Bi polar Disorder is characterized by several mood disorders, the most notable
of all being Bi polar Depression. Bi polar depression is marked by at least
one "manic episode," and is assumed to be a chronic condition due to the fact
that most individuals who suffer from a manic episode almost certainly suffer
more in the future.
Without preventative treatment, a person suffering from Bi polar Disorder may
suffer a manic episode every two and a half years, as shown by statistics. He/she
would present a unique mood cycle (one that usually combines manic episodes
and periods of depression) that can be predicted once it is identified.
Studies have suggested that Bi polar Depression occurs much more widely in families
with a history of Bi polar Disorder. Bi polar Depression usually begins during
a patient's teenage years or early adulthood, and persists throughout the rest
of his/her life. Bi polar Depression occurs in episodes and is often dismissed
as something temporary, rather than as a serious psychological problem. Individuals
with Bi polar Disorder may suffer from it for years without treatment as a result.
Mania and depression are known to be the two polar opposites of human emotion,
thus giving rise to the term "Bi polar." The term describes the severe mood
swings between these two emotional poles. The Bi polar Disorder is also known
as "Bi polar Affective Disorder," "Bi polar Personality Disorder," "Bi polar
Mood Disorder," "Manic Depression," and "Manic Depressive Illness," all of which
refer to the same psychological problem. At any moment, slightly more than one
out of every hundred Americans suffer from Bi
polar Depression.
In a manic episode, a person suffering from Bi polar Depression may feel euphoric,
excessively happy, and hyperactive. Some individuals may even display delusions
of grandeur. When the manic phase passes into the "depressed phase," the individual's
mood changes drastically. He/she may then experience deep sadness and despair,
and may even harbor thoughts of suicide. These unusually severe mood swings
occur to individuals suffering from Bi polar Depression many times during their
lives, although the frequency may vary greatly from person to person. Some may
experience several of these episodes in a single year, while others may only
experience one or two in a lifetime.
Not all episodes of Bi polar Depression begins in the manic phase, however -
an episode may begin in with the sufferer falling into a deep depressive phase,
which eventually gives way to the manic phase. Most Bi polar Depression patients
experience their first severe mood swing in their teenage years or early twenties
- some have even been found to suffer their first episode before the age of
ten. All in all, most patients experience their first attack of Bi polar Depression
before the age of 50. Onsets of the problem during the 70's and 80's are rare,
although they do happen.
No matter the individual's age, Bi polar Depression affects both susceptible
men and women in nearly equal numbers. Many sufferers of Bi polar Depression,
especially those unaware of their condition, may use drugs or alcohol during
manic episodes in an attempt to treat themselves. This often results in the
development of secondary substance abuse problems, which only serve to aggravate
their condition.
On the other hand, some studies have found significant links between creativity
and Bi polar Depression, albeit very unclear ones. One study indicated an increased
drive towards achieving personal goals in individuals suffering from Bi polar
Depression. While not always the case, individuals with Bi polar Depression
also tend to be more extroverted and outgoing than those without.
Bi polar Depression has also been found in a large number of individuals involved
in the arts, and studies are currently being taken to discover why many creative
geniuses have Bi polar Depression.
If you're looking form more bi
polar depression information just follow the preceding link.
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