Manic Depression, also Known as Bipolar Disorder, is a condition that affects a lot of people all over the world. If a person is suffering from the illness they are likely to experience extreme mood swings, within minutes or over a longer period of time, sometimes over a month.
These extreme periods or episodes of moods are Depression or Mania, flipping from one to the other within a short time. During the depression a patient will feel very low, while this period lasts a patient will feel very sad, desperate and inadequate. These feels can last for a long period.
During mania, the patient will feel very high spirited full of hope and may feel extremely happy and have lots of ambitious plans and ideas. They may also spend large amounts of money on things that they cannot afford. Not feeling like eating or sleeping, talking quickly, and becoming annoyed easily, are also quite common.
Moreover, during a manic phase, the patient may also have symptoms of psychosis, where the person can imagine things, see or hear things that are not there. This has also been tagged hypomania in the past.
No! two people have been known to suffer the same pattern of mood swings in bipolar disorder, They may vary widely among individuals. Some individuals may only ever suffer a couple of bipolar episodes in their lifetime and are stable in between, while others may suffer more repeated and severe episodes and experience many relapses during their life.
It is not known how one gets the disorder and the cause is not fully understood but there is evidence that the illness runs in the family. The bipolar disorder can develop at any age and unfortunately the condition is more common then you may realise.
It affects 1:100 but different studies show that one is more likely to show signs between ages of 15 and 25 years although this is not concrete, and it affects both sexes and does not have any racial or cultural barriers.
Signs to look out for during the two phases.
The common symptoms of bipolar disorder are mood swings. The ups and downs range from extreme satisfaction (mania) to extreme despair (depression). Sequences of mania also depression may possibly last a long period of time. Suffers of the condition the illness may swing from highs to lows momentarily, without having a ‘normal’ state of life in between. This is categorised ‘rapid cycling’.
Feelings one expects to experience during (low) phase may include:
o feeling sad and hopeless,
o lack of energy,
o finding it difficult to concentrate and remember things,
o loss of interest in everyday activities,
o feelings of emptiness or worthlessness,
o feelings of guilt and despair,
o feeling pessimistic about everything,
o self-doubt,
o difficulty sleeping and waking up early, and
o suicidal thoughts.
The manic (high) phase which may come after 2-4 periods of low(Depression) may include:
o feeling extremely happy, elated or euphoric,
o talking very quickly,
o feeling full of energy,
o feeling full of self-importance,
o feeling full of ‘great’ new ideas and having ‘important’ plans,
o being easily distracted,
o being easily irritated or agitated,
o not sleeping,
o not eating, and
o doing lots of pleasurable things which often have disastrous consequences – e.g. spending a lot of money which you cannot afford.
Some people who suffer with bipolar disorder may have more frequent and severe episodes than others. Due to the extreme nature of the condition, it may be difficult to hold down a job and relationships may become strained. There is also an increased risk of suicide.
During their manic bouts a suffer may experience things such as seeing, hearing or smelling things that are not there (hallucinations). You may also believe things that seem irrational to other people (delusions). This is known as psychosis or a psychotic episode.
Getting the right diagnoses for Bipolar Disorder.
If you suspect you could be suffering from the disorder it is very important you seek help and be referred to a specialist immediately. You doctor who may not be trained in this field very often will refer you to a specialist. This will often be a psychiatrist. If your doctor thinks that, due to your illness, there is a risk that you could harm yourself, or others, s/he will arrange an appointment straight away. You may also seek direct consultation with a specialist if you or you loved one shows signs of the illness.
The consultation will very often start by asking a lot of questions to establish whether you are suffering from bipolar disorder. You will be asked about the symptoms that you have had, and when you first experienced them.
The consultant will also want to explore your background and family history to establish if any of your family have had the condition. If someone else in your family has suffered bipolar disorder, the specialist may wish to talk to them, but will ask for your permission before doing so.
If you show certain signs, you may also have to undergo tests to see whether you have a physical problem such as thyroid disease. If you have bipolar disorder, it is important you visit your doctor on a regular basis to have a physical health check.
You doctor might prescribe antidepressants for you depression.
Antidepressants are drugs that treat the symptoms of depression.
There are three main types of antidepressant:
o selective serotonin
o tricyclic antidepressants
o monoamine oxidase inhibitors
There are also other drugs that do not fall into these categories too.
Antidepressants work by changing the level of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Antidepressants work by changing the level of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Normally, these chemicals pass signals from one brain cell to another, but in depression, some of them don’t work properly. Antidepressants increase the level of active neurotransmitters.
Antidepressants can cause some side effects, including drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting. However, this usually settles down as you get used to the drug. They usually have to be taken for a long time, and when it is time to come off them, it’s important to come off them gradually to avoid any side effects or relapses.
Don’t leave getting treatment for bipolar disorder too late.
Help is available for sufferers in may forms, You can have a better understanding of the disorder by getting hold of a well researched and compiled eBook from the link below.
There are a number of drug treatments available that can help to stabilise mood swings. These include:
o Lithium carbonate
o Anticonvulsant medicines
o Antipsychotic medicines
If you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, it is possible to learn to recognise the warning signs of an approaching episode of mania or depression. This will not prevent the episode occurring, but will enable you to get help in time. This could involve some changes to your treatment, perhaps adding an antidepressant or an antipsychotic medicine to the mood stabilising medication that you are already taking.
Majority of your treatment will be available to you without having to stay in hospital. However, if your symptoms are very severe, or because there is a danger that you will harm either yourself, or others, you can be admitted to hospital. As an alternative, it may be possible for you to receive treatment in a day hospital and return home at night.
There is also psychological treatment that will help you to deal with your depression, your symptoms, and provide advice about how you can improve your relationships. For example, advice may include, taking regular exercise, and planning activities that you enjoy, and that can give you a sense of achievement. You may be referred to a dietician, but you must seek help and advise from your doctor and consultant.
There is well a researched and detailed eBook that goes into explaining the disorder and can give the reader well informed insight into managing the Bipolar disorder. Although there is no known treatment for the illness the patient can live a near normal life if the disorder and the roller coaster mood swings are managed properly. The ebook and a whole lot more information is available by visiting the link below.
You cannot prevent episodes of mania or depression occurring, but there are things that you can do to help manage the condition effectively.
