Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Closer Look at Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

By Ken P Doyle

The mental disorder known as bipolar affects people of any ages. However, it occurs more commonly in teens and adults. It can be quite difficult to self-diagnose because there are a lot of mental disorders with similar symptoms to Bipolar disorder. Another problem is that there are different types of bipolar which makes it difficult for people to realize that what they are experiencing is already the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

The Depressive Episode

The depressive episode is one of the classic symptoms of bipolar disorder. The main feature of this episode is a decrease in pleasure, as well as a decrease in interest in the daily activities. This mood, when compared to the standard mood and routine of the individual, can be very different. When in that state, the person will feel like they are in a state of depression which is probable to occur with or without any causes at all. The mood can also be described as being in a state of sadness or emptiness. The person is often mistaken by thinking that they are acting this way because of other big problems. During this stage of the bipolar disorder, the impact on the persons occupational and social functioning can be negatively affected. Bipolar symptoms can last for days or even a couple of weeks depending on the severity of the disorder.

The person will most probably lose weight because the appetite is affected. Other common symptoms are extreme fatigue, loss of energy, decrease in gross motor skill agitation, and sleeplessness. The person may also have feelings of worthlessness and guilt, all which can lead to suicidal attempts and death.

The Manic Phase

The manic phase is the opposite of a depressive state. The symptoms experienced here would be the exact opposite to the ones experienced in the depressive state. The behaviors manifested here can also be due to known or unknown causes just like the depressive episode. It may also last from days to weeks depending on the severity of the disorder.

The Mixed Period

On the other hand, during the mixed period, both the bipolar symptoms of the depressive episode and the manic episode can be manifested at the same time. This could last for one week up to a couple of weeks. The mixed episode can be considered as more dangerous and can cause more social impairment in the daily functioning and work situations since the symptoms present are of both the depressive and manic phases. Additionally, when the symptoms of depressive and manic episodes are occurring all at once, it becomes more difficult to treat the disorder and it is harder to predict the behavior of the person.

Other health conditions and substance abuse are often confused in most cases of bipolar disorders. Due to this fact, most cases of bipolar disorders are diagnosed at later stages when the condition has worsened.

In order to treat the disorder once the symptoms are being identified, it is necessary to know the bipolar disorder symptoms. Bipolar disorder is a very dangerous type of mental disorder because it can lead to suicide and death. It is strongly advised to visit a psychiatrist at once to prevent these things from happening. - 16004

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