Bipolar Disorder in Middle Aged People

Bipolar disorder can be a bittersweet life in not-so-normal ways, with the depression, angry episodes and the sweet manic highs with great creativity. Balancing the manic and depressive sides is very troubling for the patient with bipolar, especially when it is not diagnosed until they are in middle age.

People with bipolar disorder have the highest rate of alcohol and drug abuse. They use this abuse system to try to alleviate the pain caused from bipolar disorder. Bipolar deeply affects the patients’ energy levels and their attitudes. They are easily distracted and have a tendency for rapid speech, where their words cannot seem to keep up with their racing thoughts, which in turn can impair their job function and skills. They have difficulty having a normal healthy relationship with anyone, often ending in failure.

During their manic state, they can become hyperactive with a positive outlook on life, but they can also become dangerous to themselves because of the euphoric state that anything is possible. The middle aged bipolar person often has children. This can lead to child abuse due to the fluctuation between extreme highs and devastating lows accompanied by anger episodes. Medication will stabilize their extreme mood swings, but it also keeps them from using their creativity, which discourages some bipolar patients from continuing their medication. Some times, it takes a long time to find the right medicine that works with their own personal chemical make-up of their bipolar disorder.

Middle aged people with bipolar can live a more normal life within society if they get the proper treatment and stay on their medication. However, until they admit there is something wrong and seek medical help, their life seems to be uncontrollable, affecting not only themselves but also everyone around them.