Can you imagine having unpredictable moods that range from being in an extreme state of euphoria and then to be in an extreme state of depression and anhedonia? Someone with these unpredictable extreme mood changes is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a sad reality that affects many people worldwide. It can effect your function in work and class. Someone with bipolar disorder can go from feelings of anhedonia when they cannot experience pleasure for weeks or months to extreme feelings of euphoria, when they are on top of the world. According to National Institute of Mental Health, this disorder affects about 2.3 million adults in the United States and about 1.2 percent of the population worldwide. It is a growing mental illness that we are researching constantly to try and figure out how to treat this mental illness effectively.
What is it?
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to do day-to-day activities. Very little is known about the causes of bipolar disorder, although it does run in families, suggesting a genetic link. It often develops in late teens or early adult years. Almost half of all cases start before age 25. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe, but can be treated with medication. Symptoms are different from the ‘normal’ ups and downs that everyone gets from time to time. Someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder experiences swings in mood from periods of mania to deep depression. Between these severe highs and lows can be stable times. However, do not be fooled by the stable times, as bipolar disorder typically lasts a lifetime.
Manic Episodes:
Symptoms may include:
– feeling euphoric- excessively ‘high’
– restlessness
– Extreme irritability
– Talking very fast
– Sleeping very little
– Risky behavior
A person may be unaware of the changes in their attitude or behavior. Once the phase is over, they may be quite shocked at what they’ve done.
Depressive Episodes:
Symptoms may include:
– A sense of hopelessness
– Feeling empty emotionally
– Feeling guilty
– Feeling worthless
– Chronic fatigue
– Loss of interest in daily life
Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated.
How to help yourself if diagnosed with bipolar disorder?
It may be very hard to take the first step to help yourself. But always remember, you can get better with treatment.
To help yourself:
– Talk to your doctor about treatment options and progress
– Keep a regular daily routine, such as going to sleep and waking up at the same time every night
– Stay on your medicine
– Try to get enough sleep
– Learn about warning signs signaling a shift into depression or mania
– Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately
Bipolar disorder is a common mental illness that can be treated. More studies are coming out about the effective treatment of those with bipolar disorder. In the future this can create huge advances in the field of mental illness.
Sources:
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/bipolar_disorder_manic_depression#what
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