|
A MONTH IN THE
LIFE OF A PERSON SUFFERING
FROM BIPOLAR
MOOD DISORDER
A RAPID
CYCLER
Esje usually swings high with some sort of a trigger. Her
birthday was 15 March 2010 when she turned 70. Two of her
close friends organised two parties. The first on 13 March
at Huis Lettie Theron for her family, the residents and some
friends from the village. The second one on the farm of
Annette who was the main organiser and Lianda who saw to the
lunch.
At Huis Lettie, Veedem, the food contractor made
refreshments and served coffee. Annette and Leon bought and
served Champaign, and the Executive Mayor of the Overstrand,
Councillor Theo Beyleveldt proposed the toast. He mentioned
the contribution Esje made recording and promoting history
in the Overberg, especially Stanford and Hermanus. He
presented her with a special photo-frame with the Overstrand
Municipal emblem.
All these activites caused a strong trigger that
kicked Esje into a high. Full of plans, talking rapidly,
all the usual symptoms were evident.
BIPOLAR MOOD DISORDER (Manic
Depression)
Esje was first diagnosed in 1969 (age 29)
Untreated after 3 days in Valkenberg State Psychiatric
hospital – self discharged
1975 - hospitalised at Tygerberg Hospital in psychotic
state
(psychosis = when patient looses touch with
reality).
DSM IV – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental
disorders defines
different forms of bipolarity
Bipolar I is the ‘classic’ form
and carried by the occurrence of one or more manic episodes
or mixed episodes
Bipolar II is characterised by
one or more major depressive episodes and hypomanic
episodes. At present Esje is diagnosed as bipolar II
Rapid cycler DSM IV - cycles
in four or more swings per year
Rapid-rapid cycler - swinging
from mania to depression in one day
From 1975 Esje has been a rapid cycler and rarely also
rapid-rapid cycling
Back to the
birthday:
Both parties were exciting and a success. Eight of her
family members attended the function, a crowd of the Huis
Lettie residents and friends from Hermanus and further
afield.
On Sunday, 14 March 40 friends gathered at Leon
and Annette Theron’s farm, Devaju in the Hemel-en-Aarde
valley. Lianda and her daughter Lianda (Jnr) cooked a
delicious lunch. After drinks, and much talking, getting to
know each others, lunch was served after Leon said grace.
Esje was overwhelmed at the reaction of so many friends.
Some came from De Doorns in Western Cape; others from
Ladismith in the Klein Karoo and others from various parts
of Hermanus and its suburbs.
Monday, 15 March, the day of her birthday, she
started sinking into a depression. As the week progresses,
the blacker her mood swings. Sleep, sleep, read and just
lying on her bed. She has learnt that extra medicine or
visiting her doctor did not give much relief. She knew she
had to sail through it, with the knowledge that it’s not for
ever.
To manage the
illness
Understand it – read, learn, talk to therapist
When High
1.
Pace yourself – rest, do things you enjoy, work on hobbies
(especially writing)
2.
See therapist
3.
Eat healthy - 3 or more meals a day
4.
Sleep at least 6 to 7 hours per night - take medicine and
9 – sleep at 10 (most of the time
within 30 minutes
5.
Exercise : walk, swim or exercise with personal fitness
trainer
6.
Try to stay out of shops; when necessary, make list and buy
only what’s on list
Don’t carry cheque book or bank cards – safer to
leave with reliable friend – and only
handle the cash needed
In depressive
episode
1.
See therapist
2.
Rest, rest, rest
3.
Try to exercise – although difficult – walk passages and
climb stairs
4.
Hygiene is down to nil
However, force yourself to shower, brush
teeth after meals and in morning and before going to
bed
Try to dress sensibly; it lifts the mood and
it’s not so bad for others and yourself
5.
Eat well, try to join others at meals
Breakfast – cereal fruit, sometimes boiled egg;
eat at least banana before walk in morning; supper
pasta, fruit, baked potato etc
6.
Try not to be alone all the time – visit friends for good
company; avoid negative people
Two weeks in a high with lots of excitement and euphoric
splendour, enjoying her friends, and for exactly two weeks
the high lasted. It was followed by a black depression with
all its dark thoughts, and it also lasted for two weeks.
It’s just like a pendulum – kite soaring only to plunge
diving into the ground.
But Esje understands the illness, managing it
fairly well – but in a high, when everything seems bright
and being able to do everything, it is always difficult to
do the things she knows will be best for the condition.
19 April 2010Huis
|
