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