Bipolar Disorder

General Information on Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mood disorder. In bipolar disorder the typical mood swings that people experience everyday are intensified in people with this disorder. Those that have bipolar disorder experience moods of depression alternating with moods of mania or happiness. Some people with bipolar disorder experience depressive-manic cycles once every few months or weeks while others experience depressive-manic cycles a few times per day. Bipolar disorder is equally affects men and women and is more common in people of socioeconomic classes in their teenage years to their thirties. Men that have bipolar disorder have a higher tendency of experiencing symptoms of mania and women that have bipolar disorder have a higher tendency of experiencing symptoms of depression. Severe depression can be life-threatening making those suffering suicidal or homicidal. Severe mania can lead to aggressive behavior, homicidal behavior, or risk-taking behavior. The symptoms of both depression and mania can occur together. This is known as a mixed state. Due to the mood alternating behaviors, it is important that those with bipolar disorder be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Many people, with bipolar disorder that go without treatment, end up trying to self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol. Bipolar disorder is thought to be hereditary, but the genetic defect that causes bipolar disorder is not known. There are different forms of bipolar disorder. There is bipolar I disorder which is the most severe form where depression episodes alternate with severe mania episodes. There is bipolar II disorder which is less severe form where there is a short depression episode that alternates with a hypomania episode. Then there is cyclothymic disorder which is the least form of bipolar disorder where the episodes of depression and mania are far less severe and cycle through very quickly, but cyclothymic disorder does often evolve into a more severe form of bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder when a person is in an episode of depression may be:

Sadness and crying spells
Change in sleeping patterns
Difficulty thinking
Forgetfulness
Sudden lack of interest in their own hobbies
Chronic pain with no general cause
Poor hygiene
Change in appetite
Social withdrawal
Suicidal thoughts
Suicidal acts
Homicidal thoughts
Homicidal acts
Feelings of worthlessness and helplessness

Some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder when a person is in an episode of mania may be:

Irritability
Lack of judgment
Increase of activities
Higher self-esteem
Less need for sleep
Racing thoughts
Rapid pressured speech
Delusions
Hallucinations
Full of energy
Unrealistic plans

Treatments For Bipolar Disorder

The treatment for bipolar disorder is complicated. Antidepressants may be used, but if so, only for a short while due to the fact that it can cause a rapid swing to a hypomania state. When antidepressants are prescribed, mood stabilizing drugs, such as lithium, are usually also surprised. Mood stabilizing drugs have no effect on a normal mood, but they do reduce mood swings. There are new advancements in the treatment for bipolar disorder. More recently anticonvulsant lamotrigine has been used to treat bipolar disorder. This medication eliminates the need to used antidepressants. Psychotherapy is also highly recommended for those with bipolar disorder; especially when taking mood stabilizing medications. Phototherapy can also be used to treat bipolar disorder in the milder forms; especially for those whose mood swings change with the seasons. There are also group therapies available for the families of people with bipolar disorder to help them better understand the illness and how to work with it.

Personal Experience

Bipolar Disorder - personal experiences