This is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian: laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

1. Bipolar DisorderBy: OffMyMeds

2. What is it?
• a disorder where a person
experiences shifts in their
mood, energy, and ability
to do specific things
• alternates between manic
and depressed stages

3. • feeling “up,” “high,” or
elated
• lot of energy
• active
• agitated or very irritable
• make risky decisions or
actions
Mania Episode

4. OffMyMeds
Depressed Episode
• sad, empty, or hopelessness
• little energy
• sleep too much or too little
• worried
• eats too much or too little
• contemplates death or suicide Often when a person is in a depressive stage, as a
result of bipolar disorder or another mental illness,
they will not get out of bed for a long period of time,
which could lead to eating too little.

5. Causes • not one specific cause, instead
multiple factors, such as:
• brain structure/function
• genes/family history

6. Causes: Brain
Structure/Function
• patients tend to have an
underactive front part of their
brain when making decisions
• underactive medial prefrontal
cortex, which is seen in the red
part of this brain
• imbalance in certain
neurotransmitters

7. Causes: Genes/Family History
• people are more likely to have bipolar
disorder if a relative has it
• just because it is a part of a person’s
history, it does not mean a person will
develop it
• because family history may play a role
in development, genes may be
involved
• scientists are not completely sure if
genes play a role
This chart shows the chance of a person having bipolar disorder
depending on whether they have a family member with the mental
illness.

8. Treatments
• medications can help control a
person’s symptoms
• psychotherapy
• Electroconvulsive Therapy
(ECT)
• hospitalization
Ridgeview Institute is a psychiatric
and addictive treatment facility in
Smyrna, GA.

9. OffMyMeds
Treatments:
Medications
• help control bipolar symptoms
• mood stabilizers
• antipsychotics
• antidepressants
Lithium is an example of a mood stabilizer,
which can help a person with bipolar disorder
contain their symptoms.

10. OffMyMeds
Treatments:
Psychotherapy
• give support, education, and
guidance to patients with bipolar
disorder and their families
• different types of psychotherapy:
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
• Family-focused therapy
• Psychoeducation
Group therapy can help people with mental disorder
because it lets them know that others are going through
the same thing and know how they are feeling. It is also
more cost effective for the patient.

11. OffMyMeds
Treatments:
• used as a “last resort” for people
with bipolar disorder
• used when other treatments have not
worked
• can cause confusion,
disorientation, and memory loss
• helps a patient during a depressive
stage
Electroconvulsive
Therapy

12. Bipolar: Alternating between Mania
and Depression
• a person with bipolar disorder
will alternate between mania and
depression
• these episodes could last days,
week, or months
• between these two episodes, the
person would most likely
experience a normal mood

13. Mania: how you Feel
• extremely happy
• annoyed by people who aren’t as optimistic as
you
• energetic
• inability to sleep
• full of new ideas

14. During a manic episode,
people with bipolar
disorder will feel really
good about themselves.
They might feel better
than they have ever felt.
They may think that they
could do anything. This
could ultimately lead to
an impulse decision with
consequences.
Mania

15. Mania: How
others see you
• moving from one idea to another
• unrealistic plans
• bizarre behavior
(uncharacteristic of you)
• talking fast
• spur of the moment decisions
• often lead to consequences
Alcoholism is often “paired with” bipolar
disorder. During a mania stage, the person may
begin to start heavy drinking again, which can
have terrible effects.

16. During a manic episode,
a person with bipolar
disorder may make
impulse decisions, such
as driving a long
distance after an entire
day at work and late at
night. Another impulse
could be buying a car,
they could not afford.
Mania

17. OffMyMeds
Depression: How you
feel Mentally
• unhappy
• loss of interest
• indecisive
• tired
• loss of self-confidence
• useless, inadequate, and
hopeless feelings
• suicidal

18. During a depressive
episode, a person with
bipolar disorder may be
having feelings of
hopelessness or
uselessness. This may
result in suicidal
thoughts or actions.
Depression

19. OffMyMeds
Depression: How you
feel Physically
• no appetite
• weight loss
• waking up earlier than normal
• hard to go to sleep
• constipation

20. Depression
During a depressive
episode, a person
with bipolar disorder
may begin to lose
their appetite and
stop eating. This can
result in extreme
weight loss, which
can be detrimental to
their health.

21. Refusing Medication
• some medications can be used to help
calm the side effects of both the mania
and depressive stages
• there are lots of cases where a bipolar
patient will refuse to take their
medication because…
• medication might come with
more side effects
• doesn’t want to lose the mania
that comes with bipolar
disorder
• gives that person a label
People with bipolar disorder often refuse to take their
meds and usually end up throwing them away. This is
because while they are on their medications, everything
is good, so they go off thinking that they are “cured.”

22. Disclaimer
This is a project for a high school AP Psychology
course. This is a fictionalized account of having a
psychological ailment. For questions about this
blog project or its content please email the
teacher, Laura Astorian:
laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

23. Sources (Information)
• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
• http://psycheducation.org/the-biologic-basis-of-bipolar-disorder/1035-2/
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-
disorder/basics/causes/con-20027544
• http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/factsheet/bipolar-disorder-what-does-it-feel-like
• http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2013/05/bipolar-refuses-
treatment/

24. Sources (Pictures)• http://psycheducation.org/the-biologic-basis-of-bipolar-disorder/1035-2/
• http://depressionsymptomstest.net/bipolar-depression-treatment/
• https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/bipolar-disorder-what-you-need-to-know-108265401883.html
• http://www.toddnielsen.com/international-leadership-blogathon/risky-business-the-art-of-making-great-decisions-while-
not-forgetting-about-risk/
• http://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-relapse
• http://www.defensivedriversdiscount.com/fatigue-and-driving/
• http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/porche-911-club-coupe-60th-anniversary
• http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/842819
• http://olwomen.com/amazing-tips-to-make-you-feel-good-about-yourself/
• https://www.healthtap.com/topics/pathophysiology-of-loss-of-appetite
• http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/environmental-issues/drugs-environmental-damage-often-undiscussed-truth/
• http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/electroconvulsive-therapy.htm
• http://aida-therapy.com/aida/relationships-2/group-therapy/
• http://hypnozine.com/bipolar-disorder/
• http://gracepointwellness.org/4-bipolar-disorder/article/11203-contemporary-understanding-of-bipolar-disorder-causes-
and-outcomes
• http://mentalfloss.com/article/78869/why-it-so-hard-sleep-new-place
• http://www.meridianpeakhypnosis.com/improve-self-esteem/
• http://tours.visionquestvirtualtours.com/853208
• http://deolaonline.com/alcoholism-and-its-problems-dr-maureen-ona-igbru/
• https://infograph.venngage.com/p/10271/bipolar-disorder