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Bipolar disorder is known for its ups and downs. But does it go beyond the typical person's up-and-down feelings during life, and how far? This disorder, which is also referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes the characteristic ups and downs, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Web site.
Those who have the disorder may have mood swings and extreme changes in energy and activity levels. This might seem like a severe case of PMS to some, but it’s not. Thankfully there are many treatment options out there, though people can suffer with the disorder throughout a lifetime. Most develop the disorder in late teen years or adulthood, according to NIMH.
There are two parts of bipolar disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Web site. There is mania and depression. Mania is the more energetic part of bipolar disorder, which includes risk taking, impulsive activities (like sex, shopping and alcohol/drug abuse), quick speech and thoughts, superior strength and brain activity, sleep deprivation with no fatigue, etc.
Besides mania, there is the depression aspect of bipolar disorder. This includes the common symptoms of lack of energy, fatigue, inconsistent sleeping patterns, feelings of loss and uselessness, suicidal thoughts, irritability, guilt, lack of concentration and decreased interest in previously enjoyable activities, among other symptoms.
The mania and depression phase of bipolar disorder can either happen separately or together. When the phases happen together, this is called a mixed state. That is where the popular definition of bipolar disorder stems from.
There are four types of bipolar disorder, according to www.kidshealth.org. These four types are Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder or Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. The sad thing is that many people with bipolar disorder are not diagnosed properly or are never treated, according to the Web site.
Before diagnosing a patient, doctors need to be completely sure that they are treating a patient for the correct mental illness. If not, symptoms can get worse. This is just like when a person is treated for one disease but really has a different disease. Obviously, the results would not be satisfactory.
If you think you exhibit several of the above symptoms, see a doctor ASAP to talk about a possible diagnosis. It’s better to find out now than suffer unnecessarily for many years, as there are medications and counseling available for those with bipolar disorder, which can allow those who suffer to live a fuller life.
Sources:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23037
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/bipolar.html#
Add a Comment32 Comments
..."something" I won't let go of.
Apparently lithium doesn't help my typing at all.
January 19, 2010 - 8:22pmThis Comment
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18771101
January 12, 2010 - 11:01amThere might be a cure in sight.
doc.schultz
This Comment
Bipolar disorder can range from moderate levels of depression and mania to a debilitating condition that destroys lives. Those suffering from the most severe forms of the disorder may be unable to help themselves because of cognitive and neurological impairments. I've seen responsible, hard-working, intelligent people lose everything because medication failed to stabilize them. They lost the capacity to manage their lives in any way. It wasn't a matter of choice to eat right, exercise, or maintain self-discipline. Instead, there was a total loss of capacity to reason, listen, communicate, and even perform daily self-care. - Ann Logsdon www.learningdisabilities.about.com
January 7, 2010 - 11:00amThis Comment
Psychiatry is a pseudoscience at best. They don't have one single cure in their short history and vote on putting diseases in the DSM by show of hand (ex: By show of hands, is ADHD an illness?). These people try to cure people from basic human behavior and I find that sad. There is not one lab test they have to prove someone has a "chemical imbalance". You people give up your children to the psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies for the latter to profit, NOT the childrens health. Just because a human has a behavior that is unacceptable doesn't make them mentally ill. Just to put this in perspective for you, psychiatrists have 1,000,000,000 patients. Thats a billion. If the DSM was based on science, everyone on the planet would be mentally ill and not one cure would be available for them, only chemical "treatment". I propose you all take responsibility for your social actions and behavior. "Normal" is relative.
January 2, 2010 - 12:53pmThis Comment
What ever you are "on" is blocking your vision. You make a statement that no pyciatrist ever cured someone. What is your source? Did you talk to all people who ever had mental help?
The brain/mind is like the sea. We know it is there but we really know very little about it due to it's compleixty and problems of scale. i think we will although probably not in my lifetime will see cures for geneticl based mental and physical illnesses become commonplace.
We used to think that Einstein had a brain just like anyone's elses. Then as science and technology moved forward we were able to discern a much more interconnected and faster brain. I see similarities in the process.
Best of luck to you I sincerely hope that some of the anger you seem to emote becomes contentment in the future. I know from my own experiance that I would rather not spend my time being angry.
January 2, 2010 - 3:13pmThis Comment
Hi anonymous,
Thank you for your insight.
December 5, 2009 - 9:55amThis Comment
I am a mental health support worker and have found that very few of my clients fall into the "I am bi-polar catagory" Each case is vastly different. Some Misdiognosed? Almost certainly.
December 5, 2009 - 5:11amThis Comment
Interesting reading... I found the comments more helpful than the actual article. Seems that I read those same things on various other sites. Besides, living with the disease, you kinda get a real good feel for what the disease is about. Experiencing the mania and depression, racing thoughts, panic, uncontrollable urges, and then moving into extreme happiness, creativity, and controllable thoughts is something I would never wish on anyone.
I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar I. My bouts with mania and depression definitely last longer and occur more often than the "highs". I've read about "triggers", but I can honestly say that there are no single triggers that bring about the lows. Just the other night, I was sitting reading a book. All of a sudden, I couldn't focus, my chest felt tight (sign of a panic attack), had a million thoughts going on in my mind, and I began to cry. All from reading. It took a long time and an increase in the dosage of medication I am on to finally calm enough to sit still. Sure, there are "bigger" triggers such as huge crowds or confined spaces, but it would be nice to know the little ones as well. Everyone is different. I agree that exercise, meditation, and other lifestyle changes help; however, the episodes continue to occur as there is no cure for them.
Given that I hit lows that last an extended period of time, the doctors are still working on my medications to stabilize me. I actually go back in tomorrow for another adjustment. I am looking forward to the day when there is less mania and depression and more normality.
December 3, 2009 - 4:01pmThis Comment
That leads to the chicken or the egg argument. Use of drugs causing the illness or the person looking to drugs to alleviate the symptoms of the illness. An interesting case is that a study was just done that found that the use of cannabis in bipolar people was beneficial but it's use in those were were schizophrenic was detrimental.
Also it is common for those who are bipolar to experience symptoms of adhd.
I am part of a larger study in genetics and bipolar disorder. There is likely many unknowns about the illness. I do get short and all too infrequent periods of hypo-mania which at least for me is to feel and be as happy and creative as I might be. Unfortunately the depressive periods occur with much greater frequency and duration. I would be all too happy if there was a cure for it. But until then, this manageable state will have to suffice.
By the way although I wish I came up with this the answer to the chicken versus the egg question is the egg. Which came first dinosaurs or chickens? Dinosaurs! Did dinosaurs lay eggs? Yes! Therefore the egg preceded the chicken. Next question.......
November 27, 2009 - 12:32pmThis Comment
The most well researched ideas on the ADHD disorder (Dr. Joel Nigg, Ph.D., Michigan State University associate professor of Psychology, in What Causes ADHD?) is probably applicable to bipolar disorder as well. That is, there is a genetic pre-disposition to ADHD, that is aggravated, or accentuated by environmental or social factors. This is also noted by Ruth Schmidt, Ph.D. in Rethinking ADHD. This is most likely the case also with bipolar disorder. There is probably a genetic pre-dispostion to bipolar disorder, that when combined with other factors leads to the full symptom profile. As one case in point, about 66% of those who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder have had either in the past or present substance abuse issues (alcohol or drugs). Books: http://www.winmentalhealth.com/psychology_book_store_best_self_help_book_list.php
November 27, 2009 - 10:39amThis Comment