Depression & Bipolar Disorder Therapy at InPsyche Journeys
What is Depression & Bipolar Disorder?
Depression
Depression is a mental health condition where feeling low, “blue” and “down in the dumps” for an extensive period of time, is a key feature.
Even then, depression is not simply about a passing mood of sadness. It is a mood-related condition which is often accompanied by changes in emotions, thoughts and also behaviours over a period of time.
Depression can occur as a result of a combination of factors which include biological (e.g. genetics), individual and environmental factors (e.g. stressful or adverse life events, one’s coping responses and one’s meaning-making of the events).
Depression is a health condition that is commonly experienced by individuals worldwide and in Singapore. In the Singapore context, the 2016 Singapore Mental Health study (2020) estimated that in any 16 people within the Singapore population, 1 of them is likely to have experienced a diagnosis of depression in their lifetime (6.3% of the population).
Bipolar Disorder
Individuals with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder experience both depressive and manic episodes, with varying patterns of occurrence between the two. Manic episodes are characterised by extremely high mood with lots of energy (e.g. excessively happy, excited or overactive), sudden shifts in mood or an excess of emotion (e.g. uncontrollable laughing or feeling much more irritable, agitated or restless than usual).
The exact causes of Bipolar Disorder are less clear. However, it has been found that Bipolar Disorder can occur as a result of biological, individual and environmental factors which include adverse life events (e.g. violence, bereavement or breakdown in relationships).
Bipolar Disorder has been estimated by the 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study to be experienced by one in every 63 people in the Singapore population within their lifetime.
Impact on Daily Living
Depression and Bipolar Disorder can affect the daily living of individuals such as carrying out basic daily activities, work, school and relationships. However, individuals with both Depression and Bipolar Disorder can benefit with treatment that can include medications and therapy.
Source:
Subramaniam, M., Abdin, E., Vaingankar, J.A., Shafie, S., Chua, B. Y., Sambasivam,R., Zhang, Y. J., Shahwan,S., Chang, S., Chua, H. C., Verma, S., James, L., Kwok, K. W., Heng, D., & Chong, S.A. (2020). Tracking the mental health of a nation: Prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in the second Singapore mental health study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000179
Common Symptoms of Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Depressive symptoms:
Listed below are common symptoms of depression. Although male and female individuals experience many common depressive symptoms, there are also differences in the way that depression is expressed between the 2 genders. Men are more likely to exhibit symptoms associated with withdrawal (keeping to self), anger, recklessness, substance use, physical symptoms (e.g headaches, stomachache) and more lethal methods of suicide.
Please note that people who experience the following depressive symptoms may or may not have a diagnosis of depression. These symptoms provide a quick summary and reference. Do consider consulting with a mental healtcare professional to get a more detailed and customised evaluation:
Changes in Thoughts & Emotions
a) Thoughts and emotions associated with
– Hopelessness,
– Worthlessness,
– Meaninglessness
b) Becomes easily irritable, angry, cries more
c) Inaccurate, unhelpful thought patterns that often take on a darker and more pessimistic outlook than reality
Cognitive Difficulties
– Hard to focus on tasks, space out more often
– Memory difficulties e.g.more forgetful
Behavioural Changes
– Withdraws or isolates from others – note: may occur more commonly in males
– Cries more often
– Self-harm behaviours (e.g. self-cutting to relieve emotional pain)
– Suicide attempts – note: more lethal methods are common amongst males (e.g. hanging, jumping off buildings, guns)
Other Changes
– Loss of appetite
– Poor sleep
– Headaches – Note: may manifest more commonly in males
– Stomachaches – may manifest more commonly in males
Manic Symptoms:
Mood Symptoms
– Significantly elevated mood (e.g. appearing extremely “high” and disproportionately happy; increased irritability)
Thoughts
– Significantly fast pace of thought processes – can appear disorganised, jumping from topic to topic to others
Behavioural Symptoms
– Talking at excessively fast speed, and/or can’t be interrupted
– May come across as exhibiting grand, invincible and even talks of supernatural powers (“grandiosity”)
– May have strong ideas or beliefs that are out of touch with reality
– Spend excessively and impulsively
– Engage in promiscuous sexual behaviours
Other Changes
– Can go with minimal sleep for extended periods of time
Depression and Bipolar Disorder: Therapy Approaches I Draw From
No two individuals with Depression or Bipolar disorder are the same. As with all clients, I work with the client to get an idea of the contributing factors behind their conditions. Developing strategies and interventions takes into account what the specific client needs at that point of time in session or at that juncture of their daily lives. For example, one client may require more help to make meaning of their conditions while another individual may be more ready to work on addressing their mood symptoms and build up a daily schedule and yet another needs help to work through the difficult emotions brought on by Depression or Bipolar disorder.
I create a space in the therapy session to hold and support the clients through listening non-judgementally. Sometimes, sitting with silence and giving full attention to the client at the present moment are important in each session. I then draw on specific therapeutic approaches as tools that supplement the conversation and provide the tools or framework to further work on the issues at hand.
Some of the common therapeutic approaches that I draw based on specific clients’ needs include Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness-based interventions, Sandwork & Symbol Work and Schema Therapy.
