Posts Tagged ‘Adolescence’

An Overview Of The Bipolar Depression Disorder

Bipolar depression is different than many forms of depression. With a bipolar disorder, a person experiences mania. Mania allows an individual to experience an extreme high that more than likely will impair judgment.

Bipolar disorder will affect a person their entire life, but with the right treatment plan, a person can cope with bipolar depression as long as they completely understand this illness.

Bipolar depression usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. However, at this early stage, it is usually not seen as a psychological problem because it is sporadic. Individuals that have this disorder will have unique patterns to their mood cycles.

These cycles will combine both depression and mania. Once the unique patterns of cycles are identified, treatment can begin. But, until a person’s cycles are seen as being true bipolar disorder, a person can suffer for years needlessly.

When a person is experiencing mania during their bipolar depression episode, certain behavioral issues need to be watched very carefully. A person will feel great when the manic episode begins, and this can make them stop whatever treatment that is happening.

As the mania intensifies, an individual will have difficulty concentrating and their thinking becomes grand. Judgment can be impaired and that can lead to major problems arising in a person’s life.

Many people also will abuse various drugs including alcohol during their mania stage of this disorder. This can lead to secondary problems besides the bipolar depression.

Treatments for bipolar depression are critical for the affected individual. Because the mania cycle can greatly impact an individual’s judgment, a person will more than likely will try to discontinue their treatment because of the good feelings that are associated with their high cycle.

This can have a devastating affect on a person because if mania is left untreated it can turn into a psychotic state that a person may never recover from. Bipolar depression is one depression that people must stay on a consistent treatment plan in order for their disorder to be manageable.

Bipolar depression is a severe disorder that can cripple a person’s mental state. This disorder will take control of a person’s life and affect every judgment that they make.

People who are affected with bipolar disorders will have them for the duration of their lives. However, with consistent treatments a person can learn to deal with their disorder in a positive manner.

Bipolar individuals do not need to suffer. Help is available, and in order to lead a successful life being diagnosed as bipolar, a person must be proactive in seeking it.

Thirteen Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that involves rapid change of mood conditions. As the name implies, “bi” means two or dual and “polar” connotes polarity. By application, this means that a person with symptoms of bipolar disorder tends to abruptly change polarities from extreme happiness down to severe sadness within a short time interval.

It Can Be Hard To Detect

Bipolar disorder is a serious problem. If a child has this illness at a young age and is left unattended, drastic symptoms of bipolar disorder may start to emerge at adolescence. Research indicates that the illness will not manifest immediately. It can take several years before signs of manic depression become obvious.

The life of a patient who is suffering from this mental disorder is often disrupted. He doesn’t live a normal life. The list below shows the different signs as categorized by both mania or hypomania and depression.

When a bipolar patient experiences his or her highest manic state, any of these symptoms of bipolar disorder can be expected:

* The person will have a tendency to be overly optimistic and confident. This is the “nothing-can-stop-me-now” attitude.

* There is so much hyperactive energy and because of this, the person becomes restless. Sometimes the patient may seem to look very passionate about certain tasks.

* The person may not find the need to sleep. At this manic high state, the body may also prevent the patient from feeling tired.

* There is the tendency of the person to feel very important – the delusion of grandeur.

* The bipolar patient can be unreasonably annoying and aggressive to other people.

* The person tends to make impulsive judgments without rationalization.

* The patient becomes overly talkative as if he or she is racing against his or her thoughts.

In severe cases of manic disorder, patients may hallucinate. This in effect can become more difficult to determine the accuracy of a doctor’s diagnosis.

The symptoms of the depressive state are the opposite of those for the manic phase:

* The patient becomes very pessimistic.

* When depression sets in, all the energy is lost.

* The bipolar patient may experience erratic sleep schedules and abnormal appetite.

* The confidence is lost and excessively low self-esteem takes over.

* The patient will tend to self-pity and induce guilt on self.

* The patient tends to develop suicidal tendencies.

Serious Consequences If Left Untreated

Many reported teenage suicides have traces of untreated bipolar disorder during childhood. As these mood swings pile up through the years, it eventually manifests. Adolescence is usually the age that symptoms of bipolar disorder take over.

Available Medications

There are many available medications for bipolar treatment. The treatment depends on the severity of the patient’s disorder. For children who have tendencies of bipolar disorder, it is best to pay attention to their needs while they’re still young.

Talk To Your Doctor

As a parent, the best thing you can do is give them love and attention. Otherwise, these bipolar symptoms can very well become destructive if parents are negligent. Always consult your health care professional if you have any concerns about this condition.

The Initial Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder: Spot Them Early

Many bipolar sufferers are unaware that their condition exists. The initial symptoms of bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic depression, start to manifest during adolescence and can be triggered at any time.

Fortunately this disorder, thought to be a chemical brain imbalance, can be treated very successfully. The main concern is to spot the initial symptoms of bipolar early, so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and the appropriate treatment started.

If someone in your circle of family and friends has bipolar disorder, then you would already know the effect it has on their daily lives. Contrary to popular belief, individuals suffering with bipolar disorder are not always depressed and morose. The very nature of bipolar means that wild mood swings occur moving from high to low in a short space of time. These mood swings can be quite difficult to distinguish.

The illness is highly likely to recur frequently, affecting a person for their entire lifetime. The best long-term treatment is achieved by fostering and maintaining a strong support group. This of course is totally dependent on being able to spot the initial symptoms of bipolar disorder in the first place.

HOW TO SPOT DEPRESSION

Correctly identifying depression is a tricky exercise, and can baffle even the most experienced professional. One obvious sign of depression is a sad or anxious mood manifesting over an extended period. Another can be lack of motivation or desire to participate in activities which would normally be enjoyed by the person, for example hobbies, sex or social activities.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A MANIC EPISODE

The most noticeable behavior is a euphoric mood and increased level of energy. These characteristics are quite evident and easily noticed. Other signs include over generosity, spending sprees, hypersexuality (increased sex drive), loss of concentration, and grandiose feelings of invincibility.

SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS

In serious cases of bipolar disorder, the associated extreme mood swings can progress into psychosis symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations. While others can recognize psychosis quite easily, the patient is often unaware of them.

MIXED BIPOLAR STATES

Sometimes a mixed state of a bipolar disorder occurs, where the sufferer simultaneously experiences depression and mania. Symptoms often include sleep deficiency, appetite changes and agitation. Patients with mixed bipolar states can be extremely depressed but still possess high energy levels.

IDENTIFYING MORBID THOUGHTS

One of the most feared bipolar symptoms for the loved ones supporting a bipolar sufferer is the appearance of potentially morbid thoughts. Any suspicion that a patient is thinking morbidly and contemplating suicide should be acted upon immediately. In such cases a 911 emergency call should be made as a standard preventative measure. Better to be on the safe side than suffer a tragic suicide.

If the true nature of a person’s condition is to be revealed, recognizing the initial symptoms of bipolar is vitally important. Improper diagnosis can lead to a prolonged lifetime of suffering. All too often a patient seeks medical advice when suffering from depression, but they do not think it important to disclose their manic episodes. This is mainly because they feel good, and connect their manic periods with happiness and a normal state.

Research and study has now heightened awareness of this condition. More and more people are becoming educated and can recognize the initial symptoms of bipolar disorder. Information and guidance is now readily available through quality resources on reputable websites and from local mental health clinics.

How lucky we are to live in an age where the debilitating nature of such a condition can be halted by identifying the initial symptoms of bipolar early, allowing patients and their loved ones to lead normal, productive and healthy lives.