Silver Linings Playbook Mental Illness

Bipolar disorder is a condition in the brain which causes unusual mood swings from extremely high energy to very depressed. In the film Silver Linings Playbook, the main character Patrick suffers from bipolar I disorder. Bipolar disorder causes a person to act recklessly, exercise poor judgment, and show a lack of self-control. He was court ordered to me committed to a mental institution to avoid jail time. This traumatic situation with his marriage ending brought to life many issues that he has probably had for a long time. The individual with this mental illness, acting agitated and angry over small issues. His family history could indicate the trend for mental illness amongst the family. In the case of Patrick, he displayed violent

behavior which he could not control and seriously hurts people around him. One night Patrick was reading the book, Farewell to Arms. However, he was disappointed of the story and throws it through a window. This is a display of his erratic behavior. He cannot stop himself from acting inappropriately. His speech is rambling and he does not express himself well at all. He is pacing and searching the house. A person having bipolar disorder, he or she can talk and ramble on and on without making any sense, and sometimes talk to themselves. In Patrick’s case, he has parents who do not understand his condition and do not know how to help him. Being home Patrick refuses to take any medication; however, it is vital to a patient understanding the serious illness condition.
Mental illness has caused Pat to be alienated from his peers and live with his parents.

Patrick does not know how to behave in social situations when he is confronted by Tiffany. He also lives in a very cluttered and messy room. This is common among those suffering from bipolar I disorder. He can’t find things in the mess and looks for them all with intensity. Patrick wakes up at all hours of the night. People suffering from bipolar disorder often have a very difficult time sleeping. He gets angry and frustrated. In this specifical case, bipolar is displayed by the way Patrick goes from normal to extremely angry in a matter of minutes. He has mood swings. The issues he gets so upset about would not have that effect on someone who in good mental health. His parents do not know how to handle it, and his Mom is even engaging in the obsessive behavior with him. The behavior of being loud and violent is a trait of bipolar disorder. Patrick disturbs the entire neighbor with his loud and uncontrolled behaviors. He also faces legal trouble for his family. Many individuals who have mental illness cause problems for their friends and family. In Silver Linings Playbook, Patrick hits his mother in the face due to his frustration. This is an example of why so many people with bipolar disorder end up in the jail system. What the patient needs is counseling and treatment. These services are not readily available to those in jails. Medications can be vital in treating mental

illness.
Trying to treat a patient like Pat can be very complicated. The goal of treating bipolar disorder is to get the patient to an emotional level at which they can function is society. There is not cut and dry standard for mental illness. For Patrick, the goals for therapy and medication could lead to more emotional stability and keep him out of the jail system. Therapy can help a patient from going to such emotional extremes. Coping tools can be taught for the patient to avoid the terrible, and scary situations that can occur. The episodes can become less frequent and less severe if a person is committed to trying calming methods and being diligent about prescription medications. Mood stabilizing drugs and therapy can often help a person who is willing to cooperate.
Anti-psychotic drugs may be prescribed to try to help a patient. The chemistry of the brain is believed to be responsible for a lot of the behavior displayed in bipolar disorder. Many of these medications help with the release of serotonin in the brain which can improve dramatic mood swings. Support of a family can really help the patient. A family or social group can be there for you when you need to talk. They can also help recognize some of the symptoms of mental illness and help the patient before the situation spirals out of control. When a patient can self-monitor the signs of an episode, the person may be able to avoid losing control. A support system can also help you stick to your medications and maintain a normal lifestyle.