What Is Bipolar Disorder?.

These mood episodes include the manic episodes and the depressive episodes. The mood changes of mania include a long period of an overly happy mood and irritability; the behavioral changes are talking quickly, having racing thoughts, being distracted, increasing of activities, being restless, getting little or no sleep, being impulsive, and engaging in high-risk, pleasurable activities or behaviors (NIMH, 2015). The mood changes of the depressive episodes are loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed and a long period of sadness; the behavioral changes are feeling very tired, having trouble with decision making and problem solving, being irritable, changing normal habits, and negative thinking (NIMH, 2015). Sometimes symptoms from both episodes can be present in a person’s current mood episode. This is called a mixed state. In the mixed state, a person can feel agitated, have a change in eating habits, and have suicidal thoughts; they also feel very hopeless and very energized at the same time (NIMH, 2015). About ten percent of people have at least four mood episodes every year which is called rapid cycling bipolar disorder (Schacter el at.,

“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 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,

People with bipolar I disorder have full manic and major depressive episodes. Most of them experience an alternation of the episodes; for example, weeks of mania may be followed by a period of wellness, followed, in turn, by an episode of depression. Some, however, have mixed episodes, in which they display both manic and depressive symptoms within the same episode—for example, having racing thoughts amidst feelings of extreme sadness. In bipolar II disorder, hypomanic—that is, mildy manic—episodes alternate with major depressive episodes over the course of time. When a person experiences numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild depressive symptoms, but not full-blown episodes, DSM-5 assigns a diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder. The symptoms of this milder form of bipolar disorder continue for two or more years, interrupted occasionally by normal moods that may last for only days or weeks.

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 is a brain disorder it can cause shifts in moods, activity level, energy, and also the ability to due day-to-day tasks. It is also commonly known as manic- depressive illness.

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 Disorder is a disorder when a person who suffers from it can have moments of depressive symptoms but also have episodes of mania. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. Mania in a person can be described as having rapid thoughts, aggression, increased physical activity, and many more symptoms. The depressive symptoms in a person with bipolar can be

The changes are in behavior are huge and completely opposite from their normal behavior. Bipolar II disorder consists of episodes of depressive behavior and mixed emotions. Bipolar disorder not specified is a person who may have symptoms of bipolar disorder but they do not last long. The symptoms are not the person’s normal behavior, but they cannot be diagnosed with bipolar disorder I or II. Cyclothymic disorder is the fourth type of bipolar disorder and is the mildest form of the disease. People with cyclothymic disorder may have mild depression and minor mood swings (nimh.com,2009).

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)

     Your doctor may ask you or a family member who has accompanied you about your signs and symptoms and to describe apparent episodes of mania and depression. Diagnosis also involves ruling out other mental health conditions that may produce some symptoms similar to bipolar disorder.

Bipolar can be present in mild condition even if these major symptoms are not present. People can have an emotion state known as hypomanic episode, the person experiencing may not feel any changes have a feel great, highly productive, and function well, but there family and friends can recognize the mood swings. There are other diagnosis besides the symptoms, doctors tend to do a physical exam to examine if any medical condition cause the symptoms. They may ask the patient about their thoughts, feelings, and behavioral pattern the process is called psychological examination, the patient has to fill psychological questionnaire and family member or close friend can have access to the information about behavior patterns. They can also have to conduct a mood chart that to have a daily record of mood, and sleep patterns and be able to understand if it is a pathway to be diagnosed for bipolar disorder. When a person is diagnose it is typically is people in their teenage and 20s. People are sadly “10 to 20 times more likely to commit suicide than people without bipolar disorder. Tragically, as many as 10% to 15% of people with bipolar disorder eventually lose their lives to suicide” (Bipolar Disorder Health Center 1).

Also known as Manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is categorized by episodes of mania and depression. (Campbell,86) A common misconception of bipolar disorder is that the mood changes are very rapid.

Although the causes of bipolar disorder aren’t completely clear, it is known that it often runs in families. Problems with chemicals in the brain that help control moods may play a role. It can change the person’s life drastically. The first symptoms usually occur in the teenage years or early adulthood. The symptoms include sadness, feeling of worthlessness; changes in sleep changes in eating, anhedonia and suicidal behaviour. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others stay equally cycling between the two types of episodes. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be treated but there is no known cure. Although long term counselling is a very important part of the treatment, it can often be very challenging. It is hard for people with this disorder to have a good relationship with the therapist/counsellor. There are medications that