The National Institute of Mental Health defines bipolar disorder as a depressive brain disorder where an individual experiences two opposite moods – a manic, elevated mood and a downbeat, depressive mood, that is why it is also called manic-depressive disorder. The “shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks” (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.) characterize this disorder, which results in changes in sleeping pattern and levels of activities and energies the individual perform. These changes also impinge on how the individual functions in school, at work, at home, and can also negatively affect personal relationships. The worst that can happen to an individual suffering from this disorder is contemplation and actual carrying out suicidal thoughts. In-between bouts of bipolar disorder attacks, the individual may experience normal mood behaviors as well. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include talking rapidly, jumping from one topic to another, unrealistic beliefs about one’s self, extreme restlessness and irritability, long bouts of loneliness or feelings of hopelessness, trouble concentrating, and thinking about morbid ways of hurting the self, among others. The good thing about this is it can be treated, thus, those suffering from this disorder can still lead a normal and productive life.
Patty Duke is one of the staunch advocates of bipolar disorder because she suffered from the disorder herself. She was known to have thrown a Mickey Mouse clock on MCA President, Sid Sheinberg, chased an actress back to the movie set in a limo, suffered from panic attacks, and experienced hallucinations, too (Berg). She also suffered from anorexia and claims to be out-of-control in several instances of her life, but remains thankful that her children remain loving and understanding of her situation (Cartel). For years, she didn’t know what her condition was called, and when finally a psychiatrist told her that she was manic-depressive, she felt ecstatic that what she was suffering from had a name. Duke remains steadfast in her “role to fight the stigma against mental illness” (Berg). She has become the face of bipolar disorder that shows there is treatment, people do recover, and can still lead happy and successful lives. With her in the frontline, more people are becoming educated about the different issues of mental health, and as a result, have become more understanding and empathic of individuals suffering from the disorder.
References
Berg, Stacie Zoe. (n.d.). Patty Duke: Wise, witty, and kicking stigma. BP Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.bphope.com/Item.aspx/179/patty-duke-wise-witty-and-kicking-stigma
Cartel, Mari. (2013). Patty Duke’s struggle with bipolar disorder. Lifescript. Retrieved from http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/depression/articles/patty_dukes_struggle_with_bipolar_disorder.aspx
National Institute of Mental Health [NIH]. (n.d.). Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
