Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder)
By Kyle Jones, Health- 6, 10/16/15
Saying
Bipolar is terrifying, but if you try hard enough you can over come it.
Bipolar Disorder:
A mental illness characterized by dramatic mood swings that range from extreme euphoria to deep depression.
Causes
If a parent is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder any child of that parent has 33% chance to be Bipolar. Some one who grows up in a house with common manic and depressive moods may come to believe that such conduct is a normal way of living. Some people have physical brain changes that can lead to Bipolar disorder or any other mental illness.
Symptoms
Bipolar episodes can last days, weeks, and months. The wild and erratic mood swings are the pronounced symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.
Manic Phase: Intense Euphoria but also irritability, excessive talking, a desire to move quickly on ideas, thoughtlessness, and egotistical feelings.
Depressive Phase: Intense sadness, fatigue, insomnia, changes in appetite, agitation, pessimism, and thoughts of suicide.
Background
Aretaeus of Cappadocia began detailing symptoms as early as the first century in Greece. His notes on Mania and Depressive phases went unnoticed for a very long time. Not many took notice towards any kind of depression and thought it was people just being lazy. Until the 17th century when a man named Robert Burton wrote a book called "The Anatomy of Melancholy." This book expanded deeply into the knowledge of the symptoms and treatments for depression including Bipolar Disorder. For his discoveries Robert Burton is known as the Father of Depression.
Treatments and Medications
The most common prescribed drug is lithium and is usually requires life-long treatment. All people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder are told to give up drugs, alcohol and tobacco. They are also told to find different stress relieving jobs and to attend psychotherapy.
Gender Specific
Bipolar Disorder is more specific towards women.
Age Specific
People over the age of 25 are more susceptible to get Bipolar Disorder.
Agencies
National Institute of Mental Health: 1-866-615-6464 (toll-free) / Science Writing, Press, and Dissemination Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
American Psychiatric Association:(888) 357-7924 / PyschiatryOnline@pysch.org
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: (800) 826-3632 / 55 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 490