What do we do to care for someone with a bipolar affective disorder?
Guys Cross Care Home Warwickshire provides care in a small scale domestic environment that facilitates quality on-going recovery focused care.
We assist people with Bipolar affective disorders to maximise their potential and improve their quality of living by:
- Providing flexible, individualised care packages,
- Providing Psychosocial treatments (talking therapies)
- Keeping a daily diary to recognise mood changes
Work with the person to develop strategies for:
- Recognising mood changes
- Recognising risk factors and how to respond
- Maintaining medication regimes
- planning for change
- Meeting nutritional needs / preparation of meals
- Meeting personal care
- Meeting domestic skills needs – shopping, cleaning, laundry,
We also help people to learn how to manage:
- challenging behaviour
- anger issues
- sleeping problems
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar affective disorder or manic depression (as it was previously known) is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood and behaviour.
Bipolar affective I disorder is the classic form of the disorder where the person experiences recurrent episodes of mania and depression.
Bipolar affective II Disorder is when the person does not experience extreme mania but instead experiences milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression.
Rapid–cycling bipolar disorder is when a person experiences four or more episodes of illness within a twelve month period. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week or even within a day.
Mixed bipolar state is when people experience symptoms of mania and depression together these symptoms can include agitation, disrupted sleep pattern, change in appetite, psychosis the person may feel very low but energised.
The mood range can be very varied:
- Severe mania
- Hypomania
- Stable
- Low mood
- Moderate depression
- Severe depression
Episodes of mania and depression occur throughout the person’s life however between episodes many people are symptom free approximately one third of people have some residual symptoms and a small percentage of people experience chronic unremitting symptoms despite treatment.
Symptoms of mania
- Increased energy and activity
- Extreme irritability
- Racing thoughts and talking very fast
- Poor concentration
- Disrupted sleep pattern
- Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
- Poor judgement
- Spending sprees
- Increased sex drive
- Provocative, aggressive behaviour
- Possible drug / alcohol abuse
Symptoms of depression
- Sad, anxious or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Loss of interest in pleasure activities
- Decreased energy
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness or irritability
- Disrupted sleep pattern
- Change in appetite
- Pain or illness