Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that leads to unusual shifts in a patient’s mood, energy and ability to perform normal tasks. Quite different from the normal ups and downs that every person goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, job loss, hamper school performance and even lead to suicide. Bipolar disorder can be treated with ease and people suffering with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
Long-term illness
It is believed that 5.7 million American adults (about 2.6% of the population) is suffering from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder normally develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. Few individuals have their first symptoms during childhood or develop them late in life. It is often not considered an illness; because of this, people suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that is no less difficult to live with or treat as diabetes or heart disease. It must be carefully managed throughout a patient's life.
Symptoms of bi polar Disorder
The mood swings associated with bipolar disorder range from incredible highs or intense irritability to incredible lows of depression. You can experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness which can switch to mania even when you have moods that are totally normal in between the switches. Severe changes occur in energy and behavior along with the changes in mood. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are:
Enhanced energy, activity and restlessness; depressed energy levels.
Excessively highs, overly good, euphoric mood; depression and sadness.
Extreme irritability.
Racing thoughts and fast talking, jumping from one idea to another; slow talking.
Distractibility
Poor judgment; apathy.
Spending sprees.
Enhanced sexual drive; low or no sex drive.
Getting assistance for patients of bi polar depression
Anyone who is suffering with bipolar disorder should be under the proper guidance of a psychiatrist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Other mental health professionals, like psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and psychiatric nurses, can also play a prominent role in offering the person and family with additional approaches to treatment.
Assistance can be found at :
Universities or medical schools.
Hospital departments of psychiatry.
Private psychiatric offices as well as clinics.
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
Offices of family physicians, internists and pediatricians.
Public community mental health centers.
Remember that people suffering with bi polar disorder may need assistance to get assistance.
Often people suffering with bipolar disorder do not realize how impaired they are or they blame their problems on some cause other than mental illness.
A person suffering with bipolar disorder may require strong encouragement from family and friends to seek treatment. Family physicians can play a significant part by offering a referral to a mental health professional.
Sometimes a family member or friend may need to take the person with bipolar disorder for a proper mental health evaluation as well as treatment.
A person in the midst of a severe episode may need to be hospitalized for their own protection and much-needed treatment. The person suffering with bipolar disorder may not be interested in going to the hospital but it is mandatory.
Ongoing encouragement and support is an absolute must after treatment because it may take a while to get the ideal treatment plan in order.
As is the case with other kind of serious illnesses, bipolar disorder is tough on spouses, family members, friends and employers.
People who are suffering with bipolar disorder get much-needed support by joining support groups such as those funded by the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (NDMDA), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and the National Mental Health Association (NMHA).
