Bipolar disorder: How to manage the mental condition

DW (English)

Erratic sleep, risky behaviors, and mood swings—are these signs of bipolar disorder? This complex mental health condition affects millions worldwide. In this episode, Emelia Agblevo shares her journey through manic highs.

Transcript

00:00Have you ever felt like you're in an emotional rollercoaster?

00:02On one hand, extremely happy, maybe even too happy,

00:06and on the other hand, extremely sad to the point where you can't do basic tasks.

00:10And these two extreme states are mutually exclusive of yourself.

00:13Maybe you're familiar with the states, or maybe you know someone who's experiencing the states,

00:18which is one of the reasons why we need to talk about bipolar disorder.

00:20Like looking back, I am sad about the relationships that I have lost.

00:25My big brother, I said some really hurtful things to him.

00:30How long have you been living with bipolar disorder?

00:38So I was 23 when I was diagnosed.

00:41It's difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder.

00:43Sometimes people think it's schizophrenia, but I was very lucky because we were seeing the same doctor.

00:49What happened was I did not make a first class.

00:52So I was part of my old student association.

00:56I was a very active member of the Rhetoract Club.

00:58And I was also working at the Investor Radio Station.

01:01So my sleep became very erratic, and I did not even realize.

01:04Those were the days when Twitter would lock it out.

01:06Like I can stay a night and out.

01:08I'll shoot like maybe a hundred tweets, maybe five minutes.

01:13I was peeing in bed, like I was bed wetting for a very long time.

01:16So those around me noticed that there was something a bit off.

01:20I was given medication, but then I just took it for I think two weeks.

01:23And then when I am manic, I just go all out.

01:27I shop, whatever money is in my account, savings.

01:31I spent all of it.

01:33Apart from that, I have all of these grandiose ideas.

01:36You know, there are so many projects that I want to do.

01:40And then I'm multitasking.

01:41I'm doing like a hundred things at a time.

01:44So you see me, I am cooking, I'm washing, I am writing.

01:48When I'm even talking, I talk so fast.

01:51And sometimes you just realize that the thought process,

01:54like one doesn't end and then I'm saying something else.

01:57What are some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

02:00While a lot of these symptoms are usually shared across numerous conditions,

02:04you need to look out for things like extreme changes in behavior,

02:07either in the hypomanic side or in the depressive side.

02:10Things like hopelessness about the future, changes in appetite,

02:14reduced energy, sudden burst of energy.

02:16Sometimes even risky sexual behaviors might be a sign that's pointing towards that.

02:20But you need to understand that it is important that you get diagnosed by a psychiatrist.

02:26So usually before the symptoms come up, do you like have any premonition?

02:32You know, can you feel it's coming?

02:34For me, I don't have any traumatic experience,

02:38struggling, it's just a lack of sleep.

02:40The more tired you are, the more energy you feel.

02:43How has this affected you?

02:45You know, your personal life, relationships, career?

02:50When I am manic, I say things without filters.

02:54Like looking back, I am sad about the relationships that I have lost.

02:59My big brother, I said some really hurtful things to him and it's taken us quite a bit of time.

03:06For over six months, I would reach out to him and he would not pay me any attention.

03:12He would just communicate to my husband that if I am fine, he's okay.

03:17When you're saying those things, are you aware that you're saying that?

03:21For me, I remember everything.

03:23Every single thing.

03:24With clarity, exactly.

03:25Are there any other ways that, you know, this has affected you?

03:29When I had my daughter, I went manic.

03:32So my daughter had to be taken away.

03:34I had to stop breastfeeding because they were not sure if the medication was going to seep into

03:38the breast milk or not.

03:40There was once when I jumped out of my dad when he was driving a car,

03:44I lost a lot of confidence because I wasn't sure who saw me and who did not.

03:48So did you face any form of stigma?

03:50Just being in the vicinity of that hospital was something that I did not want to associate

03:56with because of the stigma that's attached to it.

04:00I think in 2020, I wrote a post on my Facebook.

04:04Yeah.

04:05I am bipolar and I thank God for amazing friends.

04:08There was a lot of empathy.

04:11There was a lot of understanding.

04:13One person that really struck me was a friend I was in the same MPhil course with.

04:18Okay.

04:18And I also, we always, we would not like laugh ahead.

04:21We were like, oh, you are too dull.

04:22You are too quiet.

04:24And then she reached out to me and she told me that she also had bipolar disorder.

04:28But she was on the depressive side.

04:30Bipolar too.

04:31The major difference between bipolar one and two is usually the presence of mania.

04:35Extreme changes in behavior, usually associated with psychosis,

04:39which means the person who is experiencing this has lost touch with reality.

04:43With bipolar two, you don't have mania.

04:45What you have instead is hypomania with neurosis instead.

04:49The person doesn't really lose touch with reality.

04:52Sometimes in bipolar one, they might require hospitalization.

04:55While many cases of bipolar two do not.

04:57So let's jump straight into our DW Africa Facebook community to answer some questions.

05:07So we have a question from Jojo Morris.

05:08And the question is, how can bipolar disorder be solved?

05:12The first thing you need is a psychiatrist to work this journey with you.

05:15It might require medication, therapy, counseling, some lifestyle changes,

05:20and even a strong support system can actually help a person on their journey.

05:29So let's talk management.

05:31And that's because from the first time you're diagnosed to this time, some time has passed.

05:36And I'm sure you've gotten some things better.

05:39So I just started taking my medication properly.

05:43So right now I'm on mood stabilizers, lamotrigine, and I'm on an antipsychotic ketiapine.

05:49I do a lot of outdoor activities with my friends.

05:53And I also do psychotherapy.

05:55Because of my medication, I sleep eight hours.

05:58For stress, I am learning to delegate.

06:00Thank you so much, Amelia, for sharing your story with us.

06:03I'm sure you on the other end of the screen has learnt one or two things.

06:07If you have, share it with someone who you think might benefit from it.

06:10And until the next time, this remains Healthy Me No Cap.

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