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