- Maribel Irungu was a beloved TikToker who was very forthright about the bipolar condition that she had been suffering from for many years
- In some instances, she shared about her treatment and many people were able to understand her journey, which included how she was being managed
- The condition has extreme mood swings and depression as some of the symptoms that people who are unwell are known to exhibit
- A tribute to Maribel Irungu reflects youth mental health struggles, urging awareness and compassionate conversations about mental health
Nairobi, Kenya: Kenyans from all walks of life are heartbroken after learning that TikToker Maribel was dead days after being hospitalised.
Source: Youtube
In many of her TikTok videos, Maribel often talked about the serious condition that she had been suffering from and revealed that she had been taking meds for over 10 years.
Formerly called manic depression, bipolar is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings and also entails emotional highs identified as mania or hypomania, and lows known as depression. Hypomania is not as extreme as mania.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, bipolar disorder is a condition that causes extreme mood swings that impact the daily life and well-being of a person.
Some of the symptoms that a person may have include anxious distress and psychosis, as well as rapid cycling, affecting individuals differently throughout their lives
What is the state of bipolar in Kenya?
According to Dove International Wellness, bipolar disorder is often mistaken for people just being moody, dramatic or simply being too emotional.
In some cases, some symptoms are interpreted through spiritual or cultural frameworks that delay access to clinical care, sometimes by years.
The consequences of that delay are not abstract. They show up in broken relationships, lost employment, repeated hospitalisations, and lives lived in unnecessary suffering.
Source: Facebook
How does one act while depressed?
When one is depressed, they may feel sad or hopeless or lose interest in most activities. When the person’s mood shifts to mania or hypomania, they may feel very excited and happy (euphoric), full of energy or unusually irritable.
The mood swings are also known to affect their sleep, energy, activity, judgment as well as their behaviour. Some people get mood swings from depression multiple times a year.
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Each bout lasts for days, and between the episodes, a patient can have emotional stability for a long time. Others may have mood swings, going from depression to mania or have the symptoms at the same time.
Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. Most healthcare professionals use meds and psychotherapy to treat bipolar disorder.
Also, bipolar symptoms may happen when you’re pregnant. Or symptoms can change with the seasons.
Source: Facebook
What did Mental health expert say?
Speaking to NGBREAKINGNEWS, Paradigm Shift’s founder said the human body is designed to operate within a certain normal range. Extremes damage the body organs and destabilise the cognitive functions, and eventually a person is not able to function properly in daily routines.
“You feel as if you have been hit by a heat wave at one moment, and the next moment you’re dumped into a deep freezer. That is how terrible the body sensations are,” he said.
“Eventually, the mental disorder wins the battle against all odds in psychiatric stabilisation meds and even the support system around. Suicidal ideation becomes very difficult to resist and eventually, bipolar disorder leads the person to the path of self-destruction,” he added.
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In the meantime, they still need support.
Maribel Irungu pens heartfelt message after death
In another story, a former classmate of Maribel’s shared a very emotional tribute after her death, describing her as a bright soul who sadly struggled, and it also reflected the growing mental health crisis among the young people.
According to the grieving friend, classmates had tried to support Maribel, but they felt overwhelmed by the situation, noting that many mental health struggles still go unnoticed until it is too late.
The tribute of the friend highlighted silent battles with depression among youth, the young people in the country at the moment.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
