Bipolar Disorder Self Injury: Be Aware Of Signs To Help Prevention

Close to six million people in the United States have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The mental illness is characterized with extreme ups called manic and extreme downs called depression. One of the worst things about the condition is that bipolar disorder self injury is a high possibility.

The patient, when on the depression side of the cycle, will be sad and down trodden all the time. They will have dark thoughts that may lead to thoughts of self injury or even worse, suicide. A person with bipolar disorder needs medications to help balance the moods and stabilize their lives. Spouses or family of a bipolar patient needs to be aware of their ability to do self injury to themselves during the depressive cycle of the disorder.

Symptoms of the Depression Stage

The depressive side of bipolar disorder has many symptoms. The person might be sad or anxious. They may just seem like a vacant shell that is listless and uncaring. The person might show irritability and snap at the ones he or she loves. They will have sleep disorders where they can go to sleep or they sleep too much. They will exhibit the symptom of losing concentration or not being able to make decisions.

The person may gain or lose weight. They may even complain about pain that has no cause. As mentioned before, suicide and self injury is possible. They are so depressed they want to get rid of themselves and the pain that goes with a depressive mood. The family or spouse needs to know that these symptoms are leading the bipolar person down a dark road and they need to prepare themselves for it.

What You Need To Do

If you feel that the bipolar person in your life is at this point, you need to call a doctor immediately. Call an emergency room operator or even 911 to get someone on the case to help you out. If someone threatens suicide you should not let that person be left alone. Have someone watch them at all times.

At the same time all weapons, medications, and sharp instruments such as razors or scissors should be locked up. Many teenagers will try to cut on themselves to release the inner pain. The bipolar person may have thought out their suicide plans or plans of self injury, but most the time the acts are not thought out and happen by impulse.

If you or someone you know displays symptoms of bipolar disorder, you need to encourage them to see a doctor. They are at serious risk if they are not treating the disorder. They could damage relationships with friends and coworkers and could even lose their job due to their erratic behavior. The cycles could come more frequent and with more severity.

As the depressive cycle grows deeper, the chance for self injury in the bipolar person will be greater. Medications are the only treatment and when a bipolar person tries to medicate themselves by using drugs or alcohol, the depression could become deeper and the chance for self harm or even suicide will increase.