What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, which is more appropriately called "Manic Depression or Manic Depressive Disorder", is a mood disorder that causes the individual to swing into periods of depression and mania.
The affected individual will swing in and out of these states, as well as experience "normal" moods states.
How often depends on the individuals cycling and environmental factors.
Mania Mania is characterized by many different symptoms displaying a variety of behaviors that can put a bipolar person at risk.
Mania also exists as a milder form known as "hypomania" where symptoms are much less intense.
Generally in mania or hypomania the individual will be in an unusually happy mood, when mania becomes to intense that person can put themselves at risk by sudden outburst of anger, attacks and high risk sexual activity.
The most common signs of mania include:
The depressed individual will feel helpless and hopeless, lack confidence and the need for sleep will increase.
Other typical signs of depression include:
It is often found that most will go right from mania to depression, or vice-versa.
Around 75% of the affected will return to a normal state immediately after.
Rapid Cycling is the term given to people whom experience four or more episodes per year.
Bipolar can also follow a seasonal pattern which has linked bipolar disorder to light sensitivity.
Treatment Biploar is often treated with drugs that work to balance the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
Medications used could typically include a combination of anti-depressant, anti-psychotic and even anti-seizure medications.
Bipolar individuals also benefit from following proper diets, avoiding stimulating substances and following a good sleeping schedule.
The affected individual will swing in and out of these states, as well as experience "normal" moods states.
How often depends on the individuals cycling and environmental factors.
Mania Mania is characterized by many different symptoms displaying a variety of behaviors that can put a bipolar person at risk.
Mania also exists as a milder form known as "hypomania" where symptoms are much less intense.
Generally in mania or hypomania the individual will be in an unusually happy mood, when mania becomes to intense that person can put themselves at risk by sudden outburst of anger, attacks and high risk sexual activity.
The most common signs of mania include:
- Increased Sexual Activity / High Risk Sex
- Unusually Happy Mood Levels
- Grandiose Attitude (full of themselves)
- Impulsive Spending / Getting into Extreme Debt
- Highly Distractable / Flight of Idea's - Jump from topic to topic
- General Abnormal Thinking
- Decreased Need / Ability to Sleep
The depressed individual will feel helpless and hopeless, lack confidence and the need for sleep will increase.
Other typical signs of depression include:
- Feelings of Suicide
- Crying Spells
- Generally Unhappy Mood
- Irritability
It is often found that most will go right from mania to depression, or vice-versa.
Around 75% of the affected will return to a normal state immediately after.
Rapid Cycling is the term given to people whom experience four or more episodes per year.
Bipolar can also follow a seasonal pattern which has linked bipolar disorder to light sensitivity.
Treatment Biploar is often treated with drugs that work to balance the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
Medications used could typically include a combination of anti-depressant, anti-psychotic and even anti-seizure medications.
Bipolar individuals also benefit from following proper diets, avoiding stimulating substances and following a good sleeping schedule.
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