Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression.  Oftentimes, people who suffer from this disorder have been described as moody, melancholy, and dark.  These descriptions stem from the misunderstanding that surrounds this disorder.  Such misunderstandings often occur thanks to books such as Catcher in the Rye and movies such as A Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  However, we should really be looking at real life "examples" of this disease such as Van Gogh, Kurt Cobain, and Virginia Woolf. 

Manic depression is defined as a treatable psychological disorder.  However, it is important to understand that this disorder is not curable.  In this disorder, periods of depression oftentimes exchange themselves for periods of extreme happiness.  The type of imbalance a person has is what divides manic depression into Bipolar Type I and Bipolar Type II.  People who suffer with Bipolar Type I have low to mild depression and severe manic high periods, which often require hospitalization.  On the other hand, a person who suffers with Bipolar Type II has low to mild manic high periods and severe depression.

The extreme form of mania is known as hypomania.  During times when a patient is suffering from hypomania they are a lot more active than normal and they also tend to become anxious, a lot easier.  Also during the hypomania state, a patient is much more talkative, takes more chances than they would normally take, and can go for a lengthy period of time without sleeping.  Oftentimes they will also feel as though they love everybody and everything whenever they are in a state of hypomania.

A normal state of mania includes a slight increase in energy, which leads to difficulty concentrating because their thoughts are often running full speed ahead.  Normally this can be seen in that they are involved in a greater number of social activities and tend to talk a lot more than normal. 

There is a twofold treatment option for manic depression.  This is a combination of both chemical methods and psychotherapy.  However, the medications that are used to treat the depressed side of manic depression tend to increase the affects of the manic side.  It is also true that the medications that are used to treat the manic side of manic depression tend to increase the affects of the depressed side.  Recently psychologists have begun using anti-seizure drugs to treat manic depression.  When combined with behavior control therapy, these drugs are helping patients.  Nevertheless, the chronic nature of manic depression, coupled with its stigma, is oftentimes difficult for the patient to manage.

Friends and family can help a patient who is suffering from manic depression.  However, the patient's constant changes in mood, behavior, and communication level can sometimes be difficult to deal with.  It can also be difficult to be a good friend to a patient who is suffering from manic depression because this person often requires a lot of outside help in order to be able to perform in society.  This is because manic depression can prevent a person from being able to perform on a job since they occasionally have to spend time hospitalized in order to treat their condition.

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