Bipolar disorder, also called "manic-depressive" disease, is a mental illness that causes people to have severe high and low moods. People with this illness switch from feeling overly happy and joyful (or irritable), to feeling very sad. Because of the highs and the lows — or two poles of mood — the condition is referred to as "bipolar" disorder. In between episodes of mood swings, a person may experience normal moodsSymptoms of mania ("The Highs"):
Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry and hostile
Restlessness
Rapid speech and poor concentration
Increased energy and less need for sleep
High sex drive
Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
the lows
Drug and alcohol abuse
Increased impulsivity ,,sadness
Loss of energy
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
Difficulty concentrating
Uncontrollable crying
Difficulty making decisions
Irritability
Increased need for sleep
Insomnia or excessive sleep
A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
Thoughts of death or suicide
Attempting suicide
December 4th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Bipolar Disorder is (to be blunt) when a person goes from extreme depressed periods, being unnormally sad to extreme energetic periods, being unnormally hyper.
It can be treated with medicine in some cases.
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December 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable for a week or more. You may spend a lot of money, get involved in dangerous activities, and sleep very little. After a manic episode, you may return to normal, but your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and lose interest in things you once enjoyed.
The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may develop gradually over several days or weeks, or come on suddenly within minutes or hours. The manic or depressive episodes may only last a few hours or for several months.
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December 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can't concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Restlessness or irritability
* Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
References :
National Institute of Mental Health
December 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
People with this disease have extreme emotional highs that can be displayed in elation or anger. Then they will have extreme emotional lows. They are generally sexually promiscuous and bad with their finances as they are self gratification seekers. This disease can be very dangerous if left untreated.
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December 4th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
All I know is one of my friends has it and he is one cool dude, but every once in a while he just goes bonkers.
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December 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I dated a male with bi-polar. OMG, I can only describe it was PMS without the bloody mess!
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December 4th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Depends on what type of bipolar it is. My own personal experience has been mostly depression which has been crippling to say the least. I've only experienced one major manic episode which is when I admitted myself into the hospital. Some of the symptoms on the depression side of it have been, major depression, anxiety, low self esteem, lack of focus and ability to concentrate, irritability, lack of motivation. On the manic side some symptoms have been, extremely high energy with very little need for sleep, completely careless and wreckless activity with little to no sense of reality. The basics are extremes in moods and mood changes. It's a chemical imbalance that has no cure and is with you for life. The bright side is that there are meds out there which will bring back stability so you can get on with your life.
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December 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
there are different variations of bipolar disorder and other disorders that are related to it. the rest of the answer is found in the other posts…
one variation is: cyclothymia (minor manias and depressions)
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December 4th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
NEO112 (above) pretty much sums it up!
I have Bipolar Mood Disorder and right now the thought of writing out all of the conditions/symptoms seems way too difficult……..so take it from NEO112 and myself.
Bipolar is only controlled by taking medications faithfully….but even though you take these medications, their strength may change and you will have to be re-evaluated again for a new phase of your illness.
Good luck. To be able to live through all of this you will need a wonderful friend or partner to help you make it through all of this shit!
I wouldn't be alive today if I didn't have the warm shoulder to lean on from my partner! Oh! Yeah. Suicide is a prevalent side effect of the illness. Just remember that it TRULY DOES PASS…and just be held for the night to get through it all.
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December 4th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Bipolar disorder, also called "manic-depressive" disease, is a mental illness that causes people to have severe high and low moods. People with this illness switch from feeling overly happy and joyful (or irritable), to feeling very sad. Because of the highs and the lows — or two poles of mood — the condition is referred to as "bipolar" disorder. In between episodes of mood swings, a person may experience normal moodsSymptoms of mania ("The Highs"):
Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry and hostile
Restlessness
Rapid speech and poor concentration
Increased energy and less need for sleep
High sex drive
Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
the lows
Drug and alcohol abuse
Increased impulsivity ,,sadness
Loss of energy
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
Difficulty concentrating
Uncontrollable crying
Difficulty making decisions
Irritability
Increased need for sleep
Insomnia or excessive sleep
A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
Thoughts of death or suicide
Attempting suicide
References :