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Bipolar disorder is a mood
disorder characterized by pathological mood swings from mania
(exaggerated feeling of well-being) to depression. Everyone has
ups and downs in mood; happiness, sadness, and anger are normal emotions
and an essential part of everyday life. Bipolar disorder is a
medical condition in which people have mood swings out of proportion, or
totally unrelated, to things going on in their lives. These swings
affect thoughts, feelings, physical health, behavior, and functioning.
Either the manic or depressive episodes can predominate and produce few
mood swings or the patterns of mood swings may be cyclic. The
manic phase is characterized by elation, hyperactivity, over-involvement
in activities, inflated self-esteem, a tendency to be easily distracted,
and little need for sleep. The manic episodes may last from
several days to months. In the depressive phase, there may be
sluggishness (inertia), loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, sadness, and a
risk of suicide. Some people are known as rapid cyclers and their
mood may change several times a day.
Bipolar disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood,
although it can start in early childhood or as late as the 40’s or 50’s.
It affects men and women equally. The cause is unknown, but
hereditary and psychological factors may play a role. Bipolar
disorder is not a sign of a “weak” or unstable personality. It is
a treatable medical disorder for which there are specific medications
that can help. On average people with bipolar disorder see 3-4
doctors and spend over 8 years seeking treatment before they receive a
correct diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis, proper treatment, and
finding the right medications can help people avoid the following:
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Suicide |
The
highest risk is in initial years of the illness. |
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Alcohol / Substance Abuse |
More
than 50% of those with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol or drugs
during their illness. |
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Marital and Work Problems |
Prompt
treatment improves the prospects for a stable marriage and
productive work. |
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Treatment Difficulties |
There
is evidence that the more mood episodes a person has, the harder
it is to treat each subsequent episode and the more frequent
episodes may become. |
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Incorrect, Inappropriate, or
Partial Treatment |
A
person misdiagnosed as having depression alone, instead of
bipolar disorder, may incorrectly receive only antidepressants
without manic medications. This can trigger manic episodes
and make the overall course of the illness worse. |
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