Bipolar disorder: The symptoms - and how to help a friend or family member with the condition
- Published
In My Skin, the comedy drama based on the real life of writer Kayleigh Llewellyn, follows Bethan (played by Gabrielle Creevy) as she grows up in Wales and helps to look after her mum, who has bipolar disorder (played by Jo Hartley).
"When I was growing up in Cardiff, my mum had – still has – bipolar disorder type 1, which is the really serious kind. She'd frequently be sectioned for long spells in a mental hospital that was just a couple of minutes away from my high school," Kayleigh has explained.
Dr Clare Dolman and Rosie Weatherley, from mental health charity Mind, tell BBC Three all about the condition.
Dr Clare, who has bipolar disorder, external, says it's a serious condition but that it is perfectly possible to live a happy and successful life - and that there are lots of ways to support a friend or family member with bipolar disorder.
What is bipolar disorder? And what are the symptoms?
"Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder where the person exhibits extreme, severe swings of mood," Dr Clare says. "The mood swings can be life-altering and life-threatening.
"You can be extremely elated but not in a pleasant way. You're sort of buzzing and you can't sleep. Your mind is racing one hundred miles an hour so you can't concentrate properly.
"Then you have extreme lows, which are like very severe depression. You might have to be hospitalised and have quite heavy-duty medication or even ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).
■ 'I hid my mum's bipolar - now I've written a show about it'
"Bipolar disorder has a high risk of suicide. If you have the condition, you have 20 times the risk of suicide of someone who doesn't have it. We do lose a lot of people, which is a tragedy. It's a real risk.
"But you're not depressed or manic all the time. Once you get medication and you learn how to control it, which is the majority of people, then you can stay on a certain level. And so a lot of people can cope quite well."
What causes bipolar disorder?
"We don't know what causes bipolar disorder but it tends to group in families," says Dr Clare. "You have a much higher chance of having bipolar disorder if you have a parent with it.
"For most people, it's triggered in adolescence. The main reason why so many people have their first serious episode in their late teens or early 20s is because of the big lifestyle change of going away from home to college or university. Not getting enough sleep, stress, alcohol - all those things, together with being in a different environment, can be triggers.
"Or if something bad happens that can contribute as well, like losing somebody in your life."
How is bipolar disorder treated?
"Lithium [a type of medicine known as a mood stabiliser] is our main treatment and it works reasonably well for most people," Dr Clare says. "There's also self management - you have to learn how to live with the condition in that you must try not to get too stressed.
"A lot of people do things like mindfulness or yoga. Some people believe in doing lots of physical exercise. You have to really keep an eye on your sleep and try to keep your sleep and habits regular."
Recent research from Bipolar UK suggests there is an average delay of 9.5 years between people first contacting a health professional about symptoms and getting an accurate diagnosis of bipolar. 60% of people said this delay had a significant impact on their life.
Rosie adds: "Lots of people are offered medication and particularly mood stabilisers to manage their symptoms of bipolar. What works for one person may not for another, so it is important people are able to have a choice [in their treatment].
"As well as medication, it's important people can access alternate therapies such as talking therapies if they need it.
"If you start to feel very unwell, or if an episode of depression or mania is lasting for a long time and your regular treatment isn't working, you may need to access crisis services to help you get through it. This may include: getting emergency support like going to A&E, getting support from your crisis resolution and home treatment team or being admitted to hospital either as a voluntary patient or being sectioned under the Mental Health Act."
How can I support a friend or relative with bipolar disorder?
Bethan, the central character in In My Skin, is a representation of Kayleigh's teenage years juggling her school life with difficult home circumstances. When visiting her mother in the psychiatric hospital, Bethan never knows what mood she'll be in. Sometimes she's loving, other times she rejects Bethan's affection.
Dr Clare says: "Be encouraging to them in their efforts to control their lifestyle. Talk to them about it and show that you're interested. Don't treat it with stigma.
"You can go on the Bipolar UK website - we've got quite a lot of information on there for partners and relatives. We also just launched an app.
"I always think it's good to learn about the condition of your relative or your friend because if you understand more about it, they'll feel more comfortable talking to you and asking for support."
Rosie adds: "You can also help someone plan for manic episodes. This can help both of you feel more stable and in control of what's happening.
"You could discuss ideas such as: doing something creative together, reasonable adjustments in work, helping to manage their finances while unwell, helping to organise a routine for sleeping, exercise and eating, discussing challenging behaviour.
"If someone is experiencing a manic episode, try to stay calm and understand that what they are feeling feels very real to them, so try not to discount their feelings. And, very importantly, look after yourself."
