Healthy mind
Friday 26 June 2009
21 year old Gemma tells n2k about having bipolar disorder and how Young Minds helped her.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder affects someone's mood and often means phases of depression and mania. This is very different from occasional mood swings. Each phase can be extreme and usually lasts a long time, sometimes for weeks or longer.
Bipolar disorder often develops from the age of 18. However, it can happen at any age. "I was about 13 when I first developed mental health problems. I was always late with homework and felt uncomfortable being in large groups of people. Even though I knew something was wrong it wasn’t until I was 16 that I went to see my teacher who referred me to the school nurse," remembers Gemma.
The phases
Depression can make a person feel really sad, worthless and exhausted, sometimes all at the same time. In extreme cases, it can lead to thoughts of suicide. Find out more.
Mania, meanwhile, is the exact opposite, and makes a person feel very energetic, happy and lively. However, these symptoms can lead to lack of sleep, irritation and seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.
A person going through a manic phase will usually do anything that makes them happy at the time, no matter the consequences.
What are the causes?
The cause of bipolar disorder hasn’t been discovered yet, but it usually runs in families. Around 10-15 per cent of the sufferer's close relatives could have it too. Stress and daily worries can trigger it as well.
Where can I get more information?
Young Minds is a charity that helps young people and their families with any mental health issues they may have. The charity provides mental health information, and also campaigns, researches and improves current practices.
Gemma is part of Young Minds Very Important Kids Group which campaigns for better health services for young people. “I find it really therapeutic to talk and campaign towards better services, and use my own experience to help others facing similar situations,” she adds.
Getting rid of the stigma
Mental disorders aren’t always easy for others to understand. Though Gemma has close friends and family who know about her disorder and how it affects her, she admits that more needs to be done to raise awareness.
“Problem solving techniques and coping strategies should be taught to young people because they can help with mental health problems and other issues in life,” explains Gemma. “Talking about mental health at an early age and viewing it in the same way as physical health problems would go a long way to tackling stigma too,” she adds.
One of the best ways to understand mental disorders is to read first hand accounts from those who have suffered. The Young Minds website has a section where you can read about the lives of sufferers and how they coped.
I need help!
Gemma thinks that talking to someone is the first step to getting help. "Things will only get worse if you don’t get help," she explains. "Try talking to your friends, school nurse or your GP."
Young Minds' My Head Hurts section also has lots of information on where to go for help and what to expect when you get there.
ChildLine is free and confidential and can also be a good starting point. Call them on 0800 1111.
