The Stigma Of Bipolar Disorder Essay - 1864 Words

Cory Murphy Composition 101 Professor Tanya Vanderlinde 11 Dec. 2016 Eliminate the Stigma When a seventh grader at Frederick Area High School in Frederick, South Dakota, was asked to describe what bipolar disorder is, he said that it refers to people that â€Å"change personalities fast† (McGaugh). However, this is only a common misconception. Though the word â€Å"bipolar† is often used in conversations to describe a person that has mood swings, bipolar disorder actually refers to a serious mental illness. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, about 2.6 percent of American adults suffer from a form of bipolar disorder, and about one in five people with bipolar disorder commits suicide. Despite the impact that bipolar disorder has on the lives of patients and families alike, it is treated casually by people across the United States. Even though many treat it flippantly, bipolar disorder is a serious mental ailment, and the public needs to have a greater understanding of it. There is a dark stigma surrounding mental illness in general, and bipolar disorder is no exception. According to the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, a stigma is â€Å"a mark of disgrace that sets someone apart.† Bipolar disorder is incredibly misunderstood by society at large, which leads to this stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. In everyday conversation, the word â€Å"bipolar† is frequently used to describe how someone is feeling at that moment. If a person is sad one moment andShow MoreRelatedThe Stigma Of Bipolar Disorder Essay1854 Words   |  8 PagesEliminate the Stigma When a seventh grader at Frederick Area High School in Frederick, South Dakota, was asked to describe what bipolar disorder is, he said that it refers to people that â€Å"change personalities fast† (McGaugh). However, this is only a common misconception. Though the word â€Å"bipolar† is often used in conversations to describe a person that has mood swings, bipolar disorder actually refers to a serious mental illness. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, about 2Read MoreThe Stigma Associated With Bipolar Disorder1448 Words   |  6 PagesLiving with Bipolar Disorder The stigma associated with bipolar disorder is unacceptable. The purpose of this paper is to improve the readers ability to understand what bipolar disorder is and how being diagnosed with this disorder affects all facets of daily living. Family, friends and associates of individuals with bipolar disorder are often affected as well. As a result of the stigma associated with the disorder, the effects remain: often multiplied by individuals that have a limited understandingRead MoreThe Effects Of Stigma On Functioning On Bipolar Disorder Patients2072 Words   |  9 PagesThe Impact of Stigma on Functioning in Bipolar Disorder Patients Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mood disorder that requires careful medication management during a patient’s lifetime (Halter, 2014, p. 227). Bipolar disorder is described as recurrent episodes of mood changes ranging from mania to irritability to depression (Halter, 2014, p. 228). Periods of normal functioning are also recurrent with mood shifts. Often times bipolar disorder goes undiagnosed for many yearsRead MoreTreatment For Middle Aged African American Women With Bipolar Disorder849 Words   |  4 Pageswomen with bipolar disorder What is it? Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by drastic mood swings ranging from immense euphoria to extreme depression. People with bipolar disorder are likely to experience a lack of energy, participation in normal social activities, and the ability to complete daily routines. This can cause interpersonal relationships and work-life to suffer. They may also have strong thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide as a result of bipolar disorder. The causeRead MoreThroughout Lifetime We All Go Through Experiences That1276 Words   |  6 Pagesmelancholy and joyfulness are ordinary human emotions that often do not affect our everyday life. But there is a condition known as Bipolar Disorder that changes all of this. This essay will discuss the stigma and structural violence associated with Bipolar Disorder and mental illness. It will also discuss how popular cultural depicts mental health. Bipolar disorder also known as manic- depressive illness is a chronic mental illness characterized by fluctuations in mood and energy that manifestsRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Depression And Depression1591 Words   |  7 PagesBipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an alternating or shift in moods of elevation and depression. It is also known as manic depression. This mental illness is that brings severe high and low moods, it can cause changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. â€Å"Bi† which means two or alternating between two, explains the two common episodic moods that occur in individuals with this disorder; mania and depression. According to the DSM there are multiple forms of bipolar disorderRead MoreBipolar Disorder, Formerly Known As Manic-Depression, Is1359 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a mental disorder. This disorder causes the individual to experience severe mood swings, from elation to de pression. Individuals with bipolar disorder can experience serious changes in thinking, energy and behaviour. The different states of those with bipolar experience are referred to as ‘episodes’. These episodes can last days, weeks or months, depending on the severity of the episode. There are three main types of episodes, they are maniaRead MoreBipolar Disorder : The Facts And The Myths900 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: BIPOLAR DISORDER Bipolar Disorder: The Facts and the Myths John Payne American Public University Abstract This paper is a intended to teach the reader about what Bipolar Disorder is and how it is treated. The facts on bipolar disorder will be discussed, as well as the taboos associated with the disorder and complete myths that have created such stigmas about having and living with bipolar disorder. This paper will discuss what bipolar disorder is, how it is diagnosed, andRead MoreBipolar Disorder And Its Effects On Society1416 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar disorder is often misunderstood. There is very little research on all mental illnesses but, specifically bipolar disorder because humans have not come out with the technology to fully study the brain. This is why people often judge people with mental illnesses and place a certain stigma on them, people just do not know what to think. For our group project, my group wanted to learn more about why mental illnesses are so misrepresented within our culture. Bipolar disorder, formerly known asRead MoreThe Effects Of Bipolar Disorder On Individuals, Families And Society1109 Words   |  5 Pageswill be focusing on one of the more common mental illness — bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical condition that causes people to have extreme mood swings and these mood swings affect how people think, interact, behave and function (Bipolar Disorder, 2012). Research indicted that one to two percent of adults have bipolar disorder (Bipolar Disorder, 2012). Patients with bipolar disorder will also experience mania which are episodes of â€Å"severe