Abnormal psychology is one of the most exciting and, at the same time, sophisticated fields of the science of mind and behavior. It is a specific branch that observes and analyzes unusual patterns of human behavior, thought, and perception, which may or may not is analyzed in relation to a certain mental disorder. There is a significant amount of information available about the field of abnormal psychology, its characteristics, distinguishing features, and challenges. This field studies the causes of different conditions defines a large number of mental diseases and develops strategies for their treatment. One of the conditions associated with abnormal psychology that interests me the most is bipolar disorder. Therefore, the following paper will discuss this psychological illness in more detail by discussing its critical points and expressing a personal view about it.
It is primarily necessary to define what bipolar disorder is and discuss the different types of this medical condition. This disease is also referred to as manic depression and causes severe mood swings that consist of emotional lows and highs (Farrell, 2017). For this reason, for millions of people experiencing bipolar disorder all around the world life is split into two realities, such as happiness and depression (Farrell, 2017). It is also important to mention that there are different variations of this mental illness; however, the most common ones are type 1 and 2. While individuals who have the first type have long periods of emotional highs and occasional lows, others’ experiences are the opposite (Farrell, 2017). Thus, bipolar disorder is a serious psychological illness that has two different types defined by specific symptoms and complications.
Bipolar disorder is a serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to a number of negative consequences. There are various genetic and non-genetic factors that lead to significant changes in neurotransmission, contributing to huge modifications in human behavior, such as manic and depressive episodes (Rowland & Marwaha, 2018). Since sick individuals cannot control these changes, it can seem impossible to find balance in order to lead a healthy life. Emotional highs, which are usually defined as mania, are much more powerful than the ordinary feeling of happiness and are characterized by such problems as sleeplessness, racing thoughts, and uncontrollable actions (Farrell, 2017). At the same time, the phase of depression can lead to changes in appetite, slowness, and even suicidal thoughts (Farrell, 2017). In case the bipolar disorder is left untreated, the symptoms worsen, making it impossible to live a normal life. Therefore, the chronic course of this condition is associated with a high level of mortality and disability among young individuals and adults (Vieta et al., 2018). It is important to treat this disorder to prevent early deaths and suffering.
In my personal opinion, that research concerning bipolar disorder has to continue and get deeper. Professionals and the general public have to enrich their knowledge about this disease since it affects millions of people worldwide and leads to detrimental consequences for their health. Individuals who have a history of bipolar disorder in the families have to observe their behavior and look for early symptoms in order to diagnose the condition at its primary phase and find the best treatment.
Overall, abnormal psychology covers many interesting topics, but this paper talked about the bipolar disorder since it is critical to learn more and spread awareness about it. Even though the early symptoms of this disease seem to be manageable and not serious enough, they can cause serious health problems and even death if left untreated. Thus, the presented essay discussed bipolar disorder in more detail and shared a personal opinion about this topic.
References
Farrell, H. M. (2017). What is bipolar disorder? [Video]. TED-Ed.
Rowland, T. A., & Marwaha, S. (2018). Epidemiology and risk factors for bipolar disorder. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 8(9), 251-269.
Vieta, E., Salagre, E., Grande, I., Carvalho, A. F., Fernandes, B. S., Berk, M., Birmaher, B., Tohen, M., & Suppes, T. (2018). Early intervention in bipolar disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(5), 411-426.