Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 37

by the end of Silver Linings
Playbook, therapy, family
and ballroom dancing have
helped cooper's character
begin to manage his illness.

photo provided by the weinstein co.

How is it treated?

A comprehensive treatment plan, as
explored in the film, should include counseling, medication, a healthy lifestyle and a strong support network, Niemiec says. A plan typically entails:
Mood-stabilizing medication. Though it may
be the most important piece of treatment, many
patients have an on-again, off-again relationship
with medications because of side effects like memory
and concentration problems, nausea and drowsiness. Though the process involves trial and error,
Miklowitz says the right medication can "make a
world of difference."
Counseling. When combined with medication,
research shows that therapy can help those with
bipolar disorder recover faster from episodes and
better control their moods.
Diet and exercise. A healthy, balanced diet that
includes plenty of omega-3s (found in foods such
as fish, eggs, soy, seeds and nuts) may help lessen
symptoms and prevent weight gain associated with
medications, while exercise can decrease mood
swings and reduce the stress of manic episodes. "You
see Cooper's character doing this with running and
eventually dancing in the film," Niemiec says.
Structured sleep. A regular and consistent sleep
schedule is critical. Insufficient sleep is a trigger for
manic episodes-as when Solatano bursts into his
parents' bedroom at 4 a.m. after spending the night
reading Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.
Support. Attending a support group and having
a network of friends and family can help bipolar
individuals stay on course with treatments and
better cope with the day-to-day ups and downs of
their diagnosis.

wHat are barriers to
treatment?

How can i Help?

Despite the treatment options available,
many people with bipolar disorder "white knuckle
it," as Solatano tells his psychologist he did before his
diagnosis. They go without medications or therapy.
Miklowitz says this is due in part to the stigma surrounding mental illness. "Many people still think that
mental health issues aren't as legitimate as physical
problems," he explains. "Even though there's medical
evidence that they affect the brain and can be inherited, people still blame the victim."
Another challenge is adhering to medication regimens, Niemiec says. "Like Solatano, many individuals
don't like the way the medicines make them feel, so
they quit on their own-a very dangerous thing to do."

Watching Silver Linings Playbook will open
your eyes to the plight of individuals dealing with bipolar disorder. Educate yourself about the
issue, share what you learn and practice compassion
toward those experiencing mental illness. "People
need to know that bipolar disorder is a biologically
based, genetically acquired illness," Miklowitz says.
"We need to stop blaming people for their behavior
and show them the same sympathy and encouragement we show people who have physical illnesses."
Cooper agrees. "It's less about the people who are
dealing with this illness and more about the people
who aren't," he said in his closing remarks at the 2013
National Conference on Mental Health. "I think it is
up to all of us to help, and I want to help. ... I want to
be a part of the solution."
Now you can, too.
SUM MER 2014

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

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