Bipolar Disorder : The Most Serious Mood Disorders

Bipolar I disorder is defined as ”manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks” (NIMH.org 2015). Symptoms need to last 7 days or have manic symptoms so severe that the person needs

Bipolar disorder otherwise known as, manic-depression illness of the brain that causes two different types of bipolar. According to which disorder, each has the opposite effects both includes; extreme mood swings highs and lows. Symptoms for Bipolar I or rather Manic Bipolar, are little need for sleep, constantly hyper, too talkative, and mind races. Other times one diagnosed with this disorder may feel extremely sad, empty, worthless, and unsure of one’s self. Bipolar disorder II, known as depressant bipolar, the person may feel an unbearable

Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that is characterized by abnormal changes in mood, energy and activity levels (“National Institute of Mental Health”). Manic-depressive illness is also another name that bipolar disorder is commonly referred to as (“National Institute of Mental Health”). This disorder has four basic types including, bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic, and any other which do not perfectly fit the first three. All four of the types have episodes of extreme highs, manic periods, and extreme lows, depressive periods. Symptoms can range greatly and depend on what type of episode the affected is having. Manic episodes can include, but are not limited to: having extraordinarily high amounts of energy, activity,

The mood disorder of bipolar is a roller coaster of high and low emotions. Bipolar has many different components and can manifest as either Bipolar I or Bipolar ( Oltmanns & Emery, 2015) Bipolar I is described as having one manic episode. ( Oltmanns & Emery ,2015) Mania is a disturbance in mood characterized by symptoms as elation, higher self-esteem, hyperactivity and expedited thought process. (Oltmanns & Emery, 2015) To have Bipolar II, a person must have at least one depressive episode and a mild manic episode. A depressive episode includes hypomania meaning in bipolar II a person will not have a full blown manic episode. (Oltmanns & Emery, 2015) People who have bipolar have a tough time with their emotions, because their emotions are not stable. They oftentimes feel like they are on an emotional roller-coaster because of the erratic ups and downs ( Oltmanns & Emery 2015)

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks (National Institutes of Health, Bipolar Disorder). Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide (National Institutes of Health, Bipolar Disorder). Doctors diagnose bipolar disorder using guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM); to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the symptoms must be a major change from your normal mood or behavior (National Institutes of Health, Bipolar Disorder in Adults). There are four basic types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS), and Cyclothymic Disorder, or Cyclothymia.

According to Lindamer et al. (2012), individuals with schizophrenia had 3 times the odds of being categorized as a high utilizer. Bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders increased the odds of being a high utilizer by 90% (Lindamer et al., 2012). Being White, younger, female, homeless, and having Medicaid insurance also increased the odds for being a high utilizer in this sample. Similarly, Pasic et al. (2005) noted that high utilizers were more likely to be homeless, have developmental delays, have a history of voluntary and involuntary hospitalizations, have personality disorders, unreliable social support and a history of incarceration and detoxification.

Bipolar Disorder or manic-depressive disorder is a disorder characterized by highs, manias, and lows, depressions, and can therefore be easily distinguished from unipolar depression, a major depressive disorder in DSM-5, by the presence of manic or hypomanic episodes (Miklowitz & Gitlin, 2014). Bipolar disorder is generally an episodic, lifelong illness with a variable course (American Psychiatric Association, 2010). There are two classifications of bipolar disorder; bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. If the episodes are primarily manic but there has been at least one depressive episode, the diagnosis is bipolar I disorder (Early, 2009). If the episodes are primarily depressed but there has been at least one episode of hypomania, increased mood that is more euphoric than normal but not quite manic, the diagnosis is bipolar II disorder (Early, 2009).

Bipolar 1 disorder is when an individual has manic episodes that last at least 7 days with manic symptoms that are so severe that the person sometimes needs immediate hospital care. Depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features, having depression and manic symptoms at the same time, are also possible. Individuals with this form of bipolar experience the most dramatic transitions from mania to depression, and mood swings can be sudden and severe. The level of functional impairment is high with this form of the disorder, and many of these individuals must be hospitalized in order to protect their safety.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic recurrent illness that can be categorized by 3 different types (Bipolar 1 Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder). Bipolar I disorder known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression is a form of mental illness that is characteristic of a person as having at least one manic episode in his/her life (Jordan Halter, M 2014). These episodes usually result in excessive activity and energy. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood and high energy, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life. Most people with bipolar I disorder also suffer from episodes of depression, and often cycle between mania and depression (Jordan Halter, M 2014).

There are two main types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I and Bipolar II. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Bipolar I Disorder is “defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least two weeks.” What is Bipolar?) Because the manic and depressive episodes last for such an extensive period of time, Bipolar I is the most severe. In this type of bipolar, there has

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness, which involves hypomanic episodes, which are changes in someone’s usual mood. Originally, Bipolar Disorder was called manic depression because it does share similar symptoms with people diagnosed with depression. Bipolar Disorder is a severe condition because it can cause mania, which then causes hallucinations and paranoid rage. (Bipolar Disorder) Bipolar Disorder is classified into two categories, bipolar type 1 and bipolar type 2. Bipolar type 2 is more serious because there is more major depression episodes. (Bipolar Disorder) A study done by Revista Brasileria de Psiquitra, shows a higher prevalence of Bipolar Disorder type 1 but overall both are pretty low in the general population. (Clemente)

In general, having Bipolar Disorder is like living at your best and you are worst and having no control over it. People may refer to bipolar are manic depressive disorder, this is due to for the individuals having periods of mania, and periods of depression. Bipolar is derived from having two moods, hence mania and depression. Mania is a period of energy, individuals will feel energized, on top of the world and may even experience sleep deprivation. Sometime later, the energy goes away, and depression will set it. Depression is where the individual will be at their lowest, become suicidal and struggle to be productive in various places such as school, work, relationships, and carry out every day activities (Roberts). I have chosen to pick this topic because 2 out of 5 people in my household family have bipolar, and now I, myself am starting to show signs of having bipolar disorder. Living with someone who has bipolar that isn’t managed is very difficult and scary. My sister, who is the person behind me picking this disorder has struggled all her life since 7th grade, so 16 years later, she is still struggling to be manageable and not have as severe ups and downs. I also know people, more than just my house family, who have bipolar and I can even see how difficult it can be. I work at an assisted living place, and absolutely love it. I love to help people. We have a resident who is in their mid-60’s and the only reason he is living there, is due to his bipolar. He still has