Can someone tell me about bipolar?

Question

How could I get help and advice?

Answer 1

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

About 5.7 million American adults or about 2.6 percent of the population age 18 and older in any given year,1 have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop them late in life. It is often not recognized as an illness, and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can't concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Restlessness or irritability
* Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

Answer 2

Hi, I'm bipolar (so there's my reference.) Folks here have already offered a lot of juicy web-based references, so I won't repeat it.

I will point you to NIMH (I'm not sure if anyone here has already linked, but it's worth a shot.) Their website (link below) can help you locate support groups in your area, which might be a starting point. Folks there might be able to recommend doctors - and a good doctor is going to be pretty critical for diagnosis and treatment.

That said, in my opinion, there are some critical things to know about bipolar disorder:

1. Not all bipolar disorders present themselves in the same way. There are different "flavors" of the disorder, as my doctor put it. So to know what medication is best (or if medication is best), you have to get a handle on exactly what the symptoms are, and as you've seen already, they can be complex and interactive.

2. Treating bipolar disorder with a plain ol' antidepressant can be pretty disasterous. My doctor did a thorough interview with me before prescribing anything. There are different combinations of medications that can work. It's not just lithium anymore.

3. Bipolar disorder is a brain chemical imbalance that can cause abrupt shifts in mood. These mood shifts can also be linked to blood sugar levels, patterns of behavior, substance intake (like coffee, alcohol, etc.), sleep, etc.

On a personal note, I'm utterly grateful for my diagnosis. If my therapist hadn't seen me that morning and started asking the right questions, I might never have gotten started down the road to the right treatment. I might have spent the rest of my life battling my symptoms and quite possibly getting worse. It could have been really, really Bad. I feel lucky.

For anyone else who's still trying to work out the right combination of medicine and coping mechanisms, I have the most sincere sympathy. Keep truckin.'

Answer 3

If you think you are Bipolar you need to see a psychiatrist. The disorder is highly treatable. There are many famous, intelligent and artistic people who are Bipolar and doing just fine so don't be afraid of seeking help. Also, there are a lot of websites on the subject if you just Google Bipolar Disorder you will find them.

Answer 4

manic-depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, severe mental disorder involving manic episodes that are usually accompanied by episodes of depression. The term was introduced by the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in 1896. The manic phase of the disorder is characterized by an abnormally elevated or irritable mood, grandiosity, sleeplessness, extravagance, and a tendency toward irrational judgment. During the depressed phase, the person tends to appear lethargic and withdrawn, shows a lack of concentration, and expresses feelings of worthlessness, self-blame, and guilt. The dual character of manic-depressive disorder has given it the name bipolar disorder, in contrast to the unipolar depression symptomatic of the majority of mood disorders. The symptoms range in intensity and pattern and may not be recognized at first. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder may have long periods in their lives without episodes of mania or depression, but manic-depressives have the highest suicide rate of any group with a psychological disorder.Incidence

Estimates suggest that about 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorders. Symptoms usually appear in adolescence or early adulthood and continue throughout life. The disorder occurs in males and females equally and is found more frequently in close relatives of people already known to have it.. It has had notable incidence among creative individuals, affecting such artists as Hector Berlioz, Gustav Mahler, Ernest Hemingway, and Virginia Woolf.

Treatment
Therapy includes lithium (to control mania and stabilize mood swings), anticonvulsant drugs such as valproate and carbamazepine, and antidepressants. Electroconvulsive therapy has been useful in cases where other treatments have had little success. Psychotherapy can provide support to the patient and the family.

Answer 5

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is an illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. You have mood swings. One minute you are happy the next you are sad. It can start at any time in life but usually starts at a young age.It tends to run in families. You can get easily irritated or agressive, problems sleeping without feeling tired, not feeling important, talk a lot, racing thoughts, impulsiveness, poor judgment, easily distracted, rebellious, hallucinations or delusions if it gets really bad, sad for a long period of time, cry for no reason, appetite changes, cant make up your mind, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, find no pleasure in things you used to, social withdrawal, aches and pains that are unexplained, and thinking about death and suicide a lot.

Answer 6

Bi-Polar disorder is another word for Manic Depression. Affecting millions of people around the world, it is a very serious disorder. It causes severe mood swings ranging from depression to moments of extreme happiness. The disorder varies as some cases notice severe mood swings on a daily basis (from deep depression to peak happiness within hours), or for some the depression can last for weeks with peak happiness also lasting weeks. Then there are also some with which it varies from month to month. I'd also like to mention that Bi-Polar is one of the easiest forms of Depression to treat, with medications such as Depakote and Lithium. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

My mother is bipolar i know all about it...... what would you like to know........ it's a chemical imbalance in your brain which effects your mood and temperment, it causes severe mood swings, sensitivity to emotions, either extremely happy or extremely angry, i was always walking on eggshells because i never knew what kind of mood she was in ...... it was horrible but with the right medicine it CAN be helped but if you don't get medicine or if you stop taking the medicine it will cause even worse mood swings......... it just makes your sense of rationing completely go away..... i hope i was of some help..... feel free to talk to me about anything email me @ [e-mail]

thanks

Answer 8

OK, bipolar disorder is a severe condition when a person goes from one extreme to another in their moods. Like one minute, and person can be extremely happy, and then something can trigger the next extreme of depression. It affects everyone that is involved with the person. And they would have to be put on medication. The medication is kinda harsh. Here is a chart for you.......

------------------------------------------- manic episode for a bipolar. usually consists of extreme feelings love and happiness.





----------------------------------------------- happiness of a NON bipolar




------------------------------------------------ Depression of a NON bipolar.








--------------------------------------------- Depression of a bipolar.


I hope that this is some help to you... If you want you can IM me or email me... For I am Bi-Polar and wish that I was never diagnosed with it.... Believe me it sucks ***....

Answer 9

If you have it you will need to learn how to relax, and you might even need medication on occasion.

Yoga, relaxation, and meditation will all assist you to cope with your symptoms of depression and/or mania.

Diet as in eating healthy meals without preservatives if possible would also help.

Going to bed early and rising early is also recommended for anyone suffering any form of depression.

Regular exercise, not too stimulating, as you may become over stimulated and end up having feelings of anxiety.

Answer 10

It is similar to manic depression- a series of concurrent up and down feelings that are not caused by external stimuli. You should go see your doctor but be sure they don't just stick you on medication. Askinstead for them to refer you for alternative therepy first- drugs are never a long term solution.