Labels: Arts and Madness, Mental Illness Awareness Week
N Posted by Rain at 10/06/2006 08:13:00 AM
1
comments from:
Marie,
Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a medical illness that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. These changes may be subtle or dramatic and typically vary greatly over the course of a person’s life as well as among individuals. Over 10 million people in America have bipolar disorder, and the illness affects men and women equally. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and generally life-long condition with recurring episodes of mania and depression that can last from days to months that often begin in adolescence or early adulthood, and occasionally even in children. Most people generally require some sort of lifelong treatment. While medication is one key element in successful treatment of bipolar disorder, psychotherapy, support, and education about the illness are also essential components of the treatment process.
What are the symptoms of mania?
Mania is the word that describes the activated phase of bipolar disorder. The symptoms of mania may include:
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is the other phase of bipolar disorder. The symptoms of depression may include: Just a reminder I am Bipolar II, my symptoms for depression are less severe and don't last as long as my periods of mania do.
What is a "mixed" state?
A mixed state is when symptoms of mania and depression occur at the same time. During a mixed state depressed mood accompanies manic activation.
What is rapid cycling?
Sometimes individuals may experience an increased frequency of episodes. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, the individual is said to have bipolar disorder with rapid cycling. Rapid cycling is more common in women.
What are the causes of bipolar disorder?
While the exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, most scientists believe that bipolar disorder is likely caused by multiple factors that interact with each other to produce a chemical imbalance affecting certain parts of the brain. Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and studies suggest a genetic component to the illness. A stressful environment or negative life events may interact with an underlying genetic or biological vulnerability to produce the disorder. There are other possible "triggers" of bipolar episodes: the treatment of depression with an antidepressant medication may trigger a switch into mania, sleep deprivation may trigger mania, or hypothyroidism may produce depression or mood instability. It is important to note that bipolar episodes can and often do occur without any obvious trigger.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, it is a treatable and manageable illness. After an accurate diagnosis, most people can achieve an optimal level of wellness. Medication is an essential element of successful treatment for people with bipolar disorder. In addition, psychosocial therapies including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy, and psychoeducation are important to help people understand the illness and to internalize skills to cope with the stresses that can trigger episodes. Changes in medications or doses may be necessary, as well as changes in treatment plans during different stages of the illness.
Source: NAMI
Want to know more? Go here, here or here.
Labels: depression, Mental Illness Awareness Week
N Posted by Rain at 10/05/2006 10:02:00 AM
5
comments from:
jules,
Politically Homeless,
Rain,
Marie,
,
Look Around You:Labels: Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMI
N Posted by Rain at 10/04/2006 08:58:00 PM
He became the director of the City Art Institute and School of Design in Kansas City, Missouri in 1935 and remained there for the rest of his life. After the decline of Regionalism, Benton began painting scenes of American history. He also wrote two autobiographies titled “An Artist in America” and “An American in Art.” He painted throughout his entire life of 76 years. In fact, at the time he passed away, he had his brushes in his hands and was seated in front of his final mural that he had just completed. The world's largest public collection of his works is located at Missouri's own Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
My mother was a huge fan of Bentons and during her periods of Bipolar Mania she would drag me all over the country to visit museums and gallery openings. I recall these times as the best in my childhood, and this is how my appreciation for the arts formed. My father on the other hand thought much differently, because of the huge amounts of money that my mother would spend and the fact that he was never really sure where we were or what she was "doing" in my presence. Needless to say my mother was prone to very risky behavior however, thats a whole different post.
I have had the opportunity to visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum and I have visited the murals at both the Missouri and Indiana Capitol Bulidings. If you ever have a chance to see Bentons work I urge you to do so. His paintings are wonderful!
Have a great day and as always comments are appreciated.
Labels: Art, Benton, Regionalism
N Posted by Rain at 10/03/2006 07:39:00 AM
4
comments from:
,
Arthur Quiller Couch,
Lyndon,
Rain,
Labels: Hunky Mondays
N Posted by Rain at 10/02/2006 08:35:00 AM
5
comments from:
Lyndon,
Dana,
Marie,
,
Rain,
Name... Rain
From... West Coast, United States
I am a strong, sexy, intelligent, candid and loving woman who would do anything for her family. I am a mother of two.I have a sarcastic sense of humor,love to read and I am trying to stay positive in a difficult world.This is the place that I will use to perserve my sanity on the path that is called my life.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.It can turn a mealinto a feast, a house into a home,a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.~Melody Beattie
Click on photo to see larger version.
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