What is Bipolar Disorder?

Question

And what are the symptoms?

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.

Check the reference I listed, it's a good source of info.

Answer 2

It seems to be the new trend in diagnosis with doctors who don't really know what's wrong with their patients.

Now that I got the snotty comment out of the way...

The least of the technical terms is basically mood swings, you have the manic part which is the high energy good mood, we're not just talking whistle why you work good mood. It's the shout at the top of your lungs laugh so hard you cry good mood. Then you get the polar opposite effect, you become depressed.

Bipolar people can also have a different reality than what we have. What they see and how situations unfold as they retell the situation are askew. It is hard to call them liars because in their reality this is how things really happened although the rest of the room saw something totally different.

It's like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of Oz, both Alice and Dorothy experienced something very real TO THEM and we all know it was a dream.

Answer 3

Bipolar disorder is sometimes referred to as Maniac Depression. It is a chemical imbalance which causes severe mood swings. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground mood wise- high highs and low lows. Each person is affected differently. Some individuals get on the right medicine and do fine; others find it more difficult to find the right mix of medicine and therapy.

It's of utmost importance to be diagnosed correctly. Right now it seems that Bipolar is becoming the new ADHD - doctor's are diagnosing it quickly.

A psychiatrist could do the diagnosing and treatment. We see specialist for skin, bones, eyes, female stuff, heart etc - when it comes to the mind it deserves specialist care too. If you don't like/agree with the first Psychiatrist, find another.

Answer 4

it means manic depressant- depression that can come and go, usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks at a time, moods can swing from totally happy and hyper and then bottom down to deep depression, it is like a roller coaster, some people can get very anger for no real reason, some can get very aggresive, some hallucinate, staying up for days at a time with a huge amount of energy, some people clean like spring cleaning all night and then turn around and do the same thing the next night. Some have memory loss. Most people have similer symptoms but it is normally differant for each person, differant to the degree of how bad it can get or how good it can be.

Answer 5

I think everyone else here covered the symptoms of bipolar disorder pretty well, however there are degrees to which the disorder shows itself.

"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."

http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/bipolar.html#types

Answer 6

Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a psychiatric diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders in which the person experiences clinical depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states.

Cases of bipolar disorder are generally divided into two diagnostic categories, Bipolar I and Bipolar II, with Bipolar I cases generally being regarded as more severe than Bipolar II. Left untreated, bipolar disorder can be a severely disabling condition, with a risk of death through suicide.

The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression) is that bipolar disorder involves both elevated and depressive mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. Fluctuating from one mood state to the next is called "cycling". Mood swings can cause impairment or improved functioning depending on their severity. There can be changes in one's energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and cognitive functioning. During these times, some people may have difficulty functioning.

Answer 7

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

Answer 8

I was diagnosed aver 20 years ago with this disorder, but back then it was named: "manic depressive". You experience bouts of incredible energy in your mind where you think you can jump out of a car at 60 mph and survive and then feel the complete opposite after the feeling where you can drop to a catatonic state of depression. (these are the extremes)

It's simply a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be controlled properly with medication so the brain can release a consistent amount of endorphines at all times.

Anyways, from what I learned is that this occurs early in your 20's and lasts until about 40yrs old. You can learn also to control it on your own but only doc will allow you. 1 in 20 people have this dissorder to varying degrees.

That's all I can say in a 'nutshell'. Hopefully, someone will research it for you in today's sciences.

Answer 9

Bi-polar disorder is a very common imbalance in the brain. It usually is triggered or caused by an injury to the brain. Your brain produces chemicals that make you feel calm, sad. excited. happy, afraid, sleepy. and energetic. Sometimes when the brain is injured the signals that tell what chemical is needed is broken. Manic(full of energy. happy. running over with ideas, so excited you can't sleep.)times are followed by Depressive(sad. nervous. anxious. tierd.indecisive.tearful.) feelings. There are several new medications that can balance out your chemicals and help you to lead a productive life without so many up and downs. Please seek help and if your are diagnosed bipolar please get counseling as well as meds for yourself. Your family may also need counseling to deal with their feelings of helplessness and frustration,

Answer 10

Bi-Polar disorder Sometimes called 'Manic..Depression' It is manifested by severe mood swings..long periods of depression and periods of great euphoria..some people have more depression and only seldom exhibit the manic phase..any mental health professional can guide someone to the diagnosis and treatment they need...there is also a lot of litriture out there on it and there is also information on the internet...good luck.