| Co-Morbidities the additional illnesses possibly present with BD |
Deb Johnson
Author/Speaker/Bipolar Chick
Author/Speaker/Bipolar Chick
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| HELLO, IS ANYBODY HOME? |
| DOUBLE BUBBLE, TOIL & TROUBLE |
| THE ATTACK PACK PLAN |
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| Copyright 2009 Deborah Johnson, Bipolar Chick 2 the Rescue . All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement, Medical Disclaimer & Copyright Statement |
Per the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
60% of those who suffer from Bipolar disorder are likely to suffer co-morbidities.
Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs appears to be very common among those with
bipolar disorder. Drugs and alcohol are typically abused in order to treat their
symptoms. To complicate matters,substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar
symptom.
Additional illnesses such as PTSD and social phobia, also often co-occur among
people with bipolar disorder. Borderline Personality disorder and ADHD can present
with symptoms that overlap with bipolar disorder and can make proper diagnosis
difficult.
Those with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for thyroid disease, migraine
headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses. These
illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from
treatment for bipolar disorder.
My Experiences with Co-Morbidities:
Substance Abuse~
Though I would not refer to my drinking as alcoholism, I can say that I have abused
alcohol in order to relieve physical as well as emotional pain. I rarely drink anymore
partially as a result of my gastric bypass but also in an effort to keep erratic
behavior at bay.
As for drugs. I have used them to alter my emotional pain. Nothing too heavy,
mostly pot. But it was speed that was my drug of choice during high school for
weight loss and eventually a suicide attempt. Speed induced sleeplessness which
induced mania which eventually pulled me from my depressive wish to end my life.
I gave up drugs once I was pregnant with my daughter, something about illegal
drugs and being a mom just didn't work for me.
Anxiety and Brain Disorders~
I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder several years after my initial
diagnosis of Bipolar disorder. The BPD diagnosis was eventually dismissed as only
(only?) Bipolar disorder and is now no longer considered a co-existing illness.
Physical Disease~
My struggle with obesity began when I was a teen-ager. I've often wondered if it
was a coincidence that it occurred concurrently with my first thoughts of suicide?
I was officially diagnosed with migraines in May of 1999, though I don't think it was
the first. I was given anti-depressants to combat the constant headaches, this
eventually kicked me into mania followed by a deep depression. These episodes
lead to my diagnosis of Bipolar disorder in October of 1999.
While adjusting to the new medications I was frequently subjected to blood tests.
These tests alerted the doctors to my diabetes in December of 1999.
To say that I suffer co-morbidities to Bipolar disorder is at the least an
understatement.
60% of those who suffer from Bipolar disorder are likely to suffer co-morbidities.
Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs appears to be very common among those with
bipolar disorder. Drugs and alcohol are typically abused in order to treat their
symptoms. To complicate matters,substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar
symptom.
Additional illnesses such as PTSD and social phobia, also often co-occur among
people with bipolar disorder. Borderline Personality disorder and ADHD can present
with symptoms that overlap with bipolar disorder and can make proper diagnosis
difficult.
Those with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for thyroid disease, migraine
headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses. These
illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from
treatment for bipolar disorder.
My Experiences with Co-Morbidities:
Substance Abuse~
Though I would not refer to my drinking as alcoholism, I can say that I have abused
alcohol in order to relieve physical as well as emotional pain. I rarely drink anymore
partially as a result of my gastric bypass but also in an effort to keep erratic
behavior at bay.
As for drugs. I have used them to alter my emotional pain. Nothing too heavy,
mostly pot. But it was speed that was my drug of choice during high school for
weight loss and eventually a suicide attempt. Speed induced sleeplessness which
induced mania which eventually pulled me from my depressive wish to end my life.
I gave up drugs once I was pregnant with my daughter, something about illegal
drugs and being a mom just didn't work for me.
Anxiety and Brain Disorders~
I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder several years after my initial
diagnosis of Bipolar disorder. The BPD diagnosis was eventually dismissed as only
(only?) Bipolar disorder and is now no longer considered a co-existing illness.
Physical Disease~
My struggle with obesity began when I was a teen-ager. I've often wondered if it
was a coincidence that it occurred concurrently with my first thoughts of suicide?
I was officially diagnosed with migraines in May of 1999, though I don't think it was
the first. I was given anti-depressants to combat the constant headaches, this
eventually kicked me into mania followed by a deep depression. These episodes
lead to my diagnosis of Bipolar disorder in October of 1999.
While adjusting to the new medications I was frequently subjected to blood tests.
These tests alerted the doctors to my diabetes in December of 1999.
To say that I suffer co-morbidities to Bipolar disorder is at the least an
understatement.