Handling the highs and lows of bipolar disorder

On March 30 each year,  the world comes together to raise awareness of a mental health disorder that affects different people, each in a distinctive way.

Bipolar disorder has an impact that goes far beyond numbers.

World Bipolar Day is celebrated on this day which marks the birthday of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh— one of the most influential artists in the history of Western art.

His creativity was paralleled with his mental illness and he was posthumously diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder dramatically affects the mood and may result in episodes of depression and elation, which can affect one’s health, productivity, and relationships.

You are okay one minute and the next minute you are not. Your mood suddenly shifts, but you can’t explain why. You take offence to words that have been said and your thoughts spiral out of control. You can’t stop it or change it. You get angry and frustrated for absolutely no reason. You end up hurting the ones closest to you without even realizing it.

Vicious cycle

The day’s ultimate goal is to inspire a global shift in thinking that will eliminate social stigma and promote acceptance. This year, it was marked under the theme #BipolarTogether!

Wesley Kipngetich, 24 was diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder in 2019.

Born and raised in Chagaiya village, Timboroa in Uasin Gishu County, Wesley says the news of his diagnosis came with no much surprise since he always suspected something was wrong with him as his behaviour had totally changed.

“I had no idea about bipolar disorder. After diagnosis, the journey to seek treatment began, which I must say has been marked by ups and downs. Finding the right drug that works has been a problem and also those drugs are quite expensive. Furthermore, I spent so much more on therapy. These factors make it a tough journey to navigate,” explains Wesley.

“The healing process has been quite slow; I have tried to identify the triggers and possible ways of coping with it. Family and friends have offered their moral, financial and spiritual support though they are not well aware about the disorder,” he adds.

Having been raised from a humble background, Wesley attended a nearby primary school and later transferred to Tach-Asis Primary School in Nandi County where he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination and passed well.

Suicidal thoughts

He was then enrolled at Bishop Muge Secondary School for his secondary education and later transferred to Chirchir Secondary School where he sat for his Kenya Cerificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

“Having attained the pass mark to join university, I enrolled at Gretsa University to pursue a Bachelor of Education Arts. However, I missed the first two semesters in my first year due to fee challenges. It is during this time that I battled with suicidal thoughts, racing thoughts, lack of sleep, overconfidence and high energy. One night, I found myself moving to an unknown place and eventually got to the District Officer’s (DO) residence. The police officers around the place took me to the police station where I spent the night. My parents were called in the morning and asked to take me to Maraba District Hospital, and was later referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret,” Wesley explains.

His daily routine has been quite challenging due to the mood swings he experiences.

He offers: “I have to reschedule my daily programmes despite the challenges associated with planning and accomplishing a task. This situation has actually changed my way of life since I could have graduated earlier. In addition to that, interacting with people has been quite difficult. Finding friends who understand my situation is challenging.”

Wesley says mental health is a common challenge among youths in the country since they don’t speak out and share their problems due to feelings of insecurity or being judged by others. “By sharing my story, I just want to encourage someone out there who may be battling with a mental health condition. My wake-up call is to my fellow youths to speak out on any issue they may be facing because a problem shared is a problem half solved. Bipolar is manageable and treatable and above all God heals.  Let’s stop the stigma,” he says.

Several categories

According to American Psychiatric Association (APA), Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.

“People with bipolar disorder experience intense emotional states called Mood Episodes for periods of days to weeks. These mood episodes are categorised as manic/hypomanic (abnormally happy or irritable mood) or depressive (sad mood). Generally, people with bipolar disorder can also have neutral mood as well,” says Mercy Mwasi Ngaamba, a Counseling Psychologist who also doubles up as a Child and Adolescent Wellness Supervisor.

She says bipolar disorder, includes three different diagnoses: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic disorder.

“The disorder commonly runs in families. APA (2023) asserts that 80 to 90 per cent of individuals with bipolar disorder have a relative with bipolar disorder or depression. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2020) approximates that 25 per cent of the world’s population is ailing from mental health disorders. It ascertains that depression is the most common mental disorder affecting 210 million people globally, with the majority of cases reported in Africa. It continues to say that Kenya ranked fourth in Africa with around 1.9 million people having the condition,” Mercy explains.

The Ministry of Health (MOH), Kenya Mental Health Policy (2015-2030) highlights that mental disorder cases are on the rise.

Mercy opines: “Manic symptoms may, include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, as well as other symptoms, such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behaviour. There is an increased risk of suicide among people with bipolar disorder.”

Effective treatment options for bipolar disorder exist. These, include psycho education, reduction of stress, and strengthening of social functioning as well as medication.

“It is important to note that bipolar disorder symptoms commonly improve with treatment. Medication (“Mood Stabilisers”) is the cornerstone though talk therapy (psychotherapy) can help many patients learn more about the illness, as well as adhere to medication to manage and prevent future mood episodes. This treatment is individualised in that people with bipolar disorder may need to try different medications before finding what works best for them,” says Mercy.

She further adds that in extreme cases whereby medication and psychotherapy have not helped, an effective treatment known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used.

It is worth noting that Bipolar disorder can disrupt a person’s relationships with loved ones and cause difficulty in working or going to school. However, when treated, people with bipolar disorder can lead full and productive lives

Mercy explains: “A Bipolar diagnosis needs to be made by a professional mental health expert! Even though self-tests are available, they can only be used as informative tools. Since the disorder can cause serious disruptions in a person’s daily life and create a stressful family situation, it is important for all family members and significant people to learn and understand the disorder. This will help in learning strategies for coping, participating actively in treatment and obtaining support. This can be achieved through professional resources, particularly mental health advocacy and support groups.”

Psychological treatment such as counseling can help in dealing with depression and provide insight on how to improve relationships as well as lifestyle changes.

Self-care such as doing regular exercise, planning enjoyable activities as well as improving on diet and getting enough sleep are important to control and manage bipolar.

Whether you are living with bipolar disorder, loving someone, or just supporting mental wellness, we are all in this together. Connect and remind people living with bipolar that they are not alone in what they are going through.

Living with bipolar disorder is not easy but, in the words of Van Gogh himself, “The beginning is perhaps more difficult than anything else, but keep heart, it will turn out all right.”

Christine Miloyo, a bipolar hero who has battled with the disorder for eight years says persons diagnosed with the disorder cannot deal with the condition alone. They need support from professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists, support groups and family support (care givers). “Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. That is why a strong support system is important,” says Christine.