BOY, INTERRUPTED:
My Magical Misery Tour
by
Jeff Baker
Jeff Baker © 2012
BOY, INTERRUPTED:
Bipolar Mood Swings Diagram
BIPOLAR I - MANIA
BIPOLAR II - HYPOMANIA
AVERAGE MOOD HIGH (HAPPY)
AVERAGE MOOD
AVERAGE MOOD LOW (SAD)
BIPOLAR II - DYSTHYMIA
BIPOLAR I – CLINICAL DEPRESSION
NORMAL STAGES OF GRIEF
(DABDA)
DENIAL: “Not happening”
ANGER: “Why this?” “Why ME?”
BARGAINING: I'll “give” or “trade”
DEPRESSION: “I'm sad. Why bother?”
ACCEPTANCE: “It's okay. Why worry?”
NERVE ENDINGS...
Microscopic: Axons &
Dendrites
Provide all signals to and
from the brain
Synaptic Gap:
Neurotransmitters:
Norepinephrine,
Dopamine, Serotonin
NERVE ENDINGS...
Microscopic: Axons &
Dendrites
Provide all signals to and
from the brain
Synaptic Gap:
Neurotransmitters:
Norepinephrine,
Dopamine, Serotonin
SEROTONIN Affects:
Appetite
Sleep
Memory
Learning
Thinking
Moods
Behaviors
Body Temperature
Muscular Contraction
NEURAL NETWORKS
NERVE STIMULATION
LIMBIC SYSTEM
(EMOTIONS)
MANIA:
Excess of
neurotransmitters...
DEPRESSION:
Near lack of
neurotransmitters...
HOW WE ARE WIRED:
“FACT” >
BELIEF >
THOUGHT >
FEELING(S) >
BEHAVIOR(S) >
RESULT(S)
STIGMA:
FEAR, DISGUST, IGNORANCE
BPD – BIOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN
(LIKE CANCER, HEART DISEASE,
DIABETES)
DIFFERENCE IS OUTWARD VS. INWARD
BEHAVIOR VS. PHYSICALLY VISIBLE OR
INVISIBLE
MOOD DISORDERS
1 of 5 Americans suffers one or more mental disorder(s)
Depression 3rd reason for doctor visits
Psych meds prescribed 2nd only to analgesics
Untreated mood disorder folks have a 33% suicide rate
90% of suicides result from clinical depression
Only 49% of bipolar folks receive treatment
70% of bipolar patients have had at least 1 misdiagnosis
83% of bipolar cases are severe
37% of bipolar folks either ignore or don't recognize it
PSYCHIATRIC VISITS, ETC.
BPD diagnoses 13% by primary care physicians
BPD diagnoses 18% by psychologists
BPD diagnoses 64% by psychiatrists
20% of all mood disorder patients/np 33% commit suicide
Depression 2x higher in women than in men
BPD found equally among men and women
BPD folks live 9.2 yrs less than the 78 yr nat'l average
40% BPD folks abuse drugs, alcohol or both (violence!)
BPD folks unemployment rate is 50% higher
APA STATISTICS
Bipolar Disorder is an affective mood disorder
5.7 million adults diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder average onset age is 25
Alcohol, drugs used to self-medicate
Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder persons 15% suicide
Takes up to 1 year to fully recover from a BP episode
Takes up to 3 years to have meds properly adjusted
It takes up to 10 years to be properly diagnosed w/BPD
BIPOLAR DISORDER PREDISPOSITIONS
Genetics – 50 %
German bloodlines
High IQ
Arts (1 study 85%)
Trauma – PTSD, abuse
Stressful environment
Anyone at anytime
Avg onset 25-35 years
OBSERVATIONS:
Children, Teens are often misdiagnosed as ADHD
Bipolar patients almost always need medication
Not unusual for BP patient to relapse after stable
Rapid-cycler – patient with 4 or more severe episodes
a year
Mixed Mania – episodes occur daily for approx 1
week; mania & depression co-exist
RELEVANT QUOTATIONS
“You can think your way into depression,
but you cannot always think yourself out
of depression.” - Lewis E. Britton, M.D.
“In a real dark night of the soul it is
always three o'clock in the morning, day
after day.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Where there is no hope there can be no
endeavor.” - Samuel Johnson
BIPOLAR SYMPTOMS MANIA
Grandiosity “I am God”
I possess all abilities and powers
Very little sleep, yet energetic
Rapid, often loud speech
Excessively judgmental
Easily distracted, cannot concentrate
Impaired judgment
Wildly impulsive
Reckless, despite the consequences
BIPOLAR MANIA, CONT'D
Delusional, sometimes with hallucinations
Totally uninhibited--potentially psychotic
Giving away cherished valuables
Unending pursuit of pleasures:
Wanton sex
Abuse of Alcohol
Chain smoking
Abuse of illicit and/or prescribed Rx
BIPOLAR DEPRESSION
Feeling sad, useless, hopeless
Irritable
Cannot experience pleasure
Fatigue, energy depletion
Loss of interests
Appetite and weight changes
Sleep – restless, excessive, insomnia
Lack of concentration
DEPRESSION, CONT'D
Sporadic or total loss of memory
Feeling guilty
Feeling worthless
Thoughts of death or suicide
Loss of motor skills
Catatonia
Vegetative
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
3 GOALS:
1. Decreased Episode Frequency (8-10 avg)
2. Decreased Episode Duration
3. Decreased Intensity of UP and DOWN
Mood Swings
THREE TREATMENTS
Psychiatric Drug Course
Psychological Counseling
Positive Lifestyle Changes
MY APPROACH
SERENITY
ELIMINATE STRESS
AVOID ANGER
ACCEPT OR CHANGE
SAD BUT TRUE...
Mental facilities are often full, some with waiting lists
Most of us are either uninsured or underinsured
Primary-care physicians are untrained in mood disorders
Patients are always the last to know
Both unipolar and bipolar disorders are incurable; medical &
lifestyle change for stability
Psych Meds are powerful, with
costly, wicked side-effects
PREVENTATIVE
MEASURES
Hide the car keys
Get rid of firearms
Secure all debit/credit cards
and checkbook – give
weekly allowance
Obtain Medical Power of
Attorney; specify docs &
hospitals
Gather & list all meds
Dispense meds
Create a team game plan
WHERE TO GET HELP!
Angie's List, Web M.D.: Psychiatrists
Primary care Doc or Psychologist
Your clinic's nurse
Patient referral
Public Health officials
Boy Interrupted's website /
email:(www.)
BipolarAid.org
bipolaraid@gmail.com
QUESTION & ANSWER
Clinical Aspects
My experiences
My history
My prognosis
My beliefs
My outlook
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
“I am the way, the truth,
and the life; no man
comes to the Father, but
by Me” - Jesus (John
14:6)
“for God so loved the
world, that He gave his
only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him
shall not perish, but have
everlasting life.” - (John
3:16)
BOY, INTERRUPTED:
My Magical Misery Tour
by
Jeff Baker
Jeff Baker © 2012
