World Bipolar Day! ... Statistics and Quotations
We’re celebrating Bipolar Day, increasing awareness about the disorder with statistics and quotations
Hello,
It’s Thursday, March 30th, also known as World Bipolar Day!
This is the fourth edition of Bipolar and Bipartisan, a new newsletter designed to educate readers about a complicated mental disorder and what’s happening in the world about it.
World Bipolar Day is celebrated today, Vincent van Gogh’s birthday. Van Gogh was posthumously diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He is one of many artists, musicians, authors and other creators diagnosed with a frequently misunderstood disorder that at its best, and when well regulated, can lead to creative bouts of energy and creativity that bring out the best in human potential.
The vision of WBD is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma. Through international collaboration, the goal of World Bipolar Day is to bring the world population information about bipolar disorders that will educate and improve sensitivity towards the illness.
To that end, today’s newsletter is stuffed full of statistics about bipolar disorder, and quotes from people who have lived with bipolar disorder. I hope each helps advance your own understanding of the disorder.
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to others who may enjoy it. Today, we have 92 subscribers. I’d love to reach 100 by the end of the week, so that we’re doing our share to advance understanding about bipolar disorder.
Thanks for reading.
Tyler
Statistics
Here are some statistics to know about bipolar disorder, with sources in parentheses.
5.7 Million Americans have bipolar disorder, about 2.6% of the adult population (National Institute for Mental Health);
46 Million people globally have bipolar disorder (Our World in Data);
About 1/3 individuals with bipolar disorder have Bipolar I, the more severe form of the disorder. 2/3 have Bipolar II or cyclothymic disorder (OpenAI);
83% of individuals with bipolar disorder have a “severe” form, meaning their diagnosis impacts their day-to-day functioning;
The median age for bipolar onset is 25 years old (NIMH); Young people are much more likely to exhibit bipolar symptoms than individuals over the age of 60.
4.4% of individuals between the ages of 18-29 are bipolar, and 3.5% of those between ages 30-44 years (JAMA);
People with Bipolar Disorder have a life expectancy that is 9.2 years shorter than the general population (NIMH).
This is mostly due to higher suicide rates — estimated to be between 15 - 20% (Treatment Advocacy Center);.
Between 25-50% of bipolar people attempt suicide in their lifetime (25-50%);
One reason these suicide rates is so high is because bipolar people frequently discontinue treatment. 50% of those diagnosed abandon treatment plans within the first year, including medications (Bipolar Support Alliance);
Men and women are diagnosed as bipolar at similar rates.
However, both genders have a tendency to be mis-diagnosed. Men tend to be mis-diagnosed as schizophrenic. Women tend to be mis-diagnosed as depressed. (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance). This is in part because women are more likely to express depressive symptoms while men are more likely to express hypo-manic or manic symptoms (NAMI);
Bipolar disorder has an impact on work. Up to 60% of people with bipolar face a work impairment (Journal of Affective Disorders);
People with bipolar disorder often face comorbidities, a simultaneous disease that makes functioning difficult. Bipolar people face the following disorders at a higher rate than the general population: anxiety disorder; substance abuse; Conduct disorders; ADHD; Autism; and Tourette syndrome. (FHE Health)
60% of people with bipolar have experienced substance abuse (NAMI);
“STEP-BD” is the largest ever study to evaluate what interventions best in addressing bipolar disorder. The Systematic Treatment Enhancement for Bipolar Disorder studied over 4,000 people. (NAMI)
I asked ChatGPT when Bipolar Disorder was first diagnosed. According to OpenAI, the Greek Physician Hippocrates (460-370 BCE) described a group of patients with both mania and depression.
In the 1850s, Frenchman Jules Baillarger coined the term "circular insanity" and German Karl Kahlbaum coined “cyclical insanity” to describe patients with cycles of mania and depression.
In 1899, the term "manic-depressive insanity" was defined by German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin to describe what is now known as bipolar disorder.
Quotations
Here are some quotations from people with bipolar disorder, which may advance our readers’ understanding of what it is like to live with periods of both mania and depression.
From famous individuals with bipolar disorder:
“Bipolar robs you of that which is you. It can take from you the very core of your being and replace it with something that is completely opposite of who and what you truly are. Because my bipolar went untreated for so long, I spent many years looking in the mirror and seeing a person I did not recognize or understand.” Alyssa Reyans, author of Letters from a Bipolar Mother
"I have a chemical imbalance that, in its most extreme state, will lead me to a mental hospital." - Carrie Fisher, actress and author
"I'm not my illness. That is a part of my life, but it does not define me." - Demi Lovato, musician and actress
"It's not always going to be sunshine and roses, but you can work through the pain and come out the other side." - Halsey, musician
"I am living proof that you can be bipolar and have a successful career." - Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
"I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that makes me depressed and I have to take medication every day to keep it under control." - Jim Carrey, actor
"I have bipolar disorder, so I tend to be up, and then I'm down." - Frank Bruno, former boxer
“I could walk through fire if it meant making my dreams come true. That is the gift being bipolar gave me. It blessed me with a lofty imagination, an iron will, and an unbreakable belief in the impossible.” AJ Mendez, author
"The lows of bipolar disorder are extremely low, and the highs are extremely high." - Stephen Fry, actor and comedian
“At least when I was an adult, I had a name for what was wrong with me: manic depression. It’s easier to make sense of things — even very disturbing things like sexual acting out and suicidality — when there’s a big, fat label slapped on top. But as a child, I knew nothing. I had no diagnosis. All I had was a vague and gnawing awareness that I was different from other children, and that different was not good. Different must be kept hidden.” Terri Cheney, author of The Dark Side of Innocence: Growing Up Bipolar
“At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.” Carrie Fisher, actress
From An Unquiet Mind, by Kay Redfield Jamison, one of the most famous books on bipolar disorder:
"I long ago abandoned the notion of a life without storms, or a world without dry and killing seasons. Life is too complicated, too constantly changing, to be anything but what it is. And I am, by nature, too mercurial to be anything but deeply wary of the grave unnaturalness involved in any attempt to exert too much control over essentially uncontrollable forces."
"It is the nature of mood disorders to wreak havoc on every aspect of a person's life. The illness takes away your ability to feel pleasure or joy, robs you of your energy and motivation, distorts your perceptions of reality, and can leave you feeling hopeless and worthless."
"Bipolar illness... represents one of the prime examples of the relationship between brain and behavior."
"Madness, in small or large doses, is an elemental part of human nature."
"The defining feature of bipolar disorder, the element that sets it apart from ordinary mood swings, is the presence of manic or hypomanic episodes."
"Bipolar illness is particularly prevalent among creative artists, writers, and musicians."
"The key to successful treatment is a willingness to stay on medication, to accept the need for hospitalization when necessary, and to be patient with the slow process of recovery."
"There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but with proper treatment and self-care, it is possible to live a productive and fulfilling life."
Anonymous Quotes
"Living with bipolar disorder is like riding a rollercoaster. You never know when you'll go up or down, but you always know it's coming. Sometimes it's a slow climb up, and other times it's a sudden drop that takes your breath away. But no matter how many times you ride, you never get used to the feeling of being out of control."
"Bipolar disorder is like having two people living inside of you. One minute, you're on top of the world, full of energy and ideas. The next, you're in the depths of despair, unable to function or even get out of bed. It's a constant battle to keep both sides in balance and not let one take over completely."
"Living with bipolar disorder is like walking a tightrope. You're always one misstep away from falling, but you have to keep moving forward. Some days, the wind is calm and the path is clear. Other days, the wind is howling and the rope is swaying, and you feel like you're going to lose your balance. But you keep going, because the only other option is to give up and fall."
"Living with bipolar disorder means constantly second-guessing your own thoughts and emotions. You never know if what you're feeling is real, or just a symptom of the illness. It's a constant struggle to separate yourself from the disorder and maintain a sense of identity."
"Bipolar disorder is like a tornado. It comes out of nowhere, wreaks havoc on everything in its path, and then disappears just as suddenly. The aftermath can be devastating, but you pick up the pieces and try to rebuild. And you know that it's only a matter of time before the next storm hits."
Personally, I resonate with quotations in the first two categories more. I don’t tend to experience bipolar on a minute by minute basis. For me, I experience it more on a week to week or month to month basis. However, everyone experiences the disorder differently, and no feelings ought be diminished. Thanks for reading, all.