Bipolar Disorder Wellness Basics | Ellie Mental Health

Bipolar Disorder affects just under 3% of the population in the U.S - around 5.7 million people. As far as we know, it’s primarily genetic, but not always. And just because you have family members with Bipolar, that doesn’t mean you will have it too. Bipolar disorder, if left untreated, is a debilitating illness, wreaking havoc on just about every aspect of a person’s life. Which is probably one of the reasons why people with Bipolar Disorder are up to 30 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population, and about 20% of people with untreated bipolar disorder actually die by suicide.
Bipolar Disorder used to be called Manic Depression because it comes with two distinct mood states. The first one is mania. You can’t get a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder until you’ve had a manic episode. And here’s what’s super important to keep in mind: A manic episode is not just having a ton of energy, or talking really fast, or having trouble falling asleep. Someone who is experiencing a true manic episode is not in control of their behavior, or their emotions. They are literally out of control. They’re not just talking fast: they’re not making any sense. They don’t sleep much or at all, and they’re not tired.
Bipolar Disorder is usually treatable, and symptoms can often be managed fairly well, if not entirely, with the right medication, a solid social support system, and stress management. Plenty of people with Bipolar Disorder live successful, happy lives and do all the things people without Bipolar are able to do, so long as they are able to keep their stress down, take good care of themselves, and stay on the medication that works best for them.
Ellie Mental Health is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. #therapy #bipolar disorder #mentalhealth