Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How do you know you have Bipolar Disorder?

By Dr. Arturo Ovies

There are many different factors that can attribute to making someone depressed. Often times the illness is not something that happens over night but over time. There are many life situations that can attribute to ones illness from a truck driver to a white collar professional. There are no age boundaries for this type of illness and it can affect men and women equally. Whatever your situation there is a reason for the way you feel!

Anyone suffering from bipolar disorder has to deal with this condition every day. Many people often don't realize that they have an illness and may feel isolated by feeling the way they do. Taking the steps necessary this illness can be managed if given the right tools!

Bipolar disorder was often referred to as manic depression for many years. However, it was realized that the symptoms for bipolar disorder where much more severe in relation to emotional feelings. It has been documented the individuals may be happy one moment to being suicidal the next. The extremes of emotion is why this is illness is now called bipolar disorder.

Episode Types

The four main areas of episodes are depression, mania, hypomania and mixed mood. The most severe of the four episodes is mania where someone could be expressing emotions of joy and happiness to anger. Individuals that have this type of emotion tend to exhibit a risky behavior pattern. A milder version of mania is hypomania which is the same as mania but without the extremes of emotion. Mixed mood is the combination of both the mania and depression mixed together.

Symptoms

Depression and mania are the two main symptoms that individuals can classify themselves in. Individuals that find themselves sleeping more, feeling tired all of the time and body weight fluctuation, are classified depressed. Mania is the complete opposite of depression. People that have mania often have higher energy levels, little or no sleep and are easily distracted.

Types

Here are the four main types of bipolar:

1. Bipolar I ? this type involves manic and mixed episodes, as well as major episodes of depression. The bipolar patient may experience more than one episode for several days, weeks, or even months. Seasonal changes also seem to affect the symptoms exhibited by the person.

2. Bipolar II ? Major episodes include depression and hypomania for this type of bipolar. In between these episodes individuals can act normally without any display of emotional distress.

3. Cyclothymic Disorder ? This type of disorder is considered a milder form of hypomania and depression episodes, which occurs with less frequency.

4. Not Specified ? this is a treatable disorder and the symptoms exhibited by the individual does not fall into any of the three types mentioned; the disorder varies from one person to another.

There is no known cause of bipolar disorder. Some say that it has something to do with genetics. But that alone is not enough to cause such disorder. Perhaps other factors contribute to the disorder and that is why further studies are underway.

Neurotransmitters are special chemicals located in the brain cells of all types of people, age groups and sex. These are special chemicals that seem to be involved in the disorder in one form or another.

If you think you or a loved one have symptoms of bipolar, please take the time to consult with a medical doctor to get your options and do it as soon as possible! - 20896

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