The highs and lows of bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness which has its onset mostly in adolescent years. It is popularly known as manic depressive illness.

- SARASWATHI TENAGI AND VIJAYKUMAR HARBISHETTAR

It is seen in around 0.5 per cent of the people and 70 per cent of those with the illness are not receiving treatment as per the National Mental Health Survey of 2015-16. It is a long-term illness and the diagnosis given is usually for life. Bipolar Disorder Day is observed every year on 30 March internationally to create awareness about this mental illness; this day marks the birthday of the famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who reportedly had the condition and died by suicide at a young age.

A psychiatrist took her baby’s life before taking her own life tragically when she became ill; this occurred a few weeks after the birth of the baby in London in the year 2000. An inquiry into this incident found that she had stopped her treatment for a known Bipolar disorder, and felt it could have been prevented had there been regular check-ups, especially during pregnancy and post-delivery.

Generally, emotions such as anger, disgust, joy, fear, surprise and sadness are experienced; they last for short periods, and occur typically in response to a particular situation. These emotions bring physiological changes such as raised heart rate or fast breathing and also some obvious changes in behaviour. The emotions which can last for several hours to days are generally referred to as mood. Several factors like interaction and communication with people around us, social issues, health, environment, and food can all influence mood. It is common to experience fluctuations in emotions and mood, however most of us are able to manage them well enough to control our behaviour.