The day included a presentation by Dr Sheldon Zilesnick, and sufferers gave the audience important information about the symptoms and struggles regarding the disorders.
Dr Sheldon Zilesnick, a psychiatrist specialising in mental illnesses in adults, said that bipolar disorder is a complex condition which is characterised by fluctuating patterns in mood between highs and lows.
Zilesnick gave a comprehensive presentation marking the differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II, the latter’s relation to Borderline Personality Disorder, and the intricate process of diagnosis. Bipolar I primarily involves substantial periods of mania within a patient, which can be described as high moods characterised by grandiose elusions, hyperactivity, psychosis and racing thoughts, while Bipolar II involves a milder form of mania known as hypomania which often ends in severe periods of depression.
The stories of two bipolar disorder sufferers, Kgotso Molefe and Stacy Lee, were shared at the event to give all in attendance a clear picture of their struggles with the illness. Molefe said that his illness was spurred on from the stress of his final university exams and family troubles which had been plaguing him. After his diagnosis and with the support of his family and friends he was able to manage his disorder and he is now studying psychology, which has given him a deeper understanding of mental illness.
Stacy Lee was a young law student who had just finished her articles but who suffered violent outbursts, many of which led to run-ins with the law. But after her diagnosis she learnt how to control her emotions and now she works for a service provider.
