Friday, January 23, 2009

Bipolar Disorder Signs

By Ken P Doyle

Having bipolar can be quite serious and at the same time, scary. However, with a combination of both drug therapy and psychotherapy, treating bipolar has become easier. There have been major breakthroughs in this area.

What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is characterized by the incidence of "manic" highs, followed by depressive lows. Usually, there is also a period of normality in between these two phases.

Manic Phase

There is a high probability that in the manic phase you would experience extreme high energy. Your brains and body would feel as if they were suddenly put on high speed. You'll have very quick thoughts and movement. Being in this state is pretty damaging and dangerous. The sad thing about being in a manic state is that you can become quite irritable towards the people you love and do compulsive things without first thinking of the consequences.

Depression Phase

Like almost everything else, bipolar disorder also has its lows or opposites. This is a time of depression. Here there are excessive feelings of depression, low self-esteem, the inability to feel any of the pleasures of life and fatigue. The symptoms of depression here can be triggered by the guilty feelings of what you may have done in your manic state.

Different Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are also different types of bipolar disorder. Some people cycle through the phases of mania and depression very slowly, while other people cycle very, very quickly through these phases so that they're constantly going up or down. These severe mood swings can impact life negatively in every way, from personal relationships to work life.

Noticing Warning Signs

Do you know someone who is suddenly having trouble sleeping? For no apparent reason, the also have a lot of excess energy? Be careful because this may be the start of the manic phase. Its important that you go straight away to the doctors to get a diagnosis. Failing to do so would make give you more troubles in the long run. It is better to treat bipolar in the early stages because without doing so, it can cause symptoms to get worse and even the high probability of psychosis.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Its of great importance that you take care of the problem before it gets any worse. This is because the depressive phase can be bad for the sufferer while the manic state can have effects on people around the person with bipolar.

Why? Bipolar disorder can cause very distinct mood swings that make interpersonal relationships difficult. More than that, the mania associated with bipolar disorder can cause very irresponsible behavior that has lasting consequences. For example, hyper-sexual acting out can cause irreparable damage to marriages, while excessive shopping, reckless driving, and other similar activities can cause financial difficulties.

Help - Don't Be Afraid to Get It

Don't be afraid to get help for yourself or someone else you know if you suspect bipolar symptoms. Its a fact that there is a stigma associated with this disorder, but ignoring it will only make it worse in the long run. Getting help would make it better for you in time. - 16004

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