Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
The Basics of a Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder which can also sometimes be called manic depression is characterized by alternating periods of extreme lows and extreme high. These mood swings can be far ranging and disrupt the lifestyle of the person who suffers from it as well as their friends and family.
Individuals who suffer from this usually experience bouts of extreme mania followed by bouts of deep depression. Sometimes they can have what is called mixed states where they are manic and depressive at the same time.
Typically these states alternate with a normal range of mood, or as it is called in doctor speak, euthymia. In some cases bipolar disorder can just be mildly annoying but in many cases it is a disability that last a lifetime and can severely affect the individual. It can be very complicated to diagnose and so many people often live their whole lives without knowing they have it.
The reason why it is so difficult to diagnose as that has many variations in presents itself differently in different people. People's moodiness can change quickly or slowly ranging from several times a week to several times a year. In psychiatric speak this is called cycling and a person might be diagnosed as having rapid cycling (where their moods change rapidly) or slow cycling (where their moods only change a few times a year). People whose moods change many times during one single week are said to have ultra-rapid cycling and these people also have a high rate of suicide.
When someone is it diagnosed with bipolar disorder the treatment consists of medications combined with counseling. Bipolar disorder can be debilitating and many people struggle to overcome this disability their whole lives. On the positive side, though, there is a link between this disorder and creativity. While it is still unclear as to why, it has been discovered that many musicians and artists have bipolar disorder.
If you think that your loved one or yourself has bipolar disorder you should seek treatment from a healthcare professional immediately. Most people can find relief from this debilitating problem through medication and therapy but if you do not get diagnosed with it, it can adversely affect your whole life.
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar disorder can be a very complicated illness and bipolar symptoms are often hard to diagnose leaving the person suffering from this without the proper treatment. If you have any of the symptoms discussed here, you should see a healthcare professional immediately for a full evaluation.
A person with bipolar disorder, or manic depression, suffers from severe mood swings. The moods will range from euphoria to deep depression. The length of time of these mood swings and the intensity of the emotions varies among person-to-person which makes it very difficult to diagnose. In addition, the mood swings can also alternate with normal behavior, making it all that much more difficult.
The problem with bipolar disorder is that when the person is not having mood swings and they are in their "normal" phase no bipolar symptoms are present and there is no need to seek treatment or diagnosis. This could throw someone off for years especially if they're mood swings are not severe. However, if one does have a bipolar disorder is important that they get diagnosed as this can be a lifelong debilitating problem.
While the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder are the manic depressive episodes, people with this disorder can also have racing thoughts, rapid speech, seem agitated and have bouts of increased physical activity. In addition they might show poor judgment, have a hard time sleeping, be reckless, have a hard time concentrating and get easily distracted. Sometimes during a manic episode a person can show anger or aggression. In the depressive phase, the person will feel sad, anxious and maybe even guilty. They can have severe feelings of hopelessness and may even be prone to suicide. People with a bipolar disorder will often be fatigued and lose interest in eating and other daily activities.
If you or anyone you know has any of these bipolar symptoms, you should get them to a doctor right away so they can be properly diagnosed. Treatment is usually done with therapy and medications and can be very effective so there is no reason to suffer this debilitating disorder.