Risks Associated with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be a distressing thing to deal with. People with bipolar disorder are at risk for self-harm, injury, and attempted suicide. In the depressive episodes, you have to watch out for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. In the manic episodes, you have to worry about people hurting themselves through overexertion and poor judgment. In both cases, the situation can be scary. It’s not uncommon for people experiencing severe bipolar episodes to end up hospitalized in a mental hospital or other type of institution until the likelihood of self-harm is lower.
Again, the good news is that bipolar disorder is very treatable. We'll talk about that next.
Image: Ian Espinosa, via Unsplash.
Did you know...
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- Are you currently or often tired? As contradictory as it may sound, one of the best things you can do is exercise! It gives you more energy by improving your blood flow and increasing your oxygen throughout your body. You don't need to do much; a brisk walk is all it takes!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.
- A hearty laugh is good for the heart. Laughing can increase blood flow by 20%. Additionally, looking on the bright side can help you live longer. Studies have shown that a more optimistic outlook is linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for coronary artery disease.