¿Qué es el trastorno bipolar? - Helen M. Farrell

0:06 What is bipolar disorder?

0:08 The word bipolar means two extremes.

0:12 For the many millions experiencing bipolar disorder around the world,

0:16 life is split between two different realities- elation and depression.

0:22 Although there are many variations of bipolar disorder, let's consider a couple.

0:27 Type 1 has extreme highs alongside the lows, while Type 2 involves briefer,

0:34 less extreme periods of elation interspersed with long periods of depression.

0:39 For someone seesawing between emotional states,

0:42 it can feel impossible to find the balance necessary to lead a healthy life.

0:48 Type 1's extreme highs are known as manic episodes,

0:52 and they can make a person range from feeling irritable to invincible.

0:56 But these euphoric episodes exceed ordinary feelings of joy,

1:01 causing troubling symptoms like racing thoughts, sleeplessness,

1:05 rapid speech, impuslive actions, and risky behaviors.

1:10 Without treatment, these episodes become more frequent,

1:12 intense, and take longer to subside.

1:16 The depressed phase of bipolar disorder manifests in many ways- a low mood,

1:21 dwindling interest in hobbies, changes in appetite,

1:25 feeling worthless or excessively guilty, sleeping either too much or too little,

1:30 restlessness or slowness, or persistent thoughts of suicide.

1:35 Worldwide, about one to three percent of adults experience

1:38 the broad range of symptoms that indicate bipolar disorder.

1:43 Most of those people are functional,

1:45 contributing members of society, and their lives, choices,

1:48 and relationships aren't defined by the disorder,

1:52 but still, for many, the consequences are serious.

1:55 The illness can undermine educational and professional performance,

1:59 relationships, financial security, and personal safety.

2:05 So what causes bipolar disorder?

2:08 Researchers think a key player is the brain's intricate wiring.

2:12 Healthy brains maintain strong connections between neurons thanks to the brain's

2:17 continuous efforts to prune itself

2:19 and remove unused or faulty neural connections.

2:24 This process is important because our neural pathways

2:27 serve as a map for everything we do.

2:31 Using functional magnetic resonance imaging,

2:33 scientists have discovered that the brain's pruning

2:36 ability is disrupted in people with bipolar disorder.

2:40 That means their neurons go haywire

2:43 and create a network that's impossible to navigate.

2:46 With only confusing signals as a guide,

2:49 people with bipolar disorder develop abnormal thoughts and behaviors.

2:53 Also, psychotic symptoms,

2:55 like disorganized speech and behavior, delusional thoughts,

2:59 paranoia, and hallucinations can emerge

3:02 during extreme phases of bipolar disorder.

3:05 This is attributed to the overabundance of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

3:11 But despite these insights,

3:13 we can't pin bipolar disorder down to a single cause.

3:17 In reality, it's a complex problem.

3:20 For example, the brain's amygdala is involved in thinking,

3:23 long-term memory, and emotional processing.

3:26 In this brain region, factors as varied as genetics and social trauma may

3:31 create abnormalities and trigger the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

3:36 The condition tends to run in families,

3:38 so we do know that genetics have a lot to do with it.

3:42 But that doesn't mean there's a single bipolar gene.

3:45 In fact, the likelihood of developing

3:47 bipolar disorder is driven by the interactions

3:50 between many genes in a complicated recipe we're still trying to understand.

3:55 The causes are complex, and consequently,

3:58 diagnosing and living with bipolar disorder is a challenge.

4:02 Despite this, the disorder is controllable.

4:05 Certain medications like lithium can help manage

4:08 risky thoughts and behaviors by stabilizing moods.

4:11 These mood stabilizing medications work

4:14 by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain,

4:17 thereby strengthening the viable neural connections.

4:21 Other frequently used medications include antipsychotics,

4:24 which alter the effects of dopamine, and electroconvulsive therapy,

4:29 which works like a carefully controlled seizure in the brain,

4:32 is sometimes used as an emergency treatment.

4:35 Some bipolar patients reject treatment because they're afraid

4:38 it will dim their emotions and destroy their creativity.

4:42 But modern psychiatry is actively trying to avoid that.

4:46 Today, doctors work with patients

4:48 on a case-by-case basis to administer a combination

4:51 of treatments and therapies that allows them

4:54 to live to their fullest possible potential.

4:56 And beyond treatment,

4:58 people with bipolar disorder can benefit from even simpler changes.

5:02 Those include regular exercise, good sleep habits,

5:05 and sobriety from drugs and alcohol,

5:08 not to mention the acceptance and empathy of family and friends.

5:12 Remember, bipolar disorder is a medical condition,

5:15 not a person's fault, or their whole identity,

5:18 and it's something that can be controlled through

5:21 a combination of medical treatments doing their work internally,

5:24 friends and family fostering acceptance and understanding on the outside,

5:29 and people with bipolar disorder empowering

5:31 themselves to find balance in their lives.