By Bipolar disorder, formerly manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by the occurrence of one of several major depressive episodes or manic episodes. It is also referred to as manic-depressive illness. If a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it means he or she is liable to have periods of time during which he or she is extremely depressed or extremely manic. This is a psychiatric illness, not a moral failing. However, the symptoms of the manic depression are similar to those of a person who is drunk or drug-intoxicated..
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Is Bipolar A Mental Disorder? – Related Questions
Is bipolar disorder real?
Bipolar disorder is a serious condition which can cause hallucinations, delusions and mania. It is a mental illness that affects more than 2 million American adults each year. It is a lifelong illness and is not something that you can just snap out of. This is a serious illness and should not be taken lightly. The symptoms include: * Euphoria and hyperactivity * Excessive energy * Racing thoughts * Increased talkativeness * Sleepiness and lethargy * Grandiose ideas * Unusually elevated self-esteem * Decreased need for sleep * Reckless behavior * Racing thoughts * Distractibility * Irritability * Difficulty concentrating * Unusually elevated self-esteem * Decreased need for sleep * Reckless behavior * Racing thoughts * Distractibility * Irritability * Difficulty concentrating * Unstable moods * Unstable energy levels * Unstable sleep patterns * A feeling of impending doom * Delusions * Hallucinations * Anxiety * Depression * Poor impulse control * Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts * Substance abuse A bipolar diagnosis is not something to take lightly. Make sure to research this and know if this is a mental illness you want to deal with..
What are the 4 types of bipolar?
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness with four subtypes. The four subtypes of bipolar disorder are: Hypomanic Episode , Manic Episode, Major Depressive Episode and Bipolar Depression..
Is bipolar disorder neurological or psychological?
Bipolar disorder is not a physical illness. It’s a mental disorder. So it can be both neurological and psychological. The exact reason of its occurrence is not known but there are so many causes. If a person has a genetic tendency, then he is more at risk of getting bipolar disorder. In very rare cases, brain tumors or strokes can cause bipolar disorder. Due to the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, people with bipolar disorder experience drastic shifts in mood, thought, energy and ability to function. One day, they may feel high and mighty and the next day they may feel low. The severity and frequency of mood changes can vary from person to person. The doctors can’t predict the exact point of occurrence of mood shifts in a person. In most of the cases, a psychiatric medications are prescribed to control the mood shifts..
Can someone with bipolar truly love?
Yes, most of the bipolar patients are capable of true love. They can have a great relationship with their spouse or friends. But here’s the catch: like anyone, a bipolar person does not have the capacity to love to the same degree as a normal person. He can love, but not as much. So, when a bipolar person says he is in love with someone, he means it but at the same time, is not able to love as completely as he would like to. He may also need more time to invest in the relationship. The bipolar person can and will show affection to the significant other, but what it may lack is passion. At times, the bipolar person may even selfless and be willing to do more for the other person. But his greatest love will be reserved for himself and his own needs. A person who is bipolar is capable of enjoying a great relationship but don’t expect to be loved in a completely, selfless way..
Does bipolar ever go away?
The simple answer is yes, it does go away. But is not that easy. If you have bipolar disorder, you have it for life and you have to take medication for the rest of your life to prevent future bouts. Your first aim should be to get your medication right. You should be seeing a specialist to help you do this and with their help, you will take the right medication. You will want to treat your bipolar depression with an anti depressant, which has the opposite effect of an antidepressant and treats your depression, instead of a mood stabilizer, which treats your mania and should be avoided when you have depression. Over time, the severity of your depression and mania will decrease. You will find the right medication your doctor will be there to help you..
How can you tell if someone is bipolar?
People who suffer from bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, cycle between episodes of major depression and mania. Major depressive episodes are characterized by a low mood (depressed) and loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities and may include feelings of guilt, worthlessness and thoughts of death. Manic or hypomanic episodes are characterized by an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, increased activity level, and decreased need for sleep. During the hypomanic episodes, the person may not have symptoms severe enough for a major depressive episode. Symptoms of mania may include inflated self-esteem or grandiosity; significant increase in goal-directed activity or motivation; flight of ideas, racing thoughts, or the mind going blank; distractibility or difficulty concentrating on one thing; and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities, such as taking on too many projects..
Does bipolar worsen with age?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, which has severe impact on people’s life. Bipolar can worsen with age. This is because the symptoms of bipolar can become more severe over time. There is also a higher chance for relapse after a recovery period that is shorter or longer than usual. Apart from this, as people get older, the risk of developing bipolar disorder is higher than for people in their teens and early 20’s. So, it is clear that bipolar does worsen with age..
Is Bipolar 1 or 2 worse?
Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 are not different types of bipolar disorder, rather they are different classifications of certain bipolar symptoms. Bipolar 1 disorder is characterized by a person having one or more manic episodes, or periods of extreme high energy, euphoria, and/or irritability. During the episode, bipolar people may have little sleep, talk excessively, and engage in risky behaviors. During the manic episode, people with bipolar 1 may also experience symptoms of depression, including extreme sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, apathy, and/or loss of interest in usual activities. Bipolar 2 disorder is characterized by the person having one or more depressive episodes, or periods of extreme low energy, sadness, and/or feelings of hopelessness and/or guilt. During the depressive episode, people with bipolar disorder may also experience symptoms of mania, including extreme elation, hyperactivity, distractibility, and/or racing thoughts..
Does Bipolar damage the brain?
Yes, any long-term mental illness will damage the brain in some way. But, as in any disease, it depends on the severity of the illness as well as other factors such as nutrition, sleep and self-care. We don’t know exactly how bipolar affects the brain, but research shows that different parts of the brain might be affected in different people. In people with bipolar, regions of the brain involved in decision making and the regulation of emotions might be affected. It’s thought that there is increased brain activity in these areas when a person is manic, and decreased activity when they are depressed. This might underlie the mood swings that characterize bipolar..
Do bipolar brains look different?
Yes, people with bipolar brains do look different. It is mainly visible in brain scans. There are certain changes in grey matter of brain. The prefrontal cortex which is responsible for decision making, emotion and cognition is much thinner in people with bipolar disorder. It is a layer of grey matter covering the front portion of the brain. This thinning of this layer of grey matter is also evident in first degree relatives of people with bipolar disorder compared to controls. This is also seen in people with schizophrenia..
Can bipolar be seen on a brain scan?
Recent studies have shown that people suffering from bipolar disorder have structural and functional differences in the brain than people without the illness. Several abnormalities have been noted during post-mortem analysis. Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder are similar to those of other mental disorders, it is important to rule out other possible causes..
