Bipolar Disorder Featured Article
Symptom Of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is an affliction that affects countless people world wide. Many people suffer with this emotional disorder for their entire lives without getting the medical attention that they need. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic- depressive illness that causes mood swings, energy displacement and ability to function normally. It is a brain disease that cannot be cured; just like heart disease or diabetes, but with proper treatment and understanding bipolar disorder can be treated so it will be under control thus, no longer life threatening.
How can you recognise the symptom of bipolar disorder.
Firstly the problem with diagnosing bipolar disorder is that the symptoms are a little tricky to pinpoint.
* A main symptom for bipolar disorder is mood swings – these mood manifestations are not what we normally see or experience ourselves; they are dramatic ups and downs. When a person suffering bipolar disorder is experiencing a down period they are liable to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The difficultly lies in the fact that everyone has mood swings. An individual who has bipolar disorder will have no other point of reference than his own experience. He may think that everyone goes through these changes in moods and so can’t recognise them as a symptom of bipolar disorder.
*The other symptom of bipolar disorder is energy displacement – a person suffering from bipolar disorder experiences at times tremendous energy bursts and that may keep him/her awake for days and they often don’t eat well during these periods. It isn’t until the individual is unable to function normally that the bipolar disoder becomes apparent. However, this usually occurs when the individual is in a deep state of depression. Since the person or his concerned family will seek help during the depressive state the physician may misdiagnose the individual with depressive disorder rather than bipolar disorder.
Treatment for bipolar disorder
An individual who has bipolardisorder needs a mood stabilizer like lithium rather than an antidepressant. The mood stabilizing medication will help the individual find the balance that he so desperately needs. When the person does not get the proper treatment, he may try to self-medicate by taking drugs. Psychological treatment is essential for managing the symptom of bipolar disorder long term; medications are available with the doctor’s prescription, which help in stabilizing the mood swings and the depression. Support of family and friends is what usually helps most to assist the sufferers as they deal with the mania and depression episodes; they do need constant supervision in order to assure that their bipolar disorder medication is taken on time on a daily basis.
Facts about Bipolar Disorder
* Approximately 5.7 million adult Americans or approximately 2.6% of US population over 18 suffer from bipolar disorder.
* Manic depression typically occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood with very few reported cases ofbipolar disorder developing late in life.
* Bipolar disorder cannot be cured but it can be successfully treated and kept under control with the proper care.
There is information available on the web, in any hospital or with one’s doctor if you have any doubts about someone close has the sypmtom of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder can be fatal if it is not treated in time and as the depressive episodes get worse; if in doubt about the disorder and its symptoms, contact help right away to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment are on the way – prompt action may save the afflicted person’s life.
An individual who has bipolar disorder may show signs when he is in a manic state. His pattern of speech may quicken and he may talk incessantly. Spending binges are a big sign of bipolar disorder as well. It is important to consider these episodes and communicate them to your doctor if you are seeking treatment for depression.
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