Familie Kontoret

Archive for the ‘Bipolar Disorder’ Category

Recent research in the US and the UK suggesting a link between the rising misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder and the payment of disability benefits has caused a furore.

Many people who genuinely suffer from manic depressive illness (bipolar disorder) are offended at the suggestion that someone would “fake” the condition in order to receive Social Security payments. Others contest the whole notion of any increase in bipolar misdiagnosis.

And then there are those who express doubt about bipolar disorder as a grounds for disability in the first place.

There is a certain irony to these issues, given the slow, complicated and frustrating nature of the Social Security disability application process. It is a system that by its very nature is stacked against folks with severe bipolar disorder. This is because navigating the red tape involved requires the very skills that a severe case of bipolar disorder erodes in the sufferer. We will discuss this some more in a moment, but first we will consider the fundamental question, “Is bipolar disorder a disability?”

In everyday language, a disability is usually understood as any health condition that makes routine, day to day tasks difficult, or even impossible. However, Social Security speak is a language all of its own. Many of our common or intuitive use of certain words change, and precise shades of meaning become critical once we move into the mysterious jargon of the Social Security Administration (SSA).

When it comes to claiming Social Security disability payments, we discover that the Social Security system uses its own specialized, unique definition of “disability”.

Those of us who are people living with bipolar disorder can easily understand how a very severe case of this illness makes routine tasks impossible. But is bipolar a disability in the eyes of the Social Security Administration? According to the SSA:

“Disability” under Social Security is based on your inability to work. We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:

You cannot do work that you did before; We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

As the SSA themselves admit, this is a strict definition of disability!

Notice something else? Like so much other Social Security speak, this definition requires some further interpretation. How do they decide that you cannot do your previous work or adjust to other work? What, precisely, is a “medical condition”? Given that most cases of bipolar disorder can be managed with medication, and that most people with bipolar disorder do remain in the workforce, is bipolar disorder a disability or not?

It turns out that the answer is complicated and boils down to a mixture of “sometimes” and “it depends”.

(By the way, please do not think I am slamming the SSA. It is important that bogus claims get weeded out and that the SSA are cautious in their use of public money. These are good people just doing their job, and most of the faults in the system are the inevitable result of such a huge organization and complex mix of entitlements.)

To help make matters easier for everyone concerned, some medical conditions are considered to be so serious and to have such an obvious impact on routine living that they are automatically classified as disabilities. For example, acute leukemia and pancreatic cancer. This makes sense because the diagnosis can be made quickly, based on very clear cut and objective scientific evidence.

There are also a large category of disabling conditions that the SSA have compiled into a system of lists. These listings contain all of the conditions that are considered so severe that they automatically mean you are disabled.

Good news! Bipolar is on the list!

However, as with so many things in life, this is not as clear cut as it first seems. There are some “gotchas” involved that mean that just because you have been diagnosed, it it does NOT really mean you will automatically be considered disabled and granted disability payments. For example, it is not as simple as having a note from your psychiatrist that says “Sarah has been diagnosed as bipolar and is therefore disabled”.

Your medical records must clearly indicate that your personal, individual case of bipolar exactly matches the symptoms and features of bipolar as it is described in the SSA’s listings. Alternatively, you must have medical evidence that shows how your condition is just as serious as the condition as described in the listings. It must also be so severe that you are unable not just to perform your usual job – it must be so severe you are unable to perform ANY job!

In order for Social Security to assess severity and your ability to do any job, you must show that as well as actually having bipolar disorder, it is affecting you to the point that you are markedly limited in your ability to do basic work tasks such as understand and remember instructions, maintain concentration, and have appropriate social interactions with supervisors, co-workers and customers. It is not sufficient to simply say this – like everything else, you must have solid evidence to support your claim.

The irony is that someone who has severe bipolar disorder and who, as a result, cannot follow instructions, concentrate, or communicate appropriately may have a lot of difficulty in explaining their situation and compiling the medical evidence and other paperwork required to prove their claim.

In summary, yes, severe bipolar disorder is a disability. However, proving your case may be a challenge. Don’t worry! You are not alone, and there are many resources and experts you can turn to. This will raise your chance of success, and lower your stress.

Bipolar disorder symptoms in adults are easier to establish than in small children and can be severe. These symptoms are very different from the usual turbulent emotions experienced in daily life and can lead to damaged relationships, poor performance in school and at work, and an inability to perform routine tasks and in the extreme suicide. It often develops in the teenage years and can go unnoticed for many years and the symptoms may seem like separate problems at first making it difficult to spot. This disorder is a long term illness that needs to be managed carefully throughout the patient’s life.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder in adults are classified into two categories unique to the pole or extreme episode that the patient is displaying. Some of the common symptoms of the manic episode are mood changes of elation, euphoria and extreme optimism that can lead to poor judgement. Aggressive behaviour and hyperactivity is also observed and a heightened sexual activity is seen in the patient. The patient may also suffer from insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, impulsiveness, quick and unfocused speech, hostility, delusions, irritability and paranoia. The surprising thing is that despite all this high energy activities the patient does not feel fatigued and seems to be on a roller coaster.

The other classification of bipolar disorder symptoms in adults is the depression episode. This is characterised by the exact opposite of the manic episode. The patient feels hopeless, guilty, and worthless, tired and tends to be forgetful. They also have trouble sleeping or sleep too much, lose or gain a lot of weight and lose interest in activities that they enjoyed or may withdraw from society. Patients lack concentration and feel overwhelmed by their emotions leading to suicidal feelings. Feelings of apathy and self loathing may also be encountered and the patient will want to withdraw from the rest of society completely.

In uncommon cases, the patient may experience a mixed affective episode which is in essence a state during which symptoms of mania and those of depression occur simultaneously. The patient may get teary during a manic episode or have a torrent of racing thoughts during a depressive episode. This mixed state is the most dangerous period of mood disorders and may lead to substance abuse, panic disorder and suicide attempts. Learning to recognise the bipolar disorder symptoms in adults is the key to unlocking the treatment for victims and helping to restore them back into regular society where they can be productive once more.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that can be very debilitating to a person’s normal life. Of course, it can also wreak havoc on the lives of the people around them as well. Unfortunately, there are 5.7 million adults within the United States today who are forced to deal with this debilitating disorder. Herein it is important to take into consideration the fact that misdiagnosis is very uncommon due to the continuum and various forms of this disorder. Therefore, it is quite possible that even more people have gone undiagnosed as well.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are essentially three main types of bipolar disorder. These are:

Bipolar I is whenever a person has at least one manic episode with or without any previous episodes of depression.
Bipolar II is whenever a person has had at least one hypomanic episode (similar to mania but not as severe because it won’t disrupt your daily routine) and one episode of depression.
Cyclothymia is a mild type of bipolar disorder that includes mood swings that are not as severe as those that are found within patients who have Bipolar I or Bipolar II disorder.

Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

There are a lot of different symptoms that a doctor must be on the lookout for whenever dealing with a bipolar patient. This is especially true since bipolar is a rapid cycling disorder that leads to four or more mood swings (alternating between mania and depression) per year. Psychosis (hallucinations and delusions) is oftentimes present in severe cases. Of course, there are also times whenever a person’s life isn’t affected at all.

Some of the symptoms of mania include:

Euphoria Extreme optimism Inflated self-esteem Poor judgment Rapid speech Racing thoughts Aggressive behavior Agitation Increased exercise Risky behavior Spending sprees Increased sexual drive Decreased need for sleep Becoming easily distracted Unable to concentrate Drug abuse

On the other hand, some of the symptoms of mania include:

Sadness Hopelessness Suicidal thoughts/behavior Anxiety Guilt Sleeping problems Appetite problems Fatigue Loss of interest Problems concentrating Irritability Chronic pain with no known cause

Knowing these symptoms is only the start of actually treating bipolar depression so that you will be able to live a more normal life. Many people with this problem have learned to live a normal life and function everyday just like the rest of us. Managing bipolar is possible with the proper support and knowledge from friends and family.