| What is Bi Polar Disorder? |
| Written by James Black | |
Bi Polar Disorder, also known as manic depression, is more common than you might think. You probably know someone with the disability. You may recognize it as major mood swings. However, it is much more than simply being moody. Without treatment, it can become a life-threatening health concern.
The Pendulum SwingsFor people who have this type of mental illness, it is much like a pendulum swinging back and forth, except it never stops in the middle. If you are bi polar, you will be on top of the world one day and at the bottom of the barrel the next. But, you never can anticipate when the change will occur.One day, it seems like you life could never be any better. You are so happy; you may even take unnecessary chances, because you feel indestructible. Then, one day the pendulum will swing the other way. Now, life seems totally unbearable. You might even contemplate suicide or take unnecessary risks, because you do not care if you survive them or not. The Mania PhaseIn the mania phase, your symptoms of bi polar can range from mild to severe. In fact, you may have periods of time that you feel normal, and do not think you need to take your medication any longer. A lot of patients try to convince themselves that they are cured, or at least able to control their own emotions now.However, there will also be times that you are so happy, it results in mania. You are always wired for action, and you are unnaturally exuberant. You are almost to the point of climbing the walls. When every other person is ready to call it a day, you are still going strong, with a seemingly unlimited amount of energy. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you are in the mania phase of manic depression, you will have several, if not all of these symptoms:
The Depression PhaseNow, as high and happy as you seem in the mania phase, imagine the exact opposite when you are in the depression phase. You want to sleep all of the time, and you will have trouble keeping your job. You will totally let yourself go, because you basically do not care about anything.If the depression is mild, you can probably almost feel like normal. But, if the depression is severe, you are in grave danger, because you might think that death is preferable to life. In the depression phase many people attempt suicide, and a lot of them succeed. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you are in the depressive phase, you will exhibit some, or all of these symptoms of bi polar disorder:
Why MeIf you have been diagnosed with bi polar disorder you are probably asking, “Why me?” How in the world did you get the mental illness? You do not purposely set out to be uncontrollably high or low. Although the causes of manic depression are not totally clear, images of the brain show some abnormalities that are not in the average brain. Also, the chemicals in the brain may have something to do with the changes that occur. Unfortunately, heredity may have something to do with the mental disorder as well. If you have been diagnosed bi polar, there is a good chance you have a relative who suffers the same massive mood swings. However, he/she may not have received a definitive diagnosis, and they simple suffer through the symptoms untreated. If you or someone you love shows the signs of bi polar disorder, the time to get help is now. Why suffer through life, when there are effective treatments available to help those who have been diagnosed live a relatively normal life. However, the treatment is not temporary. It will be something that must be done for the rest of life. Mistakenly thinking a cure has been realized can be very dangerous. So, seek medical help, get a diagnosis, and follow the prescribed treatment, so a normal and happy life can be just around the corner. |
| Next > |
|---|
