Vidhu Vinod Chopra opens up about daughter Ishaa’s battle with bipolar disorder: ‘My job was to take on her stress’

Bollywood director and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently opened up about his daughter Ishaa’s bipolar disorder diagnosis, following the release of her memoir Finding Order in Disorder. The book records her experiences of battling the disorder.

In a candid interview with Times of India, Chopra said that when he first learned of his daughter’s diagnosis, he was “in shock”. He also said that their family doctor played a huge role in supporting Ishaa.

“My job was to take on her stress. That’s the first thing a caretaker should do,” Chopra said.

What exactly is bipolar disorder, and how can parents navigate the challenges if their children get diagnosed with it? indianexpress.com spoke to mental health experts and found out.

What is Bipolar Disorder (BPD)?

“Bipolar disorder is a kind of mood disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings,” said Dr Preeti Singh, chief medical officer and senior consultant, clinical psychology at Lissun.

Singh explained the main two types of the disorder. Bipolar I disorder is characterised by a bout of mania –– hyperactivity, irritability and over-socialising to identify. This can last a week and if symptoms are severe, may need hospitalisation.

Bipolar II disorder is where the person feels very low and is characterised by borderline depressive symptoms –– loss of appetite and interest in doing routine and social activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy.

Singh also said that in a lot of cases, people become overly spiritual and religious, to an extent that it begins to impact their daily routine.

According to her, having a healthy environment and robust support system can help treat the disorder. Getting help as soon as possible would ensure there’s less delay in starting medication.

Shruti Padhye, senior psychologist at Mpower, said that diagnosing BPD in children is tougher since they are unaware and oblivious of what happens to them. Adults develop coping mechanisms by the time of diagnosis, but children are left to fend off for themselves while experiencing such contrasting symptoms.

Talking with a therapist can help you change the negative thoughts that often come with grief, like blaming yourself or feeling guilty. (Source: Freepik)

“There are several misconceptions associated with this disorder; some say BPD is untreatable, and that is not true. With professional counselling and medication, you can treat this disorder,” said Padhye.

Talking with a therapist can help you change the negative thoughts that often come with grief, like blaming yourself or feeling guilty. (Source: Freepik)

She also said that people are often labelled as attention seekers or lazy and unmotivated. And in rare cases, they get misdiagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder instead of Bipolar Disorder.

What can parents do to help their children diagnosed with BPD?

According to Padhye, it is important for parents to be aware of what is going on with their child, and it is important to keep an eye on whether they are feeling too lazy or hyper for a long period of time. Parents must create a healthy and supportive environment at home, and try to avoid any stressors for their child as it might trigger a manic episode.

Both the psychologists stressed on the importance of seeking professional help from a therapist or a psychiatrist for further guidance and treatment. It is also necessary to educate oneself about the disorder and have an open conversation with family members and friends to normalise and destigmatise the condition.

*DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.*

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