Bipolar Disorder - You Need to Know

Bipolar Disorder or commonly known as manic depression is a psychological disorder that renders the person to have extreme mood shifts that usually affects their day to day tasks. Bipolar disorder symptoms usually focuses on mood and behavioral changes. There are two categories of bipolar disorder symptoms that makes the person feel an extreme emotional state also known as "mood episode" - manic episode and depressive episode. According to National Institute of Mental Health, Manic episode is a bipolar symptom that occurs on a distinct period when the person feels overly joyful and "high", it usually manifests for a few days or longer.

Meanwhile, a Depressive episode is a kind of bipolar symptom when the person feels utterly hopeless and sad, usually accompanied by a cloud of confusion that also lasts for weeks. Together with this mood episode, behavioral changes is also eminent, people in their manic episode is agitated, jumpy, impulsive and irritable. Usually feeling they are on the top of the world with unrealistic expectations and beliefs. They are restless. On the other hand, people in their depressive episode frequently feels confusion and ponders death and suicide. They have a hard time concentrating and only focuses on the bad side of every situation. It is possible that people with bipolar disorder to experience this mood change on unstable period of times, symptoms are sometimes severe that they are incapable to function in work and school; and it can also damage relationships.

In order to diagnose a mental disorder, doctors use Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, or DSM as their guideline. According to DSM, there are four types of bipolar disorders - Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ( BD-NOS ) and Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolar I Disorder is defined when the person has manic episode lasting for seven days.; or by manic symptoms that are severe that it needs immediate hospital care. Bipolar II Disorder is a back and forth pattern of depressive episode and hypomania. Those who suffer from hypomanic episodes has increased energy and activity levels that results to become highly productive and for them to function well. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is when a person has the symptoms for the illness but does not really meet the criterion for bipolar I and II. Lastly, Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. It is usually distinguished with mild depression and hypomania that lasts for two years.

This illness manifests for a lifetime, though it can be controlled. It is a recurrent and lifelong illness that needs lifelong treatment. It will worsen over time when not treated seriously. With proper treatment and diagnosis, it can lead the person to have a normal, healthy and productive life. Proper Treatment can help reduce the severity of the disorder and it can also prevent frequent manifestation to the person. The proper treatment plan is to take medication and engage in psychotherapy. There is still hope all it needs is the correct treatment and the unfailing support of their loved ones.