when a person is diagnosed as being "bi-polar", what does that mean?

Answer 1

Bipolar disorder
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For other uses, see Bipolar.
" Manic Depression " redirects here. For other uses, see Manic Depression (disambiguation).
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Classification & external resources ICD-10 F31
ICD-9 296
MedlinePlus 001528
eMedicine med/229
Bipolar disorder was once known as manic-depression. It is a diagnosis in psychiatry referring to periods of extreme, often inappropriate, and sometimes unpredictable mood states. Bipolar individuals generally experience mania, hypomania or mixed states alternating with clinical depression and euthymic or normal range of mood over varied periods of time. There are many variations of this disorder. Generally, however, a person with bipolar disorder tends to experience more extreme states of mood than others, which can change quickly or last for months. Mood patterns of this nature are associated with distress and disruption, and a relatively high risk of suicide. Bipolar individuals may also interpret others emotions differently that a 'normal' person. There have also been links to high functioning, notably regarding hypomania ('below mania') and above-average creativity, high productivity, and self-expression. Many successful people in the world have been diagnosed with the disorder, and some even credit it for their creativity. (see bipolar disorder and creativity) Bipolar is usually treated with medications that help to stabilize mood, and/or therapy and counseling.

Answer 2

Bi-polar disorder used to be called manic depression. It is characterized by having episodes of hyper mood or mania, then becoming depressed with a hypo mood. polar means opposite ends, like the north and south poles. "bi" means both or two. Bi-polar disorder can be so severe that people might not be able to care for themselves. However, there is medication available to help with the mood swings.

Answer 3

A bi-polar individual has a affliction. And no i do no longer think of that bi-polar persons are loopy and no person has the miraculous to assert that. Bipolar affliction consequences from disturbances in the factors of the strategies that alter temper. There are 2 usual styles of bipolar affliction. those with bipolar affliction a million have had a minimum of one totally manic episode with classes of significant melancholy. those with bipolar affliction 2 seldom adventure finished-fledged mania. the top reason is unknown. some human beings take medicine for this affliction. in case you desire to understand greater approximately it seek the information superhighway.

Answer 4

Bi-polar disorder is a condition where a person alternates between emotional extreams of depression and an energetic and optomistic state. This disorder can be explained by having low levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin, which controlls sleep, appetite, and mainly your mood.

Answer 5

Bipolar is a mood disorder. The classic bipolar has distinct episodes of elevated mood (very, very happy), increased energy, less need for sleep, rapid thoughts and speech, and pleasure-seeking (more interest in sex, more use of drugs/alcohol, overspending, gambling, etc). These episodes last days to weeks and are a departure from what the person is usually like. Bipolars also experience episodes of depression, with sad mood, less energy, changes in sleep, changes in appetite, loss of interest in fun activities, and suicidal thoughts. Some bipolars go back and forth between the high periods (mania) and low periods (depression), while others have periods of normal mood in between. In general, bipolars are depressed much more often then they are manic. Bipolar is rare, affecting perhaps 2% of the population. Sadly, many people now call themselves bipolar in order to escape negative consequences of their behavior, when in fact they suffer from nothing more than substance abuse, immaturity, or poor judgement.

Answer 6

Bi-polar depression was earlier called Manic depression, or Manic Depressive Diorder. There are major mood swings and mania (hyperactivity) is one of the phases, followed by depression.

Diagnosis is followed by treatment.

To know more, visit www.webmd.com or www.about.com and type Bipolar Depression. Also, you may like to check out this article: http://www.hpathy.com/papersnew/ahsan-depression-mania.asp

which treats the general subject of depression and other mental health disorders from the alterantive health point of view.

Answer 7

It means we are less crazy then the a holes that answer your question. You know the prob about yahoo answers? A normal question gets bipolar answers...maybe these people who answer like this should take my Lithium. The people who answer with bipolar answers like thier crazy or ch..ching should stick to the things they know best about like nail polish, hair color, what color condom to use tonight and many more varoius subjects they do know about.
I get tired of people making fun of others dissabilities of which I have lived 15 yrs with wonderfully. Next they will make fun of mentally retarded people or someone in a wheelchair perhaps. Bipolar is real just like STD's that alot of people on this site obvoiusly have...Because I think certain ones cause predjudice answers like these.

Answer 8

It means that they swing from a depression (everybody knows what depression is like) to mania (stark raving mad insanity).

It's a more common condition than you might think. Most people don't swing quickly from one state to another (Happy! Sad! Happy! Sad!) it's usually in month long periods with transition periods.

Lithium supplements have been known to deal fairly well with the problem of bipolarity, but the medicaiton requires constant supervision because lithium itself can be very toxic and bipolars have a tendancy to go off their meds (to experience the highs of mania)

Answer 9

It's what they used to refer to as manic-depressive...severe highs and lows of mood, not a lot of in-between. They tend to be either very "up" or very down, and have a hard time just staying on an even keel. It can be very exhausting for the people close to them.

Answer 10

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/bipolarmenu.cfm Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical illness that causes 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.