Biploar Disorder
More than a Mood Swing
Bipolar disorder is a treatable medical illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is also known as manic depression because a person's mood can alternate between mania and depression. This change in mood (or "mood swng") can last for hours, days, weeks or even months.
Unlike people with depression, most people wth bipolar disorder talk about experiencing the "highs" and "lows" of the illness. The "highs" are periods of mania or intense bursts of energy or euphoria, which includes some or all of the following symptoms:
Increased physical and mental activity and energy
Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
Excessive irriability, aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
Impulsiveness, poor judgement, distracibility
Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic
In the most severe cases delusions and hallucinations
Bipolar disorder affects more than two and a half million adult Americans. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also have an impact on spouses, family members, friends and people in the workplace. It usually begins in late adolescene (often appearing as depression during teen years) although it can start in early childhood or as late as the 40's and 50's. An equal number of men and women develop this illness and it is found among all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes.
Mood swings that come with bipolar disorder can be severe, ranging from extremes in energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal activities are what make bipolar mood episodes different from ordnary mood changes.