Mia Thornton’s husband has bipolar I disorder. What is her condition and what are its symptoms? news

It’s been a busy week for the solid of Bravo’s. In addition to the infant news, there have been two confirmed departures (Candiace Dillard-Bassett and Robyn Dixon, with the latter announcing she was “fired”), rumors of a 3rd baby, and loads of heated debates about mean girl behavior . and colorism.

In the midst of all this, a crucial conversation took place part three of the season 8 reunion between solid member Mia Thornton’s husband, Gordon, aka “G,” and reunion host/executive producer Andy Cohen. During their reunion, Gordon, who seems to have come to terms with the indisputable fact that his marriage to Mia is ending, revealed that considered one of the explanations for his or her split is due to his treatment of her while he was unknowingly battling bipolar I disorder, which led to his recent diagnosis. him a proper diagnosis.

“I started realizing I had it in my early 20s. And I remembered [manic] episodes throughout my life,” he said. “Here’s the thing that’s really key to this: my mania [episodes] it got worse over the years as I gained more control, more power and more money.” Gordon told Cohen that when he decided to deal with his problems, including taking medication, positive changes occurred. This includes higher interactions with Mia and higher relationships with her family. “I understand my mental illness,” Gordon noted. “Now I understand how to control it.”

Mia’s support, although she was separated (and she moved on with old feelings), also had a big impact. “I will always take care of Gordon,” she told Cohen.

Following this discovery, we turned to a psychiatrist specializing in bipolar disorder to learn more about bipolar I disorder. Leesha Ellis-Cox, MD, shared, 2.3 million people within the US suffer from some type of bipolar disorder, and black women and men are more prone to go undiagnosed. With this in mind, she provided insight into what distinguishes bipolar I disorder from other forms, its signs and symptoms, treatments, and advice for family members of those battling the condition on how one can support them of their efforts to get help. . diagnosis.

BEING: When people consider bipolar disorder, most of us think this manner. So what are the characteristics of bipolar I and how does it differ from other classifications?

Leesha Ellis-Cox, MD: Mood disorders are common mental illnesses that cause marked disturbances in a person’s emotional state. There are several different mood disorders, but probably the most common are major depression and bipolar disorder. What distinguishes bipolar disorder from major depression is the presence of mania. A manic episode is required for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Symptoms of mania include an abnormally high or irritable mood, grandiosity or exaggerated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, talking greater than usual, racing thoughts or ideas, being easily distracted, excessive energy, increased goal-directed activity, and reckless or impulsive behavior. These symptoms persist for at the very least every week or for any period in the event that they result in psychiatric hospitalization. Bipolar II disorder involves a hypomanic episode that is less severe than mania, doesn’t cause severe impairment in functioning, and doesn’t lead to hospitalization.

Can you describe the symptoms of a bipolar I manic episode?

An increase in goal-directed activity may include spending several hours cleansing or starting multiple projects, while reckless or impulsive behavior may include spending rent or mortgage money on clothing and shoes, promiscuous behavior, or making unwise financial investments. Psychosis, a symptom of lack of contact with reality characterised by auditory or visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, or disorganized speech and behavior, may occur in mania but doesn’t occur in hypomania.

How is it treated?

Bipolar disorder is a serious and persistent mental illness. According to the article by Peter Dome et al. from 2019 in , the suicide rate amongst individuals with bipolar disorder is 10 to 30 times higher than in the overall population; Up to twenty% of individuals with bipolar disorder will die by suicide, and between 20% and 60% of individuals will attempt suicide at the very least once of their lives. Given such staggering statistics and the general severity of bipolar disorder, probably the most effective treatment requires a mixture of psychotropic medications and therapy.

The two mostly prescribed classes of medicines for bipolar disorder are mood stabilizers, similar to lithium and Depakote, and atypical antipsychotics, similar to Lybalvi. Mood stabilizers goal manic and mixed episodes, in addition to depressive episodes, in each acute and maintenance or long-term treatment. Antipsychotic drugs treat manic, mixed and depressive episodes, but in addition relieve psychotic symptoms. Psychotherapy or talk therapy can assist individuals with bipolar disorder learn healthy coping skills, help them understand the condition and discover triggers, improve communication to strengthen family relationships, and can result in lasting changes and improvements in emotional well-being.

How can family members support someone who could also be showing symptoms of bipolar I disorder?

Humans are social creatures. We are not designed to live in isolation. Relationships matter; Healthy relationships fill our lives with vitality, color, depth and complexity. Social connectedness, the standard of getting meaningful relationships that are nurturing and emotionally supportive, creates a deep sense of belonging and acceptance. For people affected by mental illness, social connection is essential and serves as a protective factor that may reduce the severity of symptoms. That’s why it is so necessary for family members to talk up and support people showing signs of bipolar disorder. Sometimes an individual may not recognize their symptoms or realize the severity of their impairment, but a loved one can assist them recognize the impact their symptoms have on their overall health and well-being. A loved one can assist someone take step one – making a call to make an appointment or accompanying them to their first meeting. And sometimes all someone needs is a loved one to simply sit with them, literally and figuratively, and hold space – for disappointment, fear and anxiety, anger, overwhelm or grief. We don’t all the time need a fast solution or answer, but we’d like their presence and presence. As Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said, “Social connections are as essential to humanity as food, water or shelter.”