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 When Bipolar Diagnosis is Good News
By Gail-Elaine
Tinker, M.S.
Halt the presses! Catherine Zeta Jones's publicist Cece Yorke
has announced that the prominent 41 year old actress, wife,
and mother of two, has sought inpatient treatment for bipolar
depression. According to her publicist, the actress was experiencing
severe symptoms of the disease, once known as manic depression,
due to the stress of supporting her husband, Michael Douglas,
in his fight against throat cancer. Bipolar disorder has no
cure but it can be treated with mood stabilizing medications
and psychotherapy; however, even a person who takes their
medication faithfully can experience a relapse due to life
trauma, which could include the near-loss of a loved one.
It is times such as these when a person with this diagnosis
would choose to reach out and enter inpatient therapy.
Zeta Jones, who is from Swansea, Wales, will be asked about
her family history of depression and mental illness since
psychiatrists utilize information about patient's family history
since there is a genetic component to bipolar disorder. Children
with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are four
to six times more likely to develop the illness, compared
with children who do not have a family history of bipolar
disorder, according to Current Psychiatry Reports.
Zeta Jones will have undergone a complete physical examination
and blood work to rule out any other physical conditions as
part of her treatment. There would be a review of her medication
regimens and she would participate in talk therapy, also known
as psychotherapy. The role of psychotherapy in addition to
medication in the treatment of bipolar illness is important
for a myriad of reasons, but for two key reasons I shall list:
1. To facilitate the client in coping with changes the diagnosis
and medication brings, and to bring a 'positive wellness outlook'
into treatment and 2. To examine client, family, and work
dynamics before and during treatment to promote problem solving
and 'positive wellness outlook.'
Bipolar disorder affects about 2.6% of the U.S. population,
according to Psych Central. It is not uncommon for a person
who suffers from bipolar disorder to undergo inpatient medical
care for severe symptoms. Symptoms are marked by dramatic
mood changes - from feeling joyful and full of ideas with
a desire to take on a lot of projects quickly and impulsively
to a loss of interest in people and intense slowness, despair
and thoughts of suicide, according to the National Institutes
of Health. Depending on the patient, these mood swings can
occur over the course of months, weeks, or rarely in the course
of a day. However, a good many people who suffer from this
condition self-medicate with alcohol, drugs, food, gambling,
or other obsession to hide the pain. Then they seek help via
a 12 Step Program and find precious little relief and a greater
wondering of 'what is wrong with them.' I believe there is
a greater effort on the part of some 12 Step Programs to assist
struggling members by suggesting evaluations, but this is
not traditional 12 Step practice. It is up to the individual
and his or her family to realize something isn't right, and
this is not easy to do.
These are bright, functional people whom you would categorize
as 'pillars of the community' who are dealing with a brain
chemistry imbalance. It is far too easy to return to miss-using
chemicals to cope. Once they get a diagnosis it is liberating
to receive treatment after coping for so long and stigmatizing
beyond belief to hold a life-long incurable disease. The mental
health community has been trying to de-stigmatize bipolar
for many years and supports people who behave responsibly
with their disease. So when is a diagnosis of Bipolar 'good
news?' I suppose it depends on how you view things. It is
always better to be disease free, especially a life-long incurable
one; however, if you have been suffering for years….it can
be an awesome relief to know what has been torturing you isn't
'you' but something medication and therapy can assist. This
can be mighty great news to many a suffering soul.
Zeta-Jones isn't the first actor to suffer from the debilitating
illness - or the first that's come out and admitted it. Many
creative and famous people have been diagnosed with bipolar
disorder. There are many individuals who have recovered and
gone to be very productive in their lives. Other celebrities
who have come forward in recent years with their diagnoses
of manic depressive illness, most notable Patty Duke in her
autobiography, "Call Me Anna" but the expansive
lists also includes Russell Brand, Richard Dreyfuss, Carrie
Fisher, Ozzy Osbourne, and singer Adam Ant.
What is Bipolar Disorder? Firstly, it is condition which
only a trained psychologist/psychiatrist is sufficiently trained
to diagnose. Even the average Family Practioner would defer
to a Mental Health Professional for a specialized diagnosis
…so when I hear of people casually noticing a friend in a
prolonged angry, anxious, or depressed mood and they automatically
proclaim them to be "bipolar" I get steamed! It
is true, people with bipolar disorder experience unusually
intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called
"mood episodes." An overly joyful or overexcited
state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless
state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode
includes symptoms of both mania and depression. This is called
a mixed state. People with bipolar disorder also may be explosive
and irritable during a mood episode.
Extreme changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior
go along with these changes in mood. It is possible for someone
with bipolar disorder to experience a long-lasting period
of unstable moods rather than discrete episodes of depression
or mania. A person may be having an episode of bipolar disorder
if he or she has a number of manic or depressive symptoms
for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least one or
two weeks. This is what is extremely tricky about correct
diagnosis of this condition. Nearly every teenager resembles
this for a time, but this does not make every teenager a candidate
for Lithium!
Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression
has psychotic symptoms too, such as hallucinations or delusions.
The psychotic symptoms tend to reflect the person's extreme
mood. For example, psychotic symptoms for a person having
a manic episode may include believing he or she is famous,
has a lot of money, or has special powers. In the same way,
a person having a depressive episode may believe he or she
is ruined and penniless, or has committed a crime. As a result,
people with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms are
sometimes wrongly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another
severe mental illness that is linked with hallucinations and
delusions.
There are a number of mood stabilizing medications prescribed
by an M.D. or a Psychiatrist for Bipolar Disorder. If the
person with bipolar disorder develops any severe side effects
from a medication, he or she should talk to the doctor who
prescribed it as soon as possible. People being treated for
bipolar disorder should not stop taking a medication without
talking to a doctor first. Suddenly stopping a medication
may lead to "rebound," or worsening of bipolar disorder
symptoms.
Other uncomfortable or potentially dangerous withdrawal effects
are also possible.
I have so much admiration for Catherine Zeta Jones. The courage
it has taken for her to handle her issue publicly is more
outstanding than that of her husband's for throat cancer -
both are selfless and very educational to the public. She
knew the press would sensationalize her condition and there
would be review about Bipolar from many angles. Stop the Presses!
Cece Yorke reported on her employer, "She's feeling great
and looking forward to starting work this week on her two
upcoming films." That is the best news ever.
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| Gail-Elaine Tinker, M.S.
is a psychotherapist in private practice on the Lehigh Valley
PA. She was born in Philadelphia in May 1960, eldest of three
children. She was greatly interested in writing, language, theater
and music throughout her youth which opened opportunity such
as performance, travel, and academics. Gail-Elaine had planned
a career in teaching English but upon seeing the state of secondary
education in the 80s, she re-tooled her skills to become an
addictions counselor.
She was married and has a gifted son with
AS. She had a career in Art and entrepreneurial publishing
while raising him. Upon her divorce she furthered her credentials
with a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Master Levels in
Reiki training. Her goal is to change the stigma of mental
illness and facilitate positive solutions for her clients.
Gail-Elaine continues her work in trauma,
chronic pain, grief, and addictions in her general practice
of psychotherapy with art and somatic psychology. She serves
as Therapist, Consultant, Life Coach, Reiki Teacher, Advocate,
Community Speaker, Blogger [www.tinkerpsychotherapy.com],
and also as Features Contributor for PCM.
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