Bipolar disorder is a very serious mental health problem that centers on variation of moods in persons that suffer.
It is a condition that goes by several other names that include the following.
It is also known as manic depression, manic depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder; just to mention a few.
When it comes to this disorder, the term mania will feature a lot referring to abnormally elevated moods which is clinically defined as stated.
Those that fall into the trap of the disorder will often have the depressive and manic episodes that can also present with all sorts of mixed symptoms.
In patients, depression and mania will tend to alternate and this is commonly known as rapid cycling.
These cycles can pave way to more severe forms of the disorder which can present with psychotic symptoms.
Examples of such symptoms to be observed in people that have extreme bipolar disorder include delusions and hallucinations.
There are many types of this disorder and they are subdivided into several categories according to severity.
Bipolar spectrum refers to the different ranges that the disorder can be placed in.
The following are examples of top types of bipolar disorder.
There is bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia and the list goes on.
When it comes to different cultures and ethnic groups, this condition does not discriminate.
Also, experts say that it affects men and women equally.
In the United States alone, there are around 5 million people who suffer from bipolar disorders of some kind.
When it comes to symptoms, they will differ from individual to individual.
So far, no blood tests can conclusively show that the disorder is present in a person.
It is pretty difficult to tell bipolar disorder from other similar disorders.
Experts in the field also find it difficult to make accurate diagnosis.
However, the symptoms of bipolar disorder will differ from unipolar depressive conditions when patients experience depressive symptoms together with manic ones.
In other words, mania and depression will be the things to look out for to identify this condition.
For those who are not familiar with depressive and maniac symptoms, the following are examples.
When the sufferers of bipolar disorder are depressed they will feel sad, anxious, guilty, angry, isolated, hopeless, lonely, fatigued, no joy for life, no sexual appetite, poor concentration, suicidal and a general loss of motivation for life.
When it comes to manic episodes, the following are the symptoms to look out for.
First, there is increased energy, increased spending, low concentration, poor or distorted speech due to fast thoughts, the patient might abuse substances like sleeping pills, alcohol, cocaine and other stimulants.
Patients that are manic will also be aggressive and somewhat uncontrollable.
They will have an increased sexual drive and many will be euphoric to say the least.
There are other symptoms that will be as a result of a milder mania which is commonly known as hypomania.
There are so many aspects to this disorder and many that suffer around the world do not even know it.