Today is the premiere of the Swedish documentary film, "Having a good quality of life with bipolar disorder". It’ss a documentary that shows it’s possible for people suffering from bipolar disorder to feel good and improve their quality of life, despite their constant emotional roller-coasters.
The illness is common, but a lot of people are not diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life, after many years of suffering for the person in question, as well as for his or her families and friends. There is a great need to disseminate adequate information about bipolar disorder, in healthcare but also in society. There is help available.
The documentary, “Having a good quality of life with bipolar disorder”, is based on stories from participants in the film with different bipolar disorders. Common to them all is that it took a long time before they received the right diagnosis and treatment for the illness, despite contact with doctors and psychologists.
Isabelle is a youth who used to suffer from severe depression and attempted suicide, but she finally got the right diagnosis and prescriptions and ultimately recovered.
Andreas spent many years in therapy, but never got the right diagnosis. He tried various different antidepressants but his condition only worsened. After 20 years and several hypomanic episodes and severe depressions, he finally got the right diagnosis and mood stabilizing medication.
Lena works as a district medical officer and has been healthy since 2003. Lena struggled for many years with her illness and received improper treatment. She was involuntarily admitted to hospital several times and those experiences scarred her for life.
Raffaella is a researcher and switches quickly between bipolar states. Raffaella wants to be up front about her illness and thereby create understanding and defuse stigma. She has a crisis plan for how those around her should act when she gets a relapse.
One of the leading specialists on bipolar disorder in Sweden, Dr Lars Häggström, helps to explain the causes of the illness and what you can do to stay healthy and have a good quality of life even if you suffer from bipolar disorder.
The illness is common, but a lot of people are not diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life, after many years of suffering for the person in question, as well as for his or her families and friends. There is a great need to disseminate adequate information about bipolar disorder, in healthcare but also in society. There is help available.
The documentary, “Having a good quality of life with bipolar disorder”, is based on stories from participants in the film with different bipolar disorders. Common to them all is that it took a long time before they received the right diagnosis and treatment for the illness, despite contact with doctors and psychologists.
Isabelle is a youth who used to suffer from severe depression and attempted suicide, but she finally got the right diagnosis and prescriptions and ultimately recovered.
Andreas spent many years in therapy, but never got the right diagnosis. He tried various different antidepressants but his condition only worsened. After 20 years and several hypomanic episodes and severe depressions, he finally got the right diagnosis and mood stabilizing medication.
Lena works as a district medical officer and has been healthy since 2003. Lena struggled for many years with her illness and received improper treatment. She was involuntarily admitted to hospital several times and those experiences scarred her for life.
Raffaella is a researcher and switches quickly between bipolar states. Raffaella wants to be up front about her illness and thereby create understanding and defuse stigma. She has a crisis plan for how those around her should act when she gets a relapse.
One of the leading specialists on bipolar disorder in Sweden, Dr Lars Häggström, helps to explain the causes of the illness and what you can do to stay healthy and have a good quality of life even if you suffer from bipolar disorder.
The program is 25 minutes long.
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| Andreas takes a moment of thinking |