| Bipolar disorder is a cyclic illness where people | | | | concentrate, thoughts of death or suicide, change in |
| periodically exhibit manic (elevated) and depressive | | | | appetite or weight, and fatigue or loss of energy. |
| episodes. Categories of Bipolar disorder include; Type | | | | Depressive symptoms will frequently include physical |
| I, where an individual experiences full-blown mania, or | | | | complaints such as headaches, tiredness, lack of |
| Bipolar Type II, in which the "highs" do not go to the | | | | interest in activities, or social isolation. These |
| extremes. Bipolar disorder will generally manifest in | | | | depressive episodes can last six to twelve months if |
| late adolescence or early adulthood. However, case | | | | untreated. Depressive episodes are more common in |
| of bipolar disorder manifesting in late life are well | | | | the winter and fall, while manic episodes are more |
| documented. | | | | likely to occur during spring and summer. |
| Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder which consists of | | | | Bipolar Treatment |
| shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to | | | | People with bipolar disorder can live healthy lives if |
| function. Due to the complex nature of the disorder | | | | treated. Typical treatment will include medication and |
| it is often difficult to diagnose. Although the exact | | | | psychosocial therapies. There is no cure for bipolar |
| cause of bipolar disorder is not apparent, it is known | | | | disorder, so the main goal of treatment is to stabilize |
| to run in families and it is believed that genetics play | | | | mood and control of symptoms. Treatments during |
| a significant role. | | | | an episode of mania are mostly concerned with |
| Manic Phase | | | | managing symptoms and patient safety. During the |
| Manic episodes are periods where a person affected | | | | bipolar depression, an antidepressant is normally the |
| with bipolar disorder will exhibit elevated moods, | | | | best option for treatment. Treatment is can be very |
| which can manifest as rapid thought processes, | | | | effective so there is no reason to suffer this |
| irritability, and/or reckless behavior. These manic | | | | debilitating disorder. |
| episodes are frequently very hard on the person and | | | | In closing, bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. |
| their relationships. A person in a manic phase of | | | | Defined as a psychiatric condition, bipolar disorder is |
| bipolar disorder will have symptoms of high energy | | | | characterized by recurrent episodes of significant |
| and accelerated states. Manic episodes appear in | | | | disturbance in mood. Bipolar disorder is usually treated |
| stark contrast to major depressive episodes, which | | | | with medications and/or therapy or counseling. A |
| are an equal and opposite component of bipolar | | | | person afflicted with bipolar disorder will experience |
| disorder. | | | | dramatic mood swings. Bipolar disorder (also known |
| Bipolar Depressive Episodes | | | | as "manic depression") is often not recognized by the |
| A depressive episode may include feelings of | | | | patient, relatives, friends, or even physicians. |
| worthlessness and hopelessness, inability to | | | | |