Bipolar Disorder
By: Alex B.
What is the Disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior.
What are the Signs and symptoms of Mania?
Signs
- Racing Speech
- Increased energy
- decreased need for sleep
- poor judgement
- reckless behavior
- elevated mood
- increased physical activity
Symptoms
- Excessive irritability
- inflated sense of self-importance
- difficulty concentrating
What are the signs and symptoms of Depression?
Symptoms
- thoughts of death or suicide
- inability to experience pleasure
Signs
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- prolonged or irritable mood
- loos of energy
- feelings of guilt
- sleeping to much
- drop in grades
- appetite loss
- anger, worry and anxiety
How does it affect someone?
- affects the persons attitude
- they have "wave" attitudes
- start to have different feelings about other people
how is it diagnosed?
- Bipolar disorder cannot yet be diagnosed physiologically
- by blood tests or brain scans.
- Currently, diagnosis is based on symptoms, course of illness, and family history
how is it treated?
it is treated by Feeling better often involves a combination of education, medication, and therapy, including psychotherapy, or "talk therapy."