Bipolar Disorder Essay

“Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as manic depression, is defined as a serious mental illness in which common emotions become intensely and often unpredictably magnified. Individuals with bipolar disorder can quickly alternate from extremes of happiness, energy and clarity to sadness, fatigue and confusion. All people with bipolar disorder have manic episodes abnormally elevated or irritable moods that last at least a week and impair functioning. But not all become depressed ” (American Psychological Association, 2015). Bipolar disorder can vary in each individual. The symptoms fluctuate in pattern, severity and rate of recurrence. Some people are more susceptible to either mania or depression, while others change proportionately between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others live through a few throughout their lifetime.

Bipolar disorder, also commonly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual and heightened swings in a person’s mood, energy level, and ability to function. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe and therefore, they are quite different from the normal shifts in mood that everyone goes through on a daily basis. The effects of bipolar disorder can result in broken relationships, poor performance at work or school, self-mutilation, and even suicide. However, in most instances, bipolar disorder can be treated and people with this illness can lead normal and productive lives with the help of medication and therapy.

Bipolar can include varies emotional, cognitive, somatic, and behavioral symptoms that impedes the lives of people. The emotional symptoms for a person who has been diagnosed with bipolar include that the person experiences mania which, again, is an elated mood of extreme joy and the feeling of begin on top of the world ( Oltmanns & Emery ,2015) . Additionally, a person with bipolar can also swing to the other side of the emotional spectrum and experience a depressive episode. A depressive episode, as mentioned above, is characterized by extreme sadness and a feeling of hopelessness.

There are different symptoms and different types of bipolar disorder. The primary symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic and unpredictable mood swings. Mania symptoms may include excessive happiness, excitement, restlessness, less need for sleep, and high sex drive. Depression symptoms include sadness, anxiety, loss of energy, uncontrollable crying, need for sleep, and thoughts of death or suicide.

The National Institute of Mental Health has defined bipolar disorder as a serious mental illness that is marked by extreme changes in mood that range between two states: manic and depressive. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is classified as a mood disorder. This disorder goes beyond the typical ups and downs. Bipolar disorder is becoming more prevalent and a much more serious medical condition. A manic episode is characterized by feeling the following: very happy, excited, impulsive, show a short temper, talk really fast about a lot of different things, trouble sleeping or not tired, and trouble focusing (National

A manic episode is characterized by an abnormality of mood that is euphoric, expansive, and elevated or irritable with increased energy, along with signs and symptoms such as inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep. Pressure of speech or being extremely talkative, racing thoughts or flight of ideas, distractibility, an increase in goal-directed behavior, agitation, poor judgment and impulsive decision making are more signs and symptoms of a manic episode. A manic episode can result in unwise and potentially dangerous behavior. Destructive behaviors can often occur with spending money, sexual

Bipolar and Related Disorders are separated from the depressive disorders in the DSM-5. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) They are placed between the chapters on schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and depressive disorders. This is because they are a bridge between the two diagnostic classes in terms of symptomatology, family history, and genetics. The disorders that fall under this category are as follows: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder, Substance / Medication-Induced Bipolar and related, Bipolar and related due to another Medical Condition, Other Specified Bipolar and related, and Unspecified Bipolar and related.

According to, Phases and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. Psych Central. http://psychcentral.com/lib/phases-and-symptoms-of-bipolar-disorder/00060. “The most commonly experienced type of bipolar disorder is one where the individual cycles back and forth between a state of mania (or hypomania, a lesser form of mania) and depression.” One of the things that may occur during the mania phase is that” Judgment becomes impaired and patients feel powerful over painful consequences. They feel “bulletproof” and have little regret or concern for their actions. They may have many ideas and lots of energy to carry them out.”(Phases and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder) Maniac episodes may often have psychosis as well. Psychosis is when a person can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t real. “Psychosis symptoms include hallucinations, false beliefs about having special powers or identity (such as superhuman strength or X-ray vision). Psychotic symptoms indicate a severe mood episode that requires immediate medical attention and treatment.” Depression is also another symptom of the Bipolar Disorder. People that are Bipolar may suffer from getting up from out of their bed and feel highly unmotivated, these people suffering from this disease may also feel unworthy of being alive hence think about suicidal thoughts. Once suicidal thoughts occur it is recommended that the patient seek immediate help and

Bipolar disorder is also known by many as manic depression. It is a serious mental disorder that is associated by sever changes in a person’s mood, the mood changes range from feeling low and depressed to being manic, these changes are the typical symptoms of Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and can be managed with therapy and medication. The episodes can last for days, hours or can be very short. Bipolar disorder affects both women and men. There is no known cause, but the symptoms start between the ages of 15-25, and mainly occur in people who have family members with Bipolar disorder.

And episodes are noticeably stronger especially when depressed. For people who have bipolar and are feeling down many symptoms are similar to those that are depression and every thought is consumed in sadness; they have feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, fatigue, inability to concentrate, abnormal weight gain or weight loss, insomnia or abnormally oversleeping and they may even have thoughts of suicide. When flipped to the other side maniac displaced feelings of extreme energy restlessness and irritability they 're overly confident themselves talking fast and erratic. They have high energy and excess need for activity you need much less sleepy early 3 hours would be more than enough. They have no self-control and spend money recklessly and they 're easily irritated when things don 't go their way. People with bipolar will display different abnormal mood changes on various intervals for example they could be depressed for 3 to 4 months and return to their normal selves for a few months and maniac for a couple of months and then back to their normal self again. It 's not necessarily that the occurrence of both moods will take place one after the other it could be depressed normal depressed again normal again and then manic or manic first and then depressed after that. Bipolar disorder can affect anyone of any gender, age or profession but it is most commonly found

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness affects about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population (8). It is defined by fluctuating states of depression and mania throughout ones life. Those who are depressed may be restless, irritable, have slowed thinking or speech, decreased sexual activity, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, suicidal thoughts as well as other changes. Those in a manic state may have increased activity or energy, more thoughts and faster thinking, grandiose thoughts, decreased sleep and need for sleep, increased sexual activity, elated mood, irritable mood, as well as other symptoms. Mixed state is when both depression and mania are exhibited at the same time in a cycle. Rapid cycling

Bipolar Disorder also known as Manic Depressive Illness involves outstanding mood swings. The individual has periods of depression, and periods when they feel either unusually good or pressured and irritable. It affects 1-2% of the population. Genetics plays a significant role. About 15% of children with one bipolar parent develop the disorder.

Bipolar Disorder used to be known as “manic depression”, because the person experiences depression, normal mood and mania, which is basically the opposite of depression. Symptoms for Bipolar Disorder include feeling great, having a lot of energy, having racing thoughts, little need for sleep, taking fast, having difficulty focusing on tasks and