Bipolar Disorder
Nearly 6 million adults suffer from the disease of bipolar disorder and that number is increasing every day. That is a HUGE number and it is increasing daily. It can be misdiagnosed as ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) in the early years. Often times, children are medicated for ADHD instead of bipolar disorder. When with a little more research a proper diagnosis would reveal it to actually be bipolar disorder. This is sad but a known fact. Children with ADHD often times have discipline problems. The symptoms are similar, and this is why it is hard to distinguish between the two. Sometimes children suffer from both. If your child has the symptoms, which I will cover in this article, please seek treatment for them from a licensed health professional and help them to adjust to their new Illness. They don't act out because they want to. Often time's bipolar disorder or ADHD is the cause for the behavior. They will need medication and talk therapy to work through it, and learn to live a productive life. A person with bipolar disorder can live a productive life they just need the proper diagnosis, medications and talk therapy.
If it is, be patient, watch for the symptoms of allergic reactions to medications (it can manifest as hives, a swollen face, and weight gain to name a few) and be aware of the possibility that allergic reaction is part of the treatment. Suicidal ideations should be taken seriously under any circumstance; it may be a matter of an allergic reaction to a medication.
Bipolar disorder is defined as severe manic/depression. The person who is afflicted with it has extreme highs and unforgiving lows, often with long periods of regularity in between. The medical association changed the name to bipolar disorder and made it more definitive. I feel that manic/depression is more descriptive of the disorder, but that is just my opinion.
There are two types of bipolar disorder, bipolar I and bipolar II. People with bipolar disorder I, you will have a history of at least 1 episode of mania characterized by irritable moods that are severe enough to impair a person's ability to function normally, in relationships, social situations and work environments. This manifests its self usually in the late 20's and early 30's. With bipolar II a person experiences at least 1 episode of depression and at least 1 episode of severe mania that repeats it's self.
Sometimes the treatment requires hospitalization to control the symptoms and treat the disorder. This can give the health care professional a better picture of which type you have. You may describe your manic episodes, but there is nothing better than them actually seeing you in action.
Bipolar disorder I has many of the same symptoms as bipolar II, however not as severe. The symptoms are as follows:
1. Increased Activity
2. Less need for sleep
3. Euphoric mood
4. Racing thoughts
5. Forceful rapid speech
The warning signs are as follows:
1. Being in a sad mood
2. Being in an anxious mood
3. Excessive feelings of worthlessness
4. Loss of interest in pleasurable things (like sex and hobbies)
5. Difficulty concentrating
Bipolar disorder II usually takes the form of depression. Manic episodes are defined as Hypomania, and are usually less severe in most cases.
Mania is defined as:
1. Feeling especially energetic or irritable
2. Being too talkative or unusually confident
3. Needing less sleep than usual
4. Being easily distracted
5. Becoming overly involved in pleasurable activities such as spending money excessively or sex
6. Doing things that are out of character
The warning signs of depression include:
1. Being sad
2. Being in an anxious mood
3. Excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness
4. Loss of interest in pleasurable activities (like sex and hobbies)
5. Difficulty concentrating
Along with the fore mentioned symptoms a person with bipolar disorder will have mixed episodes. This means that they will experience depressive mania. This is where you switch back and forth between mania and depression very rapidly. This is called rapid cycling. This can be very confusing to the person experiencing the episode as well as those around them. Your doctor can advise you on what to do in mixed episodes. It's no wonder you don't understand what is going on, this is a very confusing illness.