Studies have shown that 25 to 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder (manic depression) attempt suicide.  This means that bipolar disorder often ends in an early death. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder should be considered an urgent matter.

» Continue reading “Bipolar Disorder: Suicide Risks”

What Is Mixed Bipolar Disorder?

Mixed bipolar disorder is a form of bipolar disorder.  In regular bipolar disorder, moods alternate between elevated and depressed over time. A person with mixed bipolar disorder experiences both mood “poles” — mania and depression– at the same time or in rapid sequence.

» Continue reading “Mixed Bipolar Disorder”

Childhood bipolar disorder is often different than bipolar disorder in adults.  Bipolar disorder involves severe changes in mood and energy. States of extreme elation or irritability coupled with  high energy are called mania. Persistent states of extreme sadness or irritability accompanied by low energy are called depression.

» Continue reading “Childhood Bipolar Disorder”

If you suspect you  might be suffering from bipolar disorder, test yourself with these questions.

» Continue reading “Bipolar Disorder Test”

Being manic depressive is definitely not something that should be taken lightly.  Neither is it as simple as having temporary mood swings.  Being manic depressive is a psychiatric condition called bipolar disorder.  There are various levels of being manic depressive with varying intensities of bipolar disorder symptoms.  These symptoms would generally be characterized as alternating patterns of emotional highs and lows – the mania and the depression.  Anyone suffering from these kinds of symptoms should seek psychiatric help.  Information on bipolar disorder is widely available.

It is not advisable to try to treat bipolar disorder without the help of a medical professional.  Neither should it be ignored.  This kind of a disorder has the tendency to worsen if left untreated over time.  Among the symptoms that should alert you of bipolar disorder in the manic phase would include extreme optimism, agitation, aggressive behavior, increased sexual drive, and inability to concentrate.

These sypmtoms alternate with depression symptoms such as sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of interest in anything, and chronic psychosomatic pain.  More information on bipolar disorder, its symptoms, causes, and treatment are available in the internet.  It is important for anyone who might have these symptoms or know anyone who has these symptoms to be informed about what the disorder is and what effects it could have.

There are ways to control manic depressive behavior.  Joining a support group will help anyone suffering from bipolar disorder understand his situation and interact with those who are suffering the same condition.  This can also help the bipolar disorder patient stay focused on his recovery plan and get back to normal life faster.

Patience is a necessary component to recovering from bipolar disorder, as is familial support.  Taking up a hobby or getting into other activities where energies can be channeled effectively is also a good way to control bipolar disorder.  There are medications that may be prescribed by a medical professional to help treat bipolar disorders.  If this is the case, it is always advisable to take the medication as directed.

What is manic depression?  Is it the same thing as bipolar disorder or is it a completely different animal? Actually, manic depression is simply an older term for bipolar disorder.  The term bipolar disorder has become more socailly acceptable over the past 20 years or so, so that is what you will hear most people say when referring to this illness.

» Continue reading “Manic Depression”

Many people write to me and ask if I can help them figure out if they have bipolar disorder.  I alway recommend that they see a qualifed doctor, but folks still want a bipolar disorder questionnaire.  So, for those people, I STILL recommend that you see a doctor, but here is a littel questionnarie for you to look at in the meantime.

1. Do you sometimes realize that you are talking very fast and that your mind is racing?

2. Do friends and family often tell you that you are exhausting to be around?

3. Do you go through periods where I get lots and lots of work done, followed by periods where I don’t want to do anything at all?

4. Do you frequently feel as though your mind is racing and you are very irritable?

5. Do you often experience days of extreme sadness or depression?

6. Do your mood swings affect your quality of life?

7. Are you highly interested in sex during some periods, causing you to do things that you would not normally do?

8. Do you have extreme variations in the quality of work that you put out?

9. Do you sometimes, for no reason, feel very hostile or angry?

10. Do you have periods when you feel as if you are in a mental fog and other periods when you feel extremely creative?

If you answered yes to at least 6 of these questions, you might have bipolar disorder.  This is in no way a diagnosis.  You should still see a qualified physician - the sooner the better. 

If you have friends or family that you suspect have bipolar disorder, send them this bipolar disorder questionnaire to answer and you might be able to open their eyes. 

Everyone gets sad every now and then, but sometimes the sadness turns into a blackness that cannot be ignored. When the sadness is uncontrollable and is taking over your life, you might be experiencing symptoms of bipolar depression. » Continue reading “Symptoms of Bipolar Depression”

Everyone has seen the horror stories.  A lady with bipolar disorder murders her whole family.  A guy with severe mood swings kills himself.  It goes on and on.  You become worried that because you threw your shoes against the wall when you were angry that you might be bipolar and you have the capacity to commit atrocities.  But, what really are the bipolar signs?

» Continue reading “Bipoler Signs”