About Bipolar Disease

Often misunderstood, people with bipolar disease suffer from the mental stigma of being emotionally unstable. Rather than improving, they usually grow worse if not diagnosed and given a personalized treatment plan. About 5.7 million Americans (see Resources) struggle with bipolar disease. Although a positive diagnosis can be devastating, it's also a relief to know what's wrong. The good news is that many bipolar people can control their disorder and live normal lives once they get help, such as Oscar winner, Patty Duke Austin.

Identification

• Also known as bipolar disorder, or manic depression, bipolar disease is a complex mental disorder involving dramatic mood swings. While one moment the bipolar person is severely depressed, the next minute, he's stimulated with energy and excitement. Mood swings can last for long periods of time and then switch. Usually, bipolar disease hinders everyday life so normal functioning isn't possible.

Types

• Bipolar 1 is the most severe type in which someone swings from drastic mood swings of depression and mania. Bipolar 11 is milder, with less intense periods of hypomania exchanged with episodes of depression. Even milder is cyclothymic disorder, a chronic condition where people can display symptoms of hypomania and depression for at least two years.
  In mixed bipolar disorder, both mania and depression occur concurrently. The bipolar person can feel both angry and grandiose at once, making for a dangerous combination. With rapid-cycling bipolar disorder four or more mood incidents can happen within a 12-month period. However, some people can experience several episodes within a week or even within 24 hours. Women suffer more from this bipolar disorder than men do. Severe depression and even suicide can result from rapid-cycling bipolar disorder

Symptoms of Mania and Hypomania

• People with mania can feel optimistic, while feeling irritable at the same time. Rapid talking to the extent others can't understand what's said is another sign. Bouncing with energy, they don't sleep.
  They believe they can accomplish great feats, having unrealistic conceptions about their abilities. The mania mind can race with thoughts. Faulty judgment and impulsivity are other symptoms. Bipolar people in the mania mood can be distractible and suffer from delusions and hallucinations.
  Hypomania is a less severe form where people feel energetic, euphoric and productive, although they usually don't suffer from delusions and hallucinations. However, hypomania usually rises to full-blown mania, but can also be followed by major depression.

Bipolar Depression Symptoms

• While it's similar to major depression, bipolar depression differs because it has more signs of low energy. Besides moving and speaking slowly, bipolar depression also involves excessive sleep and losing contact with reality. Other symptoms include sadness, loneliness, apathy, poor concentration and low self-esteem.

Causes of Bipolar Depression

• Although the exact cause is unknown, scientists believe it can be genetic or due to an imbalance in brain chemistry. People with genetic factors, combined with traumatic lives are especially prone to become bipolar. Changing health habits or hormonal problems may lead to a bipolar incident. Substance abuse isn't considered a cause, but it can hinder recovery, as alcohol and tranquilizers usually result in a more depressive condition.

Diagnosing Bipolar and Treatment

• Unlike most illnesses, bipolar is hard to diagnose. Besides complete medical and physical exams, psychiatrists conduct a comprehensive psychiatric history, including a family history of both medical and psychiatric concerns because mood disorders are often genetic. Current indicators of mood swings are evaluated to see what symptoms are common to manic and depressive bipolar symptoms.
  After bipolar disease is diagnosed, doctors explain treatment options and may prescribe medication. Then referrals are made to another mental health profession to work on a personalized treatment plan. Besides mental health specialists, other professionals may include psychologists and counselors.

Misconceptions

• It's a myth that people can fight bipolar disorder if they only try hard enough. Bipolar is a medical illness, stemming from genetic and biological causes. A patient cannot overcome mood swings with only will power. Telling a bipolar person to snap out of it just adds to the severity of the illness.