A Guide To Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a psychological illness which manifests as having extreme changes in mood, behavior and thought. A person s mood can change from mania to depression in a short period of time. These mood swings from highs to lows can last for hours, days, weeks, or months. A person with this mood disorder has a unique pattern of mood fluctuations specific to him but once his pattern is analyzed, it can be quite foreseeable.
Bipolar disorder usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood but it can also start in early childhood or late adulthood. Recent studies show a genetic factor to this illness. It affects men and women equally although their initial manifestations of
...often a decline in health and an increase in disability. There is also the loss of friends and loved ones. Some sadness and feelings of grieve associated with the losses are to be expected and indeed it is important to ...
Bipolar disorder is associated with four general types of mood episodes. A manic episode is characterized by a persistently elevated mood for at least one week. A hypomanic episode is a milder type of mania which last for four days or more. A major depressive episode is characterized by a loss of interest or pleasure lasting for two
...years. Cyclothymic disorder is known to essentially affect both males and females equally, with only a slightly higher percentage of females being affected. Cyclothymic disorder seems to have a genetic component as evidenced by the fact that many of those ...
Bipolar I disorder is a syndrome where a complete set of mania symptoms (e.g. at least one week of elevated mood, grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, more talkativeness, flight of ideas, distractibility, psychomotor agitation and/or excessive involvement in pleasurable activities where the mood disturbance is severe enough to impair occupational functioning or social activities) not caused by antidepressant medications occurs during the course of the disorder. Bipolar I disorder can be further subdivided into Bipolar I, Single Manic Episode and Bipolar I, Recurrent.
Bipolar II disorder is characterized by occurrence of depressive episodes with at
...which puts life at risk or at least putting you in harm s way Abusing alcohol or drugs If you have experienced such emotions yourself or are seeing someone witnessing similar emotions you should first of all consult a doctor ...