Bipolar Symptoms

Posted by Rinda on 29/04/2009

REALIZING BIPOLAR SYMPTOMS

By Rinda Ismar

Bipolar disorder is an illness where a person experiences extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. He may feel manic for an instant and depressed the next.
Not everyone’s symptoms are the same, and there is no blood test to confirm the disorder. Scientists believe that bipolar disorder may be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Bipolar disorder can appear to be unipolar depression. Diagnosing bipolar disorder is difficult, even for mental health professionals. What distinguishes bipolar disorder from unipolar depression is that the affected person also experiences the “highs” of a manic phase.

Major depressive episode
Bipolar symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder include feelings of helplessness and guilt, inability to concentrate, memory problems, lack of general enthusiasm, a negative/pessimistic outlook, suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

Manic episode
People commonly experience an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep, acting recklessly, spending sprees, getting into arguments, talking quickly, lots of thoughts and ideas, too much to process.

Hypomanic episode
In a hypomanic episode, there is a distinct period of persistently elevated or irritable mood different from the usual nondepressed mood lasting for four days or more. During the mood disturbance, the person experiences three or more of the symptoms of mania. The disturbance in mood must be observable by others but not so severe as to impair his occupational functioning and social activities.

Mixed affective episode
In the context of bipolar disorder, a mixed state is a condition during which symptoms of mania and clinical depression occur simultaneously (for example, agitation, anxiety, aggressiveness or belligerence, confusion, fatigue, impulsiveness, insomnia, irritability, morbid and/or suicidal ideation, panic, paranoia, persecutory delusions, pressured speech, racing thoughts, restlessness, and rage).

Getting help
If you recognise any of the common Bipolar Symptoms in yourself or someone you know you will need to seek professional help. Once you are diagnosed your doctor will be able to recommend a suitable treatment. Suffers will often be prescribed anti psychotic medication during the periods of mania, and lithium during the depressed period. Therapy can also produce some excellent results and has helped many suffers deal with and get over the bipolar symptoms. This disorder can sometimes lead to suicidal tendencies, so it is essential that suffers seek professional help and guidance if they display any number of bipolar symptoms.

Sources :

Bipolar Symptoms

By Jason Gluckman

Bipolar Symptoms - Quickly Spot The Symptoms

By Joan Spencer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read also Borderline Personality Disorder

Comments

10 Responses to “Bipolar Symptoms”

1. hansdsg says:

   31/05/2009 at 9:40 pm

   What an article you pointed out here. i believe lots of people got this problem without they’re even realize it. I give you 2 thumbs for this article… Keep the work Rin…
2. Rinda says:

   05/06/2009 at 5:00 pm

   Hi, Hans, thanks so much, I really appreciate it… keep in touch