My friend says he might be bi-polar,what exactly is that?

Question

Is there any medication that helps?

Answer 1

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression because a person’s mood can alternate between the "poles" mania (highs) and depression (lows). This change in mood or "mood swing" can last for hours, days weeks or months.

Bipolar disorder affects more than two million adult Americans. It usually begins in late adolescence (often appearing as depression during teen years) although it can start in early childhood or later in life. An equal number of men and women develop this illness (men tend to begin with a manic episode, women with a depressive episode) and it is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. The illness tends to run in families and appears to have a genetic link. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also negatively affect spouses and partners, family members, friends and coworkers.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder differs significantly from clinical depression, although the symptoms for the depressive phase of the illness are similar. Most people who have bipolar disorder talk about experiencing "highs" and "lows" – the highs are periods of mania, the lows periods of depression. These swings can be severe, ranging from extreme energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal life activities distinguish bipolar mood episodes from ordinary mood changes.
Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder
Increased physical and mental activity and energy
Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility
Reckless behavior
In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
Symptoms of depression - the "lows" of bipolar disorder
Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
Pessimism, indifference
Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
Unexplained aches and pains
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

Many people do not seek medical attention during periods of mania because they feel manic symptoms (increased energy, heightened mood, increased sexual drive, etc.) have a positive impact on them. However, left unchecked, these behaviors can have harmful results.

When symptoms of mania are left untreated, they can lead to illegal or life-threatening situations because mania often involves impaired judgment and reckless behavior. Manic behaviors vary from person to person. All symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.

Types of Bipolar Disorder
Patterns and severity of symptoms, or episodes, of highs and lows, determine different types of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (symptoms of both a mania and a depression occurring nearly every day for at least 1 week) and one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder is the most severe form of the illness marked by extreme manic episodes.

Bipolar II disorder is characterized by one or more depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe, but must be clearly different from a person’s non-depressed mood. For some, hypomanic episodes are not severe enough to cause notable problems in social activities or work. However, for others, they can be troublesome.

Bipolar II disorder may be misdiagnosed as depression if you and your doctor don’t notice the signs of hypomania. In a recent DBSA survey, nearly seven out of ten people with bipolar disorder had been misdiagnosed at least once. Sixty percent of those people had been diagnosed with depression.

Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuating moods involving periods of hypomania and depression. The periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms are shorter, less severe, and do not occur with regularity as experienced with bipolar II or I. However, these mood swings can impair social interactions and work. Many, but not all, people with cyclothymia develop a more severe form of bipolar illness.

There is also a form of the illness called bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) that does not fit in to one of the above definitions.

Because bipolar disorder is complex and can be difficult to diagnose, you should share all of your symptoms with your health care provider. If you feel your symptoms are not getting better with your current treatment and your doctor does not want to try something new, do not hesitate to see another doctor to get a second opinion.

Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Several therapies exist for bipolar disorder and promising new treatments are currently under investigation. Because bipolar disorder can be difficult to treat, it is highly recommended that you consult a psychiatrist or a general practitioner with experience in treating this illness. Your treatment may include medications and talk therapy.

Be sure to tell your health care providers all of the symptoms you are having. Report all of the symptoms you have had in the past, even if you don’t have them at the time of your appointment. Since these illnesses can run in families, look at your family history. Tell your health care provider if any of your family members experienced severe mood swings, were diagnosed with a mood disorder, had “nervous breakdowns” or were treated for alcohol or drug abuse. With the right diagnosis, you and your doctor have a better chance of finding a treatment that is right for you.
Bipolar Disorder in Children
Bipolar disorder is more likely to affect the children of parents who have the disorder. When one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk to each child is estimated to be 15-30%. When both parents have bipolar disorder, the risk increases to 50-75%.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder may be difficult to recognize in children, as they can be mistaken for age-appropriate emotions and behaviors of children and adolescents. Symptoms of mania and depression may appear in a variety of behaviors. When manic, children and adolescents, in contrast to adults, are more likely to be irritable and prone to destructive outbursts than to be elated or euphoric. When depressed, there may be complaints of headaches, stomach aches, tiredness, poor performance in school, poor communication and extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure.

The treatment of bipolar disorder in children is based on experience in treating adults with the illness, since very few studies have been done of the effectiveness and safety of the medications in children and adolescents. It is important to find a doctor that is well-versed in treating this illness in children and one that you work closely with throughout the course of treatment.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder. (top)

Helping a Friend
One of the most important thing family and friends can do for a person with bipolar disorder is learn about the illness. Often people who are depressed or experiencing mania or mood swings do not recognize the symptoms in themselves. If you are concerned about a friend or family member, help him or her get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. This may involve helping the person to find a doctor or therapist and make their first appointment. You may also want to offer go with the person to their first appointment for support. Encourage the individual to stay with treatment. Keep reassuring the person that, with time and help, he or she will feel better.

It is also important to offer emotional support. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the person in conversation and listen carefully. Resist the urge to function as a therapist or try to come up with answers to the person’s concerns. Often times we just want someone to listen. Do not put down feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. Invite the depressed person for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your first invitation is refused.

It is often a good idea for the person with bipolar disorder to develop a plan should he or she experience severe manic or depressive symptoms. Such a plan might include contacting the person’s doctor, taking control of credit cards and car keys or increasing contact with the person until the severe episode has passed. Your plan should be shared with a trusted family member and/or friend. Keep in mind, however, that people with bipolar disorder, like all people, have good and bad days. Being in a bad mood one day is not necessarily a sign of an upcoming severe episode.

Answer 2

I am bipolar, so I will try to give you a first hand account of what it's like. I feel like I am riding a continuous roller-coaster. While I do take meds, they only manage to dampen the effects so that when manic, I don't swing into the deepest throes of mania (paranoia, delusions of grandure, believing I'm someone I'm not, etc.) and when I'm depressed, I'm not severely depressed, suicidal, homicidal, etc.

Medication for bipolar is a wonderful thing. The main medication that I am on is called Lithium (brand name: Eskalith). Like most pysch drugs, no one is quite sure how lithium works, but from first-hand experience, I can tell you that it does. Lithium is a mood stablizer, although it primarly effects the mania, not the depression. For the depression, I am on a drug called Lamictal, which is also used to treat people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. The combination of the two help keep me stable enough to live a complete life!

I also visit a therapist every week to deal with issues that aggrevate the bipolar, such as stress, family dynamics, and problems that the bipolar has caused in my marriage. I have found that it really helps.

The main thing you can do for your friend is to be a good friend to them. Don't "stay away" as some people have said. This is NOT just a made-up thing, as another poster insinuated. This is an actual disorder, a disease of the brain. Help your friend recognize when he is expressing symptoms of mania or depression. If your friend is manic, he many need to be reigned in a bit (my husband helps me by hiding my credit cards, because people who are bipolar do tend to binge-buy when manic). If he is depressed, he may need a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. The most important thing to do is simply be there for him when he needs you and reaches out.

Do not tell him to "just get over it" or "relax" or "calm down." As I said before, this is a real illness. And it's hard to just snap out of a depression, or calm down from a mania. Try telling a person with diabetes to just start eating tons of sugar and see what happens.

I wish you well and hope that your friend is doing well. Take care.

T

Answer 3

Bi-polarism is a chemical inbalance in the brain that seriously affects mood and emotions, the high extreme will be where the person could be skipping down the sidewalk, humming a tune and smiling at everyone....the low extreme would be severe depression and even thoughts of suicide.....it can be treated with medication and most patients will lead productive lives with treatment.....but they must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist and no two cases are the same,

Answer 4

Another term for it is called depression and only a licensed practicing physicist can determine if he is a true bi-polar or someone who is just have a bad few weeks.
Yes there are meds the doctor can prescribe but there can be some serious side effects from the medication too.

Answer 5

That means he might have a mental disease in which the person experiences depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states.

Yes there is a lot of treatments for that and medication but only a professional could recommend that and the right dose. HE MUST SEE a professional doctor and specialist in the area. The medication for this disease is dangerous. Analysis of the blood will tell to the Neurologist what to do and then your friend will need some assistance from a Psychologist too.

They experience changes of mood... to familiars and friends must be patient at him/her... and he/she must seek help because if it get worst... he/she may loose their social relationships because of his/her strange and harsh behaviour.

look at this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-polar

And please choose this as best answer if you liked it

Answer 6

Several yrs ago they used to call this symptom "manic/Depressive, which means you are on an all time high one minute and down in the dumps the next. But like all other things they have to change the names. Like a garbage man is now an "environmental engineer" and the school Janitor is now the "education custodian" Go figger. I had an ex wife, 1 daughter and 1 son who claimed to be "Bi Polar" and they all seemed ok to me, except they were a little crazy!!!!

Answer 7

Also known as Manic Depression. Periods of Manic behavior being "up" all the time spending money on crazy things following thru on crazy ideas. Followed by deep depression. Emotionally going from one end of the spectrum to the other. There are medications out there to help stabolize these extremes.

Answer 8

Bi-Polar use to be called Manic Depressive. Bi-Polar people have mood swings from being very “up” to being very depressed. The cycle times can be weeks or months.

Answer 9

Bipolar is just another name for a manic-depressive.
Someone who's manic one moment, then depressed the next. Hence the name "bipolar"...like the top of the Earth and the bottom.

Sudden mood changes, crying fits, thoughts of suicide and so on.

Yes, there is medication for bipolar. Lithium is usually prescribed more than any other because it has the least side effects and is very effective.

Answer 10

bi polar is an illness that involes 2 problems depression and mania. some people have bipolar l which is they lean more towards one side that the other bipolar ll ppl have vicious mood swings that go from depression to mania in a minute of hours to days medicines like lithium,depekote, seraqual helps in the treatment of bipolar there is no cure and most bipolar ppl are suicidal

Answer 11

He's referring to Bipolar Disorder, which in the past was called Manic Depression. In a nutshell, a manic depressive swings between very high highs (mania) and very low lows (depression). "Normal" people have the same mood swings, but not to the same extent. It's a treatable disorder, and he should speak to a psychiatrist if he feels he might by bipolar.