Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar depression, also called bipolar disorder or
"manic-depressive" disease, is a mental illness that causes people to
have severe high and low moods. People who have this illness switch from
feeling overly happy and joyful to feeling very sad, and vice versa. Because of
the highs and the lows—or two poles of mood—the condition is referred to
as "bipolar" depression. In between episodes of mood swings, a person
may experience normal moods.
The word "manic" describes the periods when the person feels overly
excited and confident. These feelings can quickly turn to confusion,
irritability, anger, and even rage. The word "depressive" describes the
periods when the person feels very sad or depressed. Because the symptoms are
similar, sometimes people with bipolar depression are incorrectly diagnosed as
having major depression.
Most individuals with bipolar disorder spend more time in depressed phases
than in manic phases.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
The dramatic and rapidly changing mood swings from highs to lows do not
follow a set pattern, and depression does not always follow manic phases. A
person may also experience the same mood state several times before suddenly
experiencing the opposite mood. Mood swings can happen over a period of weeks,
months, and sometimes even years.
The severity of the depressive and manic phases can differ from person to
person and in the same person at different times.
Symptoms of mania ("the highs"):
- Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
- Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable,
angry, and hostile
- Restlessness
- Rapid speech and poor concentration
- Increased energy and less need for
sleep
- High sex drive
- Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
- Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit
a job
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Increased impulsivity
Some people with bipolar disorder can become psychotic, seeing and hearing
things that aren't there and holding false beliefs from which they cannot be
swayed. In some instances they see themselves as having superhuman skills and
powers, or think they are God-like.
During depressive periods ("the lows"), a person with bipolar
disorder may experience:
- Sadness
- Loss of energy
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
- Difficulty concentrating
- Uncontrollable crying
- Difficulty making decisions
- Irritability
- Increased need for sleep
- Insomnia
- A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
- Thoughts of death or
suicide
- Attempting suicide
Who gets bipolar disorder?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 2 million
American adults have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder usually begins in early
adulthood, appearing before age 35. Children and adolescents, however, can
develop this disease in more severe forms and often in combination with attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Some studies have indicated that bipolar depression is genetically
inherited, occurring more commonly within families.
While bipolar disorder occurs equally in women and men, women with bipolar
disorder may switch moods more quickly—this is called "rapid
cycling." Varying levels of sex hormones and activity of the thyroid gland
in the neck, together with the tendency to be prescribed antidepressants, may
contribute to the more rapid cycling seen in women. Women may also experience
more periods of depression than men.
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