Bipolar
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.
Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.
Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).
Source: Mayo Clinic
Types of Bipolar
Bipolar (Manic Depression)
Bipolar in Children & Teens
Symptoms
- Depressive Symptoms: Feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, and low self-esteem. Restlessness, irritability. An inability to feel anything at all. Loss of physical energy. Increase or decrease in weight, appetite, and sleep. Thinking or memory impairment. Thoughts of death, suicide or hurting oneself.
- Symptoms of Mania: Decrease needs for sleep. Increase in spending habits and sexual drive. Excessive energy/agitation. Feelings of grandiosity/inflated self-esteem. Poor judgment. Racing thoughts, flight of ideas. Excessive interest of activities. Rapid, unpredictable emotional changes. Extremely talkative/pressured speech. Extreme irritability. Overreaction to stimuli. Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Individuals may experience variations in symptoms and severity.
Risk Factors
- Bipolar Disorder affects approximately 2-2.2% in Canada.
- Although a single cause has not been identified, it is known that many factors, including biochemical, genetic and environment play a part in this illness.
- There is growing evidence that heredity is involved, especially in the more recurrent forms of the disorder.
Treatment
Bipolar Disorder is usually treated by a variety of medications, together with supportive psychotherapy. The most common medications are mood stabilizers such as Lithium Carbonate, Tegretol, and Valproic Acid. Medications prescribed for this disorder may also include anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-anxiety agents.Since bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, often with widely separated episodes over many years, you may have to take medications for long periods of time.
Symptoms
- An expansive or irritable mood
- Depression
- Rapidly changing moods lasting a few hours to a few days
- Explosive, lengthy, and often destructive rages
- Separation anxiety
- Defiance of authority
- Hyperactivity, agitation, distractibility
- Sleeping little or, alternatively, sleeping too much
- Bed-wetting and night terrors
- Strong and frequent cravings, often for carbohydrates and sweets
- Excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities
- Impaired judgment, impulsivity, racing thoughts, pressure to keep talking
- Dare-devil behaviors
- Inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Grandiose belief in own abilities that defy the laws of logic (Ability to fly, for example)
Individuals may experience variations in symptoms and severity.
Risk Factors
- The illness tends to be highly genetic, but there are clearly environmental factors that influence whether the illness will occur in a particular child. Bipolar disorder can skip generations and take different forms in different individuals.
- For the general population, a conservative estimate of an individual's risk of having full-blown bipolar disorder is 1 percent. Disorders in the bipolar spectrum may affect 4 - 6 %.
- When one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk to each child is 15 to 30%. When both parents have bipolar disorder, the risk increases to 50 to 75%. The risk in siblings and fraternal twins is 15 to 25%.
- The risk in identical twins is approximately 70%.
Treatment
If possible, have a board-certified child psychiatrist diagnose and treat your child. Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, in most cases treatment can stabilize mood and allow for management and control of symptoms. A good treatment plan includes medication, close monitoring of symptoms, education about the illness, counseling, or psychotherapy for the individual and family, stress reduction, good nutrition, regular sleep and exercise, and participation in a network of support. The response to medications and treatment varies. The good news is that with appropriate treatment and support at home and at school, many children with bipolar disorder achieve a marked reduction in the severity, frequency, and duration of episodes of illness.
Men’s Peer Support Group
Women’s Peer Support
Friends and Family Support Group
Youth Peer Support
Senior’s Tea & Tales – Winnipeg
Mixed Coffee and Chat
Mixed Bipolar
Mixed Depression & Anxiety
Wellness Peer Support Group – Westman
Soul Sisters
Brandon Men’s Activity Club
Bipolar Peer Support Group
Tea & Tales – Selkirk
Young Adult Peer Support Group
Men’s Peer Support Group
Book Club
Game Night
Lac du Bonnet – Tea & Tales
Join us every week for a confidential and safe place to talk.
This is an open group for anyone who identifies as a man,18+ living in Manitoba.
IN PERSON
Mondays
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Facilitator: Matthew C., Shawn D., and Daniel
These in-person and online groups for women welcome open, honest and heartfelt connections and conversations. We aim to provide coping techniques, and support for women struggling with their mental health.
*PLEASE NOTE*
The Women’s Peer Support Group scheduled for this evening has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
IN PERSON
Thursdays
6:45 pm to 7:45 pm
Facilitator: Katherine, Alexandria, Sara S. Karly M. and Melanie
This group offers support to friends and family to help them deal with mood disorders diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support and connection.
This online group offers a safe space for youth under 17 years of age where they can come together and chat about their own mental health and seek help for any mood disorders they might be dealing with.
Location: Our office at 100-4 Fort Street, Winnipeg.
Please note: This group is on hold until further notice.
IN PERSON
Thursdays
On Hold
Facilitator: Kennedy
Our Seniors Tea & Tales is all about coming together for an afternoon tea or coffee to share experiences and discuss a variety of topics about mental health, or simply to connect with other people in a similar age group!
Location: Our office at 100-4 Fort Street, Winnipeg.
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Pam H. & Barb F.
This in-person group is offered to all in community and their families. We provide an educational component along with resources in each group.
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Facilitator: Matt
This in-person group is for anyone who is suffering from bipolar diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes them to experience support, conversations and connection.
IN PERSON
Tuesdays
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Facilitator: Marie S. & Richard
This is an in-person group for anyone struggling with depression or anxiety diagnosed or undiagnosed. We welcome you to experience connection and conversation along with support and resources to help you heal.
IN PERSON
Thursdays
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Facilitator: Jezz
This is an online mixed group that focuses on wellness topics, addressing all mood disorders, diagnosed or undiagnosed and welcomes everyone to experience an evening of support and connection.
Please note: There is no charge for this group and we do not meet on statutory holidays. This group meets next on April 15 & 29, 2024.
To join the group and receive the Zoom link or for more information, please contact adassist@moodmb.ca or call/text our Brandon office at (204) 721-2174.
ONLINE
Mondays
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
A community of women who care about each other and who welcome open, honest, heartfelt connections and conversations. Come join a sacred space of nonjudgmental & confidential sharing.
Please note: There is no charge for this group and we do not meet on statutory holidays.
To join the group and receive the Zoom link or for more information, please contact adassist@moodmb.ca or call/text our Brandon office at (204) 721-2174.
ONLINE
Wednesdays
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Facilitator: Susan
This group is aimed primarily at men 40+ but those younger are welcome as well. The group fosters socialization and connection amongst men in a workshop setting. This group does not meet on statutory holidays. (No charge for this group.)
To receive the link to this group or for further information, please contact Marian at westman@moodmb.ca or at 204-721-2174
IN PERSON
Wednesdays
12:30 to 2:00 pm
Facilitator: In person at the BNRC Creation Nation Maker Space in Brandon, Manitoba
Join an online meeting of local peers living with bipolar disorder, diagnosed or undiagnosed for an evening of conversation, support and connection.
Please note: There is no charge for this group and we do not meet on statutory holidays. This group meets bi-weekly and will meet next on April 11 & 25, 2024.
To join the group and receive the Zoom link or for more information, please contact adassist@moodmb.ca or call/text our Brandon office at (204) 721-2174
ONLINE
Thursdays
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Our Seniors Tea & Tales is all about coming together for an afternoon tea or coffee to share experiences and discuss a variety of topics about mental health, or simply to connect with other people in a similar age group!
Location: The Gordon Howard Centre, 384 Eveline St., Selkirk, MB. This group meets every Thursday.
No registration required.
IN PERSON
Every Thursday
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Facilitator: Susan
Join us every Thursday evening from 5:00 – 6:00 pm for a confidential and safe place to talk. This is an open group for 18+ living in Manitoba.
Please note: this group is on hold until further notice.
Join us every week for a confidential and safe place to talk.
This is an open group for anyone who identifies as a man,18+ living in Manitoba.
IN PERSON
Monday's
5:30 - 6:30 pm at 4 Fort Street
Facilitator: Matthew C., Shawn D., and Daniel
Operating as a partnership between MDAM and the MHERC Library, the MDAM book club meets in person in our Winnipeg office every Wednesday from 6 – 7:00 pm in the MHERC Library. The third session of the book club kicks off on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 with “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. The book will be loaned to you through the MHERC library and is to be returned at the end. There is a small $10 fee payable at the start which helps to cover the cost of the workbook. To register, email Pam at mixedprogram@moodmb.ca.
IN PERSON
January 24, 2024
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Facilitator: Pamela H. & Sarah V. (MHERC)
✨ Dive into the magic of Friday nights at MDAM – it’s Game Night! 🎲🌙
Every Friday night, MDAM opens its doors at 6:00 pm at 100-4 Fort Street in Winnipeg for a good old-fashioned games night. 🕹️🎉
Game play kicks off at 6:30 pm, carrying the excitement through until 10:00 pm. Bring along a buddy or make some new friends as we gather to play an array of games – dice, cards, and board games galore!
But here’s the deal: At MDAM, we’re all about good vibes and creating a safe and enjoyable space for everyone. Unsportsmanlike conduct or a negative attitude won’t fly here. If such behavior is observed, we’ll kindly ask you to leave. So bring your best attitude, a zest for fun, and let’s create unforgettable moments together! 😄🌈 Join us for a night of games, giggles, and good times! 🎲🌟
Thank you to Across the Board, Victory Pints and Toad Hall Toys for their generous donation of board games. Big thank you also to our members who have donated games – Stephanie, Penny and Shawn.
**PLEASE NOTE: Game night will not take place on Friday, March 29th as our office is closed for Good Friday.**
IN PERSON
Friday Nights
Doors open 6:00 pm, Game play 6:30 - 10:00 pm
Facilitator: Pamela H.
Our Seniors Tea & Tales is all about coming together for an afternoon tea or coffee to share experiences and discuss a variety of topics about mental health, or simply to connect with other people in a similar age group!
This is a new group in the Lac du Bonnet area that is starting up on March 4, 2024. The group will meet the second Monday of each month.
Location: The Lutheran Church of the Cross, 253 McArthur Avenue, Lac du Bonnet.
No registration required.
IN PERSON
Second Monday of the Month
1:30 - 3:00 pm
Facilitator: Bianca Tetrault