What exactly is bipolar disorder?

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.

Bipolar disorder is commonly categorised as either Bipolar Type I, where an individual experiences full-blown mania, or Bipolar Type II, in which the hypomanic "highs" do not go to the extremes of mania. The latter is much more difficult to diagnose, since the hypomanic episodes may simply appear as a period of successful high productivity and is reported less frequently than a distressing depression. Psychosis can occur, particularly in manic periods. There are also 'rapid cycling' subtypes. Because there is so much variation in the severity and nature of mood-related problems, the concept of a bipolar spectrum is often employed, which includes cyclothymia. There is no consensus as to how many 'types' of bipolar disorder exist (Akiskal and Benazzi, 2006). Many people with bipolar disorder experience severe anxiety and are very irritable (to the point of rage) when in a manic state, while others are euphoric and grandiose.

for more on symptoms, care and treatment, visit the link below:

Answer 2

Bipolar Disorder (was once known as manic despair), is a intellectual ailment which motives the patient to experiance huge swings of temper. Depending at the 'variety' of bipolar that your mom has acquired (theres variety one million and variety two) those moods can final for months or handiest days. Look it up in Wiki to get a well expertise of it. Some are affected greater than others. Some folks experiancing mania can suppose that they're divine, unstopable and all strong. They can turn out to be obsessive about matters. One patient took his whole vehicle aside in his storage, categorised each side, numbered the whole lot, catalogued the whole lot. Unfortunatly, earlier than he acquired to position all of it again in combination despair kicked in and he threw the lot away! O.K that is an severe case but it surely occurs. The despair aspect of matters could make the character think devestated and think that theres not anything valued at dwelling for. Many of the exceptional poets, authors, painters and inventive folks in gereral have been/are bipolar. It is customarily handled with 'Librium'. This stabilizes the patient. However, a few folks just like the Mania section such a lot they don't take their treatment! I did my dissertation at the hyperlink among creativity and bipolar ailment. Hope any of this helped

Answer 3

It is a mood disorder, it has different levels. But basically think of the north and south poles of the earth. Say the equator is where the so called normal human mood is. Now a Bipolar mood will swing extremely high towards the North Pole in which the person will be extremely happy, anxious, and unable to rest. Or extremely South where they will be extremley depressed, suicidal, hopeless. It will not be in the middle (equator). This is not good. But bipolar people are extremely gifted people, when there moods are controlled.

Answer 4

It used to be called manic depression, but that only describes half of it because people dont look at 'manic' as the opposite of depression.

Its not just serious heartbreaking lows, its creative highs too, from the top of the world to the bottom.

Lots of undiagnosed bi-polar people self medicate, by which I mean they fall into drug or alcohol use to try and stabilise their moods.

Its rotten, but it has the flip side of genius when these people are in the highs.

Famous bi-polars include Spike Milligan, Ellen Degeneres and Napoleon (!)

Theres a huge list here: http://www.geocities.com/coverbridge2k/artsci/famous_people_depression.html

And a lot of good info here: http://www.mdf.org.uk/

Answer 5

If you have bipolar disorder, one day (or even one hour) your mood is low and you feel sad and depressed. Then the next day (or even the next hour) your mood gets really high and you feel great. Then the sadness (depression) comes back.

Answer 6

Bipolar. Is like flip-flop...it toggles. Just like the weather. It constantly change. You need a stabiliser to control the high fluctuation value/

Answer 7

It is the urge to travel from the north pole to the south pole constantly & that is y it is called "bi-polar"

Answer 8

moderate to severe mood swings with several additions, in a nutshell