What is Bipolar Disorder?
Understanding bipolar disorder, what it is and what causes it, is all very important. Whether you or someone you know is suffering from this condition, you need to be aware that it is a very serious one and that anyone who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder needs to get treatment for it immediately. If left untreated, the person can end up severely depressed, manic, and even suicidal.
Bipolar disorder is a very serious and common health condition. Sure, we all experience mood swings from one time to another in our lives, but there are situations where the person is dealing with super highs and lows, and this is not normal.
Severe or prolonged depression is one of the main signs of bipolar disorder, and this affects a person’s emotions but as well their physical health, relationships and behavior. Because it can be so devastating to one’s life, they often begin to feel overwhelmed and completely alone.
There are different types of bipolar disorder that a person can be diagnosed with, and even children can be diagnosed with this condition.
There are symptoms of this condition such as feelings of euphoria and exaggerated self esteem, followed by rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, extreme irritability, and impulsive and reckless behavior.
If you ever notice that you are exhibiting any of these sorts of characteristics, chances are that you have bipolar disorder and you are going to have to get immediately in to see your doctor. They are going to take a few tests and ask you a few questions along with it, to ensure a proper diagnosis.
Once diagnosis has been made, they will be able to work with you on finding a treatment and make sure that they are choosing the one that is going to offer you the best success.
Of course the most important topic of all here is on bipolar disorder treatment, how to get help for your condition and get yourself feeling better. Well fortunately there are a few different options that are presently available for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Medication is usually the first step, but can only be successful if used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle changes and other treatments.
If you have bipolar disorder, just make sure that you stay positive and know that there are ways to get help, things that you can do to get your condition under control and get yourself feeling better as soon as possible.
How To Recognize The Signs Of Bipolar Depression
Most of us experience days when we feel on top of the world and other times when nothing seems right. However, for a person with bipolar depression these high and low points are far more extreme. It is estimated that three percent of adults in the United States are suffering from bipolar depression and many of these people do not even realize they have it. Of all mental illnesses bipolar manic depression comes with the highest risk of suicide and the disease tends to get worse if left untreated. Therefore it is very important that we are all able to recognize the symptoms of this mental illness.
The Symptoms
The main symptoms of bipolar depression are episodes of mania, episodes of depression and periods that are a mixture of the two. These episodes are not fleeting and could last for weeks or even months. The first episodes usually occur at some point during adolescence but often go untreated when parents mistake the symptoms as being typical teenaged bad behavior. Parents who see their adolescent child behave in a way that is extreme or very strange should seek professional evaluation for their son or daughter.
Manic episodes of bipolar depression are characterized by a feeling of extreme optimism and jubilation or irritability. A person with mania might not sleep but will still be full of energy. They may engage in extreme behaviors such as stealing, gambling, being sexually promiscuous or running up debts without thinking about the moral implications or consequences of their actions.
In extreme cases a person going through a manic phase may experience hallucinations that cause them to see or hear things which are not really there or delusions of grandeur in which they see themselves as being special and in some way superior to those around them. Many manic depressives find these periods of mania enjoyable. What’s more many people with manic depression are very creative during these phases and can accomplish a great deal.
Depressive episodes of bipolar depression are the exact opposite of the manic phases. The person going through the depressive phase may feel hopeless, sad, tired and unable to derive a sense of joy from any activity. They may struggle to find the energy with which to perform simple tasks such as going to the kitchen to make a drink and wonder why they even bothered getting out of bed at all. Other symptoms include changes in appetite and eating habits as well as very low self-esteem. Frequent thoughts of death are also common during the depressive phase of the illness. Many people with this condition have attempted suicide and tragically around twenty percent of them succeed. There have been cases of people attempting to commit suicide in extreme ways such as jumping of cliffs or in front of moving vehicles.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for bipolar disorder include mood stabilizing medication, especially for an individual who has had two or more episodes of mania or depression. These mood stabilizers include both antipsychotics and antidepressants. Sedatives and sleeping aids are often prescribed too. Psychotherapy is another important part of the treatment for bipolar depression, and this is particularly effective during the depressive phase. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and meditation can also help. A person with bipolar depression should learn as much as they can about it and make sure they have a strong support network. It is also recommended that people with this illness monitor their moods so that they can recognize the warning signs of an episode.
