Mariah Carey says she has bipolar disorder

LOS ANGELES - Pop singer Mariah Carey revealed on Wednesday that she suffers from bipolar disorder, telling People magazine that she was diagnosed in 2001 but had only recently been taking medication.

Carey told People in an interview that she got the diagnosis when she was hospitalized following an emotional and physical breakdown around the time of her critically panned movie "Glitter" in 2001.

She said she did not want to believe it and only sought treatment recently.

"I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” Carey told the celebrity magazine.

"It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music."

Carey, one of the best-selling music artists in the world with 200 million records sold and hits like "We Belong Together," said she was taking medication for the bipolar II form of the disorder, which is marked by less severe mood swings between depression and hyperactivity.

"For a long time I thought I had a severe sleep disorder," she said.

"But it wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep. I was working and working and working. ... I was irritable and in constant fear of letting people down. It turns out that I was experiencing a form of mania. Eventually I would just hit a wall," the singer told the magazine.

Carey came forward after a roller-coaster few years that included her divorce from comedian Nick Cannon, with whom she has 6-year-old twins, and her short-lived but high-profile 2016 engagement to Australian billionaire businessman James Packer.

She said she is taking medication that "is not making me feel too tired or sluggish" and is working on a new album due out later this year.

"I’m just in a really good place right now, where I’m comfortable discussing my struggles with bipolar II disorder. I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone," she said.

Carey's interview is featured in the Friday edition of the magazine.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

How to know if you're bipolar

MANILA -- Just like other psychological disorders, being bipolar is often mistaken for either depression or mood swings.

In an interview on "Magandang Gabi Dok" on DZMM, Dr. Bernadette Manalo-Arcenas said bipolar disorder is a disorder wherein the patient suffers extreme changes in moods.

"'Pag sinabi mong bipolar, ups and downs extremes, para siyang South and North Pole apart," she added.

Symptoms of this disorder include being in a hyperexcited state, speaking rapidly, being argumentative, lack of goal-directed activity, lack of concentration, and extreme mood changes.

Bipolar disorder can be detected during late adolescence or early adulthood, when the person starts to discover the world and experience problems.

According to Arcenas, a person with bipolar disorder changes moods within minutes, unlike those people who are just plain moody.

"Minsan sa gabi hindi sila nakakatulog. They feel na parang hindi kailangang matulog. Madami silang gustong gawin pero hindi natatapos... They're very much interested sa mga pleasurable activities," she added.

Those with bipolar disorder also tend to do a lot of things at the same time.

"At times they would have a lot of relationships all at the same time or they would go shopping one to sawa or minsan makikita mo na parang ang dami nilang ginagawa tapos they would be frustrated kasi hindi naman natatapos," Arcenas said.

Studies show that bipolar disorder can be genetic. For Arcenas, bipolar disorder is also a biological problem involving the levels of dopamine and serotonin in a person's brain, causing the changes in moods.

Bipolar disorder can be treated through medication and therapy.

"Nagagamot naman siya sa pagbigay ng mga antipsychotic medications at nagbibigay tayo ng mood stabilizer," Arcenas said.

Bipolar disorder may only need three to six months of treatment. Those in the acute stage, on the other hand, may need at least two years of treatment.

Those with more severe symptoms might need to take medicines and undergo therapy for a longer time.

For Arcenas, hyperactivity connected with bipolar disorder is different from hyperactivity caused by ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

"Magka-link sila at usually ito 'yung nagiging problem sa diagnosis kasi hyper din 'pag ADHD ang pasyente so kailangan talaga ma-tease out ano ba ang mas mataas, ang mood problems or 'yung attention kasi magkaiba 'yun," she said.

Bipolar disorder can also be linked to depression, which is a state of prolonged sadness and lack of motivation.

While depression and bipolar disorder may share symptoms, Arcenas clarified that suffering from depression is only one part of being bipolar as they tend to go from depressed to hyper in a short time.

Arcenas explained that those suffering from bipolar disorder or other mood disorders should not hesitate from talking to a psychiatrist.

She also advised patients not to stop from taking medicine unless instructed by their doctors.

People who have relatives and family members suffering from bipolar disorder should also be more patient and understanding.

"They have the right to be treated. Marami naman tayong ospital all over the country na makatutulong. Seek help para magamot ang pasyente. Hindi sila magagamot sa pagkadena lang. Kailangan talaga silang ayusin, gamutin and they will live a better life," Arcenas said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Depressed adolescents face increased heart disease risk

Adolescents with major depression or bipolar disease face an increased risk of early heart disease and may need early intervention to prevent it, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA).

“We expect that the statement itself will come as quite a surprise to most,” said Dr. Benjamin I. Goldstein from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto, who chaired the committee that issued the report.

“This is precisely what makes the statement so important and potentially impactful; it takes a largely unrecognized and under-appreciated body of evidence, and positions it squarely on center stage,” Goldstein told Reuters Health in an email.

Goldstein and his coauthors say major depression affects nearly 9 percent of U.S. adolescents. Bipolar disorder, the fourth most disabling condition, affects about 2.6 percent of U.S. adolescents.

The National Institute of Mental Health explains on its web site that people with major depression have persistent severe symptoms that interfere with their ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. In bipolar disorder, which is less common, people have mood changes that go back and forth between extreme highs (e.g., mania) to extreme lows (e.g., depression).

In developing the new scientific statement, Goldstein and his colleagues evaluated the existing data at the behest of the AHA’s Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young.

Although research on the association between these mood disorders and heart disease is limited, what is available shows a significant increase in traditional heart disease risk factors in adolescents with major depression or bipolar disorder, the team reported in the journal Circulation.

These risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Childhood maltreatment, sleep disorders, physical inactivity, and smoking – factors common in adolescents with depression and bipolar disorder – can also contribute to an increased heart disease risk.

Even the treatments (antidepressants and mood-stabilizing medications) can cause weight gain and other metabolic changes that increase the risk of heart disease, the statement points out.

Based on the available data, the authors say, these adolescents should be considered to be at moderate risk for early heart disease.

Prevention efforts should focus on maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure, healthy levels of cholesterol, and blood sugar in the normal range. The first step in achieving these targets is intensive lifestyle management that emphasizes regular physical activity, a healthy-heart diet, and, if necessary, weight loss.

“When considering cardiovascular risk among youth with mood disorders, screen more and take action earlier and at lower thresholds,” Goldstein advised.

Dr. Viola Vaccarino from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, who wasn’t involved in developing the statement, told Reuters Health, “It is time to end the traditional separation between mental health and physical health. Stigma from mental disorders remains widespread and results in low recognition and management of psychiatric problems outside of mental health clinics. But cardiovascular disease and depression are linked conditions; they both rank highest as causes of disability in the United States, and (are) also rapidly growing worldwide.”

“Cardiovascular disease is a chronic, progressive condition that starts in youth, even if the disease becomes clinically manifest later in life,” Vaccarino concluded. “This is why identification of risk conditions such as depression early in life provides an important opportunity for cardiovascular disease prevention.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Baron Geisler admits he is bipolar

MANILA, Philippines – After being involved in yet another controversy, actor Baron Geisler finally broke his silence and admitted that he has been dealing with bipolar disorder, which causes severe depression and mood swings.


In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Monday, days after he was sent to jail last Friday, Geisler said he was having a bad day when he figured in a scuffle with neighbor Ray dela Rosa.

“I’m a very patient person. Nagkataon lang na talagang I was having a bad day noong araw na iyon. Nagse-self medicate kasi ako dahil masyado akong naging confident and parang in denial also na 'yung sinabi sa akin na I am bipolar and my chemical imbalance,” he said.

Bipolar disorder is defined as "a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression."

Asked how long has he been dealing with this illness, he said: “It’s a secret dahil sino ba namang tao, especially dito sa Pilipinas hindi naman natin pinag-aaralan ito... people are very quick to judge. Iisipin nila mental case iyan, huwag na nating pagkatiwalaan iyan baka biglang mag-snap. Matagal na siyang sikreto but I’ve been seeing a doctor mga four years na.”

Geisler said there were moments when his insecurities would still eat him up despite all the good things that are happening in his life and career.

“Hindi actually mood swings ang nangyayari sa akin. It’s more on insecurities, ang daming negative thoughts na pumapasok na hindi ko ma-explain. Kasi kumbaga maganda naman ang nangyayari sa akin, masaya naman kami ng pamilya ko pero bakit may masakit na hindi ko maintindihan? It hurts in the head, it hurts in the heart. Hindi ko maintindihan,” he said.

Quick to judge

Geisler spent at least 14 hours in jail after he allegedly slammed a chair into dela Rosa's sari-sari store and punched dela Rosa in front of his three-year-old child, who was allegedly traumatized by the incident.

The actor said he feels bad that a lot of people got the wrong news, prompting some to misjudge him anew.

“Mali-mali po 'yung bigla bigla na lang akong nananapak ng kapitbahay or lasing ako or nakainom ako. Parang ang nilabas nila isa akong hayop na walang pinag-aralan, basta basta na lang kumikilos ng masama or gustong manakit ng tao lalo na sa mga taong talagang nakakakilala talaga sa akin,” he explained.

For Geisler, what happened was just a misunderstanding.

“Pumunta ako ng tindahan tapos bumibili ako ng tinapay. ‘Tao po, tao po.’ Lagi kasing ganon na hindi ako pinapansin or mabagal, laging nakasimangot. So ako, matagal na 'yung alitan namin ni Ray. Taon na iyan eh. I was having a bad nung araw na iyon, so sabi ko ‘Sige hindi mo ako pinapansin so I got the chair tapos pinalo ko. I know mali ang ginawa ko pero tao lang ako, napupuno rin,” he said.

Geisler said he was hurt by how people treated him like he was an “animal.”

“Unang una itong kaso na ito, wala namang kaso eh. Dapat ito nagsisimula sa barangay. May proseso po iyan. Ang ginawa sa akin hindi tamang proseso. Nagkataon lang na inisip nila masama akong tao, bad boy ako, may reputasyon na ganito, trinato nila akong animal so diniretso nila ako [sa kulungan],” he said.

Abused in jail

The actor also revealed that he was physically abused while he was in jail.

“Well at first pagpasok ko, parang may initiation iyan na itatakal ka pero naging close kami sa loob. Tapos sinabihan ako ng mga inmates na, ‘Ayos ka pala Baron pero pasensya ka na kung nasaktan ka namin, hindi naman namin kagustuhan iyan eh, binulungan lang kami. Kung hindi namin gawin, baka kami naman ang masaktan,’” he said.

In spite of everything that happened, Geisler said what’s important is that he and dela Rosa have already patched things up.

“I’m really glad it’s over, okay kami ni Ray. Iyon ang pinakaimportante kasi kapitbahay ko siya. Sa press, hindi sila sanay na kapag inireklamo si Baron, hindi umaatras. Misunderstanding lang talaga ito na pinalaki lang ng mga tao,” he said.

The actor also said he is just glad to have his family around him through this difficult time.

“Of course they’re very disappointed dahil sa mga balitang lumalabas and sa mga comment ng mga tao pero gumagawa sila ng paraan para matulungan ako. Si mommy siya ang tumawag sa sekretarya ni dok. Actually dapat bukas pa ang schedule pero bigla na lang puwede. Gumagawa naman sila ng paraan para matulungan ako,” he said.

Geisler also has a message for those who are trying to put him down.

“Hindi naman sila ang Diyos para bigyan ako ng taning sa mundo or kahit sa trabaho. Medyo sanay na rin ako. Pero ang laking epekto sa akin niyan kasi iyan na ang sistema. I just have to roll with the punches so tanggapin ko na lang na ganyan talaga. Basta tuluy-tuloy lang siguro,” he said.

“It’s not how many times you fall. It’s how you stand up and fight. I’m gonna fight this depression and I’m still looking forward to have a good life,” he added. -- with a report from Marie Lozano, ABS-CBN News

source: abs-cbnnews.com