Bipolar: Does This Affect Your Loved One?
Published: Sun, 10/10/10
Hi ,
How are you today?
I hope you're doing fine.
Did you know that there are
many people that are affected
by the change in seasons?
Many people are affected by
the weather in general.
Scientists have even studied
this phenomenon.
And there has even been a mental
disorder called Seasonal Affective
Disorder named for the disorder
that affects people's moods because
of weather.
Does your loved one get affected
because of the change in seasons?
Or because of the weather?
We are in the fall season now, and
the weather has definitely changed.
Have you noticed a change in your
loved one as well?
I talk about this in my courses/
systems, about how different
things can trigger episodes in
in someone who has bipolar disorder :
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That's what I'm talking about now -
How the change in season, or the
change in weather can be a trigger
to bipolar behavior and even
episodes.
Consider this story:
Dan was married to Natalie, who
had bipolar disorder. Normally,
Natalie was pretty stable with her
bipolar - she was on medication
for it, saw a psychiatrist, doctor, and
therapist for it, and had made other
lifestyle changes (such as sleep, diet,
and exercise) to manage it.
She rarely had mood swings, and
together they had a good marriage
and a pretty good life together, despite
the fact that she had bipolar disorder.
That's why Dan was so surprised
when one day, seemingly out of the
blue, Natalie seemed to get very
agitated, and picked a fight with him,
which wasn't usual behavior for her.
Luckily, it ended very quickly, but Natalie
cried over it, apologizing for being a terrible
wife.
She seemed to go into a depression after
that, which Dan couldn't understand,
because to him, nothing had really
changed that he could see.
When they took Natalie to see her
psychiatrist for answers, it came to light
that the only thing that had changed was
that the seasons had changed, and the
weather had turned colder and darker
more often, and this, the doctor believed,
was responsible for the change in
Natalie's moods.
He made a slight change in her medications,
and she made some additional lifestyle
changes, and her moods improved. She was
surprised to find out that such a seemingly
small change in her life could affect such a
dramatic change in her bipolar disorder,
but it had.
------------------------------------------------------
Natalie's story is not an unusual one.
In fact, many, many people with
bipolar disorder go through the
same thing when the seasons change
and the weather changes as well.
As we go from the bright light of summer
into the darker days of fall and winter,
we are inside more, and are not as active
as we are during the summer months.
Our lifestyle changes.
Our levels of vitamin D decrease.
Our activity decreases as well.
For some people, a mood change can
occur, causing depression.
For some, a decrease in activity can
lead to an increase in stress and/or
agitation (irritation) as well.
For people who have bipolar disorder,
this agitation (irritation) can lead to
increased anger and/or rage.
At its worst, increased anger and
rage can be a symptom of an oncoming
bipolar manic episode.
In the extreme, a depressed mood in
someone who has bipolar disorder
can lead to suicidal thoughts and even
suicide attempts.
It falls upon you, the supporter, to be
aware of this phenomenon, and to
watch your loved one for any changes
in them during this time.
When the seasons change, you need to
be more vigilant.
Watch them for any triggers, such as
increased stress or agitation, and any
signs or symptoms of acting out
behavior from their bipolar disorder.
Have you noticed this type of thing
happen in the past in your loved one
when the seasons change?
What did you do?
What can you do to help them this
year when it happens again?
What would you tell someone else
struggling with this issue?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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