Do mental health stigmas exist? How might stigmas affect patient diagnosis and treatment?

Someone with bipolar disorder can have feelings of hopelessness and lose all interest in activities. During a mood shift to mania, a person can feel extreme happiness and full of energy. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary depending on the type of bipolar disorder a person has been diagnosed with, for example, people diagnosed with bipolar disorder I have had at least one manic episode followed by or preceded by a depressive episode while someone with bipolar disorder II will have had a depressive episode by not experienced a manic episode. Biological issues with this disorder can be a change in brain chemistry which leads to the hypomania or full mania episodes including: being abnormally upbeat, increased activity or agitation, euphoria, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility and poor decision-making (for example buying sprees or taking sexual risks). These brain chemistry changes also lead to episodes of depression during which a patient may exhibit: depressed mood, loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in almost all activities, significant weight fluctuation due to either decreased or increased appetite, insomnia or sleeping too much, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive/inappropriate guilt, indecisiveness and in severe cases even planning or attempting suicide. Risk factors include being a child from a parent who has the same disorder, experiencing a significant traumatic event or drug/alcohol abuse. If left untreated, the condition can cause financial issues as well as work and school deficiencies. Other issues that can be seen are dependencies’ such as drugs and alcohol along with physical issues. Treatment options include medications (starting with mood stabilizers, to which antipsychotics, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may be added), day treatment programs to provide support and counseling, sometimes substance abuse treatment may be required and the most extreme treatments could include hospitalization or electroconvulsive (ECT) therapy. For your reply post, consider and address the following questions: Do you notice similarities among any of the conditions your classmates have discussed? If so, which ones? Do mental health stigmas exist? How might stigmas affect patient diagnosis and treatment?