Bipolar Simplified!

Ms. Tin (from Holy Child Educational Center) asked me to write a little about Bipolar Disorder. Although I am tempted to ask why. i didnt because I'd like to leave the real story to her. :-) I hope this will give you answers to your questions Ms. Tin! Happy Reading!

Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual and erratic changes in moods, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day to day activities. Bipolar is not your typical mood shifts because bipolar disoder symptoms can result to damage relationships, ineffective job performance and worst--even suicide for some! Many studies stated that bipolar disorder usually become apparent in late teens or early adulthood stage. Some symptoms may appear in childhood and for some, symptoms develop late in life.

The symptoms of bipolar can either be through an overly joyful and excited state (manic episodes) or through extremely hopeless or sad state (depressive episodes) or sometimes (and worst!) if these two episodes come together at the same time (mixed state). Along with the shifts in moods, changes in sleeping, activity and behavior may accompany the symptoms. Severe cases may exhibit these symptoms everyday, all day or at least one or two times week (not severe).

To date there is no cure for bipolar disorder, however, pharmacological intervetions are available to help the person control and manage his/her mood swings and the other related symptoms. Because bipolar is a lifelong and recurrent condition, long term treatment is required. MOOD STABILIZING medications are the first line of medication. Although most of the medications are anti-convulsants, this form of medication controls mood swings more than other types of drugs.

With the medications available in the market now, bipolar disorder can be treated and patients can still live a full and productive life!

Ask your professional mental health experts for additional information on Bipolar Disorder.

The Happiness Merchant

I always believe that happiness is a mental state and a fuel to a sound mental health. However, maintaining happiness in this lifetime (and in this country?!!!) is a challenge. The constant pressure and stresses of life (health and financial problems, national issues, etc..) make happiness a fantasy, elusive to life for the majority! Happiness seem to be a simple and natural concept but how come it's difficult to attain?

Many people look for happiness outside--thinking that happiness is just around the corner--waiting for them to be found! By not looking so far---one can find happiness. After 32 years of existence I knew that happiness is inside us--never outside us. It cannot come from outside sources--relying happiness from the outside world can just give us transitory pleasures but surely--these will lead to disappointments in the end.

Being happy and getting the happiness we deserve is our birthright! It exist within us--infinite, powerful and always available. Finding little pleasures and happiness in what we do is the key element. BY just thinking that you can be happy anytime, anywhere and not costing you anything to make things happen--that should console all of us. Believe that happiness is a choice! The more you open yourself to that belief, the more it will come continously. Allow me to share 5 simple life lessons to help you find the happiness within:

• Dont be afraid to COMMUNICATE.... open communication lines with the significant people in your life, be it your partner, your classmate, trusted adults, etc.. Ignite your innate soft skills by injecting fun and clean humor, cool conversations and light moments. Happiness is infectious and be the virus-carrier! LAUGH as often as you can! This will exercise your heart muscle, increase your immune system and will give you the much needed "feel good" hormones!
• Find a constructive hobby that will absorb all the pressing problems in your current life. Something that will completely absorb you to overcome the meager problems around you.


• Always find satisfaction from the available opportunities in your life! Many of life's frustrations comes from overly high expectations which are not met simply because they were not achievable!


• Be your own bestfriend! spend sometime for yourself--appraise yourself often--take time to enjoy doing what you love!


• Face problems with sporting spirit! Dont be afraid of the little problems--they are spices of life!

The challenge remains---find the always available bliss in your life! Make positive thinking as your choice! Believe me--when you believe that you are happy--you can move mountains!