What is bipolar disorder?

Answer 1

manic-depressive behavior


What is Bipolar Disorder?
The distinguishing characteristic of Bipolar Disorder, as compared to other mood disorders, is the presence of at least one manic episode. Additionally, it is presumed to be a chronic condition because the vast majority of individuals who have one manic episode have additional episodes in the future. The statistics suggest that four episodes in ten years is an average, without preventative treatment. Every individual with bipolar disorder has a unique pattern of mood cycles, combining depression and manic episodes, that is specific to that individual, but predictable once the pattern is identified. Research studies suggest a strong genetic influence in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognized as a psychological problem, because it is episodic. Consequently, those who have it may suffer needlessly for years without treatment.

Effective treatment is available for bipolar disorder. Without treatment, marital breakups, job loss, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide may result from the chronic, episodic mood swings. The most significant treatment issue is noncompliance with treatment. Most individuals with bipolar disorder do not perceive their manic episodes as needing treatment, and they resist entering treatment. In fact, most people report feeling very good during the beginning of a manic episode, and don't want it to stop. This is a serious judgment problem. As the manic episode progresses, concentration becomes difficult, thinking becomes more grandiose, and problems develop. Unfortunately, the risk taking behavior usually results in significant painful consequences such as loss of a job or a relationship, running up excessive debts, or getting into legal difficulties. Many individuals with bipolar disorder abuse drugs or alcohol during manic episodes, and some of these develop secondary substance abuse problems.

Answer 2

a condition in which is categorized into three different categories based on their symptoms. Most people with bipolar disorder experience recurrent episodes of both mania and depression.

In some, the manic mode is most prevalent. This is often marked by feelings of elation, euphoria, or a feeling of 'being on top of the world'. During a manic episode a person may sleep very little , talk fast and continuously, take little time to eat, show marked irritability and impatience, and have racing thoughts.

Depression is a condition during which ones mood changes from normal to very low, blue, sad, or unhappy. A person may experience changes in sleep pattern (insomnia or sleeping too much), altered appetite, lack of energy, increased worrying, decreased interest in usual interests. Depressive episodes last from weeks to many months.

Mixed episodes are characterized by both manic and depressive symptoms occurring during the same episode.

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat the disorder and it really depends on the symptoms and the patient.

Answer 3

It's a psychological disorder in which the person alternates from high energy and elevated mood to low energy and depression. Lots of "ups" and "downs" in a short period of time. The person might seem hyper and crazy one moment, and sad and quiet the next.

My brother is bipolar, and while it is sometimes difficult to deal with, it is by no means a crippling, insurmountable problem.

Answer 4

A chemical imbalancein the brain that causes an individual to oscillate between to extremes in their personality. One day they are on top of the world and EVERYTHING is wonderful. Food tases the best it has ever taseted, the joke they heard is the funniest one they've ever heard, their spouse is the greatest. And then the next day they are in the depths of despair with NOTHING being good or right or comfortable. They sink into helpless despair bordering on suicidal. Nothing is known to trigger these mood shifts and living with a bi-polar person can be one of life's greatest challenges. "Annie" the nurse demonstrated some of these characteristics in the movie "Misery."

However, proper medication can even out the mood swings and make life more bearable for these people and those around them.

Answer 5

I myself am bipolar...It has changed my life in such a way its hard to decribe .I could give text book example but I wont.for me with bipolar
with out my Meds of course..I feel sad all the time ,dont want to get up in the morning,rappid thoughts(thinking the samething over and over again) major paranoia of public places ,always think people are looking at me and out to get me,and just cant seem to be happy..
Thats how I feel as a bipolar,Im sure other people feel different things. But as long as I take my meds I am somewhat ok.
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/bpbasics/a/0...

Answer 6

A mental disorder showing both depressive episodes and manic episodes. Some may show only one of these.

Answer 7

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive disorder in which the afflicted expriences conflicting personalities. Approximately 2.6% of the U.S. adult population has bipolar disorder.

As Kay Redfield Jameson put it:

"Manic-depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to live. It is an illness that is biological in its origins, yet one that feels psychological in the experience of it; an illness that is unique in conferring advantage and pleasure, yet one that brings in its wake almost unendurable suffering and, not infrequently, suicide."

"I am fortunate that I have not died from my illness, fortunate in having received the best medical care available, and fortunate in having the friends, colleagues, and family that I do."


The disorder normally begins to appear in adolesence or young adulthood.

Bipolar disorder causes the individual affected to experience great highs and lows, where one at one time feels irrate (a high) and hopeless ( a low). These swings in mood can occur at any moment and can continue to fluxuate extraordinarily quickly. The highs are identified as the "manic" part; the lows as the "depressive" part.

Symptoms of a "high" are:

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

Symptoms of a low:

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 mania episode can be diagnosed as having abnormally high amounts of energy and euphoria, along with at least three other of the symptoms. The symptoms must continue chronically for almost 24 hours, around 7 days in a row. If the mood is more sullen and angry, there must be at least four other symptoms present.

Depressive episodes must show at least five symptoms for around fourteen days to be diagnosed as such.

Denial of having bipolar disorder often comes if the person is experiences "hypomania", where the mania episodes range somewhere in the middle of a range of severity. The afflicted may deny this, as hypomania can result in increased productivity and a great feeling, as said in the symptoms, euphoria.

More severe episodes can include psychosis symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations. (Delusions vary from hallucinations in the sense that delusions refer to a strong, irrational BELIEF, whereas hallucinations concern seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are not present at the time)

Bipolar can be arranged in a list of severity:

Severe depression-deep, chronic depression that lasts for long period of time.

Dysthymia-shorter-lived depression, but still a deep depression

Balanced mood

Hypomania- (described above)

Severe mania-even greater delusions and hallucinations than experienced during a hypomania session and the pleasure evaporates.

Mixed episodes combine symptoms of both ends of the spectrum, and are rarer than simply depressive or mania episodes.

Medication, such as thyroid balancers, helps to control Bipolar Disorder.

Answer 8

a mood disorder; a type of depression (once known as "manic depression")

Answer 9

it is when you are sad and then you are happy, and you don't have any real control over this.