| Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as | | | | disorder causes dramatic mood swings, from overly |
| manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that inflicts | | | | high, called a mania episode to an overly low mood |
| unusual swing not only in a person's mood but also the | | | | called severe depression. Some of bipolar disorder's |
| level of energy, irritability, aggressiveness, ability to | | | | manic symptoms include restlessness, extreme |
| function and temperament. Although we all experience | | | | irritability, super-charged energy level, racing thoughts |
| certain changes in our mood from time to time, | | | | and ideas followed by the inability to express them in |
| someone who suffers from bipolar disorder | | | | an understandable manner, feeling excessively "high" or |
| experience this in much greater intensity and severity, | | | | euphoric, feeling jumpy or needing very little sleep, total |
| often it becomes so extreme and disruptive that this | | | | lack of concentration, becoming easily distracted, |
| disorder interferes with a person's normal daily life. This | | | | unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers and poor |
| condition can be dangerous and even life-threatening if | | | | judgment. Some may also experience increased |
| left undiagnosed and untreated. A patient who is | | | | sexual drive, becoming intrusive, aggressive or |
| suffering from bipolar disorder may deteriorate from | | | | provocative and still deny that anything is wrong with |
| feeling depressed to feeling absolutely suicidal as the | | | | them. On the other end of the scale, symptoms of a |
| sense of sadness, loneliness and hopelessness take | | | | depressive episode include an overwhelming feeling of |
| hold. This disorder usually develops in late adolescence, | | | | hopelessness or pessimism, a prolonged feeling of |
| around the age of eighteen or early adulthood. | | | | emptiness, anxiety and extreme sadness, a sense of |
| However many sufferers live with this condition for | | | | guilt or worthlessness, difficulty in concentrating, |
| years before it is properly diagnosed. Without | | | | remembering or making decisions, sleeplessness or |
| treatment, the usual course of bipolar disorder tends to | | | | chronic fatigue leading to excessive sleeping, loss of |
| go from bad to worse. The risk of suicide appears to | | | | interest in activities previously enjoyed, weight gain or |
| be higher earlier in the course of the illness, | | | | loss, and continuous thought of suicide or death. |
| consequently being able to detect the symptoms of | | | | Seeking Treatment A sufferer of a bipolar disorder will |
| bipolar disorder early and learning how best to manage | | | | need to be diagnosed by a certified professional |
| it may help decrease the risk of death by suicide. | | | | before treatment can commence. Most people with |
| Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder How can you identify | | | | this condition, including those with the most severe |
| the symptoms of bipolar disorder? It is sometimes | | | | forms, can achieve substantial stabilization of their |
| quite easy to dismiss this condition especially among | | | | mood swings and related symptoms with proper |
| teenagers as they are usually full of angst, depressed | | | | medication and psychosocial treatment over a period |
| or go through different phases of intense emotions | | | | of time. Both the patient and doctor must work closely |
| during late adolescence or early adulthood. Parents do | | | | together every step of the way to monitor progress |
| need to keep an eye on their teenage children's | | | | and make the necessary adjustments to the |
| feelings and if these episodes of mania or depression | | | | treatment plan to ensure treatment effectiveness. |
| do not subside or stop altogether, they could well be | | | | For more great articles on Bipolar Disorder please visit |
| exhibiting the symptoms of a bipolar disorder. Bipolar | | | | Bipolar Disorder Advice. |