “Social aspect of functioning deteriorates more than individual aspect in

Patients with remitted bipolar disorder.” Archives of Neuropsychiatry, vol. 53, no. 2,

2016, p. 158+. Academic

OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=G

ALE%7CA456582943&it=r&asid=019da9fb2e8aebd3b2dad762d61f3924. Accessed 23

April 2017.

Gurevich, Michael I. “Holistic treatment of bipolar disorder.” Townsend Letter, Oct. 2016, p.

66+. General

OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=GA

LE%7CA465198858&it=r&asid=9375e64d9be6b6d265964203bf4b0c62. Accessed 23

April 2017.

“Reports from Veterans Affairs Medical Center Advance Knowledge in Bipolar Disorders

(Mixed features: evolution of the concept, past and current definitions, and future

prospects).” Mental health Weekly Digest, 27 Mar. 2017, p. 58. General

OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=GA

LE%7CA487161422&it=r&asid=c4ad6d8a79771f1ba2460424ed8e3fb8. Accessed 23

April 2017.