Getting to Know Bipolar Disorder
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
Bipolar disorder, often called manic depression, is a combination of mood disorders characterized by mood instability. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings that can shift from depression to mania. It is a lifelong illness that is often associated with distress and disruption, and in extreme cases, suicide.
Since the mood swings normally last for weeks or months, bipolar disorder affects not only the lives of its sufferers but the lives of their family and friends as well.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder are quite similar with those of schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and depression. Because of this, many people who are actually suffering from this illness have been wrongly diagnosed.
Bipolar disorder is classified into 3 types.
A person with recurring episodes of depression and mania that last for short periods is classified as suffering from bipolar I. People with bipolar II normally experience hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than that of bipolar I. They also suffer from at least one major depressive period. The third type of bipolar disorder is called rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, where the patient experiences periods of depression, mania, or both, at least 4 times over a period of 12 months.
Although there is no definite cause for bipolar disorder, a combination of factors that include genes, hormonal imbalance, environmental elements, and special chemicals in the brain are believed to be strong contributors.
Medicine, therapy, and education about the illness have helped people with bipolar disorder lead normal lives.
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