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Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment

Condition: Bipolar disorder is separated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000 ), into several sub-disorders. The reason for the term bipolar' is that this mood disorder has two extremes, or poles, with one very high referred to as mania, and the other very low referred to as major depression. The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that more than 5.7 million adult Americans, aged 18 or older, have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and that it typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood.

This disorder causes extreme mood shifts, distorted thinking, and changes in energy levels. The changes are often subtle; so that the individual is not aware they have entered into a cycle. Most often the cycle starts with mania. Many people report they like the feeling of developing mania so much, they don't realize that they are getting sick'.

Many sufferers report that when mania is developing in them, at first they feel very powerful. They report feeling like a genius, like every thought that comes to their mind and every plan they develop is the greatest thing anyone in the history of mankind has ever thought of and they are the only one to bring it to fruition. Later anxiety and fear, even paranoia are reported as occurring.

Major Depressive Episode is a period of time, at least 2 weeks or more, where there is a significant loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. Some people report depression so severe it borders on being catatonic, where the individual doesn't even mark the passage of time, nor tend to their personal care and not realize it.

Symptoms: Mania is characterized by euphoria, extreme optimism, inflated self esteem, rapid speech and racing thoughts, aggressive behavior and agitation, risky behavior, and spending sprees. Other traits of kindling mania are sexual promiscuity, decreased need for sleep inability to concentrate and even drug abuse. Unfortunately for the individual with bipolar, these symptoms can last months and often are the reason that the person looses all of their money, friends and family contacts.

Depression is characterized by increased feelings of worry or sadness, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, loss of interest in sex and other things the individual normally finds to be pleasurable, and appetite disturbances. Restlessness or irritability is sometimes reported, sometimes to an extreme of homicidal ideation or attempts.

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