Bipolar Disorder As A Grave Mental Health Problem

Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that causes extreme mood swings, changes in energy levels and impacts the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Bipolar Disorder can negatively affect decision-making in several ways, depending on the phase of illness. The depressive phase may result in isolation, difficulty making ordinary decisions and in extreme situations, suicide attempts.

The mania (or manic) phase negatively impacts the ability to make sound judgements, control emotions and control impulses. The manic phase also impacts the ability to initiate and sustain culturally appropriate inhibitions in behaviour and how they interact with their immediate environs in many aspects of their personality. The manic phase, unlike the depression phase, is likely to have an impact on others.

Bipolar Disorder is a SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION, because it manifests primarily as a behaviour aberration. Therefore opinions may be rife regarding the sufferer’s behaviour. Such opinions range from accusing the person of being morally bankrupt to deliberately engaging in what by nature of their illness are symptoms of the disease.

The key features of Bipolar Disorder, among others are:

1. It has two main phases: the hyperactive period called the manic phase which is more dramatic and mostly catches the attention of everyone and the low activity phase called the depressive phase where the person suffers silently by themselves, out of the peering eyes of everyone.
2. It is a condition that runs a recurring and relapsing course; meaning it “comes and goes”. Each episode may last days to months, especially if not treated.
3. The more dramatic phase (the manic phase) of this illness predisposes the sufferer to engaging in behaviours with painful consequences: e.g. sexual indiscretions and hypersexual behaviours, misguided utterances, reckless spending, reckless behaviours, undertaking grand ventures without properly appraising feasibility/viability and illicit drug use.
4. Bipolar Disorder affects the daily lives of sufferers including their job, relationships and sleep patterns, and this can be stressful for their loved ones.
5. Impulse control problems: such persons are unable to restrain themselves in what may be culturally acceptable either verbally or through their physical activities. E.g. they may rudely cut into conversations or interject, or touch/hit another person inappropriately.
6. Lack of Inhibition: results in sufferers being vulgar in their utterances or behaviour without regard to what may be said/perceived of them, they are mostly melodramatic in their emotional expressions and other show of affection without any limits of restraint.
7. Poor judgement: they are unable to determine and judge what is or is not appropriate. So, their utterances and behaviour may be offensive or injurious to others. If they drive or operate machinery their sense of judgement may be affected.
8. Some may recall what they put up after effective treatment to stabilise them. Others may not recall.
9. In severe cases, they misinterpret interpersonal interactions and may misjudge them to mean one thing, when indeed it wasn’t meant that way. They may also indicate something happened when in reality it may not have happened. Thus, a lot of circumspection and professional expert discernment is required to establish the veracity of claims made by such persons suffering from Bipolar Disorder, in the manic stage.
10. Bipolar Disorder is often hereditary, like Diabetes and Hypertension, but the phases may be triggered by impactful life events. Impactful life events vary from person to person. These are events with some deep meaning to a person.
11. The depressive phase or less dramatic phase causes the person to feel deeply sad without usually any justifiable cause. In the depressive phase, they lack the energy to engage in their usual daily activities. They withdraw from social events or even family gatherings. There is a lot of suffering in silence. The depressive phase has a high risk of suicide due to their inability to feel hope even when it exists. Excessive guilt also marks this depressive stage.
12. Both phases of Bipolar Disorder are risk for committing suicide.
13. Having bipolar disorder is not a disability. Bipolar Disorder is an illness and responds to effective treatment.
14. The goal is to suppress the episodes or phases. Out of the phases, a person who suffers from Bipolar Disorder is no different from any other person who uses their intellect and social judgement to reach their God-given potential. It is just like someone with asthma, who when not in an acute episode, breathes like any other person God given
15. Studies on Bipolar Disorder indicate that although symptoms of mania often start in adolescence or early adulthood, it is not often recognized till years later, when, like any other illness it would have become more complex.
16. The key to limiting the impact of Bipolar Disorder is to educate yourself about the illness. Individuals and families should present for early treatment and work with your treatment team consistently.
17. No one asks for a medical illness. The more we learn about the condition, the higher the chance of early treatment and the more it limits the negative impact on your life.

It is also worth stating:

1. Mental Illnesses including Bipolar Disorder are treatable like any other medical condition. There are modern and effective treatments available in Ghana.
2. Mental illness of any kind is not because of a lack of good upbringing or lack of moral uprightness. Nor is it a weakness or a curse.
3. Stigma and tagging sufferers as “mad” prevents families and sufferers from seeking the treatment and help they rightly need and deserve.
4. Reference in our legal diction referring to sufferers of mental ill health or cognitive disorders as “idiots” “imbecile” etc. is discriminatory, derogatory and dehumanizing. This should be reviewed, repealed and updated in accordance with contemporary knowledge and best practices. The appropriate diction should be used in our laws.

Finally:

• Media practitioners are encouraged to be sensitive, build upon our positive engagement in the recent past and be our partners to educate and advocate for a better mental health care for all Ghanaians