Bipolar Disorder leads to mood swings, which affect the energy levels, attitudes and behavior of the patient. The worst part about bipolar mood swings is that they can destroy relationships, impair job or school performance and can lead to suicide. In addition, family and close friends of the patients are affected because of the complexity of bipolar mood swings.
Origin of the Term
Manic moods are demonstrated by high-energy states; depressive moods are demonstrated by low energy states. As bipolar moods change focus from depressed to manic (and vice versa), there comes a smooth shifting of the bipolar person's energy state up and down the energy continuum. Each end of this energy continuum can be classified as a pole, this is the origin of the term "bipolar", meaning (movement between) two poles.
Manic
Bipolar moods swing between 'up' and 'down' states. Bipolar 'up' states are known as mania; bipolar 'down' states are known as depression. According to experts, a euphoric mood, hyper-activity, an overly positive, expansive outlook on life and an inflated sense of self-esteem demonstrate mania.
When the individual is in a manic state, bipolar people often demonstrate a decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, fast speech and heightened distractibility. Poor judgment and impulsivity is normally shown by manic individuals and they are prone to engaging in dangerous behaviors. As manic states have their presence on a continuum, it is possible for someone to be a little manic or very manic. People who are very manic are said to be experiencing a manic episode; people who are only a little manic are said to be experiencing a hypomanic episode. There are criteria that need to be fulfilled in order to determine a full manic episode.
Depression
Depression is the total opposite mood state from mania. When suffering from depression, there is a distinct level of lethargy, negative outlook on life, low or non-existent self-esteem and a belief that nothing is possible. According to one study, depressed individuals tend to lose interest in things that they used to enjoy such as sex, food or sports. Depressed individuals may sleep excessively or just for two or three hours. Irrespective of how much sleep they actually get, they will complain about feeling constantly tired and fatigued.
Conventional depressed mood symptoms such as sadness, irritability, short temper and agitation are reported by depressed people with bipolar illness. In some cases, anger, guilt, failure and hopeless feelings may also be there. Due to such negative feelings, depressed people loose belief in their capabilities and come to the conclusion that life is no longer exciting.
Energy States
Although people tend to link mania with happiness and depression with sadness, that this is not an ideal method to describe bi polar disorder. Bipolar disorder involves less of a swing between happy and sad states, but an involvement between high and low energy states. When the individual is in a high-energy state, they will show signs of happiness and joy because they are motivated and excitable; when the individual is in a low energy state, they will feel sad, and lack motivation and enthusiasm.
The most important factor is that as the energy level of a manic episode increases, the initial happy mood tends to take a shape of more agitated and psychotic state which can be terrifying rather than happy. Conversely, as a depressive mood state increases, individuals may go from merely feeling bad about themselves to not doing anything except lying on their bed. The happy and sad moods that are thought to demonstrate mania and depression are outcomes of different energy states, not the main features of the disorder.
