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Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, often first striking between the ages of 15 and 25.
Experts think this condition is caused by a chemical imbalances in the brain. It causes extreme mood swings from the highest of manic highs to the lowest of depressive lows.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition that affects both how a person feels and thinks. Though most people with this disorder experience more lows than highs, to be officially diagnosed one has to have experienced at least one period of mania, which is a portion of time that is euphoric.
Medication, talk therapy and education about the disease are tools one can use to help manage the symptoms of this illness. Each person reacts differently to the mood disorder and so the treatments will also be very varied.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder are varied and can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months at a time.
Signs of mania include:
• Being easily distracted
• Restlessness and no need for sleep
• Having poor judgment and poor control of one’s temper
• Poor sense of self-control include overeating, over-drinking, drug use, promiscuity, and spending sprees
• Highly elevated mood with increased energy, activity, high self-esteem and very talkative
• Highly agitated or irritated
Signs of a depressive episode:
• Daily feelings of sadness or thoughts of suicide
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Over- or under-eating resulting in weight loss or weight gain
• Lack of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt
• Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Low or lowered self-esteem
• Not getting enough sleep or sleeping too much
• Pulling away from friends or activities that one once enjoyed
The goals of treatment for bipolar disorder are to reduce the symptoms of both depressive and manic episodes, reduce the severity of the disease, reduce the likelihood of a relapse of the condition’s symptoms, and provide support to the patient and his/her family.
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This is something that has come very close to my family and it also caused a lot of disagreements in the family as to the diagnoses. Many were not ready to believe that a family member had this illness, some still do not. It is a very tough illness to diagnose and I believe careful monitoring is the best advice.
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