The symptoms of bipolar disorder, primarily mood swings, do not follow a fixed
pattern. Depression does not always follow mania, and vice-versa. The severity
of the symptoms vaires from person to person, and an individual can suffer one
mood state, be it depression or mania, for several years before suddenly having
the opposite mood.
Depression can be quite intense. It affects every aspect of a person's life,
be it physical, psychological, or social health, and only grows worse the longer
it remains untreated. To date, there is no cure for depression, and millions
of people around the world are forced to deal with this debilitating illness.
The following are symptoms of bipolar depression. An episode of depression involves
five or more of these symptoms throughout most of the day, nearly everyday,
for two weeks or more. If even a few of these symptoms are observed in an individual,
steps must be taken to seek medical attention - depression is much easier to
treat in its earlier stages.
A person suffering from depression may experience sleeping problems. The individual
may suffer from insomnia, which often results in an increased need for sleep
during the day. This also affects the person's energy levels and appetite. A
person going through a severe depressive episode may experience unexpected gains
or loss of weight, which perpetuates a downward spiral in physical health -
a person will naturally feel uncomfortable and weary from all the physical discomforts.
A depressed individual almost certainly feels a deep sadness or unexplained
anxiety. He/she may also be irritable, with feelings of guilt, hopelessness
or worthlessness constantly plaguing his/her psyche. The individual will also
display a sudden loss of interest in activities he/she usually enjoys.
It is often difficult for a depressed individual to concentrate on any one thought
for a long time, and this may cause a performance drop in school or work. The
individual may also have difficulty remembering or making decisions. Depressed
individuals, when left untreated, often find themselves unable to hold a job
for very long. Constantly falling in and out of work due to mood problems may
signal an underlying mental illness, most probably depression.
Some of the more apparent symptoms of bipolar depression include uncontrollable
crying, usually stemming from a deep sense of despair. The individual may suffer
delusions of guilt and insignificance, or believe himself/herself to be ruined
or penniless, or perhaps even having committed some terrible, unknown crime.
It is not unusual for severely depressed individuals to harbor thoughts of death,
and many cases of attempted suicide has been documented in depressed individuals
over the years.
Left untreated, depressive episodes tend to happen more often and with less
downtime between episodes. As time goes on, the episodes become quite unpredictable
and more difficult to treat. It may at times switch to a manic episode, but
this can be prevented by prompt treatment. With medication and therapy, it is
quite possible for an individual suffering from bipolar disorder to live normally
as happy, productive members of society.
For more information on different symptoms
of bipolar depression follow the link.
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