In the world of psychological disorders there are few that are more difficult to deal with than bipolar disease. Although dealing with a bipolar disorder is anything but easy the reasons it is hard to deal with is easy to see when one considers that those who suffer its affects are cycling between two psychological states: Depression and mania. This cycling between these two states can have serious affects on the personality and behavior that its sufferers exhibit.
Within the diagnosis of bipolar disease there are several subtypes of the disorder itself. These include: rapid cycling bipolar, teen bipolar disorder, and types I and II. Being properly diagnosed is important when it comes to deciding on which treatment regimen to follow.
Bipolar disease sufferers exhibit many of the same type of symptoms with each person experiencing these symptoms to varying degrees of severity depending on which cycle of the disorder they are in. When experiencing a manic episode they will usually experience intense feelings of pleasure and/or happiness. Their creativity and motivation are at a high point, which helps explain why many successful writers and musicians show the signs of bipolar disease and are diagnosed with it. During the manic episode those with this disorder will also talk incessantly while feeling that they are not getting their point across to whoever they are talking to. In more severe cases this manic state can cross over into more dangerous territory and include symptoms like hostile behavior, destruction of property and hallucinations and delusions.
At the other extreme of bipolar disorder is depression. When the bipolar sufferer is in this state they will exhibit feelings of despair and hopelessness, lose interest in work and family, show signs of anxiety, lose interest in sex, have trouble getting out of bed and suicidal thoughts. The depression side of bipolar disease can also manifest physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach and digestive issues, weight gain or loss, social withdrawal and for some abuse of drugs and/or alcohol.
Bipolar disease can be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medications. The first step any one who suffers from this disorder must take is getting a diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist before any medications or therapies can begin. SSRI's and MAOI's are the two groups of antidepressant drugs most commonly used to combat the symptoms of bipolar disease, but because of the severity of this condition psychotherapy is also highly recommended in conjunction with any drug therapy.
The battle with bipolar disease can last a lifetime. Bipolar disease can destroy the lives of those who suffer it and can have a profound negative affects on those close to those who have it. Because of this it is important that not only those who suffer with this condition get proper treatment but family and friends are not only supportive but also seek to understand what this disease is doing to their loved one and why they are exhibiting the behaviors they do.
Symptoms Of Bipolar Disease
In Bipolar disease sufferers will experience bouts of serious depression and high mania. The disordered moods of the sufferer occur in cyclic patterns. Their moods will swing from an extremely high or euphoric mood with some irritation mixed in to being extremely sad and hopeless. Between these two poles of mood swings, the individual will feel completely normal. They will not show any signs that they are suffering from erratic moods.
However it is worth noting that these periods of normality occur only between bouts of erratic mood swings. This is a characteristic of Bipolar Disease. While we may view the person who has Bipolar Disorder as being somewhat crazy or mentally disturbed the symptoms of the disease are very severe and in many cases they can be life threatening. The individuals who are afflicted with Bipolar Disease find it disruptive and distressing to their lives.
As Bipolar Disease has affected many well known musicians, writers and artists the illness, and the effects the disease has on the lives of its sufferers has been trivialized. The reason being that there are so many creatively talented people who live with Bipolar Disease, that this illness is considered as beneficial to the creative mood. Therefore it is not regarded very seriously.
Bipolar Disease is a very serious mood disorder. It can affect about 1% of adults during their life. The symptoms usually begin to show during adolescence and early adulthood. They can reoccur throughout the person's life. The deterioration of the quality of one's life is that the effects of Bipolar Disease can include alcohol abuse, drug abuse, unemployment and marital break-ups.
The symptoms of Bipolar Disease include both the depression symptoms and the manic depression symptoms. The depression symptoms are sadness, low self esteem, lack of interest in daily life activities, excessive sleep, insomnia, difficulty focusing, inability to concentrate, thoughts of death or suicide, feeling worthless, changes in appetite, aches and pains.
The manic symptoms are boundless energy, grand ideas, feelings of self importance, irrational behavior, no sense of self preservation, difficulty concentrating, fast developing ideas, talking very fast, excessive money spending, alcohol and drug abuse, long periods without sleep, loss of self control, loss of good judgment and a desire to engage in various risky ventures without considering the consequences.
Since Bipolar Disease is a very serious and life threatening condition it is best to seek treatment as soon as possible. Should Bipolar disorder be left untreated it could lead towards suicide. Therefore to prevent such a tragic event, medical treatment, which is a mixture of medication and therapy, should be started as soon as the condition has been diagnosed. Stop Bipolar Disease before it destroys your life.
Both Andrew Bicknell & Devid Wolley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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