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Description of Bipolar Disorder
Some people who experience clinical depression also have periods of euphoria, elation, sleeplessness, excessive energy, and/or excitement known as mania. Though the diagnosis formally requires only one mania per year, in actuality, patients can fluctuate from depression to mania several times a year. More than four manic episodes in a year is considered “rapid cycling bipolar disorder.”
During a euphoric, manic phase, some people go on spending sprees or stints of sexual activity, act impulsively, or display exhibitionistic behavior. Though the person may feel euphoric, they may also feel irritable or upset. This is called dysphoric mania.
The depression of bipolar disorder is indistinguishable from the unipolar varieties. The pattern of mild or severe mania in addition to depression is what may warrant the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Many people experience a predominance of episodes of one mood over the other, with occasional shifts to the opposite state. Rare individuals experience elevated mood alone.
Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is characterized by four or more episodes of significant mood changes within a single 12-month period. Less severe manic episodes are known as hypomania, and when these episodes are interspersed with periods of depression it is known as bipolar disorder type II.
There is an increased association of alcohol and drug abuse with bipolar disorder, as are various anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Usually the illness appears suddenly (sometimes precipitated by life stresses), although onset may be gradual. Episodes of mania, which can last from days to weeks or months, are generally briefer than episodes of depression. It typically emerges in adolescence or early adulthood, but may begin in childhood. Bipolar disorder most often manifests itself between the ages of 15 – 24, with 90% of cases diagnosed by the age of 30.
Without treatment, symptoms usually become more severe, unpleasant, and disruptive, and can lead to suicide in about 15 percent of cases of note, long term treatment with lithium may substantially reduce the suicide rate.
Some people cycle either rapidly or more slowly from one mood to the other, while others experience ‘normal’ moods (mixed state) between episodes. Some people go for years without a recurrence, while others suffer from increasingly frequent episodes. As in depression, a small percentage suffer impaired mood chronically.
There are many facets to bipolar, and the DSM definition that Im sure someone will give you only covers part of it. You need to go to a bipolar website and research this yourself.
I am a 37 year old woman who suffers from Bipolar disease and it has been hell trying to get the right medications.I have been in 2 mental wards in the last 2 years and I'm still struggling. Bipolar people have extrema mood changes that can go from happy go lucky for a week or two than all the sudden I have became violent and suicidal. 20% of bipolar people sucssed in commiting suicide. Also most bipolar people are drug addicts and also have either ADD or ADHD. There are a ton of web sights that will tell you all the symptoms and how to get diagnosed. 75% of bipolar people are treated for depression and they are miss diagnosed for years.You need to go see a psycologist who can diagnose you properly.
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Bipolar Illness
Bipolar Disorder: Mania and Mixed Episodes
Bipolar disorder is an illness bipolar illness of severe mood swings. It is also called manic depression. If you have this bipolar illness illness, you may have periods of severe high or low moods. These periods may impact your day-to-day functioning.
The high moods are called acute mania. They can make you feel restless, grouchy, or very happy. The low moods are called depression. They can make you feel very sad.
Some people can have a mixed state. That^aEURTMs when you have acute mania and depression at the same time.
Both women and men get bipolar disorder in equal numbers. The disease is usually first seen in adults 18 and older.
GEODON is approved for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder bipolar illness.
Next: Types of Bipolar Disorder
Go to your web search and type in "bipolar" and this page comes up.. good luck, this is a disturbing disease people have that can be effectively treated..