It’s been awhile since I posted a blog, and I have really missed it! Things have been super busy around here, as things sometimes are.
I’ve recently been doing a little research for a series of articles I’m preparing to publish on Suite101, and ran across some very valuable information that could benefit a lot of folks.
I feel like I know quite a bit about bipolar disorder. I’ve researched books and websites and talked to many people who know the subject well since my husband was diagnosed in 2008. However, even I was a little surprised to find some of this information.
Did you know…?
Ø 2.6% of the US adult population has either bipolar 1 or 2
Ø 82.9% of these cases are deemed severe
Ø Only 48.8% of them are receiving treatment, and of those, 38.8% of folks only get a minimal amount of help
Ø In 2007, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death in the US of people between the ages 18 to 65
Ø There is a clear link between people diagnosed bipolar and suicidal tendencies
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I found, friends! The thought that there are so many people out there who need help and are either too embarrassed, too sick or too poor to get it is astounding!
Those of us who are caregivers to a person with bipolar need to stand our ground and insist on adequate treatment and care for our loved ones. So often, it is the case that they are unable to do so themselves.
Don’t Be Afraid!
Don’t be afraid to visit doctors with the patient if you are a spouse. Don’t be afraid to go to therapy with them. If you know that they are giving inaccurate information, don’t be afraid to call their doctors and therapists when it is necessary. Monitor their medication if you need to, especially if you sense something is just not right.
It is for their good, and you should not feel badly about taking excellent care of the person you love when they are unable to care for themselves!
It is horrible to think that any person would find their life worth less than the air it takes for them to breathe. However, suicidal statistics demonstrate clearly that there are many people who are just that depressed in this country. They are not all bipolar, of course, but bipolar disorder absolutely has a direct correlation with suicidal tendencies.
I will make my husband mad if I have to. I will go against anyone else’s criticism anytime. And I will inconvenience doctor’s all day long to make sure my husband does not become one of those statistics because of my negligence. I now know, almost three years after Lee’s diagnosis that he is like a flower opening to the sunshine of opportunity, support and love.
