By Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a mental health condition in which you experience periods of extreme highs and extreme lows, and the symptoms can be severe. Stress and substance abuse may trigger episodes. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary greatly from person to person. You may have periods of time when your mood is elevated, and other periods when you are depressed. You may feel more energetic and productive during the elevated periods and move quickly from one project to another, while your creativity may be high. In their depressed periods, people with bipolar disorder feel hopeless, worthless, and out of control. They may experience intense sadness, anxiety, and worry. Some may develop suicidal thoughts. The disorder can be treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy, which teaches you healthier ways to cope. While the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe, the condition is highly treatable. Many people with bipolar disorder live full, successful lives..
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What Does Bipolar Disorder Mean? – Related Questions
What is a bipolar person like?
People with bipolar disorder have extreme mood swings. They have periods of depression and periods of mania. Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a brain disorder. The person has a hard time regulating his or her moods. During a manic phase, the person is extremely energetic, hyper and excited. He or she may stay awake for days and not sleep much. He or she may spend tons of money on things that he or she doesn’t need. When a person is depressed, he or she usually feels hopeless, worthless and very sad. He or she may sleep too much and have no energy. He or she may have trouble thinking and moving. The person may feel like hurting himself or herself or like ending his or her life. Many people with depression also have thoughts of suicide..
How do I know if Im bipolar?
I am bipolar and I have a few tips to offer. The most important thing is to have a professional evaluate you. I was misdiagnosed for years, partially because I was reluctant to speak to doctors. But the signs are subtle and many people have similar symptoms. You can try looking at the signs here..
What are the 4 types of bipolar?
There are four types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder, and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified..
Can bipolar people love?
Of course, they can. It is hard though. A bipolar person needs to be treated with patience and understanding. It is important for them to have someone who is willing to stick around no matter what. It is so easy to be friends with someone when they are happy. But to be there for someone when they are sad, that is the real test of love..
Can bipolar be cured?
Not entirely, it can be managed better with some treatments. The answer to your question is a little bit complicated because there are different types of bipolar disorder and each subtype shows different symptoms and requires different treatments. Therefore, each subtype is treated with a different treatment. Some treatments work for one type and not the other type. We will discuss the subtypes and their treatments shortly..
How do people become bipolar?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Bipolar disorder affects the brain’s ability to send and receive messages, specifically the parts of the brain that control emotion, thought and drive. There are two main types of bipolar disorder — bipolar I disorder, which causes severe manic episodes and depressive episodes, and bipolar II disorder, which causes less severe manic episodes and depressive episodes. Both types of the illness can be treated with medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes..
Do bipolar people hear voices?
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is characterized by extreme mood swings. In bipolar disorder, there are two distinct moods: manic and depressive. During the manic episodes, people hear what we call “voices”. They hear voices as if they are speaking to them, telling them to do things. These voices may be telling them to hurt others, to kill others, or even to kill themselves. That is why it is called “suicidal” depression. People who have manic episodes hear voices. In other people, the manic episodes come with paranoia, they hear the voices telling them that the FBI is coming to arrest them, or the CIA is trying to kill them. So yes, some people with bipolar disorder do hear voices..
Are you born with bipolar?
Research has shown that heredity is a strong influence on bipolar disorder. Children of someone with bipolar disorder have a ten percent chance of developing the disorder, compared to the one percent chance of the general population. As many as 20% to 30% of children with bipolar disorder who have a parent with bipolar disorder will develop the disorder. This high percentage will vary depending on which parent it is and how closely they are related..
What are the signs of bipolar in a woman?
The signs of bipolar in a woman are similar to the ones in a man. A woman may be sad for no reason, have racing thoughts, and swing between radically different moods. She may feel a sense of euphoria, and have the urge to do dangerous things. She may have insomnia or sleep too much, and have trouble concentrating. She may have shaky hands and have trouble walking without tripping. She may feel lightheaded or that she is going to faint..
When does bipolar show up?
It is said that Bipolar disorder starts in the teenage years. It can start as early as 10 to 12 years of age and as late as early 30. It can also not show up at all, which does happen. For example, I didn’t show signs of it until I was in my 20s. Bipolar disorder can show up at any point in life. It usually comes in phases..
Does Bipolar worsen with age?
Some people with bipolar disorder report that the symptoms worsen as they grow older. This is typically the case with the depressive phase of the illness, though it may also apply to the manic phase as well. To some extent, this worsening of symptoms as a person ages may be due to the fact that there are less available avenues for the treatment of bipolar disorder as a person ages. As a person ages, it is more difficult to access support, such as therapy, or medications. However, it is important to note that the severity of symptoms does not typically increase for people with the disorder. When symptoms do worsen, it is often the case that existing symptoms worsen, or new symptoms arise. These are referred to as “prodromal symptoms.”.
