‘Empire’ State of Mind
Wednesday night, I watched the Fox Network show “Empire”
with my husband; it’s not a show that I watch on a regular basis. Those of us
who watched saw Andre Lyon have a ‘manic episode’. He suffers with Bipolar
Disorder. It was difficult to watch, not just as a mental health professional,
but as a human being. I felt helpless as a viewer; his TV family members stood
around him, watching him and feeling helpless. And, most of the time, this is
how we feel in reality when we interact with a family member or friend who is
suffering with a mental illness. Yes, sometimes we feel helpless, but there is
hope!
Yesterday, I attended a NAMIWalks North Carolina event; a
pep rally hosted by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill to gear up for a
fundraising event….NAMIWalks NC on Saturday, May 2, 2015 in Raleigh on the
Dorothea Dix campus. The speaker for the occasion was Katie Knowles, Miss
Statesville 2015. Katie shared her story of being diagnosed with Major
Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder when she was 8 or 9 years old. She
shared that her mother accessed the treatment that she needed, medication and psychotherapy.
And, she still takes her medication and goes to therapy, but is moving forward
with her life, attaining her goals. You go, Miss Statesville. She got teary at
the thought of what she has accomplished and I had to ‘check’ myself….I felt a
shout coming on, on her behalf. There is hope!
I am committed to sharing what I know about mental illness
to raise awareness and to hopefully free someone from the bondage of silence.
So, back to Andre (“Empire”)…he appears to be suffering with
Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder; a severe form of
depression. Some of us experience
depression as “down in the dumps”, “sad”, “tired”, “don’t feel like going
anywhere, doing anything”. We feel this way for a day or two then snap out of
it. But, when you haven’t snapped out of it in two weeks and have five or more
of the following symptoms: 1) you feel depressed almost every day, 2) most
days, you don’t feel like doing any of the things you usually love doing, 3) almost
daily, there is a significant change in your appetite (decrease or increase),
4) you have difficulty sleeping or sleep excessively most days, 5) other people
comment that your movements seem to be sped up or slowed down, 6) most days you
feel tired and don’t have any energy, 7) most days, you feel worthless or feel
guilty about things that are not your fault, that you shouldn’t feel guilty
about, and 8) you have difficulty concentrating/thinking… you may be
experiencing Major Depressive Disorder (Episode). There are a few additional
criteria for the diagnosis: 1) either depressed mood (#1) or loss of interest
in things (#2) must be one of the five symptoms, 2) the symptoms must be
causing significant problems for you at work, in your social relationships, and/or
at home, 3) the symptoms are not due to a medical condition, substance use
(including alcohol or prescription drugs), and 4) the symptoms are not a result
of the loss of a loved one (bereavement) in the last couple of months. Major
Depressive Disorder can be mild, moderate, severe with psychotic features
(includes delusions or hallucinations), or severe without psychotic features
(no delusions or hallucinations, but severe interference with work, studying,
socializing, daily living). A delusion is a strong belief in something even
after you are provided evidence that it is not true. And, a hallucination is
the experience of seeing (visual) things that are not real or hearing
(auditory) things that are not real.
Sometimes people with Depression start having “manic”
episodes that may last a week or longer. Manic symptoms include heightened
self-esteem, increased activity/busyness, and pressured speech. These symptoms
are usually over-the-top and very noticeable. You will appear to be very happy and
do lots of laughing and having a good time. Your self-esteem can become so
outrageous that you think you can solve problems you can’t solve and/or have
connections and influence you don’t have; you may get involved with many
different projects and get little to no sleep; you may exhibit risky behaviors
(bad business decisions, sexual escapades, out of control spending, unusual
religious connections); you may talk too fast, too loud and too much; sometimes
your thoughts may seem to be racing; and you may be easily distracted.
Andre bought a Lamborghini (out-of-control spending); he was
unable to make decisions about what needed to happen with Empire because his
thoughts were racing; he had an inflated sense of self and was arguing that he
should be made Chief Executive Officer at Empire; he was agitated, then he would
change moods and start laughing; he appeared to be hallucinating in a couple of
scenes; and, he was hyper/busy- pacing, walking, running, and falling.
If you have Major Depressive Disorder and then have at least
one ‘manic’ episode that includes the manic symptoms indicated above,
you may then meet criteria for a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis. When you have Bipolar Disorder you cycle back
and forth from manic to depressed mood or you may have a mixed episode.
Sometimes when you are suffering with a mental illness,
people don’t believe you are sick. They think you have control of your
decisions when you don’t. Unfortunately, sometimes hospitalization is required
to help stabilize your mood. This is when people finally believe you are sick
and then they feel afraid and helpless. There are many people who take their
medicine and see their therapists and live positive, productive lives. Keep
hope alive!
I will probably watch the show again next week, so I can see
how the family deals with the diagnosis. I hope you will, too. And, if you or
someone you love is suffering with mental illness, please seek help.
