Q. My doctor thinks I may have bipolar disorder. I've read up on the disorder, but I'm still confused, as there seems to be several types. If it turns out I am bipolar, can I stay in the military?

A. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and persistent mental illness that affects roughly 4 percent of the population. In fact, it's more common than disorders with greater name recognition and understanding, like schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Bipolar disorder is generally diagnosed in adulthood, but children are not immune and most people show life-disrupting symptoms before the age of 20.

There are two main types of bipolar disorder. In Type I, individuals experience periods of increased energy, inflated self-esteem, fast speech, racing thoughts and impaired judgment, all of which interfere with the ability to function normally at work or in social settings. These periods, referred to as manic phases, usually alternate with episodes of severe and disabling depression.

Type II is similar in that it prompts alternating periods of highs and lows, but the highs tend to be less severe and do not last as long as in Type I. Individuals experience a reduced need for sleep, increased irritability and hyperactivity, known as hypomanic phases.

A third "sub-threshold" variant of the disorder is called cyclothymia. Considered rare, cyclothymia sparks numerous "ups" and "downs" that are less obvious and severe than Types I and II.

One cruel aspect of bipolar disorder is its potential lethality — up to half of affected individuals will attempt suicide, and about 15 percent will succeed.

Medication is the primary method of treatment for all forms of the disorder. Although traditional talk therapies are helpful for increasing coping skills and dealing with the emotional aspects of the disorder, they are relatively ineffective at controlling the severe and often disabling biologically based mood swings.

Unfortunately, due to the troubling side effects from the medications used to treat the disorder, many people stop taking their meds without letting their doctors know, which leads to relapse.

Due to the severe and chronic nature of the symptoms and the side effects and special laboratory monitoring of the medications, troops diagnosed with bipolar disorder generally are considered unfit for duty and are medically retired from service.

If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it's important to attend treatment regularly and take your medications as prescribed. Although the disorder is a life-altering and lifelong condition, you can live a long and fulfilling life with adequate treatment.

Learn more about the myths and realities of bipolar disorder here.

Bret A. Moore, Psy.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. Email him at kevlarforthemind@militarytimes.com. This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance.

Share:
In Other News
Load More