Bipolar disorder

BIPOLAR DISORDER OVERVIEW

Bipolar disorder, also was know as manic depressive illness, is a serious mental illness that causes unusual and severe mood changes.It is a dual extreme mood disorder. The exteme of Bipolar disorder are Depression or feeling low and Manic when feeling high.The person may experience distinct episodes of mania and depression, and these episodes may switch rapidly, even multiple times in one week. It varies in severity, and mild cases may appear ordinary for many years.

Symptoms vary; a person may be predominantly depressed, or predominantly manic. In between episodes, a person is likely to be quite well and able to function.

Another type of Bipolar that can exist is
Cyclothymic disorder (also called cyclothymia) is defined by recurring hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes.

CAUSES

Exact cause of bipolar disorder is still not known. It starts during teenage or adolescence. Due to lack of knowledge about the disorder, most people with bipolar disorder suffer for a long time before seeking help.

1. Hormonal imbalance
2. Genetics,
3. Extreme trauma due to tragic incident
4. Drugs or substance abuse.

Bipolar disorder can co-exist with other illnesses such as acute depression with psychosis or schizophrenia.

SYMTOMS : As its in extreme moods the symtoms are also based as per the mood as follows

1. Depression Mood
   Always Sad, hopeless
   Loosing interest in activities,lethargic
   Loss of appetite
   Easily agitated
   Racing thoughts
   Suicidal Tendancy
   Talking fast about a lot of different things (“flight of ideas”)
   Having a decreased need for sleep
   Feeling able to do many things at once without getting tired
   Having excessive appetite for food, drinking, sex, or other pleasurable activities
   Feeling unusually important, talented, or powerful
   
   
2. Manic Mood
   Overly elated
   More irritable
   Less sleep
   Makes grand plans
   Impulsively engage in potentially dangerous behaviour.
   Feeling very down or sad, or anxious
   Feeling slowed down or restless
   Having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or sleeping too much
   Talking very slowly, feeling unable to find anything to say, or forgetting a lot
   Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
   Feeling unable to do even simple things
   Having a lack of interest in almost all activities
   Feeling very up, high, elated, or extremely irritable or touchy

ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS

1. Anxiety disorders
2. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
3. Misuse of drugs or alcohol
4. Eating disorders. 
5. In some cases, bipolar disorder can co-exist with other disorders such as schizophrenia or severe depression.
6. A person with bipolar disorder may be at a higher risk of thyroid, diabetes, or some other physiological illness.

1. Thyroid
2. Diabetes
3. Any Physiological illness.

TREATMENTS