Bipolar

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder — sometimes called manic-depressive disorder — causes  mood swings that range from of the lows of depression to the highs of mania. When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts in the other direction, you may feel euphoric and full of energy. Mood shifts may only occur only a few times a year, or as often as several times a day. In some cases, bipolar disorder causes symptoms of depression and mania at the same time.Everyone experiences happiness and sadness, however those that live with Bipolar Disorder feel these mood changes at an exaggerated level. The changes are often referred to as cycles or episodes.

Although bipolar disorder is a disruptive, long-term condition, you can keep your moods in check by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder can be controlled with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).

Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is divided into several subtypes. Each has a different pattern of symptoms. Types of bipolar disorder include:

§          Bipolar I disorder. Mood swings with bipolar I cause significant difficulty in your job, school or relationships. Manic episodes can be severe and dangerous.

§          Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II is less severe than bipolar I. You may have an elevated mood, irritability and some changes in your functioning, but generally you can carry on with your normal daily routine. Instead of full-blown mania, you have hypomania — a less severe form of mania. In bipolar II, periods of depression typically last longer than periods of hypomania.

§          Cyclothymia. Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. With cyclothymia, hypomania and depression can be disruptive, but the highs and lows are not as severe as they are with other types of bipolar disorder.

The exact symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. For some people, depression causes the most problems; for other people manic symptoms are the main concern. Symptoms of depression and symptoms of mania or hypomania may also occur together. This is known as a mixed episode.

Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of mania

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Mania often begins with a pleasurable sense of heightened energy, creativity, and social ease. However, these feelings quickly progress to full-blown euphoria (extremely elevated mood) or severe irritability. People with mania typically lack insight, deny that anything is wrong, and angrily blame anyone who points out a problem. In a manic episode, the following symptoms are present for at least one week and make it very difficult for the person to function. These include discrete periods of:

• Increased energy, activity, restlessness, racing thoughts, and rapid talking
• Excessive "high" or euphoric feelings
• Extreme irritability and distractibility     
• Decreased need for sleep
• Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
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• Uncharacteristically poor judgment
• A sustained period of behaviour that is different from usual
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
• Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour

Hypomania symptoms Hypomania is a milder form of mania that has similar but less severe symptoms and causes less impairment. During a hypomanic episode, the person may have an elevated mood, feel better than usual, and be more productive. These episodes often feel good and the quest for hypomania may even cause some individuals with bipolar disorder to stop their medication. Thus, even when friends and family learn to recognize the mood swings, the individual will often deny that anything is wrong. However, hypomania can rarely be maintained indefinitely, and is often followed by an escalation to mania or a crash to depression.

 

Signs and symptoms of bipolar depression

In a major depressive episode, the following symptoms are present for at least two weeks and make it difficult for the person to function. Signs and symptoms include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex
• Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or being "slowed down"
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Restlessness or irritability
• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of appetite and weight, or weight gain
• Chronic pain or other persisting bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical disease
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempt

Signs and symptoms of a mixed episode

Perhaps the most disabling episodes are those that involve symptoms of both mania and depression occurring at the same time or alternating frequently during the day. Individuals are excitable or agitated as in mania but also feel irritable and depressed. Owing to the combination of high energy and depression, mixed episodes present the greatest risk of suicide

Other signs and symptoms of bipolar depression

Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder can also include:

§        Seasonal changes in mood. As with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), some people with bipolar disorder have moods that change with the seasons. Some people become manic or hypomanic in the spring or summer and then become depressed in the fall or winter. For other people, this cycle is reversed — they become depressed in the spring or summer and manic or hypomanic in the fall or winter.

§         Rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Some people with bipolar disorder have rapid mood shifts. This is defined as having four or more mood swings within a single year. However, in some people moods shifts occur much more quickly, sometimes within just hours.

§         Psychosis. Severe episodes of either mania or depression may result in psychosis, a detachment from reality. Symptoms of psychosis may include false but strongly held beliefs (delusions) and hearing or seeing things that aren't there (hallucinations). In some people, sudden psychosis (a psychotic break) is the first sign of bipolar disorder.  
      

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        Bipolar Support and Self-Help

Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com

              http://www.bipolaraware.co.uk