Bipolar disorder is also known as manic- depressive illness that causes mood swings, energy displacement and ability to function normally. It is a brain disease that cannot be cured; just like heart disease or diabetes, but with proper treatment and understanding of the illness one can treat it so it will be under control thus, no longer life threatening.

Bipolar disorder affects both sexes equally; in adults, mania is usually episodic with an elevation of mood and increased energy while in children it is commonly chronic rather than episodic and it presents itself in mixed states with irritability, anxiety and depression. During a mixed episode both mania and depression can occur the same day.

Bipolar disorder is often mistaken to be a temporary problem such as alcoholism, drug addiction, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, panic disorder and social phobia.

Typical Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

* Moods swings - these mood manifestations are not what we normally see or experience ourselves; they are dramatic ups and downs. When a person suffering bipolar disease is experiencing a down period they are liable to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. On the other hand when they experience an up mood swing they are on top of the world and everything looks pink and possible.

* Energy displacement - a person suffering from bipolar disorder experiences at times tremendous energy bursts and that may keep him/her awake for days and they often don' t eat well during these periods.

These behaviors are called episodes of mania and depression; they can be easily recognized in both the above-mentioned cases.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

In order to get the right bipolar disorder treatment one must get the right diagnosis as soon as possible. There are no diagnostic laboratory tests for bipolar disorder thus; a diagnosis is achieved by using standardized diagnostic criteria to rate the patient' s behavior.

The usual bipolar disorder treatment is lifelong therapy with mood stabilizer medications; the bipolar disorder treatment will result in dramatic decrease in suffering and reduction in suicidal risk.

Research has shown that the most effective bipolar disorder treatment is a combination of supportive psychotherapy, psycho education and the use of mood stabilizers together. The support of family and friends is critical with such a disease so the patient can deal effectively with it.

Psychological treatment is essential for managing the disease long term; medications are available with the doctor' s prescription, which help in stabilizing the mood swings and the depression.

Support of family and friends is what usually helps most to assist the sufferers as they deal with the mania and depression episodes; they do need constant supervision in order to assure that the medication is taken on time on daily basis.

Facts about Bipolar Disorder

* Approximately 5.7 million adult Americans or approximately 2.6% of US population over 18 suffer from bipolar disorder.

* Manic depression typically occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood with very few reported cases of the disease developing late in life.

* Bipolar disorder cannot be cured but it can be successfully treated and kept under control with the proper care.

There is information available in any hospital or with your doctor if you have any doubts about someone close suffering from this illness. You need to act quickly in order to save the affected person's life before it is too late.

Bipolar disorder can be fatal if it is not treated in time and as the depressive episodes get worse; if in doubt about the disorder and its symptoms, contact help right away to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment are on the way - prompt action may save the afflicted person' s life.

Copyright 2006 Michael Saville