Tag Archives: mood swings

Stigma, Statistics, & Suicide

The stigma surrounding mental illness can be so overwhelming that it can cause many people who are truly suffering to be too scared or ashamed to seek out help. The statistics are even scarier. I touched on quite a few in my last post, but I feel this is information that bears repeating.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 2.7% of the U.S. population suffers from bipolar disorder. Of the population that is affected by this particular disorder, 82.9% will suffer from severe impairments, more so than with any other mood disorder.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has discovered similar facts through extensive research. Although there is no one particular cause of bipolar disorder, researchers and doctors posit that a number of factors could play a role. Those with a close relative with the disorder, especially a parent, are more likely to develop this disorder. Trauma can sometimes be a trigger for the disorder to manifest itself. The abuse of drugs and/or alcohol can also possibly be a trigger.

People with bipolar disorder have a 9.2% less life expectancy, making the average age for people with the disorder between 55-66. This is partly due to the high suicide rates of people suffering from bipolar disorder.

Approximately 19% of people with the disorder will commit suicide. This is one of those facts that bears repeating.

That in of itself should be alarming to anyone and everyone.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34, according to NAMI. The suicide death of a person with bipolar disorder accounts for approximately 12% of all suicides.

There is an article written by Michael G. Pipich, entitled “Bipolar Disorder and Suicide: What 12,000 Lives Can Teach Us”. Pipich, a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a Master’s Degree, also suffers from bipolar disorder. However, he makes a great point when it comes to this specific issue.

The article focused on the need “to learn the lessons of poor bipolar care before it’s too late.” Approximately 12,000 people with bipolar disorder commit suicide every year. Again, just another shocking reality.

He also touched upon the shame and fear of treatment a person has due to the stigma around the illness. In fact, he said that may be the main cause of the enormous amount of suicides we see every year. 12,000 people out of a “group” of nearly 7 million kill themselves every year. Every year. That’s insane. And it’s insane that people who don’t have a mental illness don’t recognize the serious need for proper treatment for those that do.

I refuse to feel ashamed of who I am.

And that’s all I can say.

Up, Down, And All Around

Winston Churchill, Vincent Van Gogh, and Kurt Cobain walk into a bar…

Yeah, it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but the punchline is far from funny.

One of them led Great Britain stoically during WWII. One of them is responsible for some of the most well-known and adored pieces of art work in the world. One is a musical icon who tragically ended his life too soon. So, you may be wondering, what do these three people have in common?

All of them suffered from bipolar disorder.

And so do I.

And now a joke: My friend who suffers from bipolar disorder called from the lobby. He said, “Hey, I’m feeling great today. You want to do something?” I said, “Sure, I’ll be down in a minute.” He said, “That makes two of us.”

No, it’s not a funny joke (nor an original one), but the subject is no laughing matter either. The stigma surrounding bipolar disorder is not only sad, it’s dangerous and deadly. There are approximately 5.7 million adults in the United States suffering from the mood disorder. Of those diagnosed with the disorder, 40%-60% of people will attempt suicide at least one time. Even scarier, approximately 19%, or 1.14 million people out of approximately 5.7 million with the disorder, will commit suicide. Bipolar disorder accounts for 3%-14% of all suicides, making it quite possibly the deadliest mental illness.

So, if you’re one of the people who liked the aforementioned joke, are you still laughing now?

I’m 31 now and was first diagnosed at 15. Then again at 17. Then again at 25, which is when I finally sought out help. For 10 years I lived in a constant state of shame and embarrassment. For many reasons.

But before I get anymore ahead of myself let’s get a basic idea of what bipolar disorder is. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by extreme highs and lows, mood swings, and can affect many other areas of everyday life, as well. It is quite possible there are more people with the disorder for various reasons, whether it be from being misdiagnosed to being personally ashamed.

The stigma surrounding bipolar disorder is extreme compared to most other mental health issues. It is insidious and wreaks havoc on the person with the illness as well as those around them. Family, friends, and other loved ones often feel like they have to (and I love this phrase) “walk on eggshells” so as not to trigger or cause an episode in someone with bipolar disorder.

I hope to continue to share my story and my personal journey through this maze in my mind as I go on.

All I ask is for you to not try and understand me, and I won’t try to understand how my behavior affects those around me.

To Be Continued