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Bipolar
Dear Readers- After such a long time I am back to article writing. I was and I m not in the mood of writing at all. My heart and brain are not focusing on a single point. May be I m under stress or there can be other reasons. I do not like to give my control to them so finally, today I was reading about different diseases . I selected one topic which is Bipolar and would like to share with you. I would appreciate if you will share with me your views and topics. Then I can write on it .
Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are usually separated by periods of "normal" mood, but in some individuals, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
One of the easiest ways to define bipolar disorder, or manic-depression, is to explain that a person experiences extreme mood swings. It is said that the highs are “too high,” and the lows are “too low.” Someone who gets overly excited by shopping, drinking, or having sex, may also experience episodes of severe depression almost instantly following the event. For example, someone who gets very excited shopping and spends a great deal of money may experience feelings of guilt and disgust before they pull into their driveway with the trunk full of new clothes.
To define bipolar disorder, a doctor or psychiatric may mention that it is caused by a chemical imbalance, often experienced in adulthood that may have different symptoms. These symptoms may include hearing voices, hallucinating, or talking about committing suicide. To define bipolar disorder, the doctor will explain that these feelings must occur for a few days or weeks during the year, and last for differing periods of time. To further define bipolar disorder, a doctor must hear about periods of extreme excitement. One area of bipolar disease does not include excitement, or mania. Depending on the attempt to define bipolar disorder as bipolar I and bipolar II, doctors look for a patient who may get extremely “high” during appropriate or inappropriate periods of time. Many people with bipolar disorder may get overly excited before a trip, meeting the family or a long-time friend, during shopping sprees, or while engaging in dangerous or otherwise unsafe sexual liaisons, etc.
When talking about biological causes, the first issue is whether bipolar disorder can be inherited. This question has been researched through multiple family, adoption and twin studies. In families of persons with bipolar disorder, first-degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) are more likely to have a mood disorder than the relatives of those who do not have bipolar disorder(3). Studies of twins indicate that if one twin has a mood disorder, an identical twin is about three times more likely than a fraternal twin to have a mood. For mental, emotional and environmental issues, stressful life events are thought to be the main element in the development of bipolar disorder. These can range from a death in the family to the loss of a job, from the birth of a child to a move. It can be pretty much anything, but it cannot be precisely defined, since one person's stress may be another person's piece of cake.
Symptoms of Bipolar;-
* Feel extremely happy or very irritable.
* Have a very high opinion of himself or herself (inflated self-esteem).
* Not need as much sleep as usual (feel rested after 3 hours of sleep).
* Talk more than usual.
* Be more active than usual.
* Have difficulty concentrating because of having too many thoughts at the same time (racing thoughts).
* Be easily distracted by sights and sounds.
* Act impulsively or do reckless things, such as go on shopping sprees, drive recklessly, get into foolish business ventures, or have frequent, indiscriminate, or unsafe sex.
Depression may cause a person to:
* Feel sad or anxious for a significant time.
* Feel hopeless or pessimistic.
* Have slowed thoughts and speech because of low energy.
* Have difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.
* Have changes in eating and sleeping habits leading to too much or too little eating or sleeping.
* Have decreased interest in usual activities, including sex.
* Have suicidal thoughts.
* Not enjoy things he or she normally would enjoy.
Treatment;-
The most effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Most people take more than one medication, like a mood-stabilizing drug and an antidepressant. However, it's important that treatment be ongoing -- even after you feel better -- to keep mood swings under control. One note of caution: that antidepressant medications can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other mental health disorders. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your health care provider.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is essential for dealing with the impact of bipolar disorder. It is an integral part of preventive or maintenance treatment. In psychotherapy you can learn how to deal with problems your manic or depressive episodes are causing, improve your relationships, and overcome self-esteem issues. Your therapist can also help you address other problems you may be suffering from, such as substance abuse or anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, you examine how your thoughts affect your emotions. You also learn how to change negative thinking patterns and behaviors into more positive ways of responding. For bipolar disorder, the focus is on managing symptoms, avoiding triggers for relapse, and problem-solving.
Interpersonal therapy focuses on current relationship issues and helps you improve the way you relate to the important people in your life. By addressing and solving interpersonal problems, this type of therapy reduces stress in your life. Since stress is a trigger for bipolar disorder, this relationship-oriented approach can help reduce mood cycling. Living with a bipolar person can be difficult, causing strain in family and marital relationships. Family-focused therapy addresses these issues and works to restore a healthy and supportive home environment. Educating family members about the disease and how to cope with it is a major component of treatment. Working through problems in the home and improving communication is also a focus of treatment.
God bless and keep smiling!
Posted byIrum Khan
Thank you Irum for sharing this wonderful piece of information. Normally in our language, the high side of bipolar behavior is hyperactive. Please tell me is it same thing. Like some kids get hyper, so is it bipolar or what. Looking forward for your comments.