EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH
The experiential approach focuses on the lived experiences of those who have bipolar disorder. It provides a more personal take on an illness which allows for individuals without bipolar disorder to understand and be able to better sympathize with those who have bipolar disorder. Additionally, since this approach focuses on these lived experiences, it is important to see how these lived experiences may be shared and passed on among the bipolar community. Especially with the advent of the internet, it would be easier to share tips and give advice with each other not only on how to deal with their bipolar disorders but also on which treatments were better or how to effectively share their problems to their health-care providers. The experiential approach can also be referred to as illness narratives. The image to the left is an example of an illness narrative, in the form of a comic (Fies).
|
Illness narratives follow a typical structure: the abstract, where we get an overview of the narrative; the orientation, where we get information about the time frame, the place, the persons involved, and the nature of the situation; the complicating action, where there is a change of direction in the anticipated sequence; the evaluation, where there is articulation regarding the meaning of the unfolding events; the result or resolution, which brings the temporal sequence of events to a close; and finally the coda, which bridges it all back to the present situation (Karim, Lecture 4.2).
There are three types of illness narratives: restitution narrative, chaos narrative, and quest narrative. The restitution narrative's main focus is on curing oneself. This type of narrative is more common-place with temporary illnesses like having a broken bone, for instance. The chaos narrative is more disjointed and emphasizes a lot of the suffering felt by the individual. This type of narrative often comes up with chronic or degenerative conditions. The quest narrative views illness as a journey ergo it places a lot of focus on improving oneself and becoming more understanding of what they are going through. There is more emphasis on the emotional and spiritual aspects of their health over the physical aspects (Karim, Lecture 4.2).
To give you more insight into illness narratives and their importance, below is a YouTube video of Erin (also known as HappiLeeErin), an individual with bipolar disorder. This video shows both a chaos and a quest narrative. If the video below is not working, click here to watch it directly on YouTube.
There are three types of illness narratives: restitution narrative, chaos narrative, and quest narrative. The restitution narrative's main focus is on curing oneself. This type of narrative is more common-place with temporary illnesses like having a broken bone, for instance. The chaos narrative is more disjointed and emphasizes a lot of the suffering felt by the individual. This type of narrative often comes up with chronic or degenerative conditions. The quest narrative views illness as a journey ergo it places a lot of focus on improving oneself and becoming more understanding of what they are going through. There is more emphasis on the emotional and spiritual aspects of their health over the physical aspects (Karim, Lecture 4.2).
To give you more insight into illness narratives and their importance, below is a YouTube video of Erin (also known as HappiLeeErin), an individual with bipolar disorder. This video shows both a chaos and a quest narrative. If the video below is not working, click here to watch it directly on YouTube.
MEET ERIN
Erin was diagnosed with Bipolar I in 2010, when she was 20 years old. Prior to her diagnosis, she had severe manic episodes – having Bipolar I means having manic episodes. With the manic episodes, she was irritable, easily frustrated, had impulsive behavior, racing thoughts, and racing speech. When she saw her psychiatrist in 2010, she was given some medication to treat her bipolar disorder. She did not like it. It didn't make her feel good, caused her to gain weight and have more acne breakouts so she stopped taking it. Soon after, David. her partner, and her moved out to LA which resulted in her bipolar disorder being put in the backseat. She was also in denial and wanted to ignore it, hoping it would just go away. It wasn't until Fall 2012 that she decided to see a therapist, whom she really likes. However, although her therapist wanted Erin to see a psychiatrist, Erin wasn't going to. Unfortunately, even though she was seeing a therapist, Erin’s episodes were worsening. Around December 2012 to January 2013, she began to have auditory hallucinations, a condition that is more commonly associated with those who have schizophrenia.
Those with bipolar disorder get auditory hallucinations if their condition has gone untreated for a long period of time. Her auditory hallucinations wasn't just her thought process, it was a distinct voice in her head. All she would hear was constant screaming and shrieking. It was as if someone was on her shoulder, screaming into her ears. It exacerbated her already-present agitation and frustration. When she had mixed episodes – which is where she would experience symptoms of mania and depression – she would have the racing thoughts, speech and impulsive behavior combined with suicidal thoughts. Constantly hearing a voice that, although screaming, is logically and soundly telling her that she should commit suicide did bring her close. She says that she never experienced the euphoria of bipolar disorder. At work, it would take all of her willpower not to yell at people or hurt somebody; she felt out of control. She refused to let it out at work because she didn't want to hurt anybody so she managed to keep it in until she got home, where she could hurt herself. She would get incredibly mad at herself and hate herself because she was always so angry and frustrated. She would also do anything to stop the incessant screaming, so she would hit her head on the walls, would pull her hair, cover her ears, smack herself. Some days, she would be in the closet trying to block it all out or on the floor, clutching her fists so she wouldn't scratch herself, punch the walls, pull her hair, slap herself, or grab a knife; she felt possessed.
The turning point happened in January 2013. After a weekend of severe manic episodes that left her sleep deprived, she stayed home from work. Her partner, David, was at chatting with her on Google Chat while at his work. While she was at home, her gardener came to the door which resulted in her dogs barking loudly. Additionally, the gardener began mowing, which also created loud sounds. This triggered her bipolar disorder. Her chat with her husband started to not make sense; though hard to understand, they were essentially cries for help. David came home early from work to help her and told her that if she did not call a psychiatrist, he was going to. She did. The psychiatrist was so concerned with what Erin was telling them that they decided to see Erin on their day off. Ever since, Erin’s been taking medication – it’s been about 6 months at the time of this video. She’s changed her lifestyle, and learned not to judge herself for her feelings; she feels more like herself. Erin has also come to terms with the fact that since bipolar disorder can’t be cured, she will have to live with for the rest of her life. She is incredibly grateful for her family and friends as they supported her and refused to see her as her illness. For her, medication, having someone to talk to, and therapy has helped her a lot. She ends the video on a positive note: it will get better.
|
DECONSTRUCTING THE ILLNESS NARRATIVE
Erin's illness narrative was a combination of both chaos and quest. As we watch the video, she discusses the burdens she had to carry because of her bipolar disorder. With great pain, she informs us all the symptoms she had: the constant screaming, the suicidal thoughts, the self-hatred, the irritability, the frustration, the racing thoughts and speech, etc. This fits the chaos narrative as she is informing us of all the suffering she has undergone, As she told us this part of her story, it was disjointed and you could see the frustration she felt. However, the narrative also becomes a quest narrative because it shows how she ultimately got treatment and is in a better place in her life with regards to bipolar disorder. Her decision to share her story on YouTube, a public platform, for others to understand what she has been going through as well as let others with bipolar disorder know that they are not alone was very brave. Her video has amassed almost 130,000 views so far and has over 2,000 comments thanking her for sharing her story. To the left are some of the comments she has received (HappiLeeErin).
As you can see, the experiential approach is quite necessary and important; it provides the lived experiences that are so often ignored. Sharing the lived experiences of those with bipolar disorder sheds light on the suffering which could lead to its de-stigmatization as well as help others with bipolar disorder feel less isolated.
As you can see, the experiential approach is quite necessary and important; it provides the lived experiences that are so often ignored. Sharing the lived experiences of those with bipolar disorder sheds light on the suffering which could lead to its de-stigmatization as well as help others with bipolar disorder feel less isolated.
Next is the Critical Approach! To learn more about it, click here.
REFERENCE(S)
Fies, Brian. Mom's Cancer. Digital image. Mom's Cancer. Web. Aug. 2014.
HappiLeeErin. "My Struggle with Bipolar Disorder." YouTube. HappiLeeErin, 9 June 2013. Web. Aug. 2014.
Karim, Tazin. "Week 4, Lecture 2: Illness Narratives." ANP 204. Lecture Notes. Aug. 2014.
Screaming Woman Image and Black and White Comforting Women Image from Getty Images
Fies, Brian. Mom's Cancer. Digital image. Mom's Cancer. Web. Aug. 2014.
HappiLeeErin. "My Struggle with Bipolar Disorder." YouTube. HappiLeeErin, 9 June 2013. Web. Aug. 2014.
Karim, Tazin. "Week 4, Lecture 2: Illness Narratives." ANP 204. Lecture Notes. Aug. 2014.
Screaming Woman Image and Black and White Comforting Women Image from Getty Images