| Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that | | | | |
| can result in self-mutilation or self-injury. | | | | Another way to punish one self is by wearing |
| The mere thought is alarming enough but the | | | | inappropriate clothing for a particular |
| reality is even more so since this disease | | | | season or climate. One reason why a patient |
| can result in suicide. | | | | wears thick clothing during warm weather is |
| | | | to conceal an object or possible even just |
| Since bipolar disorder affects the normal | | | | themselves, shielding them from the world. |
| functions of the brain, the patient can | | | | |
| perform uncontrollable acts that are often | | | | Body Piercing & Tattoos |
| considered as unhealthy or even fatal. This | | | | |
| is due to the episodes of mania and | | | | In some cultures, piercing and tattooing are |
| depression which can lead the patient to | | | | forms of spiritual conversion. Other people |
| react strongly over the simplest of things. | | | | on the other hand consider these acts as |
| | | | self-expression. While these reasons are |
| Sadness that is caused by disappointments can | | | | widely acceptable to many, piercing and |
| lead to self-mutilation. A patient that feels | | | | tattooing can still be considered as ways of |
| guilt over something can cause him or her to | | | | injuring one's self. Sometimes, these |
| blame themselves. This often leads to | | | | self-mutilations (others call it |
| self-punishment that usually comes in the | | | | transformation) become so addictive and so |
| form of self-injury. | | | | uncontrollable that they become two entirely |
| | | | different problems. |
| Here are some of the most common acts of | | | | |
| self-injury related to bipolar disorder: | | | | Reenactment of a Previously Painful |
| | | | Experience |
| Cutting of the Sufferer's Own Skin | | | | |
| | | | A patient with one or more painful |
| This often happens in an episode of severe | | | | experiences of abuse who is suffering from |
| depression, and there are many reasons why | | | | bipolar disorder can reenact those times if |
| the patient does this. One is the feeling of | | | | they remain unprocessed or untreated. There |
| guilt over a certain event that happened | | | | are two possible reasons why a person does |
| recently or even years back. A breakup with a | | | | this: one is to let others know that they are |
| boyfriend or a girlfriend perhaps, or, if the | | | | still hurting, and the other is to let him or |
| stress is so intense then the person's only | | | | her experience the pain all over again as a |
| resort is to divert it into physical pain. | | | | gesture of guilt and unforgiveness. |
| Another reason could be for mere pleasure. | | | | |
| The episode of mania causes the patient to | | | | As was mentioned earlier, these acts are |
| have excessive energy and forcing it out | | | | clear manifestations of the intention to harm |
| through self-injury is one way to prove it. | | | | and can lead to suicide. Recognizing these |
| | | | acts, therefore, can save the patient's life. |
| Meanwhile, cutting can also be recognized as | | | | If you know someone who is depressed and does |
| a plea for help. Since a patient with bipolar | | | | this, carefully approach the patient and |
| disorder is often neglected and left | | | | suggest that he or she should consult a |
| unnoticed, he or she creates a venue where | | | | psychiatrist. If in case you are the one who |
| other people can notice him or her, this time | | | | is practicing these acts, recognize your |
| through self-injury. | | | | condition and seek psychological treatment |
| | | | immediately. |
| Inappropriate Clothing | | | | |