Bipolar Disorder Conceptualization Paper

Conceptualization Paper: Bipolar Disorder

Mental illness is a common occurrence among people in today’s society. Mental illness does not discriminate. People of all shapes and sizes, race, age, social standing, and socioeconomic status can be diagnosed with a mental illness. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, “1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition every year. Also, 1 in 20 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. About 50% of individuals experience the onset of mental illness between the ages of 14-15, and is developed by the age of 24” (Bipolar).

Kay Redfield Jamison wrote an autobiography, An Unquiet Mind. In her autobiography she speaks of her own battle, being diagnosed with mental illness, manic depressive (Bipolar).

Summary of autobiography

Kay Redfield Jamison describes herself as a typical child growing up on the east coast. She was the youngest child of three children. She had an older brother and sister. Her father was in the military so they moved frequently. As a child in a military family having to move often, they also had to change schools as

She started her journey into the field of medicine by becoming a candy striper (volunteer) at a psychiatric hospital. Jamison describes what she had observed as being, “fascinating, scary, terror, and sadness” (Jamison, 1996). Little did she know that this early experience into the world of mental illness would soon plague her. Jamison started her schooling at the University of California studying medicine at first, then switched to study psychology. During her student years at the University of California and eventually becoming part of the faculty there she would embark on her journey of understanding her mental illness while helping others who are experiencing mental illness as well. With the help of a few fellow colleagues Jamison stops ignoring her own mental illness and seeks