Medications example essay topic

Bipolar is defined as manic-depressive illness, a psychiatric condition characterized by episodes of mania (exaggerated euphoria) alternating with periods of depression. (web) I inherited the condition from my father. I am told that at the time there was no treatment other than spending time in a mental institute. I had 2 aunts and one cousin that also had the disease. They all killed themselves. My days used to begin with me trying to convince myself to get out of bed and go to work. There was a boulder on my chest that I had to lift just to get to the shower.

Once I was at work, I would sit at my desk, praying that no one would ask the most dreaded of questions. Inevitably someone would say, ' How are you?' I was instantly reduced to a quivering, squalling mass of flesh. If only they hadn " tasked. Bipolar is debilitating. It requires a daily fight to convince yourself you are not crazy, to convince those around you that you cannot 'just snap out of it', and to find the treatment that works for you. I have found in the last year the recovery I once thought impossible.

I thought I was crazy. I couldn't function like my sisters. I would be fine one minute and in tears the next for no apparent reason. There should be a reason. Right? Sometimes I would just sit in the floor in the bathroom and cry.

My family and friends would ask what was wrong and I couldn't tell them. It was nothing and it was everything. When I think back on it, I know they must have felt helpless. I think I dreaded the up moments the most.

I would have times when I was in a great mood. I always knew that they would be followed by a deep depression or low. I hated it. I couldn't enjoy being up. It scared me.

My family and friends tried to understand. I know that most of them hated to be around me. Who wants to be around someone that is always down? I couldn't tell them why and they needed a reason. They would invite me out in an attempt to cheer me up. I either didn't want to go or I'd agree and back out at the last minute.

It is difficult for people to understand that bipolar is a disease. My body doesn't produce serotonin. Serotonin aids the body in sleep and keeps Mary a "happy, normal person". It is like being a diabetic.

Diabetics need insulin. It is a chemical imbalance. My body needs serotonin. It, too, is a chemical imbalance. All most people see is depression and to most you should just be able to "snap out of it". They think you are having a pity party.

I suffered all of the classic symptoms: 1. I was always sad or depressed 2. I was tired. I didn't want to do anything. 3. I couldn't sleep.

I could go to sleep, but I was up every hour on the hour. 4. I went from a size 8 to a size 4. I was 99 lbs. 5. I couldn't concentrate.

I had to call my family to help with decisions. Should I or shouldn't I? 6. I always felt guilty about everything.

I thought everything was my fault. 7. I didn't enjoy anything. 8. I had thoughts of suicide. I thought that I put my family through too much.

I feared that one day they would have to take me in and care for me. 9. A few of the physical symptoms were migraine headaches accompanied by blurred vision, nausea, acid reflux, ... I had been on several different combinations of medications over the years. None of them really seemed to help.

Doctors said that my brain wasn't producing enough serotonin. Recently, the first genetic defect specifically associated with bipolar disorder was identified. The abnormality occurs in a gene known as human serotonin (5-HT) transporter gene (h SERT). web medications that finally seemed to work were Depakote, Clonzapaem, and Pamelor. The newer medications like Prozac didn't work for me. They seemed to make me more nervous and agitated. This combination of drugs was a miracle for me.

My friends and family noticed the difference. I could go through the day without any episodes of crying. I was in a good mood that didn't come accompanied by feelings of impending doom. This continued until I became ill with what I believe was a very bad case of the flu. I was keep anything on my stomach, including medication. I was ill for over a week.

When I finally became well enough to continue my medication they were having the opposite affect on me. I was up all night. I couldn't fall asleep at all. It was as though I had consumed a pot of coffee.

I decided to stop the medications and see what would happen. Medications, therapy ease 'unquiet mind' Portland Press Herald; Portland, Me. ; Nov 8, 2000; Ebscohost.