Bipolar Disorder Essay

Topic: Bipolar Disorder
Introduction: I would like to go back about ten years ago, my mother claimed she hadn’t been sleeping, so we had a doctor’s appointment scheduled to see if there was anything we could do. She asked my dad if he had everything he wanted to discuss with the doctor, when he answered, she said, “the doctor’s going to be mad at me…” My dad asked her why, and she shows him her wrist. There was blood running rapidly from her wrist, down her hand and onto the floor. My dad fainted and I had to call the doctor because I didn’t know what else to do. Next thing I knew she was hospitalized in mental health for the next three months.
Statement of purpose: To educate my audience about the symptoms, the impact it has on family, and the treatments for Bipolar Disorder.
Transition: “I would like to start with giving you a general idea on what Bipolar Disorder (BP) is.”
Body:
I. What is it? A. Until 1980’s, BP referred to as manic-depression B. Four variants: 1. Bipolar I disorder (the symptoms of mania) 2. Bipolar II disorder (the symptoms of hypomania) 3. Cyclothymic disorder (less extreme) 4. Bipolar Disorder NOS a. Not otherwise specified b. Symptoms don’t meet the requirements for a diagnosis of I, II, or Cyclothymic
Transition: “Now that I’ve explained what BP is, I would like to talk about the signs and symptoms of BP.”
Body:
II. Signs and Symptoms C. Mania: 5. Memory problems 6. *Lose ability to see yourself 7. Lost ability (in whole or part) to put yourself in another’s place D. Common traits of mania: 8. Grandiosity and ego 9. Decreased ability to sleep 10. Being talkative and unable to stop 11. Racing thoughts 12. Being distracted; dwelling on unimportant details and missing or not being interested in the bigger picture 13. Agitation 14. Being unable to assess the risk or see the consequences in pleasurable activities (spending, sex, drugs, get-rich-quick schemes) 15. Arrogance and entitlement 16. Mood swings E. Bipolar Depression 17. Deep feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, helplessness, and worthlessness 18. Confusion and difficulty concentrating 19. Self-loathing 20. Apathy or indifference 21. Withdrawing from social aspects and people 22. Morbid obsessions (romanticizing about suicide and death) 23. Anger 24. Anxiety 25. Lack of personal hygiene
Transition: “Now that you know some of the general signs and symptoms of BP, I would like to discuss the impact BP can have on family.”
Body:
III. Impact on family F. Damaged emotional ties 26. Verbal abuse 27. Depression episodes; family feels neglected G. Financial problems 28. Manic episodes; excessive spending 29. Depressive episodes; fails to meet responsibilities of job 30. When both episodes are combined, (uninhibited spending; impaired job functioning), causes financial disaster for entire family H. Communication problems

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