Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 35)

bradley cooper photos by Jeff Vespa/contributor; catherine zeta-Jones by getty/Wireimage; Jean-claude Van damme by getty images for extra; carrie fisher by getty; linda hamilton by filmmagic A Fresh PersPective Before researching the Silver Linings role, the star of The Hangover trilogy admits to being relatively ignorant to the plight of those with bipolar disorder. "It's not that I didn't know about mental illness. ... I just didn't see it as a part of my own life; I didn't really think that it affected me," Cooper said during a speech at the National Conference on Mental Health in June 2013. But filming the movie changed his perspective. "I realized that people that I knew, people that I loved and cared about, they were coping with this in silence and ... I really had no idea." The truth is that most of us don't. And although bipolar disorder is more common than we might realize, affecting more than 5.7 million adult Americans in a given year, or 2.6 percent of the population 18 and older, misconceptions abound. We have answers to six common questions. Q What is biPolar disorder and What are the symPtoms? Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that causes dramatic, sudden shifts in mood, energy, sleep and activity levels. Though researchers aren't sure exactly what causes it, "genetics clearly play a role and environmental factors like significant life events also appear to trigger episodes," says David Miklowitz, PhD, a psychologist and the author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know. "Some neuroimaging studies have also found differences in the brains of bipolar individuals." In Silver Linings Playbook, the character's illness manifests itself in obsessive behavior, delusions, rapid speech, sleeplessness, manic and depressive episodes, and temper flare-ups, "with mood swings and weird thinking brought on by severe stress," the Solatano character explains to his therapist. Though these are all common symptoms of bipolar disorder, Ryan Niemiec, PsyD, a psychologist and the co-author of Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology, points out that the movie doesn't get every bit of it right. Solatano's frequent episodes of rage and fighting "are likely features of another condition and are not necessarily characteristic of bipolar." Celebs Speak Out bipolar disorder can affect anyone, including your favorite celebrities. "there's evidence that people with this illness have high levels of creativity," says david miklowitz, Phd, a psychologist and the author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know. "it seems to go along with the artistic temperament." here, hollywood's finest share their experiences. Catherine Zeta-Jones, on going public. "i hope i can help remove any stigma attached to it," she told People magazine, "and that those who didn't have it under control will seek help." Jean-Claude Van Damme, on medication. "in one week, i felt [the medication] kick in," he told E! Online. "all the commotion around me, all the water around me ... became like a lake." Carrie Fisher, on being bipolar. "i thought if i could ever get [bipolar disorder] to be funny, it would be brilliant," she told BP Magazine. "but it took a really long time ... dealing with the bipolar situation was far from funny." Linda Hamilton, on treatment. "every year is just richer ... because i'm really returning to who i was meant to be," she said on Larry King Live. sUM Mer 2014 35

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
3 Ways to Give
Summer Numbers
Stress SOS
The Truth About Sunscreen
The Transformers
Get Your Head in the Game
The Journey Continues
On the Cover
The Foot Follies
Friendly Fat
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Back in the Swing
And the Beat Goes On
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center