Post by Mel on Jan 27, 2006 12:12:20 GMT -5
Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depressive. The new name takes in mania and depression as two sides of the same disease. .
Bipolar disorder is a common illness. Sufferers were once referred to as manic-depressive but the condition is now popularly known as Bipolar Disorder. What does it involve? It actually involves two different states if mind:
Mania: violent passion or desire; extreme excitement
And,
Depression: a feeling of melancholy, hopelessness and dejection.
The symptoms can vary from moderate to extreme mania on one end of the scale and different levels of sadness and disappointment on the other. Usually there is a period of normal feelings in between the two. The change in mood from high to low can happen quite quickly and in some cases there may seem to be a mix of high and low together. There is no standard which can accurately predict what kind of mood will be manifest, how high or low the fluctuations will be or even how long they might last.
A manic depressive person with this bipolar disorder might seem on top of the world one day, taking on debts and responsibilities, feeling invincible and capable of anything. They may go out one day and finance a car that they can’t afford or volunteer for a task that is really beyond their capabilities to perform. The next day the world appears to crash in around them and they are incapable of coping with the simplest daily chores.
What can be expected from a sufferer during a period of mania? During mania the person will feel super energized. The excitement will be manifested in restlessness and quick thinking and speaking. They might seem edgy, irritable and distracted, have trouble sleeping, take risks and overspend. They will seem to be in a state of euphoria (exaggerated sense of well being). Sex drive is increased.
In a depression the person might seem continually sad or anxious. They may not be allowing any feelings and be left with an emptiness, which lasts for a period of hours or days. Hopeless, pessimistic and guilty with feelings of worthlessness and helplessness, they may withdraw, seem tired and listless. They may lose appetite and weight and also lose interest in things that normally excite them.
Alcohol and drug abuse may develop as a result of the seeming loss of emotional control. Men and women are equally at risk and the age at onset is usually between 15 and 25.
There is no known cause of bipolar disorder. There may be a risk due to heredity but this has not been proven. It seems to run in families but the evidence is only anecdotal at present. If there is an awareness of the risks, then early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the symptoms. This illness strikes between one and two percent of the population where it is diagnosed. Diagnosis is difficult and bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression.
Some types of bipolar disorder are:
Rapid Cycling: 4 or more episodes per year.
Ultra-Rapid Cycling: from 4 episodes per week up to 4 or more per day.
Seasonal pattern: predictable seasonal patterns
Post-partum: within 4 weeks of childbirth.
Some extreme episodes may require a hospital stay to help control the symptoms. A variety of antidepressants and other drugs are sometimes prescribed. Lithium is often given as a preventative drug but it has side effects that may make it undesirable.