Bipolar Disorder(Manic depression)- Understanding it

Everyone faces from some ups and downs and mood swings at times. The reasons behind it may be good or bad instances that one goes through in a day. But if your are suffering from what is called as bipolar disorder then the consequences of these behaviours can be disastrous and may affect your day to day life. This variation in the mood may affect your job, relationships and may upset the daily life. Though this disorder can be treated easily but still people do not pay much heed to it and avoid it altogether. Avoiding it may worsen the problem and may leave you distressed. Try to recognise the problem by analysing the problems.

Bipolar disorder leads to various mood and energy shifts in the person suffering from it. This disorder is also called as manic depression. The mood keeps on varying and in some extreme cases the same mood persists for days, weeks and even months. These changes impact the person so deeply that they interfere in the day to day chores. The various symptoms include that a person might feel completely refreshed just after taking a sleep of one to two hours. A person may spend extravagantly or may feel like quitting a job or a relation. At the other moment one might feel sleepy; concerned about the debts he owes and tensed about what he would do if he were unemployed.

The causes of this type of disorder are still unknown but it has been found that it runs in families and thus may be hereditary. This disorder starts showing its first symptoms at the teenage mostly. People generally fail to recognise the symptoms of this disorder and hence consists such persons as misfits. This disorder is of two types’ mania as well as depression. Let’s have a look at both of them:

Signs and symptoms of mania:

In this type phase the person experiences peak moods. One feels energetic and happy. Such people are so overwhelmed that they speak too much and sleep minimal. They feel highly energetic. Such people always feel that they are extra ordinary and powerful. But they usually behave in a very different manner by making inappropriate business investments. Their mood varies frequently; they often become short tempered, angry and sometimes aggressive too.

· Feel extremely heightened, happy, cheerful or extremely aggressive

· Minimal sleep

· Highly energetic and fast

· Sometimes such people feel unable to concentrate

· They keep on fantasizing about things

Signs and symptoms of bipolar depression

Earlier it was considered as simple depression. But those suffering from bipolar depression often do not get treated with antidepressants. It involves mood swings, sense of impatience and guilt in a person. They even do their tasks slowly and unlike mania the people suffering from it do not speak loudly but speak slowly.

Symptoms:

· Sadness

· Loss of energy and vigour from life

· Feeling of remorse

· Excessive sleep

· Low concentration power

· One thinks about committing suicide

Treatments:

· One must go for the treatment when the mood is not bad and feels stable. Medication is of the utmost importance as it helps in preventing the mood swings. For this one must consult a psychiatrist who is skilled enough. He will help one in coming out of this problem.

· One also needs to bring a change in the lifestyle and social behaviour. One needs various therapies that may help him to stay calm and happy.

· One can also stay educated about this disorder and must try must techniques that may help one to relax. Meditation, yoga and takes massages are some of the ways through which stress can be reduced.

· One must try and chance the life style. One must eat healthy, do regular exercise and must sleep well. All these will help a great deal in alleviating the mood.

· One can also join a group with similar issues so as to get enough information about the same and to get enough support from them.

So, all these were some facts about bipolar disorder or manic depression. One must not ignore the symptoms of it and must take timely help from the psychiatrist to prevent further complications.

Written By:

suniti Bahl