Bipolar disorder

Published: November 30, 2009

Bipolar is a serious brain disorder, which leads to extreme mood swings that can range from depression and sadness to elation and excitement. Though mood swings might not sound really serious, many lives are threatened by this disorder and unfortunately it leads to suicide in almost 20 percent of the cases.

Also known as manic-depressive disorder, this disease is a mental illness involving scenarios of serious mania and depression. People suffering from bipolar usually experience mood swings like going from completely irritated to sad and then returning to normal. This does not happen on a daily basis, as there are periods of normal mood in between. Some people only experience the episodes of elation and excitement and not depression.

Along with unusual shift in mood, a person also feels low on energy, activity levels are low and so is the ability to carry out daily chores. Bipolar is one of the hardest mental illnesses to diagnose and treat. As there is no simple medical test to determine the disorder, the diagnosis is usually subjective to the professional making it.

Naturalnews.com reported that a study showed that the diagnosis of bipolar in children has increased forty-fold between 1994 and 2003.

An interesting fact about bipolar is that many of its sufferers abuse alcohol, prescription medication and illegal substances.

This manic depressive illness typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood with symptoms like irritability, rapid thinking and speech, elevated mood, reduced sleep, lack of inhibitions, lack of insight and feeling high about their own selves.

Some of the causes of bipolar are generally believed to include:

• Genetics
• The brain’s biochemistry
• Environmental factors

Bipolar disorder does not have not chronic thanks to the availability of effective treatments including psychotherapy and medication involving anti depressants. People with bipolar disorder can treat themselves with therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, psycho education and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy. Since bipolar can lead to high levels of depression, a person’s life can sometimes take a sharp turn involving marital break-ups, alcohol, drug abuse, job loss and suicide. Support from family and friends is an ideal way to deal with living with bipolar.

Other celebrities who have bipolar are Ben Stiller, Elvis Presley and rapper DMX.

Read more about bipolar here.

Image: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/880737

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Published November 30, 2009 by David in Health Conditions
Tags: bipolar, brain, depression, mental illness