First - What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is the mental disorder in which the person suffering goes in extreme mood swings. So while he or she may be feeling depression at one moment they will feel mania or extreme sense of pleasure and heightened activity the other. This is a quite dangerous situation as the suicidal rates are almost double than that of normal depression and research also suggests that people suffering from this kind of disorder face worse depression than the people who suffer only depression.

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Cyclothymic disorder and bipolar disorder are both mental illnesses.

Do they go hand in hand? Is cyclothymic a precursor of things to come? Does it transition into full blown bipolar disorder?

With the clinical depression disorders that exist today you must be aware that some clinical depression disorders, almost as a warning sign of the future. You must watch for the warning signs.

Many of those who suffer with cyclothymic disorder are quite likely to develop full blown bipolar disorder.

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Estimates of depression rates vary considerably but it has been suggested that it will occur in 15 - 20 % of all people over a lifetime. In every 12 months about 10% of the population experiences an episode of significant depression. At this moment it is estimated that 121 million people are suffering from depression throughout the world. Depression is a major problem.

Depression typically has the symptoms of sadness, loss of energy, feelings of guilt and anxiety and loss of self esteem. There can be changes in appetite and sleep. The depressive illness can range from interfering with our usual activities and relationships (mild to moderate depression) to making it hard to relate or communicate with others or

to do day-to-day tasks ( debilitating or severe depression). Depression symptoms can affect anyone regardless of race, culture and social class. It can affect men, women, children, adolescents and the elderly. However, how a depressed preschooler looks will probably be different from an 80 year old.

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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

the disorder may differ (men start with a manic episode while women with a depressive episode). The disorder can be found in all races and social classes. It continues throughout life. Because the symptoms are episodic, one may not be diagnosed correctly. Thus, those who have the illness may not be treated early. Once properly diagnosed, however, the illness can be treated.

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With the growing awareness and recognition of the Autism epidemic in our society, more and more people now know someone affected by this developmental disorder.

According to experts and recent research, Autism can be detected and diagnosed by a well-trained professional by the time a child reaches 18-months of age. It is very difficult to determine if a child younger than this age is showing signs of Autism.

There are, however, normal developmental milestones that parents can monitor to ensure their infants and toddlers are developing at a normal rate. It is important to note that just because an individual child does not meet one or more of these milestones it does not mean the child has autism or

any other disorder. All children will develop at different rates. If your child does not meet these milestones and you feel something may be wrong, your best bet is to consult your family physician and get your child tested further.

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