Characteristics of Bipolar Disorders 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 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

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 depression has always been a mystery since the 16th century. History has shown that it can appear in almost everyone. Bipolar disorder causes mood swings in energy, thinking, and other behavior. Having a bipolar disorder can be very disabling (Kapczinski). A study was evaluated and about 1.3% of the U.S population of people suffers from bipolar disorder. Stressors and environmental influences can trigger and cause a person to go through numerous episodes. Bipolar disorder is characterized according to the severity of the stages. According to Kapczinski, there are four different stages that a person with bipolar disorder can experience. The prognosis of a disorder is different in each particular patient

Fact: Some people alternate between extreme episodes of mania and depression, but most are depressed more often than they are manic. Mania may also be so mild that it goes unrecognized. People with bipolar disorder can also go for long stretches without symptoms.

Bipolar Disorder The aspect of bipolar disorder has been a mystery since the 16th century. It was rumored that Vincent Van Gough suffered from bipolar disorder. There is a large group of people suffering from this disorder, however there are no causes or cures for it. Bipolar disorder impairs one’s ability to obtain and sustain social and occupational success. The journey for even a cause will continue for many years to come.

In their article for Bipolar Disorder Treatment, authors J. Segal, R. Segal, and Smith explained that there is not just one type of bipolar disorder; in fact there are several different types of bipolar disorders. One type of bipolar disorder, which is the most commonly known, the Bipolar I Disorder (mania and depression). This type of bipolar disorder is characterized by at least one manic episode or mixed episode. The vast majority of those who suffer from bipolar I disorder have also experienced at least one episode of major depression, however, it is said that it is not required for the diagnosis. The second type of bipolar disorder is Bipolar II Disorder (hypomania and depression). This type of disorder does not actually involve mania like the first type did. Instead of mania, there are recurring episodes of major depression and hypomania, which is a milder form of mania. To be diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, you must have experienced at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode in your lifetime. The last type of bipolar disorder is Cyclothymia (hypomania and mild depression). This is a milder form of bipolar. Consistent with bipolar disorder, it shows the mood swings. However in contrast, the highs and lows are not severe enough to be considered or qualify as mania or major depression. In order to be diagnosed with cyclothymia, you must

Because of this, there are two main types of bipolar disorder, bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. Bipolar I disorder is the most common type out of the two disorders. As it states in the textbook Abnormal Psychology: Clinical and Scientific Perspectives (2014), the main difference between the two disorders is that bipolar I has the occurrence of a manic episode throughout the course of the disorder. A manic episode can be described as the person be very talkative at a fast pace, easily distracted, reckless behavior and lack of self control, little need for sleep, and elated. A person with bipolar I disorder can have a lack of self-control which can lead to a very dangerous sex life by engaging in unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners, or even obtaining a drug addiction. On the other end of the spectrum, there are occurrences of depressed episodes that are experienced by people with both bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. Depressed episodes can be characterized by the person being in a bad mood or experiencing sadness daily. Feeling fatigued, having difficulty concentrating, not remembering things easily, and eating problems can stem from depressed episodes. Individuals may also experience a sense of hopelessness that can potentially lead to the attempt or even carrying out suicide. Hypomanic episodes are also experienced by individuals with both bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. These

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 I is our modern understanding of the 19th Century manic-depressive disorder or affective psychosis, however, it differs in that neither psychosis nor a lifetime experience of a major depressive episode is required. It requires one or more extreme manic episode, or symptoms of both a mania and a depression. It may be preceded by, or followed by, hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Mania symptoms cause significant impairment in life and may require hospitalization or trigger psychosis. In contrast, bipolar II is defined by the lifetime experience of at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode. Criteria for hypomania are like those of mania, but in a milder form. Instead of impairment, hypomania is marked by a distinct change in functioning. (APA, 2013)

The characteristics of bipolar disorder are significant shifts in mood that go from manic episodes to deep depressive episodes in a up

Bipolar I disorder may be defined as experiencing severe mood swings ranging from extreme happiness to depression, and bipolar II disorder is a milder form of bipolar I disorder. Cyclothymic disorder is the result of hypomania followed by intense phases of depression. Mixed bipolar disorder is one of the most intense forms of bipolar disorder since patients experience signs of hypomania and depression at the same time, but this differs from rapid-cycling disorder because in rapid cycling patients go through four or more phases of mania and depression in the same year (Goldberg, n.d, pp. 1, 5). Bipolar disorder may affect people of all ages, including children, and it affects men and women equally. Finally, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 5.7 million Americans are bipolar, and because of this, bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the United States (Bipolar Disorder Statistics, n.d, p. 1).

Bipolar disorder, or manic depressive disorder, is a disorder characterized by extreme mood changes. People with this disorder undergo unusual shifts in his or her mood, activity levels, energy and the ability to carry out daily activities (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). A person can go from being very outgoing and energetic to feeling irritated and worthless over a period of a few days, months, or even years. People with bipolar disorder experience “mood episodes”, represented by a drastic change in a person’s unusual mood or behavior (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). A manic episode he or she may experience is overexcited and overly joyful; however, someone in a