Depressed? Maybe you have Bipolar Disorder!
The typical life of an individual begins as he wakes up in the morning. He then goes through his life everyday doing his routine activities. He goes to work, meet deadlines, attend meetings, and deals with different kinds of people. At home, he has to do chores, and spend time with the family. He also does other activities like going to the supermarket, church, and other important places. And not only that, he encounters different situations everyday that either he welcomes or resents. Many factors contribute to making an individual ill.
Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder have to deal with such condition all the days of their life. Talking about such disorder can be very embarrassing for some people but this should not be so since the illness can be managed especially if you know how to do it.
Manic depression was often been used to describe this type of depression. The reason for the name bipolar is in reference to the extremes of emotion a person may have. In the morning you are happy and at noon you are down and feeling suicidal. These range of emotions are so drastic and very opposite from each other that the name bipolar is used.
Episode Types
The episodes are divided into four types: depression, mania, hypomania, and mixed mood. When a person feels depressed, he or she feels sad and don’t want to do the usual things. Those that exhibit mania usually start having a high feeling, and become angry and irritable. They are the ones who tend to do risky things. The milder form is known as hypomania which can lead to either depression or mania; this episode also starts with feeling good and the person may think that more things are done. Others who have episodes with feelings of depression and mania mixed together is called mixed mood.
Symptoms to be aware of!
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
The four main types of bipolar are the following:
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 ? A more milder form of bipolar that occurs less frequent then the other 2 disorders. The main episodes are hypomania and depression that produce a fluctuating level of disturbance in the individual!
4. Not Specified ? of the four types of disorder this one is the most treatable. This best explains the symptoms of the individual when they do not fall into the three types of disorder just mentioned.
Bipolar disorder does not have one single cause. The disorder is comes from many different aspects of ones life, genetics, environment and emotional up bringing. This is why there is on going studies occurring to better make us understand why it happens.
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’re experiencing bipolar symptoms, then you’d better check with your doctor as soon as possible.