Bipolar Information

This matches with information I see at many medical sites, but I believe this to be a very informative and less technical description than some sites. Click Post title to go to the source of this information.

Bipolar Disease - Symptoms and Diagnosis

A person suffering from bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) experiences extreme moods that alternate between a high or "manic" phase and a low or "depressive" phase.

People with mild cases are often undiagnosed until their disorder progresses to more severe or life threatening symptoms (e.g. suicidal depression, or manic delusions).

Signs and Symptoms

In order for a person suffering from bipolar disease to receive proper diagnosis and treatment, the various mood states must be recognized.

Signs and symptoms of MANIA can include:

1) Denial - A manic high usually feels good and for this reason those in a manic or hypo-manic state will almost always deny that anything is wrong with them. They simply feel too good to believe anything is wrong.


2) Mild Mania (Hypomania)

Inflated self-esteem
Increased sexual drive
Reduced need for sleep
"High" feelings (bordering on euphoria)
Provocative or mildly aggressive behavior
Increased energy, activity, and talkativeness


3) Mania

Increased drive, energy and restlessness (sometimes accompanied by delusions and/or paranoia)
Abuse of drugs (particularly alcohol, cocaine, and sleeping medications)
Uncharacteristically poor judgment and impulsiveness
Extreme irritability, distractibility and impatience
Excessively 'high' or euphoric feelings (unusually happy and/or optimistic)
Sexual drive that may lead to promiscuity
Talking rapidly, more loudly (person may hog the conversation)
Intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Inflated self confidence (all-knowing, may be arrogant)
Overly-inflated self-esteem
Dangerous risk-taking
Inability to sleep (sometimes for days)
Obsessive thoughts
Racing thoughts
Hallucinations
Life of the party


Signs and symptoms of DEPRESSION can include:

1) Depression

Anxiety
Poor memory
Self condemnation
Inability to function
Inability to concentrate
Physical health problems
Restlessness or irritability
Sleep problems (sleeps too much or too little)
Feeling worthless, or helpless
Disorganized (procrastinates more than usual)
Extreme emotional pain (cries easily, feels totally alone)
Sense of failure and extreme guilt
Difficulties sleeping, or oversleeping
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Paranoia and pessimism about everything
Persistent sadness (feeling emotionally empty or dead inside)
Withdrawal from friends and social contacts
Changes in appetite and weight
Extremely fatigued (no energy, feels "washed out" or extremely tired)
Repeated thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Difficulty concentrating (hard to think straight, remember, and/or make decisions)
Lack of motivation (loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities)


2) Psychosis

While psychosis is more common during the manic phase of bipolar disease, it may also be present during severe depression. Psychotic symptoms include:

Delusions (false and illogical beliefs--e.g., believing you have super human powers)
Paranoia (irrational belief that one's life is in jeopardy--e.g., the Mafia is out to kill you)
Hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or sensing things that aren't real--e.g., Seeing and talking to people who aren't there)


3) Mixed State

Symptoms of "both" mania and depression may be present at the same time: a depressed mood accompanied by manic energy. This is known as a "mixed state".

The symptoms of a bipolar mixed state may include:

Paranoia
Agitation
Psychosis
Suicidal thinking
Difficulty sleeping
Significant change in appetite

The symptoms of any bipolar episode (mania, depression, or mixed state) are usually limited to distinct, time-limited periods of illness. These episodes are separated by periods when the person has few or no symptoms.

Episodes vary from person to person. They generally occur in cycles, some lasting as long as a year, (rarely episodes have been known to last years), some may last only minutes. Over time, episodes have been known to become more and more frequent. Whenever a person experiences four or more episodes within a 12-month period, that person is said to have "rapid cycling" manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder).

Most people with bipolar disease will experience approximately 8-10 episodes over their entire lifetime. However, it should be noted that many patients experience a great deal more. Those with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, often experience a lifetime's worth of episodes during the course of a single month or week.