Bipolar disorder, formerly referred to as manic-depressive
illness, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. These mood swings
range from periods of mania to periods of depression. A manic phase can be
described as a frantic “high.” The person experiencing this is overly energetic,
very confident and excited about life, even euphoric. This mania often leads to
reckless and dangerous behavior.
The opposite pole, depression, is described as a devastating
“low” where the person loses interest in life and other people, is unusually
tired and has feelings of worthlessness. Depression may lead to thoughts of or
attempts at suicide. Bipolar disorder can cause mental suffering, problems with
family, friends and co-workers, loss of job productivity, financial problems or
death from reckless behavior or suicide.
About Bipolar Disorder Three emotional states characterize bipolar disorder. They
include mania and depression, as well as a more normal mood state. People
suffering from bipolar disorder may switch or cycle from one state to the other.
The amount of cycling that occurs varies from one individual to another. For
some people, one mood cycle may last for a long period of time. For others,
their moods may switch more frequently. This is referred to as rapid cycling.
Generally, men tend to experience manic moods more often than episodes of
depression, while women tend to experience more depressive episodes than manic
episodes. Normal moods can occur between cycles, during which the person feels
neither manic nor depressive symptoms.
Symptoms of mania:
Hyperactivity,
aggression, little need for sleep or food, impatient and impulsive behavior.
Feelings of
hopelessness, helplessness, failure and lack of self-worth.
Weight gain or
loss.
Loss of interest in
people and activities.
Insomnia or
hypersomnia (sleeping too much) and fatigue.
Unexplained
physical aches, pains and sickness.
Absence of mania
and depression.
Often occurs
between cycles.
During normal
moods, the person feels and seems all right.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder A variety of factors can contribute to or complicate a bipolar
disorder. Clinicians have divided these into two main factors or categories. The
first is psychological in nature, such as stress. Often, manic or depressive
episodes are brought on by stressful events such as money problems or
disagreements with loved ones. The second is biological in nature. These include
hormonal malfunctions, genetic disorders and physical illness. The overactive
state of mania may be due to extra amounts of a neurological chemical, dopamine,
in parts of the brain. Doctors believe this may be the body’s overcompensation
for depression. Mood disorders often arise from a combination of biological and
psychological causes; therefore, effective treatment usually consists of a
combination of treatment for both.
Treatment Bipolar disorder is one of the most treatable of all mental
illnesses. Bipolar disorder affects between 1 and 10 percent of the population
and occurs with the same frequency between both men and women. About 80 percent
of all cases are highly responsive to treatment. The most common treatment
includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Mood stabilizing medication may be prescribed in combination
with psychotherapy. Therapy often helps the person learn ways of coping with
symptoms and new ways to relate to others. Family members may also benefit from
counseling, where they can learn skills to help them understand and cope with
their loved one’s illness.
Working With
Individuals With Bipolar Disorder
Be supportive. Help
the person positively relate to him or herself.
Encourage the
person to follow his or her treatment plan.
Know the signs that
indicate the onset of mania and depression.
Don’t hesitate to
get help if the person is acting dangerously or threatening suicide.
